How To Throw a Rent Party

Decide if the party will be invitation-only or open to the public. If the latter, knock off some flyers and distribute them to your friends, friends of friends, and around the neighborhood.

Plan the menu. Traditional foods include fried chicken, ham, macaroni and cheese, biscuits, baked beans, potato salad, corn bread, collard greens, red beans and rice, peach cobbler, and sweet potato pie. Beverages include fruit punch, soda, coffee, and sometimes beer.

Once the food and drink budget has been established, figure out how much you need to charge at the door to clear enough for your rent.

Enlist friends to DJ, sing, or play instruments. Jazz and blues is the traditional music, like Fats Waller and Duke Ellington.

Have friends take turns covering the door, hat in hand, to collect the admission fee.

Have fun—but make sure the party doesn’t get so rowdy that you anger your landlord. You’ll want him calm and happy when next month’s rent is late!