What you need for a tango evening

A tango evening needs more than music and a clear dance floor. Plan supplies for arrivals, coats, drinks, snacks, coffee and the welcome desk, while keeping cables and power equipment out of the dancers’ way. Buy or borrow tableware before the final setup day, and chill drinks only after the sound system has been tested. The quantities below help you check the shopping list for a typical evening and spot the items that are easy to arrange too late.

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What to bring

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

Furniture

Tablesqty 8
Chairsqty 70
Bar stoolsqty 6
Clothes racksqty 2
Coat hangersqty 70

Tableware

Water glassesqty 80
Wine glassesqty 60
Coffee cupsqty 50
Platesqty 80
Cutlery setsqty 80
Serving plattersqty 12
Serving boardsqty 6

Equipment

Active speakersqty 2
Mixer
Microphone
Laptop
Extension cordsqty 4
Power stripsqty 4
Coolersqty 3

Kitchen

Coffee makerqty 2
Kettlesqty 2
Thermos flasksqty 4
Ice scoop
Bottle openersqty 3
Corkscrewsqty 2

Decorations

Tableclothsqty 8
Red table runnersqty 8
Tango garlandsqty 6
Menu standsqty 8

Lighting

Atmosphere lightsqty 8
String lightsqty 4

Cleaning

Waste binsqty 4
Waste sorting binsqty 2
Broomqty 2
Floor squeegee
Mop setsqty 2
Bucketsqty 2

Catering

Groceries
- Coffee - 2 packs
- Black tea - 2 boxes
- Herbal tea - 1 box
- Semi-skimmed milk - 8 liters
- Oat milk - 3 liters
- White sugar - 2 kilos
- Sweetener - 1 box
- Spa Blauw - 48 bottles
- Spa Red - 24 bottles
- Cola - 12 bottles
- Cola Zero - 12 bottles
- Sinas - 6 bottles
- Tonic - 12 bottles
- Ginger beer - 12 bottles
- Pilsner - 72 bottles
- Non-alcoholic beer - 24 bottles
- Dry red wine - 12 bottles
- Dry White Wine - 6 bottles
- Apple juice - 6 liters
- Orange juice - 6 liters
- Lemons - 12 pieces
- Ice cubes - 12 kilo
- Paprika chips - 6 bags
- Plain chips - 6 bags
- Snack mix - 4 bags
- Salted peanuts - 3 bags
- Mixed nuts - 3 bags
- Green olives - 4 jars
- Black olives - 4 jars
- Tortilla chips - 6 bags
- Salsa sauce - 4 jars
- Hummus - 8 tubs
- Cucumber - 8 pieces
- Cherry tomatoes - 2 kilos
- Grapes - 3 kilos
- Apples - 40 pieces
- Cheese cubes - 3 kilo
- Brie - 1.5 kilos
- Baguettes - 12 pieces
- Gluten-free crackers - 4 packs
- Vegan vegetable patties - 60 pieces
- Vegetarian empanadas - 80 pieces
- Mini quiches - 80 pieces
- Cookies - 6 packs
- Dark chocolate - 1 kilo
- Mayonnaise - 2 jars
- Ketchup - 2 bottles
- Mustard - 2 jars
- Olive oil - 1 bottle
- Paper towels - 8 rolls
- Toilet paper - 24 rolls
- Hand soap - 4 bottles
- Dish soap - 2 bottles
- All-purpose cleaner - 2 bottles
- Glass cleaner - 1 bottle
- Cleaning wipes - 3 packs
- Sponges - 2 packs
- Trash bags - 3 rolls
- Aluminum foil - 2 rolls
- Cling film - 2 rolls
- Napkins - 300 pieces

Tips

Plan two to three drinks per guest for the first hour, then one to two per hour after that. Include water separately and keep enough water glasses at the bar and welcome area.
Allow one plate and one cutlery set per guest, plus at least 10% extra for replacements. Serving platters and boards should be ready before snacks arrive so food is not left in packaging.
Check the sound setup at least 2 hours before doors open. Test the laptop, mixer, active speakers, microphone, extension cords and power strips together rather than discovering a missing connection during the first tanda.
Prepare one coat hanger per expected coat and add roughly 10% spare hangers. Put the clothes racks near the entrance, but leave a clear route to the welcome table and dance floor.
Chill drinks and prepare coffee equipment at least 60 minutes before guests arrive. Keep bottle openers, corkscrews, an ice scoop, thermos flasks and kettles at the drink station instead of searching for them during the event.

Frequently asked questions

How many drinks do I need for a tango evening?: Plan two to three drinks per person for the first hour and one to two per person for each following hour. Add separate water for the full guest count, especially if the dance floor will be busy.
How much tableware should I buy for a tango evening?: Provide one water glass, wine glass, plate and cutlery set per guest, then add at least 10% extra. For 50 guests, that means 55 of each regularly used item where practical.
When should I test the tango evening sound system?: Test the laptop, mixer, speakers, microphone and all power connections at least 2 hours before opening. Keep spare extension cords and power strips available so the setup does not delay the program.
How early should drinks and snacks be prepared?: Chill drinks about 60 minutes before guests arrive and collect snacks early enough to check the order before setup. Put serving platters, boards and tablecloths in place before opening the welcome desk.

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