What to Buy for an Improvisation Night

An improvisation night needs more than snacks and drinks. You need serving items for the audience, reliable audio and power accessories, clear signs, and supplies that keep the playing area usable. Plan drinks for the expected audience and players separately, then check what the venue already provides before shopping. Small items such as masking tape, name badges, extension cords and waste bins are easy to overlook and often become urgent on the day.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Chairsqty 60
Tablesqty 8
High tablesqty 3
Coat rack
Clothes hangersqty 60

Equipment

Wireless microphonesqty 2
Portable Sound System
Microphone standsqty 2
Mixer
Extension cordsqty 3
Power stripsqty 6

Lighting

LED lightsqty 4

Tableware

Reusable glassesqty 80
Mugsqty 40
Platesqty 60
Cutlery setsqty 60
Serving traysqty 4

Kitchen

Coolersqty 3
Thermos flasksqty 3
Kettlesqty 2
Cutting boardsqty 2
Kitchen knivesqty 3
Serving spoonsqty 3

Decorations

Directional signsqty 6
Name badgesqty 70
Colorful stage backdropqty 2
Masking tapeqty 6

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Bucketsqty 2
Mopsqty 2
Broom setsqty 2
Cleaning clothsqty 12

Catering

Groceries
- Still water - 48 bottles
- Sparkling water - 24 bottles
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 12 bottles
- Lemonade - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 packs
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Sugar - 1 kilogram
- Mints - 1 box
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Tortilla chips - 3 bags
- Snacks - 3 bags
- Party nuts - 3 bags
- Popcorn - 3 bags
- Mini cookies - 6 packs
- Raisins - 2 bags
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Bananas - 20 pieces
- Grapes - 3 bunches
- Hummus - 4 tubs
- Cucumber - 4 pieces
- Carrots - 2 kilogram
- Coffee milk - 2 bottles
- Paper napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Garbage bags - 30 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Toilet cleaner - 2 bottles
- Cleaning gloves - 4 pairs
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls

Tips

Buy or bring enough reusable glasses, mugs, plates and cutlery sets for one full audience serving, plus roughly 10% extra. Add serving trays and serving spoons so food and drinks do not end up beside the playing area.
Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one to two per person for each additional hour. Use coolers for cold drinks and thermos flasks or kettles for hot drinks rather than relying on a single serving point.
Check the microphones, portable sound system and mixer before shopping for replacements or accessories. Bring microphone stands, extension cords and power strips, and test every connection at least one day before the event.
Prepare directional signs and name badges before opening the hall. Masking tape is useful for fixing route signs, marking the playing area and securing loose cables without leaving the setup until the audience arrives.
Plan cleanup as part of the shopping list: provide waste bins, buckets and mops, and keep cutting boards, kitchen knives and serving equipment together. A separate cleanup station prevents used tableware from being left near the performers.

Frequently asked questions

What drinks do I need for an improvisation night?: Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour and one to two for every additional hour. Separate cold drinks from hot drinks and provide coolers, thermos flasks or kettles as needed.
How many glasses and plates should I buy for an improv night?: Prepare one glass, mug, plate and cutlery set per expected guest serving, plus about 10% extra. For 50 guests, that means 55 of each item that will be used once.
What equipment accessories are needed for an improvisation show?: For the audio setup, check wireless microphones, microphone stands, a portable sound system and a mixer. Keep at least two extension cords and two power strips available, then test the setup at least one day beforehand.
What do people usually forget for an improvisation night?: Small setup items are commonly missed: masking tape, name badges, directional signs, waste bins and cable extensions. Put these aside at least 24 hours before opening so they are not mixed into the last-minute shopping.

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