While going back in time isn't in the cards anytime soon (unless you know something I don't) there's no rule that says you can't recreate those days and nights you remember.
That's where all this comes in.
This isn't about throwing one of those "retro" parties I'm sure a lot of us have been to. Yeah they're fun, but they almost always follow the same blueprint with a few new things tossed in here and there. With that in mind, I sat down and started letting my brain run free.
I've never hidden the fact that I'm pretty much stuck in the 80's (if that wasn't already obvious). The world may have changed and I may have gotten older, but my brain is still hanging out around 1985 feeding quarters into a Pac-Man game at the arcade.
I've had this slightly crazy idea to - metaphorically - take a trip back to the 80's for a long time now and relive all the fun we had. Since the 80's wasn't a blast for everybody, how about giving people who missed out on a lot of stuff a chance to experience it all? Sounds pretty cool to me!
I've bounced ideas around, weighed pros and cons, been hopeful one minute and sure it won't work the next, then back again. My friends helped me keep the whole tangled mess from being thrown out a window more than once.
I did my best to remember as much as possible about what we used to do back then. I scoured websites and blogs dedicated to the 80's for ideas - and started a blog of my own in the process - keeping the best for later. I give the creators of those sites and blogs a ton of credit for helping keep the fun alive. I'm going to link to every single one of them so everybody can check it out!
Everything from parties, TV shows, movies, and fads to clothes, lingo, food, and toys were jotted down in the pages of a notebook. (I hand write everything, old school style.) The list of bands alone was almost four double-columned pages long.
But writing everything out helped in figuring out what would and wouldn't work. Obviously one man-child can't put together a world-wide 80's party (Bob Geldof I am not) so I had to come up with other ways to get things rolling.
Here's what I came up with:
- Everything is completely self-motivated and self-driven. If you don't light the fuse, nothing happens. I'm just giving a few ideas; it's up to you to run with it.
- You (obviously) can spend as little or as much as you want. Go all out or keep it simple...it's up to you!
- Don't exclude anybody for stupid reasons. Age means nothing! Nobody is too young or too old to participate.
- It doesn't matter how you look, what you weigh, or anything along those lines so blow all that stuff outta your head! Remember, this is the FUN PART!
- There's no time limit or start date. Start up when you want and end when you want.
- Feel free to take a ton of pictures and send them in! I'll happily post them on my blog. Break out the Polaroid and snap away!
And there you have it. Before you head off to check out the lists I put together, remember one thing:
It's All Up To You! Spread The Links! Tell Your Friends! Get Your Friends Together And Get The Party Started!
The 80's Never Ended!
Keep It Awesome!
Directions:
