Let’s face it; our favorite types of weekend nights consist of spending good time with great friends. Sure, it’s fun to chat it up with all your fellow Columbia students at your favorite campus bar or party but in reality, you just barely know these people in daylight hours. It’s also exciting to cab it downtown to meet as many randos as you please. But when it comes right down to it, us Barnard girls much prefer the pregame, an hour or two of liquid bonding with your closest friends.
So what exactly is the “pregame” and how can you host one that’s a complete success? It’s not hard to do but without a doubt certain tips and hints cannot be forgotten. As a Barnard junior who always seems to house the weekend pregames along with her suitemates in a certain undisclosed penthouse apartment, I do remember the importance of a good pregame that can take place in the quad, our most “dorm-like” of buildings. While the key to any get-together is always the people you’re with, for the sake of this article I’m assuming that you’ve already gathered your witty, out-going, fun-loving usual crew—now the execution. Take these tips extremely seriously because a flop of a pregame often means a flop of a night.
Chasers: Questionably more important than alcohol. These are the drinks that are always forgotten or the ones that run out first. No one will forget the Nikolai and rum but staples like orange juice, diet coke, and sprite are the only real reasons we’re able to get those drinks down. Go wild and try something new, a concoction that you can call your own. But a word to the wise, Coffeemate in any flavor will never, ever do the trick.
Playlists: The absolute key to any good pregame, 90s music is preferred. No one can resist a good dose of the Backstreet Boys or 3LW. A little bit of JoJo and maybe J.Biebs will also suffice. Never forget that Rihanna and Beyonce must always make an appearance. So should Chris Brown, R. Kelly and yes I will say it, Taylor Swift. Pre-make for the pregame, playlists should be done ahead of time. This leads to less song ADD and louder drunken singing, dancing… and just about everything else.
Paper Towels: Pregames equal messes. Spills can only be predicted and should be expected. Since no one wants to wake up to last night’s sticky floor, buy those rolls now and use them ASAP. Whether you’re in your suite’s tiny kitchen or your dorm room’s minute floor rug, keep it clean now and everything will run more smoothly.
Cards: Definitely the hidden gem. Perfect for facilitating conversation if the mood becomes a bit dull. Pick up the energy and use cards for my personal favorite game, Kings. But while cards are certainly a useful tool, when in doubt, go with the complete winner Banana Grams. This is the ultimate game for any time of day but unbelievably hilarious when tipsy. Grab these pregame backups and use if conversation begins to fall flat.
Red Cups: Common, we all know the importance. Taught to us in high school and only reinforced in college, if it’s booze than it must be in a red cup! They’re necessary for flip cup, Beirut and just about any other drinking game of the sort. Cheap, no dishes to be done in the morning, and oh so cliché, “Solo” cups mean business.
All right, I know you’re excited. You’re thinking about Thursday night already, and I don’t blame you. But first, get over to Butler and get to class in order to make the upcoming weekend worth it. Work hard, play hard; the motto we all should live by. And remember that the ultimate pregame needs not just all of the above, but a solid group of laid-back friends who can turn just about any situation into a party. Who knows, you might not ever even make it out and that, as we all know, can also be the indication of complete success.