Hosting an American Idol Party

One of the hottest television shows over the last several years has been American Idol. As with any trend, it is natural for people to wish to tie in what's hot with their latest and greatest party, and American Idol parties are certainly a fun way to bring friends together, whatever the reason. Here are instructions for throwing a fantastic American Idol party, either for its own sake or for a birthday party.

The American Idol set is flashy and brilliant, with lots of lights going every which way. The color blue plays a big role, as the American Idol sign is blue and most of the laser lights are blue, as well. Replicating such a fancy set in your own home can be a bit tricky, but strobe lights and blue light bulbs are both sold in most party stores for an inexpensive price. Blue streamers can be tacked along the walls or run from the center of the room to the outside. Varying the shade of blue (light to dark and everything in between) can give an illusion of something "more" going on than just running plain blue streamers. Silver is another good option, as silver brings to mind bright lights and glitz. You can cut cardboard stars out and wrap them in aluminum foil for some added decorations. Some shops sell American Idol specific decorations, which you can incorporate if you like.

Food for any party is a necessity, but obviously American Idol as a show isn't focused on food, so it is easiest to just use the shapes associated with American Idol as part of the food. You can decorate the snacks table accordingly (either as a judging table or with white butcher paper decorated with the American Idol emblem). Blue Jell-O can easily be made to look like a star by using the Jell-O Jigglers recipe and a star shaped cookie cutter. To add a bit more glitz, you can use soda water or Sprite instead of half of the water, which gives the Jell-O an interesting taste and makes it look more bubbly. For cakes, the less crafty can easily purchase an American Idol cake from most shops (sometimes you'll need to request it, but most shops seem to carry them on a regular basis), and the more crafty can create a white cake and use blue icing to make the American Idol emblem.

Obviously, no party is complete without things to do. The most obvious party game for an American Idol party is Karaoke. If you want to get really into the American Idol theme, you can set up judging and prizes. Beware, though, that children (and adults) can be sensitive, so it is not always the best idea to behave exactly in the manner of the American Idol judges! You can print out simple certificates, maybe with funny prizes instead of merely serious ones, so that even the less skilled can participate. Other party games can include dressing up like a rock star. This can be truly inexpensive, either by purchasing clothing from a thrift shop or by using clothing from your own closet. You'll be surprised what some added accessories and a bit of imagination can do to even the simplest of clothing. For most parties, it is probably not the best idea to include a viewing of the show, as most people like to be more active, but running it in the background could provide something for people to peek at periodically. Obviously, this is not true if you're hosting an actual American Idol party instead of a birthday party. In that case, the culmination should be the viewing of the American Idol show! Costume contests are another fun option for an activity, with judging based on a variety of standards (funniest, strangest, tackiest, etc.)

For most parties, you don't want your guests to leave empty handed. Party favors of toy microphones (jumbo ones are sold in many stores that morph the way the speaker's voice sounds), star wands, tiaras/crowns and trophies (to be handed out as part of a judging competition, perhaps) are all good options.

Some things to note are that the invitations should be explicit, as many people don't like to be surprised into Karaoke. On that same note, people should not be required to participate in the Karaoke if they don't wish to do so, or should be allowed to participate as part of a group.

Good luck, and have fun!