Parties are an essential element of CONvergence culture, helping make CONvergence an amazing experience. Every year, a veritable army of dedicated individuals and groups give their time, energy and resources to dazzle us with some of the most creative parties ever. Any individual, group, club, business, or organization may apply to host a room party or a mobile party at CONvergence.
Want to host a party but don’t know where to start? Check out the handy CONvergence Party Rules, Tips and Tricks Guide [pdf].
Apply to Host a Party
Click here for the CONvergence 2024 Room Party Application.
The CONvergence 2024 Room Party application will remain open until the party room block is filled or April 30th whichever comes first. First round approval emails will go out March 31st. Please be aware that your party is not official until you receive your approval email. Submitting an application does not guarantee your party will be approved.
Party confirmations and room assignment emails will be sent to party hosts by May 5th, 2024. Please wait until after that date to send inquiries regarding party acceptance. All applications will be sent a response regarding their status by May 5th, 2024.
Click here for the CONvergence 2024 Mobile Party Application.
The CONvergence 2024 Mobile Party application will close April 30th, 2024. Please be aware that your application is not complete until you receive a confirmation email. Submitting an application does not guarantee your party will be approved.
All party hosts and volunteers must comply with all CONvergence Policies and Party Rules [pdf]. If you have any questions, please contact the CONvergence Parties Department.
Party Rules and Policies
All party hosts and volunteers must comply with all CONvergence Policies and Party Rules [pdf].
Want to host a party but don’t know where to start? Check out out the handy CONvergence Party Rules, Tips and Tricks Guide [pdf]
Planning Your Party
While planning your party, we encourage you to offer both something that engages members who want to visit your party for a short visit, and something for those who want to stay longer.
Short visit suggestions:
- Badge ribbons, stickers, temporary tattoos, or other swag to collect
- Drinks or snacks
- Short-duration games
- Interesting decorations to explore
- Cosplay repair
- Photo booth
Longer visit suggestions:
- Karaoke
- Movies or slideshows
- Puzzles and Games
- Crafts or coloring pages
- Conversations
- Special Events or performances
- Dance floor
Keeping in mind these two different types of visits will help you ensure that everyone who visits your party has a positive experience!
Daytime Activities/Hours
Parties are encouraged, but by no means required, to host some daytime hours. Reasons to be open during some daytime hours include:
- Allows patrons who can’t attend during evening hours or are uncomfortable in the busy nighttime crowds to visit your party.
- Allows people to scope out parties so they can make sure to hit the ones that interest them the most later in the evening. (Think of it as a party preview.)
- Opportunities to host games, puzzles, or other activities that are a more intimate experience than the busy party night atmosphere.
- Opportunities to partner with other organizations to help with fundraising for the room.
Some example of daytime activities could be:
- A casual gaming setting, e.g. a Super Smash Bros. tournament or board games
- Author readings and signings
- Cosplay or stage makeup demos
- Meet-ups and general hangout time
- Movie or TV show viewings
- Performances
- Sing-alongs
- Sensory-friendly hours
- Kid-friendly hours
Perks of Hosting a Party
- Any Room Party open all 3 nights of the convention can receive up to 5 one-day passes to bring in additional staff to help with your party any day of the convention.
- Day passes are valid from 10:00am on the issuing day until 5:00am the following morning. Day passes must be reserved prior to the convention, cannot go to a member of a party’s core staff, and are not transferable or upgradable.
- Priority placement for one sleeping room, on the same floor as your party room if desired.
- Access to Parties HQ Party Supplies and the Equipment lending library.
- Volunteer hours, redeemable for t-shirts and other volunteer thank-you gifts.
- Adoration of your fans!
For more information about party hosting perks, check the CONvergence Party Rules, Tips and Tricks Guide [pdf]. We are always willing to hear your suggestion if you think of something you feel would make a good perk for party hosts. Please email your ideas to the CONvergence Parties Department.
Room Parties
Room parties are parties that are held exclusively within an assigned and reserved hotel suite designated for this purpose. CONvergence room parties are known for their creative decorations and unique themes.
Room Parties have the option of being in the large 2 room suites or a smaller, standard hotel room along the party hallway. These smaller rooms are perfect for new parties just starting out, parties promoting other conventions or organizations, and parties focused more on being a smaller, more intimate experience.
Mobile Parties
A mobile party is any person or group approved by CONvergence to offer an attraction, service, entertainment, activity, game, or refreshments but is considered “mobile” because it is not tied down to a specific room like room parties. (Mobile parties do not have an official party room assigned to them.) Some wander around completely mobile, some are stationary, and some pop-up temporarily in different places.
Mobile party applications received and approved by April 30th, 2024, where the mobile party will be operational for 14 or more hours during the convention, will have the opportunity to reserve a sleeping room at the Hyatt before the room block is released to the public. This does not guarantee a room, but will give mobile party hosts the opportunity to reserve one.
- Mobile parties must still submit an application and be accepted by the CONvergence Parties Department.
- Mobile parties do not have an option to be assigned a sleeping room via the parties application process.
- Mobile parties will be listed on the CONvergence web site and in the souvenir guide.
- Mobile parties should have at least one and may have up to six Core Staff.
Examples of mobile parties from past years of CONvergence include Twin Cities Geek Hydration Challenge, Snack Food Glory Hole, Mobile Toast Unit, and Roving Tarot card reader.
Possible ideas for a mobile Party: A wandering minstrel, a costume repair person, roving trivia game, etc.
Party Promotion
Promoting your party to CONvergence members can help attract more people, especially if you are running special events during the convention. Below are some suggestions to help you reach as many people as possible.
- Get listed in the CONvergence Programming Guide and on the Parties page of the CONvergence website by submitting your party description to the Parties department.
- At CONvergence, posters—and particularly posters for parties—are a cultural phenomenon. Make eye-catching, clever, or weird posters for your party to grab the attention of CONvergence members and entice them through your door. Just be sure to adhere to poster hanging guidelines outlined in the Party Rules below.
- Utilize social media! Add the official CONvergence tag (#CVG+the convention year, e.g. #CVG2024) to posts and tweets about your party. Make a Facebook event for your party and share it on the CONvergence Community Facebook group. Make a custom Snapchat filter or facebook profile frame. There are a lot of opportunities to be creative and engage on social media!
- Put a barker or greeter at your door to attract people into your room. Just make sure they do not disrupt traffic through the hallways!
2024 Parties
The full list of parties at CONvergence will be on the Parties page!
Questions and Comments
If you have any questions or comments about hosting a party at CONvergence, please contact the CONvergence Parties Department.
© 2024