Afterparty

An afterparty, after-party, or after party is a gathering that occurs after a party, a music concert, a premiere or the closure of a nightclub. An afterparty may provide additional social opportunities for people who do not want to return to their respective homes.The main purpose of the afterparty is to provide a relaxing environment, as compared to the earlier venue, where the atmosphere is usually more frenetic. During an afterparty people often sit down, relax, and chat freely, meet new people in a more controlled setting. If the original party was one that continued until late at night, the afterparty will often include a morning snack, which usually counts as breakfast. To be invited to the afterparty is very often considered a high honor. However, many people who are not invited to afterparties consider invitees to be elitist (i.e. the notion that only the beautiful people are invited to the afterparty).

The Latin word "repotia" describes a concept similar to an afterparty, literally translated as "a second round of drinks" and translated as "party that follows the original entertainment" or "discourse celebrating a wedding feast." [http://www.ablemedia.com/ctcweb/glossary/glossaryr.html] [http://rhetoric.byu.edu/Figures/R/REPOTIA.htm]

Organization

At a home

For events in which the afterparty is expected to only have a small number of people, someone may volunteer their own home as a location, possibly only decided at the time of the main party. Usually, this person will know that the home is "safe" for a party — they do not expect any of the other residents to complain about the presence of large numbers of people in the building. In other cases, including those where an unexpectedly large number of people are interested during the main party, this impromptu afterparty may just involve attending another party that is still active, or has just begun, somewhere else.

In situations where it is planned that a large number of people will turn up, the afterparty is more likely to be organized before the main party to make sure that adequate supplies are available for the people attending. In some cases, this may involve booking another venue instead of choosing a person's home. The afterparty is typically quieter than the main party, which tends to make other nightclubs or bars inappropriate venues.

At a venue

Certain events, such as proms, may entail an organized afterparty complete with entertainment and cocktails. After a music concert, there is generally an afterparty backstage, often requiring backstage passes.

Other possible reasons

Possibly in contrast to relaxation, the afterparty can provide a chance for people to get away from the eyes of people who were overseeing the main party. This tends to be more common in events such as school balls where alcohol consumption is not allowed, and provides a location where the partygoers will be allowed to drink. In this case, the afterparty may turn out to be more lively than the main party, as the people are freed from the restrictions that were placed on them during the main party. At some afterparties, guests may indulge in sexual activities and recreational drug use.