By Madeline Klein on September 6, 2018 in Life Hacks
Tailgates are all about food, friends, and good times. And what’s better to get those good times started than some decent music to get you and your friends pumped up for the game.
With the wonderful invention of Bluetooth, the opportunities for playing music are basically endless. Check out some music hacks to keep the tailgate party going all day long.
1. Invest in a decent Bluetooth speaker
It’s easy to find the cheapest Bluetooth speaker on Amazon and call it done. However, there’s such a broad range in how well these speakers work, so we suggest investing in a speaker that will not only play music well but also last through the whole football season. Do some research and find one that is easy to use, will project music for your entire tailgate area, and has a long-lasting battery.
Don’t forget to charge your speaker or bring extra batteries so you don’t have to worry about your party coming to a screeching halt because of a dead speaker.
2. Keep your car battery safe if you’re using its speakers
If you opt to play music straight from your car while you’re tailgating out of the back, you’ll want to check your battery health before you head out to your favorite tailgating spot. Playing music from your car can drain your battery if you’re out all day. And depending on how old your car battery is, it could drain over just a few hours. If your car has a navigation system with a screen, you’ll want to turn the screen off so you don’t drain the battery quite as fast.
Pack jumper cables just in case. Nothing puts a damper on a great day like being stranded from a dead battery.
3. Plan ahead with a Spotify playlist
No one wants a weird, awkward lull in the music. Instead of waiting to see who can come up with the perfect song to play next, make sure you always have a great song lined up on your Spotify playlist. You’ll want a good blend of current hits and old classics that get you pumped up and having fun. Better yet, you can have friends collaborate on playlists. Get input from all your friends for a perfect tailgate playlist.
Not to blow our own horn, but we’ve put together what we believe to be the perfect tailgate playlist. Seems impossible, right? Check it out for yourself. (PS: We always welcome song suggestions on social media!)
4. If you don’t have a speaker, make one
If you don’t want to splurge on a Bluetooth speaker, you can get by with some everyday tailgate items and a pair of scissors. Try something like this where you cut holes in the sides of two Solo cups. Connect the Solo cups with the cardboard from a paper towel holder. Then, cut a slit for your phone in the middle of the cardboard to insert your phone. And voila! You’ve got a make-shift speaker!
This trick does great if you’re in a bind. Better yet, you’ll impress your friends with your resourcefulness. You’ll be a hero for amplifying music from your phone so your crew doesn’t miss out on one minute of tailgate music.
5. Bring a portable phone charger
We all know phone batteries just don’t last that long. All the best speakers and perfect playlists are nothing if you have a dead phone. Lucky for us, there are these wonderful portable phone chargers that can keep your phone going like the Energizer Bunny.
Make sure to plug in your portable charger the night before a tailgate, and you’ll have an extra charge or two for your phone while you’re out having fun. This battery life will come in handy when you start early in the morning for those late-afternoon games.
Whether you’re road tripping to an away football game or are tailgating at your home stadium, these tips will make sure the fun times never end. So turn up that latest Sam Hunt song and let the good times roll.