about this site...
PostProm.org maintains a collection of thoughts, ideas, comments, and historical information documenting post prom activities, games, contests, rules, prizes, vendors, hall setup diagrams, community resources, and local sponsor lists; assembled by parent volunteers who have been actively involved with planning, organizing, and scheduling after prom parties for many years.
While most of the featured events took place in Baltimore County, Maryland, the content is being reorganized in order to serve as a more universal reference for students, teachers, school administrators, chaperones, parents, and other volunteers who may be planning an after prom party in their own communities.
why have a post prom party?
The primary goal of a post prom or after prom party has to be ensuring the safety and well-being of "invincible" high school teenagers — those who go to the prom, as well as, those who don't. Toward that end, all students who would otherwise be allowed to attend their prom should be strongly encouraged to attend the after prom event.
how do you get them there?
Well, that's sometimes easier said than done, but the experience of this parent volunteer, suggests that a couple of points need to be considered. First of all, it should be free to all eligible students. Secondly, it should offer teenagers a safe, unique, substance free, experience that would be difficult for them to plan on their own someplace else... say, at a 'friends' place where they may be unsupervised. So, do your best to make your after prom event more interesting, more inviting, more rewarding, and more memorable, than whatever a group of resourceful teenagers are likely to be able to pull-off on the same night.
Oh, and don't forget to actively promote your event at school, as well as, directly to the parents and the local business community, before students start planning their own parties. If 'all the other kids' are going to the sanctioned party after the prom, there is much less incentive — for students or 'well intentioned' parents — to spend time planning an alternative party.
keep everyone active...
While there should be plenty of anticipation to keep people awake until they get there, remember that most everyone in attendance will already have had a very long and tiring day — and many students, as well as the parent volunteers, will have had little sleep the night before. Last minute worries and preparations, pick-ups, deliveries, decorations, tuxedoes, dresses, flowers, nail polish, hair styles, makeup, cleaning the car, food, family, pictures... not to mention school or work depending upon the day of the week. So, be sure to plan for everyone to be busy doing something throughout the entire event. If students or chaperones sit down for any length of time, without being otherwise engaged in an activity, the day's events will likely catch up with them pretty quickly. And over-tired people, teenagers or adults, should not be driving home early in the morning.
parent chauffeurs, limos, buses...
Transportation to and from the prom is a BIG DEAL for several reasons; it's an integral part of the prom experience, it can be expensive, it must be arranged well in advance, and the rental return time will have an effect on when and how students are likely to arrive at the post prom party. For example, what teenager wouldn't want to ride around town after the prom in the fancy stretch limousine they rented for the evening — especially since they are probably paying for it until 2:00 in the morning. Expecting everyone to be at the party immediately after the prom is unrealistic, and restricting access to the party before the time most rental periods are over will result in some number of teens deciding to skip the party altogether... because 'it will be almost over by the time we get there anyway' or simply to get the most out of their luxury ride.
Executive tour buses or site-seeing trolleys are popular, practical, cost effective, and memorable forms of transportation, but party planners need to consider the "Fast-Food-Restaurant-by-the-Interstate-Highway-Effect" when dozens of teenagers get off their bus(es) and expect to enter the hall at the same time. There will be slow times, busy times, and very busy times at the entrance... depending upon the distance from the prom and whether or not everyone stayed until the end; how many students drove their own cars, or had their parents drive them, or hired a limo; how many kids might have ridden on busses; and how many students who didn't go to the prom decide to attend the post prom activities.
Chaperones watching the door need to be prepared to 'process' kids quickly when they arrive in large groups so they are not left standing outside, in their fancy gowns and rented tuxedos, while a cold rain soaks their clothes, ruins their shoes, and gives them all pneumonia — because everyone will be looking much too fine to be wearing their coats;-)
[ Prom on Wikipedia ] - according to this free online encyclopedia, the word prom was derived from promenade, which is described as a "semi-formal (black tie) dance held at the end of an academic year." We are proud to be listed as a trusted resource.
[ Safe & Sober Prom Season Parent Guide & Pledge Book ] (PDF) - published by the Baltimore County Department of Health Bureau of Substance Abuse, this booklet contains facts about underage drinking, drug use, young driver safety tips, underage drinking party legal issues, after-prom activities, and a list of local limousine and bus companies who have signed a pledge agreeing not to allow any young person to use tobacco, alcohol, or any other drugs while using their transportation services.
[ SADD ] - Students Against Destructive Decisions, formerly Students Against Driving Drunk, is a peer leadership organization dedicated to the prevention of underage drinking, drug use, impaired driving, teen violence, and other destructive decisions.
[ How Things Work at Post Prom ] - a list of rules compiled to keep students safe during the event
[ Precision Dynamics Corporation ] - Tyvek wristbands help manage large groups of students, when sequentially numbered they can be used to identify raffle winners and distribute door prizes, and they make nice "scrapbook" mementos, especially if they match the event theme.
[ Summit Manor ] - where many of these activities were held; filling both the first and second floors.
Caricatures were drawn by the very talented artists with [ Rick Wright & Company ]
Wax hands were provided by the fantastic folks at [ Wild Wild Wax ]
Never heard of Speed Stacks? Watch a World Sport Stacking Assoc. [ video ]
[ Hereford High School Web Site ] - Depending upon your computer settings, you may not be able to enter the school Web site via the Flash intro page and the back button may not return you to this page. So, this link opens in a new window and some more direct links are provided below:
- HHS "Home Page" - bypassing the Flash intro
[ Hereford Volunteer Fire Company ] - Thanks to all these terrific volunteers who give their time and talents to help protect everyone in the "Hereford Zone" and beyond.
