Guest list

What is a guest list?

The guest list is the oldest currency in nightlife. DJs get a few places for friends, the organizer adds partners and press, and promoters earn a spot, sometimes with a +1, for bringing people. On the night, a name on the list means free entry or a reduced price, depending on what was agreed.

For the organizer a guest-list place costs a ticket rather than cash, which is why the list is so common. But every free name is a ticket not sold, so most organizers cap it: a fixed number of places per DJ, a closing time, or "reduced" instead of "free".

How the guest list works on the night

• Names go in before the night, usually by a deadline that afternoon or the evening before.
• The door gets the list on paper or on a phone. Some clubs use code words instead of names.
• Guest-list guests often have their own lane and are checked against the list and their ID.
• Many lists close at a set time, for example 1 am. After that the name no longer counts.
• The door policy still applies. A full room or a no from the door beats the list.

Example: what a list is worth

Say a club night in Stuttgart has four DJs with five places each and 15 places for promoters, 35 in total. At a ticket price of €18, that list is worth €630 in tickets the organizer is not selling. That is why it is capped, and why a promoter who brings ten paying friends earns a place more easily than one who only asks for it.

Tips for running and using a guest list

• Organizers: set a deadline and a closing time for the list, and tell everyone who adds names.
• Say what the list means: free or reduced, with a +1 or without. Surprises at the door hold up the queue.
• Promoters: arrive before the list closes, bring ID, and give your name the way it was entered.
• Treat the list as a reward, not a favour. It works best when it pays for something concrete, like a story that brought people.

Guest list on Parmo

Guest list is one of the three rewards on Parmo, next to a drink balance and VIP. It goes to promoters whose Instagram stories stayed online for the full window, with a +1 if the organizer allows it, and organizers can grade it by follower bands.

The promoter collects it at the door with their personal code words, or as a real ticket by email if the organizer chose ticket delivery. See Collect your reward.

Common questions

How do I get on a guest list at a club?

Ask the organizer, a DJ playing that night or a promoter working with the club, well before the day. Promoters usually earn guest list by bringing people or posting about the night.

Is guest list free entry?

Often, but not always. Some clubs give guest-list names a reduced price instead, so check what was agreed.

What does +1 mean on a guest list?

It means you can bring one extra person on your name. They usually have to arrive with you.