Personally, I think what makes a good party is the size. That doesn't mean I think the party has to be huge and, in fact, to a point I mean the opposite. A good party is one during which you can actually socialize and get to meet new people. To some, the idea of a party is to find the biggest, wildest rave they can and that is their idea of a good party. The difference lies in the end goal of your partying endeavor: new friends and a good time, or getting blacked out drunk with your current friends. I have a blast getting intoxicated, sure, but the fun part is trying to converse with strangers (hot ones!) while I'm at it. Not to mention all the memories that I make with the friend group I choose to go with that night which I suppose you can make equal but different memories at a crazy party, too.
For my taste their is a formula: loud crowded dance rooms+small, more private side rooms=fun, socializing, and new friends. The dance rooms are where the rave feeling happens (minus the hard drugs), and once you run into someone worthwhile and talking gets too difficult with the noise, you move into a smaller room where you can hang out and get to know each other. Some may worry that by moving into the privacy of a smaller room a woman could be taken advantage of, and I won't say it isn't true. But as with all aspects of a night out you have to use your head: don't get so intoxicated that you can't make your own decisions and say no. Not to mention that it isn't very likely that you will be the only couple in the room. I don't mean to sound as if the men I meet are always for romantic involvement, a lot of times it is just to meet a new greek friend who also has info on when the parties are. I've met quite a few of my male friends just by saying hey. Of course I did begin the friendships many times with a makeout sesh....but that is just a fun drunk thing to do.
Judge my partying preferences and habits if you want, but to me going out is a way of socializing with both old and new friends in a familiar and enjoyable setting. Take last night for example, the party started just a little on the small side, but within thirty minutes it was a pretty good size. They managed the rooms nicely since there are multiple rooms and they don't have them all open at the same time, As the visitors grew they opened more rooms. People had fun bonging beer and playing beer pong (bongs and pongs...hmm that should be the theme of a party one of these days), and there was a large supply of alcohol that never ran out. I would say the biggest thing these frat boys did right is that they actually approach their guests and strike conversation. There's nothing weirder than just dancing around with your girlfriends and not even getting to talk to the brothers of the house you're visiting! After all, if I wanted to just get drunk with my girls I could chill in one of our rooms with alcohol from the grocery store. Alpha Gamma Rho aren't the only partiers I deem quality either. Delta Chi is equally fun for the same reasons. Of course I fully understand that with the layout of some frat houses parties are held in an open basement because that is what they have to work with. You can always take a girl to a private room upstairs but then you really will be private and secluded because the chances of other people being there too is slim. However, one thing party throwers can do is strike up conversation and say hey; actually socialize! I revert back to one of my original statements: if I stay at the same party all night long, it's probably because it's actually a good one and for me that is how you do it. Party safe, people! TGIF:)
