School disco guide

HOW TO RUN A SUCCESSFUL 

DISCO 

BY MANDY WEIDMANN 

AKA THE FUNDRAISING WHISPERER 

SCHOOL

INSIDE | SCHOOL DISCO GUIDE 

(c) Mandy Weidmann 2016 

Copyright 

author asserts her moral rights in this work throughout the world without 

The 

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored 

waiver. 

a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior 

in 

of the publisher. 

permission 

Disclaimer 

guide provides ideas only and, while we hope it is helpful, it does not 

This 

advice, specific or general, for your own event. You will need to 

constitute 

3 | Editorial 

4 | A word from our sponsor 

6 | Timing 

7 | Fire Safety 

8 | People Safety 

9 | Logistics 

10 | Themes 

11 | Games 

13 | Add-on Fundraising 

14 | Tickets 

undertake your own risk management and mitigation processes.

EDITORIAL | SCHOOL DISCO GUIDE 

ABOUT 

Weidmann, as the owner and editor of the Fundraising 

Mandy 

is Australia’s ‘Fundraising Whisperer’. She has authored ‘The 

Directory, 

Fundraising Handbook for school and club volunteers’ and is 

Practical 

to speak regularly at State and National Parent Association 

invited 

She is the resident Fundraising Expert for several print 

Conferences. 

online publications and writes weekly fundraising tips for her 

and 

kids just have the BEST 

Don't 

at a school disco! It can 

time 

- as we wait (hopefully 

other 

a coffee in our hands!) for 

with 

little darlings to wear 

our 

out on the dance 

themselves 

a little overwhelming - the 

be 

of a lot of over- 

thought 

small people in the 

excited 

place at the one time... 

one 

floor. 

you to Glow Stuff for 

Thank 

the funding support 

providing 

panic! We help you 

Don't 

it down in this helpful 

break 

to put this resource together. 

how-to guide. 

Fundraising! 

Happy 

xMandy 

school disco is also an 

A 

opportunity for 

important 

aka the Fundraising Whisperer 

parents to connect with each 

audience of 20,000 subscribers and 18,000 Facebook fans.

A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR 

guide is made possible 

This 

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through 

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Disco’s 

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You’ll often find that the 

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top sellers, just match 

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SCHOOL DISCO GUIDE | 04


TIMING IS 

IMPORTANT! 

generally don’t need a lot of 

You 

time to organise a disco (4- 

lead 

weeks in ahead is plenty) but 

6 

that good DJ’s can be 

remember 

out well in advance, 

booked 

in the lead up to 

especially 

and other busy times 

Christmas 

the year. To make 

throughout 

you get the greatest 

sure 

look for dates that 

attendance, 

clash with other school 

don’t 

– parents don’t want to 

events 

spending weekend after 

be 

at school – and this will 

weekend 

give you the best chance of 

also 

maximum volunteers. 

getting 

can offer lots of 

Disco’s 

to rope in extra 

opportunities 

$$$’s and they don’t 

fundraising 

to be complicated. Before 

have 

get to the fun stuff, we need 

we 

talk about the ‘adminy’ stuff 

to 

will make sure you and 

which 

that attends is safe 

everybody 

and has a great time. 


FIRE SAFETY 

not necessarily something that springs to mind to 

It’s 

about when you’re planning your disco, but 

think 

that you will have a large number of 

considering 

crazy children in a confined space, it pays to 

screaming 

be across fire safety precautions. 

you are holding your disco in your own school hall, 

If 

with your school administration what the 

check 

limits are for it. Same goes for the use of nonschool 

number 

venues. It’s also really important to make sure 

your school principal or someone with knowledge 

that 

your venues fire evacuation procedure is at your 

of 

– just in case - as well as any other requirements 

event 

as announcements). 

