What to buy for a singalong evening

A singalong evening needs more than drinks and printed lyrics. You’ll need easy-to-serve snacks, enough glasses and plates, coffee supplies, and the practical items that keep the buffet moving. Plan quantities around your guest count, then add a small reserve for late arrivals and spills. Check equipment-related supplies too: spare microphone batteries, extension cords, power strips and the right cable for your laptop, projector or speakers are easy to forget until setup starts.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 60
Coat racksqty 2
Buffet tablesqty 2
Stoolsqty 4

Equipment

Active speakersqty 2
Wireless microphonesqty 3
Microphone standsqty 3
Mixer
Laptop
Music standqty 2
Extension cordsqty 5
Power stripsqty 4
Spare batteriesqty 12
HDMI cable
USB stick
Projector
Projection screen

Tableware

Coffee cupsqty 60
Drinking glassesqty 80
Platesqty 80
Cutlery setsqty 80
Serving plattersqty 8
Serving tongsqty 6
Coffee potsqty 3
Thermos flasksqty 3

Kitchen

Kettlesqty 2
Cutting boardsqty 2
Chef's knivesqty 2
Bread knivesqty 2
Storage binsqty 6

Decorations

Buntingqty 8
Tableclothsqty 8
Menu standsqty 8
Flower arrangementsqty 6

Lighting

String lightsqty 4
LED lightsqty 6
Extendable lampsqty 2

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Bucketsqty 3
Mopsqty 3
Broom and dustpanqty 2
Cleaning glovesqty 6
Tea towelsqty 10
Towelsqty 6

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 3 packs
- Decaf coffee - 1 pack
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Sugar - 1 kilo
- Sweetener - 1 box
- Semi-skimmed milk - 6 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- Lemons - 8 pieces
- Cola - 8 bottles
- Cola Zero - 8 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Ginger ale - 4 bottles
- Sparkling mineral water - 8 bottles
- Still mineral water - 10 bottles
- Apple juice - 4 packs
- Orange juice - 4 cartons
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Beer - 48 bottles
- White wine - 6 bottles
- Red wine - 4 bottles
- Rosé - 4 bottles
- Ice cubes - 8 bags
- Paprika chips - 4 bags
- Plain chips - 4 bags
- Tortilla chips - 4 bags
- Salsa sauce - 4 jars
- Party nuts - 3 bags
- Olives - 3 jars
- Salted breadsticks - 3 bags
- Mini pickles - 2 jars
- Crackers - 6 packs
- Crackers - 4 packs
- Cream cheese - 6 tubs
- Hummus - 6 tubs
- Young cheese - 2 kilos
- Brie - 1 kilo
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Apples - 3 kilos
- Carrots - 2 kilo
- Cucumbers - 5 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Dipping sauce - 4 containers
- Mini buns - 80 pieces
- Herb butter - 6 tubs
- Gluten-free crackers - 2 packs
- Vegan spreads - 2 packs
- Allergen stickers - 1 sheet
- Napkins - 200 pieces
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Paper towels - 6 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Trash bags - 40 pieces
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Toilet cleaner - 2 bottles
- Disinfectant spray - 2 bottles
- Sponges - 6 pieces
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Labels - 1 pack
- Pens - 12 pieces

Tips

Plan two to three drinks per guest for the first hour, then one drink per person for each additional hour. Include water as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.
For a two-hour evening, allow four to six snack portions per guest. Choose shelf-stable snacks that can be set out before the singing starts, and keep serving platters and tongs ready.
Have one drinking glass per guest plus 10% extra, and provide one plate and cutlery set per person. Add coffee cups separately; they are not a substitute for drinking glasses.
Buy or bring spare batteries for every wireless microphone, with at least one complete replacement set per microphone. Test both microphones and speakers before guests arrive.
Pack the technical extras together: extension cords, power strips, HDMI cable, USB stick and a laptop charger. Keep the lyrics on the laptop and on a USB stick so a single device failure does not stop the program.

Frequently asked questions

How many drinks do I need for a singalong evening?: Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour, followed by about one drink per person per additional hour. Add water and keep roughly 10% extra for unexpected guests or spills.
How many snacks should I buy for a singalong evening?: Allow four to six small snack portions per guest for a two-hour evening. Buy about 10% extra if people will arrive straight from work or if no meal is being served.
How many glasses, plates and cutlery sets do I need?: Provide one glass, one plate and one cutlery set per guest, plus 10% spare. For 30 guests, that means at least 33 of each item, with coffee cups counted separately.
When should I chill the drinks and test the microphones?: Chill drinks at least four hours before guests arrive, or the evening before if possible. Test microphones, speakers, cables and the lyric display 60 to 90 minutes before the start.

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