What do you need for a cabaret workshop?
A cabaret workshop needs more than tables and chairs: participants also need a clear play area, reliable sound, simple refreshments and materials ready before they arrive. This shopping list covers the practical items for registration, catering, exercises and the workshop setup. Plan quantities from your participant count, then add a small buffer for cups, plates and drinks. Check cables, microphones and the laptop before the workshop day rather than discovering missing equipment during the opening exercise.
What to bring
Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.
Furniture
- Tablesqty 8
- Chairsqty 45
- Coat rack
- Stoolsqty 6
Tableware
- Reusable platesqty 50
- Reusable bowlsqty 50
- Reusable glassesqty 60
- Coffee cupsqty 50
- Reusable cutleryqty 50
- Serving plattersqty 8
- Pitcherqty 4
Equipment
- Portable speaker
- Wired microphonesqty 2
- Microphone standsqty 2
- Power stripsqty 4
- Extension cordsqty 4
- Laptop
- HDMI cable
- Timerqty 2
Kitchen
- Kettlesqty 2
- Coffee maker
- Thermos flasksqty 4
- Coolersqty 2
- Cutting boardsqty 3
- Chef’s knives and bread knivesqty 4
- Serving tongsqty 4
- Serving spoonsqty 4
- Aluminum foil
Decorations
- Name badgesqty 50
- Tableclothqty 8
- Welcome sign
- Directional signsqty 8
- Markers for name tagsqty 12
- Sticky tackqty 4
- Painter's tapeqty 6
Lighting
- LED work lightsqty 2
- Atmosphere lightsqty 4
Cleaning
- Waste binsqty 4
- Bucketsqty 2
- Floor mopsqty 2
- Broom and dustpanqty 2
- Hand brush and dustpanqty 2
- Washing-up tubsqty 2
- Tea towelsqty 12
- Microfiber clothsqty 12
Catering
- Groceries
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Coffee cream - 4 tubs
- Semi-skimmed milk - 6 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Honey - 1 jar
- Spa Blauw - 6 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 4 bottles
- Cola - 4 bottles
- Cola Zero - 4 bottles
- Sinas - 3 bottles
- Apple juice - 3 packs
- Orange juice - 3 cartons
- Lemons - 8 pieces
- Ice cubes - 4 bags
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Bananas - 30 pieces
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Cucumbers - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 4 trays
- Carrots - 3 kilos
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Tortilla chips - 5 bags
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Salsa - 4 jars
- Mixed nuts - 3 bags
- Raisins - 2 bags
- Whole grain bread - 8 loaves
- White bread - 4 loaves
- Wholegrain wraps - 6 packs
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Plain hummus - 4 tubs
- Herb cream cheese - 4 tubs
- Chicken breast slices - 1.5 kilos
- Tomato soup - 8 liters
- Mixed meal salad - 6 kilos
- Pasta salad - 6 kilos
- Herbs - 3 jars
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Balsamic vinegar - 1 bottle
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Vegan cookies - 4 packs
- Butter cookies - 4 packs
- Chocolate bars - 40 pieces
- Paper napkins - 150 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Sanitary spray - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Rubber gloves - 4 pairs
Tips
- Provide one chair per participant, plus two or three spare chairs for the workshop leader, late arrivals or bags. Use tables only where they support registration, catering or written exercises; keep the main activity area open.
- For a two-hour workshop, allow roughly 0.75 to 1 litre of water per participant and two hot drinks per person. Prepare at least one pitcher and enough reusable glasses and coffee cups for one full round, even if you plan to wash them during the session.
- Test the laptop, HDMI cable, portable speaker and wired microphones at least 24 hours beforehand. Bring one power strip and an extension cord for every separate equipment area, and keep cables out of the play space.
- Set out one name badge for every participant, plus 10% extra. Put the badges at the reception desk before opening so registration does not become a queue while the workshop leader is preparing the exercises.
- Prepare serving platters, tongs, serving spoons, cutting boards and knives before catering arrives. Keep aluminium foil available for covering food, and match the setup to the dietary requirements collected during registration.
Frequently asked questions
- How many chairs do I need for a cabaret workshop?
- Use one chair per registered participant and add two or three spare chairs. For 20 participants, prepare 22 or 23 chairs so the leader and late arrivals are covered.
- How much coffee and water should I buy for a workshop?
- For a two-hour workshop, plan two hot drinks and 0.75 to 1 litre of water per participant. For 20 people, that means about 40 hot drinks and 15 to 20 litres of water, adjusted for the weather and catering.
- What AV equipment is needed for a cabaret workshop?
- Have a laptop, HDMI cable, portable speaker, wired microphones, microphone stands, power strips and extension cords ready. Test everything at least 24 hours before the workshop and keep a spare connection route if the venue has different ports.
- How many name badges should I prepare?
- Prepare one badge per registered participant plus 10% extra. For 20 participants, put out 22 badges so you can cover late registrations or a damaged badge without stopping reception.
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