Hosting an outdoor movie night is a great way to keep kids occupied during the summer or get together with friends and family for the premiere of a new movie or television show. However you choose to do yours, there are five basic tips that you’ll need to keep in mind for the perfect experience. So, let’s cut the lights, crank the projector, and explore each one!
1. Pick the Right Movie
The first and arguably most important thing you can do is choose the right movie. (Likely a movie anyway, unless your invited guests are all caught up and you’re watching the next episode or the finale of a favorite series).
Choosing from the right genres of movies is your first step to finding something everyone can get excited about. Netflix, Hulu, HBOMax, and the other streamers, can make this a little difficult and confusing. Using a service like bob.show can help you synthesize your interests and find something agreeable for everyone.
2. Get Your Technology Sorted Out
Once you know the movie that you want to watch, it’s time to think about the audio-video setup. The video has two, maybe three components, consisting of the following:
- Playback surface: white sheet, theater screen, or flat white area an image can be projected onto
- Projector: the higher in lumens the better; tons of great options here
- Video source: streaming stick or box, DVD/Blu-ray player
From there, decide how many speakers you’ll be using and where they’ll be placed. Run the wires to ensure they work properly before hosting movie night begins.
3. Start at the Right Time
During the summer, it’s not always possible to know the best time for starting your movie. Much depends on sunset.
Check your weather app or the news to see when the approximate time of sunset is. Add about 15 minutes to that to ensure adequate darkness. This guarantees crisper colors and overall visibility.
4. Supplies
When watching movies with friends, you want them to be as comfortable as possible. You also want to plan ahead to ensure they have access to everything they need (even if they forget to bring it themselves).
The best things to keep on hand include extra chairs, in case they bring guests or forget their own chairs, bug spray options (both natural ingredients and more potent combinations), and individual drink-coolers to keep beverages from getting too hot.
5. Snacks and Drinks
Finally, it’s important to make sure that your movie night budget leaves room for movie drinks and snacks. Ideally, your guests will bring their own goods with them, but being a gracious host means that no one goes without.
You can load up on affordable candy boxes, drinks, and other snacks at the grocery store ahead of time. Depending on how close you are with your friends, you might even agree to chip in and have one of you stock up.
Outdoor Movie Night Has Entered the 21st Century
Outdoor movie night is so much more fun than it used to be, now that projector technology, Internet connections, and streaming sources have improved every aspect of the experience.
Get your setup ready to go, choose a movie you can all enjoy, and do your best to make sure no one does without. For more lifestyle tips and information, check out some of our additional posts!
