Birmingham is a city with universities and colleges that are well-ranked and well-known for their traditions. Orientation parties are the first and the best of the various festivities that become a staple of the college experience. Kick off the semester with a venue already familiar on campus and consider throwing a Birmingham, AL Silent Events orientation dance for your new students, a cocktail party for your donors, or a homecoming gathering for your alumni.

National Alumni Society House, University of Alabama – Birmingham

1301 10th Avenue South Birmingham, AL 35205
(205) 934-3555

The UAB National Alumni Society House is strategically located near the center of UAB’s campus and is easily accessible from the Alys Stephens Center, the Campus Green, the Mervyn Sterne Library, many of the major classroom buildings, deans’ offices, and most of it’s residence halls. The Alumni Society House has 40 dedicated parking spaces with a generous amount of overflow parking located across the street. UAB alumni and friends alike can enjoy The UAB National Alumni Society House’s large amount of dedicated space for large scale meetings, boardroom functions, casual get-togethers, private dinners, and wedding receptions.

Stockham Building, Birmingham-Southern College

900 Arkadelphia Rd, Birmingham, AL 35254
(205) 226-4912

The Stockham Building and Parlor is the official Alumni House of Birmingham-Southern College. It is open to both students and the public for meetings, lectures, seminars, dinners, and receptions. Formerly known as the Stockham Woman’s Building, this two-story, neoclassical structure has served many purposes throughout the years and plays an important role in the history of the college. The “piano nobile” basement foundation is the perfect nod to the piano located in the parlor and favored among many who visit. Unlike many college and university facilities, the Stockham Parlor is licensed to serve beer and wine making it an obvious choice for a private party.

The Art Lofts, Samford University

106 Maintenance Drive, Homewood, AL 35209
(205) 726-2508

Located on the north side of campus, across from Lena Vail Davis Residence Hall, the Art Lofts at Samford University opened in the Fall of 2015. Birmingham-based Davis Architects completed the renovation to the old facilities management building just as the fall semester began. The two-story, open-air Lofts contain what is referred to as the “messy” arts; ceramics, sculpture, and painting. Art students had grown accustomed to borrowing classrooms and then lugging their art across campus for storage but not anymore. Now students can work and store their art in the same space, taking in inspiration from other classes throughout the day. It’s a game changer. Loft spaces are reservable and would be an amazing space for a private party or gallery show.

Chicago has a lot to offer in the way of entertainment for the music enthusiast. We’ve pulled together 10 venues and events that you’ll want to be sure to check out when in town. And, in case the infographic doesn’t load, we’ve written out our list for you right here.

1. Empty Bottle

The Empty Bottle is the place to be if you want to see bands before they make it big. This Ukrainian Village dive’s intimate space fits 400 and in August you can in their awesomely experimental Million Tongues Festival.

2. Metro

Names like The Smashing Pumpkins, Eddie Vedder, and Guns N’ Roses are synonymous with the Metro. Aside from the name-dropping, the Metro’s 1,000-capacity room is plain and simple an awesome way to take in a show. The sound is crystal clear and the rock club vibe is the perfect combination of edgy and cool.

3. The Hideout

If you don’t have a good time at The Hideout, you’re something different. Located in an 1890s balloon-frame house, its live music room, poetry readings, and bingo nights make it feel like something right out of your parents’ basement in all the right ways.

4. Thalia Hall

Modeled after Prague’s opera house, Thalia Hall offers a diverse lineup that includes the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Neurosis, and Lake Street Dive. Take in the show from an Abe Lincoln-esque balcony then head next door to the Michelin-starred restaurant Dusek’s or sample the punch bowls at its downstairs bar, Punch House.

5. Schuba’s Tavern

Schubas is an awesome corner bar with an adjacent dining room serving up some serious mac & cheese. But all the action is in the back room, where up-and-coming artists — often of the quieter singer/songwriter persuasion with an occasional wild rock show or hip-hop gig – can be seen on stage most nights of the week.

6. Green Mill

When the concert is over but you’re still jonesing for some music, skip the club in favor of this former Al Capone hangout where you can catch an after-hours live jazz party with Sabertooth in a swanky setting until 5am. Not really a difficult choice if you ask us.

7. Wickerpark Fest

Large music fests like Lollapalooza are great and all, but to truly experience a Chicago summer is to attend a city street festival. When it comes to music, none is finer than this long-running neighborhood event featuring 40 artists on three stages all for a $10 donation.

8. Lollapalooza

Perry Farrell’s annual Grant Park throw-down is always full of fun surprises and you’re always guaranteed to run into at least three random people you know from high school. All around, it’s a good time had by all.

