Use Technology for Easy Prom Planning

Use technology to make your prom planning go more smoothly. Students are already saavy at using social networking technology—think Facebook, Twitter, Myspace, etc.—so you can use these skills to your advantage when planning and promoting your prom.

Here are our top tips for using technology to plan your prom.

1.    Create Spreadsheets. Use a spreadsheet to map out your prom budget, purchases, needs, ticket sales, and contacts. Be sure to keep both a hard copy and a digital back up just in case. You can us our Budget Planner to get you started.

2.    Communicate. Create a facebook group for your prom committee and use the discussion boards and the wall to communicate with each other even when you’re not in a meeting. You can even make the group secret so that only those on the committee can see it and none of your surprises will be spoiled. Stumps Prom has a Prom Forum where you can talk to our prom planners and other students for more ideas and support.

3.    Google. Do you Yahoo? Use the internet to come up with prom ideas. Our prom blog has tons of tips for creating your dream prom. Search our prom site for exactly the decorations you need. You can even see the decorations up close or personalize prom favors with our My Prom View 360 technology.

4.    Blog and Tweet. Create your own prom blog to keep students posted on how their prom is progressing. This can be a great way to make everyone feel involved in the big event. Use a twitter page to advertise important details quickly and easily. Follow Stumps Prom on Twitter.

There are tons of ways technology can make your prom planning go more smoothly. Tell us your ideas!

Look Ahead to Prom 2010

It may seem like prom was just yesterday (maybe it was!), but it’s not too soon to start thinking about next year’s prom and start planning while this year’s event is still fresh in your memory.

Reconvene your prom committee and ask them questions about how they felt the prom went. Have an open discussion over some pizza or a pool party. Celebrate the event’s successes and consider:

•    How did the prom theme work? Did students enjoy it? How can we make next year’s theme different and fresh?
•    How were the prom decorations? What went well? How can the decorations be improved for next year?
•    Were our prom favors memorable? How can they be different for next year?
•    Did we advertise for the prom well enough?
•    Was our prom court selection fair and efficient?
•    How was the DJ? Photographer? Chaperones?
•    Did we stay on budget? Can we take advantage of a prom clearance now to stock up on basics? How can we make the budget better for next year?
•    Do we need to hold more fundraisers? How can we plan them to be more cost-effective?

If most of your prom committee is underclassmen, you can make some basic decisions pretty early. Then, talk things over with new members in the fall.

Once the new prom committee is selected in the fall, consider choosing a theme early in the year, so you can take your time planning your theme decorations, memory booklets, and favors.

The fall is a great time to start fundraising for your prom. There’s tons of opportunities for fundraising events in the fall. You could even have your Homecoming dance as a fundraiser or plan a late-winter Snowcoming to raise money too.

Stumps Prom has tons of promotional products that make excellent fundraisers! Get permission to sell them at lunch or in the concession stands at sporting events.

By thinking ahead and using our Prom Planning Tips, prom sales, and other resources, keep ahead of the curve on your prom planning and Prom 2010 will be even better than your fantastic event this year was!