(such 


PEOPLE SAFETY 

your tickets in advance 

Selling 

a really easy way to allow you 

is 

set up a list of students 

to 

your disco. Names 

attending 

then be checked off at the 

can 

to make sure you don’t 

door 

any gate crashers. Some 

get 

use a ‘sign in/sign out’ 

schools 

Many schools require 

system. 

to stay on the 

parents 

premises throughout. 

doesn’t hurt to find a couple 

It 

parents to keep handy in 

of 

you need ‘security’ for the 

case 

(and in some cases the 

kids 

A roster is a good 

parents!). 

for this - otherwise it is 

idea 

to always think that 

easy 

else' is taking care 

'somebody 

of it. 

recently read a story about a 

I 

who ruined a school 

father 

after rushing onto the 

dance 

floor to break up what 

dance 

assumed to be two kids 

he 

and then called the 

fighting 

claiming one of the 

police 

assaulted him! Crazy 

children 

… 

school hall is a godsend as 

A 

can limit the entry points 

you 

one or two places, so you 

to 

less likely to get kids 

are 

and getting into 

'exploring' 

mischief. 


LOGISTICS 

you have a very 

Unless 

school, disco’s are 

small 

anywhere from a 

Having 

- 30 minute break in 

5 

often than not 

more 

into two time 

separated 

gives an 

between 

to clean up 

opportunity 

– earlier for the little 

slots 

(prep – grade 2 or 3) 

kids 

the next lot come 

before 

and to cut down on 

in 

a bit later and 

and 

a bit longer 

sometimes 

congestion around 

traffic 

venue. Of course, you 

the 

the bigger kids 

for 

3/4-6). Some 

(grades 

throw everybody in 

can 

but be mindful 

together, 

open up the 

schools 

to siblings, 

invitation 

maximum numbers 

of 

your venue being 

for 

exceeded. 

for the little 

particularly 

disco, but in this 

kids 

supervision for 

case, 

should be 

siblings 

last thing. Check 

One 

your local P&C/P&F 

with 

provided by parents. 

or Education 

authority 

to see if a 

Department 

you have a larger 

If 

with a combined 

school 

card is required by 

blue 

DJ (they almost 

your 

you can offer a 

campus, 

school disco and 

primary 

will) if you are 

certainly 

one for your event 

hiring 

separate high school 

a 

Separation also 

disco. 

make sure that they 

and 

their own public 

have 

liability. 

it a bit safer for 

makes 

little kids so they’re 

the 

getting bowled over 

not 

the bigger ones. 

by 

that’s the boring 

Anyway, 

important stuff over 

but 

and done with. 


THEMES 

(and some adults too!) 

Kids 

any excuse to fancy dress. 

love 

a theme can create 

Choosing 

more atmosphere for 

even 

event and allows you to 

your 

as big or small with 

go 

as your budget 

decorations 

allows. 

your disco falls near a special 

If 

for example, Valentines 

day, 

St Patricks Day, Black 

Day, 

(Friday 13th), Easter, 

Friday 

or Christmas, 

Halloween 

your theme sorted. You 

there’s 

choose a theme based on 

can 

seasons (Winter 

the 

Spring is in the 

Wonderland, 

Colours of Autumn) or even 

air, 

back in time for a 70’s or 

step 

or even a movie theme. 

80’s 

are fun and limited 

Themes 

by your imagination but 

only 

certainly not essential for 

are 

disco being a success. If 

your 

are going with a theme, 

you 

to your DJ about 

speak 

some music that is 

including 

line with that. You’ll find 

in 

DJ’s are quite open to 

most 

about the kind of 

discussion 

that they will play – 

music 

all making sure it’s ‘kid 

above 

friendly’ and age appropriate. 


GAMES 

are a definite winner 

Games 

will keep the kids 

and 

to your DJ to see if 

Talk 

are happy to run the 

they 

especially if you 

entertained, 

prizes! Having said 

have 

or whether the 

games 

a teacher or P&C 

principal, 

though, don’t try to 

that 

too many games as 

include 

will do the honours. 

rep 

the next page for some 

See 

kids will want to do their 

the 

thing most of the time. 

own 

game ideas 

great 

including: 

Statues 

Corners 

on the length of 

Depending 

disco and the age of 

your 

Limbo 

Dance-off 

kids attending, three or 

the 

would be more than 

four 

and don’t forget to 

adequate 

parents to join in 

encourage 

the fun too. 


