What to Buy for a Jam Session

A jam session needs more than instruments and amplifiers. You also need enough drinks, cups, coffee supplies and snacks for the full group, plus the small technical items that keep setup moving. Cables, extension leads, power strips, spare batteries and gaffer tape are easy to overlook until the first musician arrives. Use this shopping list alongside the room, sound system and musician setup so everything is ready before the session starts.

Organize this event for free with Lizzt

What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 6
Chairsqty 50
Bar stoolsqty 6
Buffet tablesqty 2
Clothes racksqty 2

Equipment

Mixing console
Speakersqty 2
Monitor speakersqty 2
Microphonesqty 4
Microphone standsqty 4
DI boxesqty 3
Guitar amplifiersqty 2
Bass amplifier
Electronic drum kit
Keyboard
Keyboard stand
Guitar standsqty 4
Music standsqty 4
Headphonesqty 3
Audio cablesqty 15
Microphone cablesqty 10
Extension cordsqty 8
Power stripsqty 8
Cable reelsqty 3
Gaffer tapeqty 4
Spare batteriesqty 24
Voting devicesqty 3
Metronomesqty 2

Tableware

Reusable drinking glassesqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 30
Platesqty 60
Cutlery setsqty 60
Pouring jugsqty 6

Kitchen

Coffee machinesqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Coolersqty 3
Cutting boardsqty 3
Chef and serving knivesqty 4
Serving plattersqty 8
Serving tongsqty 6
Bottle openersqty 3
Thermos flasksqty 4
Ice packsqty 12

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 8
Mood lightingqty 4
Plantsqty 6
Information boardsqty 4

Lighting

LED floor lampsqty 4
LED string lightsqty 4

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 6
Mopsqty 2
Bucketsqty 2
Broom and dustpanqty 2
Cleaning glovesqty 4
Hand soap dispensersqty 4

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 1 box
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Sweetener - 1 box
- Milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Coffee biscuits - 4 packs
- Spa Blauw - 48 bottles
- Spa Red - 24 bottles
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Orange soda - 8 bottles
- Ginger ale - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Beer - 72 cans
- Alcohol-free beer - 24 cans
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Red wine - 4 bottles
- Non-alcoholic wine - 3 bottles
- Ice cubes - 10 kilos
- Ice lollies - 40 pieces
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Tortilla chips - 4 bags
- Salted peanuts - 3 bags
- Olives - 4 jars
- Cucumber - 6 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Carrots - 2 kilo
- Grapes - 2 kilos
- Apples - 30 pieces
- Grape juice - 4 liters
- Baguettes - 8 pieces
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Cream cheese - 4 tubs
- Young cheese - 1,5 kilo
- Brie - 4 pieces
- Grill sausage - 1.5 kilos
- Vegetarian spreads - 6 tubs
- Herb butter - 6 tubs
- Mayonnaise - 2 bottles
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Pesto - 3 jars
- Mini pizzas - 60 pieces
- Vegetarian mini pizzas - 30 pieces
- Bitterballen - 100 pieces
- Vegetarian bitterballen - 50 pieces
- Herbs - 1 set
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- Dishwasher tablets - 30 pieces
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Disinfectant wipes - 4 packs
- Hand sanitizer gel - 4 bottles

Tips

Plan drinks for the whole session, not just the start: allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, then one per person per hour after that. Chill them before musicians arrive.
Buy or bring at least one reusable drinking glass per attendee, plus 10% extra. Coffee cups are easy to forget when the session runs through a break or evening.
Count every connection before buying cables and power equipment. Add at least two spare audio or microphone cables, two spare batteries and one roll of gaffer tape.
Prepare snacks that can be eaten without cutlery and keep them away from the mixing console and instruments. Put them on buffet tables so musicians do not need to eat beside the equipment.
Check the equipment list against the actual instrument lineup at least 48 hours before the session. A keyboard stand, DI box, monitor speaker or microphone stand may be needed even when the main instruments are already covered.

Frequently asked questions

How many drinks do I need for a jam session?: Allow two to three drinks per person for the first hour, followed by one drink per person for each additional hour. Buy at least 10% extra if the session lasts more than three hours or includes a break.
What cables and power supplies should I bring to a jam session?: Bring audio cables, microphone cables, extension cords, power strips and cable reels for the planned setup. Pack at least two spare cables, two spare batteries and one roll of gaffer tape, then test every connection before opening.
How many glasses and coffee cups do I need?: Provide one reusable drinking glass per attendee plus 10% extra. For a group of 20, that means 22 glasses; add coffee cups for everyone who is likely to take a coffee break.
When should I do the shopping for a jam session?: Buy snacks, drinks and consumables one day before the session, then chill the drinks on the day itself. Check technical supplies at least 48 hours beforehand so missing cables or adapters can still be arranged.

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.