How to host a vinyl-listening party

Big Night In is a series where Canadian experts and creatives share advice on how to spend a magical night at home. It's the ultimate guide to staying in — whether solo or with friends — featuring thoughtfully curated ideas that are anything but routine.

Streaming a playlist in the background of a party is one thing, but gathering a small group of friends in a cosy space to spin vinyl records — and truly listen to the music in rich, high-quality sound — is an entirely different experience. "If the purpose of the evening … [is] focused listening, it's already something special," said Brandon Ng, co-founder of pop-up vinyl bar Doze Hifi.

That doesn't mean you need to turn your home into a jazz kissa or stress over creating the perfect vibe. "As a host, your freedom to create the atmosphere is yours alone," he said. "As long as you have a good amount of seating to accommodate your guests and comfortable lighting, the music will dictate the rest of the mood."

When it comes to equipment, "a starter hi-fi setup at home could be components handed down from family or friends," said Ng. "It could include the box of records from your grandparents." No family heirlooms to reclaim? Buying some vintage gear can be a good move: it's a lot more affordable than a new sound system, tends to last longer and generally requires less maintenance, says Ng. He recommends checking secondhand marketplaces or thrift stores but advises doing plenty of research on pricing, wear and tear, and overall quality before buying.

As for what to play, there are no hard rules. "The selections can be as free as whatever is available to the host or guests," said Ng. However, if you want to make things more interactive, he suggests choosing a theme — like a specific genre or something broader like "winter" — and asking friends to bring a fitting album from their collection. "Open-ended themes give your guests … the space for not only their music to be shared but potentially an unexpected story that goes along with it," he said.

However you spin it, a vinyl-listening party can be whatever you want it to be. "Even if the session relies on simple attributes — whether it's a theme, an album, a food pairing or a story — being in a room with friends, new and old, sharing music in a way that stands in the foreground, you're already creating a scene," said Ng.