Get Paid to Party - Make Money Hosting Parties - Living Simply Fabulous (2024)

One of the most fun and profitable side gigs I have found is to make money hosting parties.

These can be any type of parties, but where I come from, we call them cabaret parties.

Now I’m not talking about the parties where people are elaborately dressed and half-naked women dance around the tables.

No, I’m speaking of the cabaret parties that are held mostly within a group or community where people get together to eat, dance, and have fun.

I’ve used this side hustle to bring in thousands of dollars and more to help fundraise for our family reunion.

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So What is a Cabaret Party

Let’s talk about the history of cabaret parties. During the Harlem Renaissance,African Americans found a way to enjoy their friends and big bands of the time in a safe place.

Considering there was practically no other place for them to party due to racism and discrimination,they were shut out from local nightclubs.

Similar parties were also called “rent parties”, where people would sell tickets to parties in their homes to help pay their rent.

During that time, African-Americans were forced to live in segregated areas of the city with poor schools and a horrible standard of living – also due to racism and discrimination.

They had limited job prospects, therefore making the high rent they were unfairly charged difficult to pay in turn making these rent parties a great way to keep a roof over their heads.

Over the years the cabaret party has transformed in its meaning and what we know them to be today. To many of us, the cabaret party is just another way to have fun with people they enjoy.

Who Holds Cabaret Parties Today

To be honest with you, most people who hold cabaret parties are just regular old folks. These people are either “too old” for the club or don’t want to be bothered by them.

Cabaret parties haven’t changed much since the old days. Someone usually rents a hall and sells tickets to attend the event.

Nowadays, the big band is replaced with a DJ and there’s usually alcohol and food.

Most often or not these parties are Bring Your Own Bottle (BYOB), where the liquor license permits the consumption of alcohol but not the sale of it.

In my family, we call these cabaret parties, but I want you to know the same premise can apply to any type of party you host.

Why I Love Planning and Hosting Parties

I’m not much of a club-goer. Even when I was in my early twenties, I would go to one or two just to hang out with my friends. Overall, I was not impressed. As an introvert, I’m not one for dancing with people I hardly know.

Instead of trying to find the cutest guy to dance with, I was more worried about things such as where the nearest exit was (in case of a fire or fight) or if someone put something in my drink.

Not my idea of a good time.

I love cabaret partiesbecause they are more intimate in nature and most often than not, I know the person who sold me their ticket. If they are okay, then their friends have to be okay. Right?

Most of the cabaret parties I have been to however have been filled with mostly family or coworkers, so in my opinion, these are one of the safest ways to have fun.

How to Make Money Hosting Parties

Your party doesn’t have to be a cabaret party. In fact, most of our parties have little to do with the cabaret/burlesque theme and resemblelittle of those from the past.

When you host a party, you’re going to provide the venue, the entertainment, and possibly the food. You make money from these parties by selling tickets.

The profit you earn from these parties is what’s left over after you pay for the expenses (include, but not limited to the rental fee and deposit, DJ, food, and possibly security).

You can make a lot of money if you keep your expenses low, such as having the event in your home or providing finger or snack foods.

Successful Parties have three components to be successful:

• Entertainment. This can be a band, but a good DJ is sufficient enough. Heck depending on the group, you can use a playlist from your iPod if you can get away with it.
• Food and Drinks. You can provide something to nibble on, but most cabaret parties are BYOB and people bring their own food. I recommend providing snack foods, ice, and cups.
• Profit. Your ticket sales will determine your profit. Yes, you want to entertain your friends, but if you’re not making any money – this is just a regular party.

Can You Make Money Throwing Parties

Yes, you can make money from cabaret parties. In fact, you can make a lot of money from a couple of hours of fun.

Your success is dependent on the amount of time and care put into the planning process. In my book Make Money Planning and Hosting Cabaret Parties, I provide a step-by-step guide on how to successfully plan one and make money.

As a member of my family reunion committee three years ago, we used cabaret parties to fund our big event. We raised thousands from ticket sales which allowed us not to charge our family members to come to the reunion.

The same principle can be applied to your next event and you can make money to pay down debt, fund a vacation, or build up savings.

In fact, I know someone who earned enough money from two parties to get her house out of foreclosure.

There are quite a few factors that go into planning these parties, but it’s not unreasonable to think you can make $500 to $1000+ from just one event.

So, planning these parties can be a great side hustle.

Type of People Who Make Money Hosting Parties

• Members of social clubs
• College Students
• Adults who have outgrown the club scene
• Nonprofit organizations
• Promoters
• Small town and rural residents with limited access to entertainment
• Individuals with full-time jobs who need a side hustle

Is It Hard Work?

It all depends on what you think of as being hard work. I don’t think it’s hard workbecause the same skills you use to plan your child’s birthday party or friend’s baby shower can be applied here.

The only difference is that you’re hosting it primarily to make money.

What Skills Do You Need to BeProfitable

Anyone can make money from parties, but those who will be the most successful will have great organizational skills, a good eye for figures, and great people skills.

Is There Risk?

There is at least some risk in almost everything you do. It’s true you can make money, but the truth is that people have lost money by hosting parties. This is usually due to the fact that they treated it more like a party instead of a money-making venture.

They either lost track of the figures or didn’t pay any attention to them in the first place. In my ebook, I talk about how the party can turn sour real fast if you don’t put time into the planning process.

As for safety, well if you sell tickets to people you know and keep the crowd to a manageable number, you minimize your risk ten-fold. I give tips in my book on how you can stay safe if you decide to make money hosting parties.

What’s the Next Step?

Planning and hosting cabaret parties can be a great way to earn additional income, however, it’s not for everyone.

If you go in without knowing what it takes to plan a successful and profitable party, you’ll make little money. In fact, you can end up losing a lot as I did in the very beginning. Some people think they can wing it and start their own party business, but fail miserably.

I don’t want that to be you.

I want you to be successful. I want you to make extra money to cover your bills or go on that vacation. All while having fun doing it!

Want to learn how I made $1254 from a party with only my family and friends, with NO out-of-pocket expenses? Check out my step-by-step guide on how to make money planning and hosting cabaret parties.

In this book I go over how to:

• Select the right venue
• Pick a good theme
• Sell tickets at the right price
• Choose the best type of party to host
• Maximize your profits
• Stay safe and protect yourself before, during, and after the event and
• Much, much more…

Ready to make over $1,000 from a party?

Grab your copy of my step-by-step guide here.