STATUES 

CORNERS 

LIMBO 

DANCE OFF 

consists of 

Statues 

dancing until 

everybody 

two volunteers to hold 

Find 

stick. Have the kids 

the 

music stops. They then 

the 

like a statue and if 

freeze 

up and try to stay calm 

line 

Everybody goes under 

;) 

move they’re out. The 

they 

chooses how long the 

DJ 

stick one at a time and 

the 

they fall or bump the 

if 

stops for each time – 

music 

longer the stop, the 

the 

they’re out. When the 

stick, 

is through, the stick is 

line 

it becomes to hold 

trickier 

pose. Keep going 

your 

and line goes 

lowered 

again, until you’re 

through 

you find your final 

until 

statue. 

with one person who 

left 

get under the stick. 

can 

each of the four 

Label 

of your room. The 

corners 

off – girls vs boys – 

Dance 

vs kids – whatever 

parents 

common way to do 

most 

is using the four suits 

this 

for you. Have several 

works 

and winners are 

rounds 

a pack of cards (hearts, 

of 

spades and 

diamonds, 

by loudest audience 

chosen 

– you might want 

reaction 

Everybody hits the 

clubs). 

floor and when the 

dance 

bring some ear plugs for 

to 

one! that 

stops they choose a 

music 

The DJ will then 

corner. 

could also consider 

You 

depending on your 

karaoke 

draw from a 

randomly 

of cards and 

pack 

and if time allows. 

audience 

never know whether 

You 

suit he chooses 

whichever 

out, or if you want to 

is 

might have the next 

you 

Idol or Australia’s 

Australian 

the game short, the 

keep 

corner stays in. 

chosen 

Talent winner in your 

Got 

midst! 

not in the right 

Those 

leave the game and 

corner 

music starts again and 

the 

process repeats until 

the 

you have your winner. 


ADD-ON 

FUNDRAISING 

offer lots of fundraising scope aside from ticket sales 

Disco’s 

some of these can be really easy to put together. Ideas 

and 

include: 

Temporary Tattoos 

are quick and easy to apply and come in all sorts or 

These 

sizes and colours. There’s something for everyone. 

shapes, 

Face painting 

volunteers from your school community, some face 

Artistic 

and brushes from Spotlight can keep costs down for 

paints 

or if you hire someone, collect a gold coin donation for 

this, 

face painted to help cover costs. 

each 

Glow Products 

disco is not complete unless you have glow products! The 

Your 

these days is nothing short of amazing. They are great 

range 

extremely popular and can return really good 

fundraisers, 

Check out glowstuff.com.au. 

profits. 

Crazy hair spray 

cheap option that the kids will love – the parents 

Another 

not so much ;) 

probably 

Photo Booth/ Photo board 

doesn’t have to be an expensive outlay and is probably 

This 

to be more popular with the older kids. If you find 

going 

to take the photos, you can buy some props and DIY, 

someone 

if your budget allows you can hire one for a couple of hours. 

or 


TICKETS 

price can you charge 

What 

tickets? This depends on 

for 

numbers ahead of time 

Having 

makes it much easier for 

also 

included. If we’re 

what’s 

just a straight entry 

talking 

and presents another 

catering 

to connect with local 

way 

the most common price 

fee, 

is around $5.00, 

point 

to ask for donations 

business 

reduce your expenses. You 

and 

some schools have 

although 

entry fee. 

no 

still also offer extras like 

can 

corn, bags of lollies or 

pop 

Keep your food options 

chips. 

and quick to prepare and 

easy 

can then sell food items 

You 

sale separately - perhaps 

on 

forget the parents might 

don’t 

wanting a feed too. A coffee 

be 

sizzle, pizza, hot 

sausage 

popcorn, bags of 

dogs, 

can be a good idea, but 

van 

can vary depending on 

sales 

lollies and soft drinks. 

the time of day. 

to save yourself 

However, 

and money, think 

time 

are a school staple but 

Disco’s 

with all successful 

as 

including a ‘meal 

about 

with your ticket price - 

deal’ 

one of the most 

fundraisers, 

things to remember 

important 

fee, a sausage on 

entry 

dog/pizza slice 

bread/hot 

to keep it simple. You’ll get 

is 

bang for your buck and 

more 

and a drink for $10. 

might even enjoy yourself 

you 

a little). 

(just

School disco guide

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