How To Organise a Freshers Week Event

Look beyond the bar

Student habits are changing, and with those changes comes an evolution of social life on campus. 

Gone are the nights of trundling across sticky floors, the combo of cheap vodka and smoke machine vapour permeating the nostrils and ending the night stumbling from the club with one shoe and a creased shirt. 

Nowadays, students are looking to drink mindfully. And when they aren’t drinking, they’d rather exercise, play games and socialise away from nightclubs. 

A 2023 study by Mintel found that 45% of Gen Zers spend time with their friends at restaurants, while just under 40% like to go to a bar, play games online and go to cafes and 30% like to exercise. 

Does this mean the end for event promoters? Not at all. In fact, it opens up a world of possibilities. 

Why not spark laughter with comedy nights and provoke discussion with film screenings? Or bring the fun with console games, bowling nights and board game events? You could even give out prizes, adding a touch of friendly competition to up the stakes. 

Organise the logistics

So, you’ve got an idea. Now it’s time to dive into the logistics that will take your vision from dream to reality. 

First up? A venue. For any event, you’ll need somewhere that can accommodate enough attendees. Then, consider the acoustics, sound quality and whether the venue has enough space to fit the equipment needed for your event.

A 100-300 capacity basement venue could be great for film and comedy events. If you can secure a specialised comedy or cinema space, even better. 

You’ll also need equipment. Can you club together and fund several titles and consoles for your games night? Hire a projector screen to show films? Buy multiple board games? 

When you’re showing films, think about licensing. Our article below has all the information you’ll need when hosting a screening event.  

Use the Skiddle Promotion Centre to list your event

Once you have an idea and a venue, you’ll need a reputable platform to list and sell tickets to your event. 

That’s where The Skiddle Promotion Centre comes in. 

Once you’ve signed up, you can get access to our market-leading tools like Discount Codes, which you can use to create incentives for students to attend your events. 

Lots of our staff have been in your shoes, so we designed software with the promoter in mind, delivering an intuitive interface that will guide you along every step of the listing process. 

FAQs, online chat with our Account Support team and video tutorials on YouTube are also available. So, if you need support, we’ll be there to help you out. 

Promoters have used our tools to list gaming tournaments, quiz nights, film screenings and food and drink events. So, no matter what type of event you’re organising, The Skiddle Promotion Centre is equipped for your needs. 

Oh, did we mention? It’s 100% FREE to use. Tap the button below and get started today.

Take advantage of the numbers

Every year, millions of young people arrive at university. Students will be looking for something fun, and your event could deliver that excitement. 

But how do you get your event in front of those students?

With our Reps feature. It lets people who aren’t part of your team sell tickets for your event in exchange for cash or rewards. 

So, get out there and recruit. Meet students from universities, tell them about your event and send them out on campus to sell tickets. 

Think of the benefits: there are new people across campus who could be looking for your exact event and our Reps feature can put your event in front of them. 

Plus, it gives you the chance to sell to multiple markets. If your city has several universities, recruit reps from each and have them sell to their fellow students. That could double or triple the amount of potential attendees. 

Discover more about Reps below.

Get promoting!

As well as using Reps to attract attendees, think about other ways you can entice students to your event. 

Of course, the usual applies here: strong social media presence, engaging content and paid media. 

The experts recommend going where your target audience is. So, why not place an ad in a student newspaper? Imagine the scene: a student flicking through the pages, and out of nowhere, your event appears. A bold, bright event poster that makes your night seem unmissable. 

Throw in a Discount Code (you can use The Skiddle Promotion Centre to generate one) and you’ll be set. A night filled with excitement and money off the ticket? What’s not to love there?

Consider cross-promotion, too. Lots of companies in big cities like Manchester and Leeds create social content based on culture, food and drink and events. They have reputable followings, so a boost from them could swing the balance in your favour. 

Key Takeaways

• Student preferences are changing – Modern students are moving away from traditional nightclub scenes. Instead, they’re interested in diverse activities such as comedy nights, film screenings, board games, and social events that include mindful drinking or none at all.
• Event organisation – Successful Freshers Week events require careful planning of logistics, including selecting a suitable venue, arranging necessary equipment, and handling licensing issues, especially for film screenings.
• Use The Skiddle Promotion Centre – The Skiddle Promotion Centre is a comprehensive tool for event promoters looking to organise Freshers Week events, providing tools like Discount Codes and an intuitive interface to list and promote events. It also offers free support and resources to help with the process.
• Leverage Student Numbers: With millions of new students arriving each year, using the Skiddle Reps feature can be effective for selling tickets to Freshers Week events. Recruit student reps from local universities to promote your event and increase attendance.
• Effective Promotion Strategies: Boost your Freshers Week event’s visibility through strong social media presence, engaging content, and targeted advertising. Consider placing ads in student newspapers and using cross-promotion with city based social media accounts to reach a larger audience.