9. North Coast Music Festival

In all of the hoopla over Lolla, this Annual Labor Day weekend festival tends to be overlooked, but it really shouldn’t. The North Coast Music Festival’s music lineup is consistently eclectic and the vibe is wonderfully laid-back and easy, like any good festival should be.

10. Riot Fest

In recent years, Riot Fest has slowly risen to the top to become known as the best music festival in Chicago. With uniquely excellent lineups that include names like Nine Inch Nails, Queens of the Stone Age, M.I.A., and the Wu-Tang Clan Riot Fest is sure to be three of the most fun days you can take attend in the Windy City.

Chicago is a large city, with over half a million students enrolled in it’s Universities and colleges. Entering such a large arena as a freshmen, there’s no better way to start off the year than with an orientation party. Here’s a list of 3 awesome venues to throw the perfect silent disco orientation party in Chicago.

The MAC Lakeside Pavilion, College of DuPage

425 Fawell Blvd, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137
(630) 942-4000

DuPage is a large community college in Chicago, with over 26,000 students attending. The MAC is a popular arts center for the city of Chicago and it’s Lakeside Pavilion is a new and popular venue for events of every kind. From concerts to receptions and college orientation parties, this outdoor pavilion is ideal for a variety of parties in the open air. The venue boasts a gorgeous, up close view of the water. The Pavilion is equipped with a concert sound system and concert lighting package, as well as tents, tables, chairs, and linens that can be coordinated through the MAC production staff. You can accommodate up to 1,200 people in the stage and audience sections, making it simple to host the campus’ new enrollment for a night of fun. Every attendee of the campus will know exactly where the MAC is located, making it even easier for new students to enjoy the party.

UIC Forum, University of Illinois at Chicago

725 W Roosevelt Rd. Chicago‚ IL 60608
(312) 413-9875

The UIC Forum is one of the most unique and conveniently located event venues in the city of Chicago. The Forum has over 30,000 square feet of space available, making it one of the best locations for a wide variety of events. The venue has hosted a little bit of everything: conventions. trade shows, lectures, concerts, banquets, galas, seminars, meetings, and commencements. The venue is beautifully designed, adding a touch of class to any event that occurs there. You can see a perfect view of the Chicago cityscape from the venue, making it’s rooftop view one to boast about. You can rent the Main Hall or one of it’s various meeting rooms on the first and second floors. The main hall can host anywhere from 900 to 3,000 people. The space can be fully customized to fit your event. They can even provide audio and visual equipment, as you choose from a list of packages. You can even film your event with the Forum’s two Panasonic HD cameras.

Ida Noyes Hall, University of Chicago

1212 E. 59th Street, Suite 106 Chicago, Illinois 60637
(773) 702-3418

Ida Noyes Hall was originally designed and built to be a women’s gymnasium and social center at the University of Chicago in the year 1916. The 82,000 square foot building resembles a Tudor English manor house, giving it a much different appearance than some of the other Gothic buildings on the campus. The large building boasts 8 different event spaces for student groups, university departments, and even non-university events. Choose between the Cloister Club, Library and Library Lounge, Courtyard, Max Palevsky Cinema, Meeting Room 117, the East & West Lounges, and the Theatre for your event. Each space brags it’s own, unique look and design, all very classy and classic in appearance. The largest space available for rent is the Cloister Club, which can accommodate up to 300 people. Many of the spaces even include a prep space for catering. You really won’t want to miss out on this gorgeous, classic event space for your Chicago orientation party.

Make brand new students feel welcome with an awesome and fun orientation event in a convenient campus venue. Hopefully this list makes it a bit easier to find the right event for your campus. If you’re interested in throwing a silent disco for your students, contact Silent Events today.

Chicago is a lively city, rich with history and culture all of it’s own. A unique city with unique residents filled with some of the greatest clubs in the nation. Here’s a list of 3 unique Chicago Clubs to host your very own silent disco at.

The Rec Room

18 W. Hubbard St. Chicago, Illinois 60654
(312) 955-8018

The Rec Room is a great space for any event. Hinted at by the name, the Rec Room is filled with games for everyone to enjoy. From board games like Connect Four to arcade classics like Ms. Pac-Man, have some fun with your friends. It’s a relaxed atmosphere with retro decor. This space is perfect for a fun and retro feel, something that’s not a very common find in modern clubs. They have a dance floor with a disco ball, where guests can celebrate to their favorite DJs. They have a complimentary fridge of rotating goodies to snack on, from fried chicken and pizza to frozen candy bars. Guests can help themselves to a midnight snack alongside beers and cocktails. You can rent semi-private lounges on Fridays and Saturdays for smaller parties of 9-15 people or rent out the entire space any night to accommodate up to 100 people.

