Our Blog

With the days finally getting longer and the backyard drying out, it’s time to start thinking about backyard movie nights again!

Backyard movie nights are a fun and inexpensive way to get family, friends and neighbors together for a casual evening.  Here are 7 tips that can help turn an ordinary backyard movie night into a memorable gathering.

 

1. Select a movie that is appropriate for your entire audience

When you are planning a backyard movie night remember that there will likely be a wide range of ages and tastes to consider.  Pick a movie that is fun and appropriate for everyone who might be attending.  If there are going to be very young children, remember that they have a limited attention span so also consider the running time. Animated films from studios like Pixar and Dreamworks will make your visuals pop compared to live action movies with darker settings. You can also check out our outdoor movie page to see what our other customers are currently playing: http://www.avistarentals.com/consumer-av-rentals/outdoor-movies/

 

2. Do a theme around the movie you have selected

You can really enhance the fun by adding some extra decorations to your backyard movie night.  Ask your guests to wear costumes or bring something to eat that goes along with the movie.  And of course, popcorn is a must! 

Some great examples of movie themed backyard parties can be found on these pinterest pages.  Get inspired to create your own amazing movie experience.

 

This example shows a Star Wars themed party where you could have guests dress as jedis or sith lords and put out Star Wars themed decorations:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/406098091386062621/

In the mood for a rustic setting?  Bales of hay can be used as seating to give you a rustic, farm feeling for any Western movie night you might be planning!

 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/350225308495616365/

 

3. Invite the neighbors

Be friendly with those that live around you!  Everyone likes to mingle and have a fun night so the best way to gain favor with your neighbors while being the most innovative person on the street is to invite those who live near you.  Everyone loves movies so this is a great way to spend some relaxing time with the folks around you.

 

4. Include an intermission

Be sure to time out your movie and give people a break around the halfway mark.  This gives incentive for people to socialize with one another, as well as giving people the opportunity to chat with one another and get any refills on drinks or food that they may need.  Make sure you have a set time period for this break to ensure you’re able to get back to the movie and keep your party on track.

 

5. Test everything beforehand

Preparation is the key to making sure your movie night goes on without any hassles or inconveniences.  Like any corporate event, there should be at least one test run done on all equipment you plan on using for any movie party.  When you work with Avista Audio Visual Rentals you can count on the equipment working perfectly.

 

6. Start it at the right time

At the end of the night, the reason for your gathering was to play a movie with family and friends.  Making sure that you start the movie at an appropriate time can be key to maximizing attendance and assuring there are minimal disruptions during the screening.  A key tip to keep in mind is that you will want to start the movie once most (if not all) guests have come and had a bit of time to socialize before diving into the film experience.  By inviting guests over at least an hour before your desired screening time, you ensure everyone has time to socialize and will be ready to sit down to watch the movie. 

For optimal viewing, plan to start your movie no earlier than 15 minutes after sunset. This can be as late as 8:45pm at the end of June, so plan accordingly!

 

7. Play some music beforehand

The ambiance and mood of a party can be set just by playing the right music at the right volume.  Not only does this liven the mood of any party, it also encourages people to dance and interact more!  Often you can play the music through the rental sound system you are using to play the movie so you are utilizing all your equipment to its fullest potential. 

 

From the right size screen to the perfect projector and sound system, Avista Audio Visual Rentals has everything you need to make your next backyard movie night a complete success.  To find out more you can check out our outdoor movie rental page at: http://www.avistarentals.com/consumer-av-rentals/outdoor-movies or give us a call at 888-462-8478.