[ Hereford Bulletin ] - news and information about the Hereford High School Sports Boosters Club, Parents of Performing Students (POPS), and HHS PTSA
[ Hereford Zone Business Association ] - local organization that "promotes the business and economic climate of northern Baltimore County."
[ Hereford 4th of July Parade ] - floats, marching bands, fire trucks, horses, farm tractors (it is in Hereford after all ;-) and some of the best "small town" fireworks displays we have ever seen!
North County Recreation & Parks Councils
Hereford Rec Council Prettyboy Rec Council 7th District Rec Council
post prom party 2008...
The 2008 Hereford High School Post Prom Party was held immediately following the Junior and Senior Prom on Saturday, May 3, 2008 at Summit Manor; behind the Hereford Volunteer Fire Station. In addition to a large assortment of prize packages, most of the games and activities purchased for use during the event were given away to students at the end of the party. Here is a brief explanation of how things work...
Two HHS Seniors won 'GRAND' Prizes, 7 HHS Juniors won their own personal parking spaces directly in front of the high school, and a wide assortment of other prize packages were given away at the end of the Post Prom Party.
To everyone who donated their time and talents throughout the year, and to each and every one of our generous sponsors for 2008 — Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!
post prom party 2007...
The 2007 Hereford High School Post Prom Party was held at Summit Manor on Friday, May 18th. Thank you to everyone who helped make it such a success!
In addition to more than 75 great prize packages, which anyone could win, HHS Seniors were eligible to win a Special "Grand" Prize of $1,000 and HHS Juniors were eligible to win one of the 7 Private Parking Spaces in front of the school. Here is "How Things Work "
Here are some of the activities available to students at the Post Prom Party:
- Music by DJ Brad Hart
- Wax hands by Wild, Wild, Wax
- Rick Wright's amazing caricature artists
- Karaoke Revolution - Country
- Famous parents at the Blackjack tables
- Arcade style electronic basketball
- Dance Dance Revolution
- Guitar Hero
- Limbo contest
- Hula Hoop contest
- Speed Stacks cup stacking
- Money booth
- Hereford bull "roping" competition
- Horseshoes
- Grab prizes from a "claw" machine
- and more...
Since many of the activities were purchased and not rented, everything that was practical to give-away - including PlayStation consoles, Televisions, electronic basketball games, cup stacking sets, PS2 software, microphones & DDR dance pads - was awarded to students as additional prizes at the end of the night... actually, very early the following morning.
post prom party 2006...
To all of the students, parents, teachers, members of the administration, PTSA, and our generous sponsors who helped make the Hereford High School Post Prom Party of 2006 such a success -- thank you very much!
Wax hands, caricature artists, DDR, Guitar Hero, blackjack, pinball machines, electronic basketball, a money booth, and music by Barry Hart were some of the more notable activities.
More than 70 prizes were given away, including a mini Honda motorcycle, several TV's and Play Station 2 game consoles, DDR & Guitar Hero game packages, printers, home audio systems, iPods, autographed footballs, beach packages, digital cameras, and one very lucky senior even won the "grand" prize.
And, if you ever wondered how students managed to score those Private Parking Spaces right in front of the school, well they were given away in a drawing just for HHS Juniors.
See what went on at Post Prom 2006
post prom party 2005...
Thank you to everyone involved for making the Hereford High School Post Prom Party 2005 a safe and enjoyable experience for our students!
The HHS Post Prom Party for 2005, began a new tradition of giving away as many of the games and activities as possible.
Instead of paying rental fees for blackjack tables and arcade games, the Post Prom committee purchased blackjack sets and covered the existing fold up tables with green felt layouts. At the end of the event, the aluminum briefcase card sets were all used as prizes.
The materials used in the DDR booth -- Red Octane dance pads, televisions, PlayStation 2 game consoles & DDR software were all given away to students.
Even the arcade style electronic basketball games and Skee-put mini golf sets were used to increase the numbers of prizes that students could win.
See more of what happened at Post Prom 2005
parents, community, local government...
It costs a lot to host a major event at a large public facility, with games, activities, prizes and food for hundreds of hungry high school kids — and heavily caffeinated beverages for the chaperones. However, when you solicit the help of your entire community, you might be surprised by just how much support you will receive. In addition to cash, donations can be made in the form of volunteer time, discounts on food, catering services, hall rental, a free oil change, flowers, a round of golf, theater or movie tickets, and other products and services from local business.
Also, be sure to check with your local school district, department of parks and recreation, health department, and/or other government agencies to see if there might be applicable funds available.
please support this web site...
If you have found the information on this site to be helpful when planning your after prom activities, please let others know about it and consider making a small donation to offset our Web hosting costs by making a purchase using one of the links on this site. You can buy and immediately download your favorite songs from your high school prom using the MP3 music link to the left, or make any other purchase through our affiliation with Amazon.com and we will earn a small commission for each sale. Simply click on any of the products in the carousel widget at the bottom of this section to find what you need for your child's first year in a college dorm or apartment.
BTW, Amazon.com Gift Certificates make excellent door prizes — just the right size & color;-)
Thank you for your support, good luck with your after prom events, and remember to enjoy the time you have with your teenagers... before you know it, they will be moving out of your house and starting a life of their own.