What you need for a disco dance night

A disco dance night needs more than drinks and a playlist. Plan the bar, buffet, tableware, lighting and sound setup around your guest count, then buy or borrow the items that are easy to overlook. Allow enough glasses, ice and serving equipment for the full evening, and keep spare batteries, extension cords and cable covers ready before guests arrive. Use this list alongside your setup plan so shopping is finished before the venue check.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

Grouped the way you'd shop for it, with quantities.

Furniture

Cocktail tablesqty 8
Buffet tablesqty 4
Chairsqty 50
Coat racksqty 2
Coat hangersqty 100
Bar

Equipment

Speakersqty 2
DJ mixer
DJ controller
Microphone
Speaker cablesqty 2
Extension cordsqty 6
Power stripsqty 4
Cable traysqty 6

Lighting

Disco lightsqty 4
LED light barsqty 2
Light standsqty 2
Mood lightingqty 6
Spare batteriesqty 24

Tableware

Drinking glassesqty 100
Champagne glassesqty 50
Platesqty 100
Cutlery setsqty 100
Serving bowlsqty 12
Serving spoonsqty 12

Kitchen

Coolersqty 4
Ice containersqty 3
Bottle openersqty 3
Corkscrewsqty 2
Cutting boardsqty 3
Kitchen knivesqty 3
Small bowlsqty 12

Decorations

Disco foilqty 2
Balloonsqty 100
Balloon pumpqty 2
Buntingqty 8
Tableclothsqty 12
Directional signsqty 10

Cleaning

Vacuum cleaner
Mop setqty 2
Waste binsqty 6
Cleaning clothsqty 12
Bucketsqty 3
Toilet brushesqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Beer - 96 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- White wine - 8 bottles
- Rosé - 6 bottles
- Prosecco - 4 bottles
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Sprite - 6 bottles
- Tonic - 4 bottles
- Ginger ale - 4 bottles
- Spa Blauw - 10 bottles
- Spa Rood - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Orange juice - 6 cartons
- Iced tea - 6 bottles
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Limes - 12 pieces
- Mint - 4 Bunches
- Ice cubes - 12 bags
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Tea - 2 boxes
- Sugar - 2 packs
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 4 liters
- Paprika chips - 8 bags
- Plain chips - 8 bags
- Tortilla chips - 8 bags
- Salsa - 6 jars
- Savory nuts - 6 bags
- Salted sticks - 6 bags
- Olives - 6 jars
- Cheese cubes - 3 kilo
- Grapes - 4 kilos
- Cucumbers - 8 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 4 kilos
- Carrots - 3 kilos
- Hummus - 8 tubs
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Cream cheese - 6 tubs
- Wraps - 8 packs
- Chicken breast slices - 2 kilos
- Cheese slices - 2 kilos
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Vegetarian wraps - 4 packs
- Napkins - 250 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 50 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Toilet cleaner - 2 bottles
- Rinse aid - 1 bottle

Tips

Plan around two to three drinks per guest for the first hour, then one drink per person per hour. Buy extra ice as well: allow about 1 kg for every 10 guests if drinks need chilling.
Provide one drinking glass per guest plus at least 20% extra. For a champagne toast, add one champagne glass per person and keep a separate supply available for replacements.
For a buffet, allow one plate and one cutlery set per guest, plus 10% spare. Buy or prepare enough serving bowls and serving spoons so guests are not sharing utensils between dishes.
Check every lighting and DJ connection at least 24 hours before the night. Pack spare batteries, extension cords, power strips and cable trays; tape or cover cables as soon as the sound and lights are tested.
Do not leave the practical bar items until the final shopping trip. Put bottle openers, corkscrews, coolers, ice containers and cutting boards together in one box so setup does not stop when drinks and snacks arrive.

Frequently asked questions

What drinks do I need for a disco dance night?: For the first hour, plan two to three drinks per guest, followed by about one drink per person per hour. Add water and non-alcoholic options, and chill drinks several hours before guests arrive.
How many glasses do I need for a disco dance night?: Allow one drinking glass per guest and add at least 20% spare. If you are serving sparkling wine, provide one champagne glass per guest as well.
How much ice do I need for a disco dance night?: Use roughly 1 kg of ice per 10 guests for chilling drinks, then add more if ice will also go into glasses. Buy or collect it on the day and keep it in coolers or ice containers.
When should I buy supplies for a disco dance night?: Buy shelf-stable drinks, tableware and decorations two to three days ahead. Get ice, chilled drinks and fresh snack ingredients on the day, and test the sound and lighting at least 24 hours before the event.

Start this plan in Lizzt

Every task and item on this page, ready in your own event. Invite people, split the work, and see who has done what.