Studio Paris

59 West Hubbard Street – Second Floor Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 377-9944

Studio Paris is one of Chicago’s most popular nightclubs. You can find a mixture of celebrities and top athletes partying at Studio Paris. Plenty of A-List artists regularly perform at the club, as well, including: DeadMau5, Avicii, Calvin Harris, Jason Derulo, and more. More than just the famous attendees, the atmosphere is very sleek and modern. Guests will enjoy back lit walls alongside black and white decor and dim candle lighting at tables. The second floor is exceptionally accented with a glass rooftop, allowing guests to take a look at the city stars. Parties as small as 20 people will enjoy the space just as much as large parties of up to 350 people. In-house catering and state of the art lighting and sound systems make this a great space for any event. You can even customize the space to fit the theme surrounding your event.

Sound-Bar

226 W Ontario St, Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 787-4480

Sound-Bar is one of the hottest clubs in Chicago. The club is a large space, with over 20,000 square feet filled with a 4,000 square foot dance floor, 9 bars, 4 boutique lounges, and exclusive VIP rooms all on two stories. The club’s state of the art sound and lighting equipment is equipped alongside flat screen monitors, laser lights, and floor to ceiling video projection. The atmosphere can be customized to fit any event, while the club is showcased in basic, minimalist European style decor. Reserve a table for you and your party on a regular night or rent out a larger portion of the space. The VIP rooms can fit up to 50 guests, while parties of any size can rent the entire space. Whether you’re hosting a corporate event, bachelorette party, or other celebration, Sound-Bar can accommodate you. It’s easy to reserve or schedule an event at Sound-Bar, since you can fill out a form right on their website.

The Windy City never stops moving, neither should your private event. Contact Silent Events for more information on how to host your own silent disco.

The start of a new semester marks the start of a new chapter in many students’ lives. It’s a great idea to usher in that beginning with a college orientation party. Here’s 3 great venues to throw your very own silent disco University party near Nashville, TN.

The University Club of Nashville, Vanderbilt University

2402 Garland Avenue, Nashville TN 37212
(615) 322-8564

Unique to the Vanderbilt University campus is the University Club of Nashville. It’s a private event space located on campus that anyone can rent out to host any variety of events, including: company parties, celebrations, family reunions, and more. What better place for a University party than the exclusive club located directly on campus? Every student will know about the University Club, and it will be easy for all to access. Being located on campus means it will be a safe environment for students to celebrate the beginning of their college careers. The Club includes amenities, like: two private courtyards with patio seating and atmospheric soft lighting, complimentary WiFi, multiple meeting rooms and spaces, conference calling capabilities, delicious catering options, and is wheelchair accessible. You can choose from a list of the upper level rooms or the lower level rooms to accommodate the size and activities of your event.

Ayers Academic Center Chapel, Belmont University

1803 15th Ave S, Nashville, TN 37212
(615) 460-6000

The Janet Ayers Academic Center Chapel at Belmont University is the university’s first ever intentionally designed chapel. The design is truly breathtaking, as the building is equipped with a two-story layout accented with arched, double height glass windows that are mirrored on the interior, wrought iron chandeliers, and a grand curved staircase located in the chapel lobby. The main chapel can hold up to 284 people. It is wheelchair accessible and has full, state of the art audio visual capabilities. It is located conveniently on campus and is a very popular space for events like: worship services, seminars, weddings, and more. Students will be able to easily access this building and enjoy a good time in a safe atmosphere. There is convenient, free, lighted parking located directly underneath the building in a parking garage that has elevator access to all floors inside the chapel.

The Student Union, Middle Tennessee State University

1301 E Main St, Murfreesboro, TN 37132 (40 miles outside Nashville)
(615) 898-2300

Students from all over the world choose to attend MTSU, making it the second most attended university in the state of Tennessee. It is conveniently located not far from downtown Nashville, allowing students to enjoy both the big city scene and an outskirts atmosphere. The Student Union was added to the campus in 2012. It is equipped with three stories, housing a game room, bookstore, food court with various food options, casual dining restaurant the Blue Raider Grill, lounge, computer lab, 89 seat theater, conference and seminar rooms, formal dining room, and a 13,000+ square foot Ballroom space. It is conveniently located near one of the two campus parking garages and a well-known space for all students. Many campus events are hosted on the inside of the Student Union building, as well as in the courtyard outside. The Ballroom is ideal for large parties, as it accommodates up to 1,500 people.

Hopefully this list helps you find the perfect orientation party venue at your university. For more information on hosting your own silent disco, contact Silent Events today.