Getting Started with Party Bucket: Your First Event

Welcome to Party Bucket! Whether you're planning a birthday party, wedding, corporate event, or any gathering, this guide will help you create your first event in just a few minutes.

Why Party Bucket?

Party Bucket transforms how you share memories and music at events. Instead of scattered photos across different platforms and endless debates about what song to play next, everything happens in one place. Your guests scan a QR code, join instantly, and start contributing photos, videos, and music suggestions—all in real-time.

Step 1: Create Your Account

Getting started is completely free. Simply visit our signup page and create your account. You'll need an email address, a password, and a name for your organization or personal use. No credit card is required, and you can create your first event immediately after signing up.

Step 2: Create Your First Event

Once you're logged in, you'll see your dashboard. Click the "Create Event" button to get started. You'll need to provide:

Event Name: Choose something memorable and descriptive. For example, "Sarah's 30th Birthday Bash" or "Summer Company Picnic 2024".

Event Dates: Set when your event starts and ends. This helps guests know when to join and helps you track activity.

Access Settings: Decide if you want to require an access token. For private events, adding a token adds an extra layer of security. For public events, you can skip this.

Step 3: Generate Your QR Code

After creating your event, Party Bucket automatically generates a unique QR code. This is your event's magic key. You can download the QR code as an image, print it for physical display, share it digitally via email or social media, or display it on a screen at your event venue. The QR code contains everything guests need to join—no app downloads, no complicated links. Just scan and go.

Step 4: Connect Spotify (Optional but Recommended)

One of Party Bucket's standout features is the collaborative music queue. To enable this:

1. Navigate to your event settings
2. Click "Connect Spotify"
3. Authorize Party Bucket to access your Spotify account
4. Your event playlist will be created automatically

Once connected, guests can suggest songs, vote on tracks, and watch as the playlist updates in real-time based on democratic voting.

Step 5: Invite Your Guests

There are several ways to get guests to your event:

QR Code: Display the QR code prominently at your event. Guests scan it with any smartphone camera.

Direct Link: Share the event link via email, text, or social media. The link works on any device with a browser.

Email Invitations: Use Party Bucket's built-in email composer to send personalized invitations with the QR code attached.

Step 6: Manage Your Event in Real-Time

As your event progresses, you can monitor activity from your dashboard. The photo feed shows all photos and videos as they're posted in real-time. The music queue displays the current playlist and upcoming tracks, so you can see what's playing next. The attendee list shows who's joined and their activity levels. Analytics track engagement metrics to help you understand participation.

Step 7: Moderate Content (If Needed)

For events where you want to maintain control over what's shared, enable pre-moderation. This means all posts require your approval before appearing in the feed. This is especially useful for corporate events, family gatherings with children, professional conferences, and any event where content quality matters.

Step 8: Export Your Memories

After your event, you can export all the photos, videos, and posts. Party Bucket makes it easy to download individual photos, export event data in JSON format, share the playlist with guests in JSON or CSV formats, and use the exported data to create digital albums or other keepsakes.

Pro Tips for Your First Event

1. Test Before the Event: Create a test event and scan the QR code yourself to ensure everything works smoothly.

2. Display Multiple QR Codes: Place QR codes in multiple locations—at the entrance, near the photo booth, by the DJ booth, and on tables.

3. Announce the Feature: Let guests know about Party Bucket at the start of your event. A quick announcement increases participation.

4. Engage with the Feed: Like and comment on photos to encourage more sharing.

5. Monitor the Music Queue: Keep an eye on the playlist to ensure the music stays appropriate for your event.

Common Questions

Do guests need to download an app? No! Party Bucket works entirely in the browser. Guests just scan the QR code and join instantly.

Is there a limit on photos? Free plans have generous limits. Check your plan details for specific numbers.

Can I use Party Bucket offline? Party Bucket requires an internet connection for real-time features, but guests can view previously loaded content offline.

What if someone posts inappropriate content? You can hide or delete any post from your dashboard. With pre-moderation enabled, you approve posts before they appear.

Ready to Get Started?

Creating your first event takes less than five minutes. Sign up for free and start planning your next unforgettable gathering. Party Bucket makes it easy to capture memories and create the perfect soundtrack—all in one place.

Have questions? Check out our other blog posts for more detailed guides on specific features, or reach out to our support team. We're here to help make your event amazing!