Kansas City, sometimes referred to as the "Heart of America", is a great place to live or visit on the weekends because there's just so much to do here. It's only natural, then, that it's a great place to host events, too.
Niche movie-centric events go hand in hand with the region's buzzing entertainment industry. Theaters and nightlife venues are just about everywhere you turn! From classic to unconventional, the Giggster App has the inside scoop on the best cinema spaces located in Kansas City.
Not only are we the complete package when it comes to venue rentals, but we also operate with your budget in mind. Whether you are an amateur film critic planning a get-together with friends or a business owner trying to turn a profit, we've got you covered.
Ready to make some movie magic? A good film and a venue from the Giggster app is all you need to have the time of your life.
Planning special events for movie lovers is a whole new ball game. Discover what your cinematic celebration could look like with Giggster on your side:
Curl up and get cozy at a home theater. Loft lounges and urban mansions alike make a great home base for a little movie marathon.
Outdoor film festivals and movie nights are a big hit during the warmer months. Embrace the summer heat and rent out a lawn space to enjoy your favorite film under the stars.
Museum rentals come in all shapes and sizes, but anything from a little lecture hall in the back to the grand atrium is well-suited to a movie screening. They have stellar acoustics and super high ceilings, making this choice a no-brainer.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: From private screenings of the newest documentaries to adult slumber parties to binge-watching this year’s Oscar nominees, we have 1 fantastic locations that will check off every item on your wishlist.
Hassle-Free Booking: We’re not in the business of making venue rentals more complicated than need be. Comb through our website and you’ll find affordable prices as low as $150/hour and a seamless booking process.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: Sometimes the show simply cannot go on. Should the worst happen, you can take advantage of our 24-hour grace period and back out of your contract, as long as you booked more than 48 hours before the show is set to start.
Platform Protections: Our team are pros at handling disruptions, damage, and liability concerns. Opt into a protection plan when renting cool theater spaces like , and they will make them all disappear. It’s just like movie magic!
If you want to plan the best big-screen event Kansas City has ever seen, you’ll need to do your homework. Here’s a quick cheat sheet on the ins and outs of hosting in the area.
Advantages
KC’s entertainment industry is thriving, especially where music is concerned. Whether you want to hire some live performers for your event or check out the jazz scene while you’re in the area, prepare to be thrilled.
The culinary scene is off the charts, especially when it comes to BBQ, so you’ll have plenty of options for good food. The hardest part of your planning process will be choosing between all these delicious vendors.
Kansas City is located in the perfect place for guests travelling in from all over, and it’s well-connected, too. Several major cities are within striking distance, and the international airport is only a short jaunt.
Disadvantages
Kansas City has a few neighborhoods where crime rates are spiking. Do your homework before hosting after dark to keep guests as safe as possible.
Extreme weather events are surprisingly common, regardless of the season. Winter snowstorms paired with tornadoes and earthquakes make for a relatively unreliable climate.
Don’t forget to budget for taxes, because KC’s are pretty high at a whopping 8%.
When you need a space to connect with your fellow cinephiles, you turn to Giggster. Here are some of our most popular venue types to kickstart your search.
Classic Theaters – Time for a Curtain Call. You can open the curtain on a big screen in a space that was meant to entertain. By hiring out a traditional theater, you’re guaranteed your AV tech is up to snuff, and all your seating will be taken care of. Oh, and most already have snack and beverage hookups, so no need to fret about concessions.
Event Center – The DIY Special. If you’re not afraid of working with some bare bones, a banquet hall might be exactly what you need, especially those used to hosting big corporate events. Most have projectors and screens available upon request, and in-house chair rentals are available. You’ll just need to work a little harder to spruce things up and offer some extra goodies to your guests.
Live Music Venues – The Dark Horse on the Kansas City Scene. From literal stadiums with a mega-stage and room to accommodate thousands to quaint courtyard beer gardens where you can catch a flick with a cold pint, all you need to do is swap your live performers for a big screen.
Being a great event host is a lot of hard work, and it can be difficult to sort out the non-negotiables from the nice-to-haves. As you begin to plan your next showing, here are some tasks you may want to hone in on:
Select Your Feature Film(s) – It's not a cinema event without some good movies to watch. Will you showcase new releases? Restored classics? Sometimes honing in on your genre is a good place to start since there are so many titles to choose from.
Curate a Menu of Movie Snacks – Candy, popcorn, and drinks are a given, but maybe you want to spice things up a bit with a few additions. Food trucks serving BBQ or a mobile bar where guests can grab an adult beverage are the perfect addition to a summer evening.
Create Programs – Movie marathons and film festivals require a little extra attention to detail. Give your guests a complete overview of what to expect with a movie synopsis, actor/director profiles, and the works.
Use Tech to Your Advantage – Digital tickets and QR codes are a great way to organize things on the back end and communicate information with guests to ensure everyone is on the same page. Don't be afraid to enlist the help of technology—we're living in a whole new world!
Sometimes you have to spend money to make money, but that’s not always the case. Here are some versatile budgeting tips that will lessen the financial burden of hosting, all while leaving your guests none the wiser.
Encourage a sell-out with early bird discounts on tickets.
Reminding everyone that tickets are first-come, first-served can only go so far when trying to generate pre-sales (which beefs up your upfront cash flow, by the way). Offering a small but meaningful discount for advanced purchases will increase the likelihood that you fill all your chairs, and can increase profits from other revenue streams like parking passes and snacks.
Invite outside food vendors.
Footing the bill to feed a crowd is a huge burden, even if you’ll make it back later in sales. One of the best ways to manage this cost is to collaborate with a catering service and let them handle it.
Be flexible with your schedule.
Obviously, weekends and evening cinema events are the most popular, but they will also cost more to host. If you can work with matinees or an off-peak date, you're in for some savings. Even the beginning of fall could be a good option for outdoor screenings, and it will be more cost-effective than events at the height of summer.
Join the thousands of event hosts who are using the Giggster app to secure their next venue. With everything from classic theaters to lawn spaces begging for blankets under the stars, there’s no better way to watch your favorite movies.
