Detours

Sometimes, the gathering you wish someone would invite you to is the one you need to create. For me, that became a Halloween bus party. One bus. Then three. Eventually, nine buses and about 350 people. But it started with wanting to bring people together. I’m Angie Norris, and this is Side Hustle GPS. Today, we’re stopping in Celebration Square to explore Party Setup Assistance. Growing up, finding a sense of belonging wasn’t always easy for me. My dad was military, so we moved around. I came from a small town. And being biracial in the ’80s added another layer. I also had this entrepreneurial spirit that people didn’t always understand. But I knew how much it meant to feel included. That’s stayed with me throughout my life. In 2000, while working at A.G. Edwards & Sons, I missed the fun of college bus trips and getting dressed up with friends. So I asked my coworkers, “If I organized a Halloween bus party, would you dress up?” The initial response wasn’t exactly enthusiastic. But I went ahead and planned it. I rented a school bus, arranged the stops around St. Louis, and invited friends from my hometown, college, and work. That first year, we had about 60 people on the bus. They dressed up. They showed up. And we had such a blast that I decided to do it again. The next year, one bus became three. Then five. Then seven. Eventually, we had nine buses and about 350 people. I ran that party for ten straight years. Tickets were $35, and I never raised the price. I created a webpage with a PayPal button and put together a package with transportation, admission to our stops, refreshments, and swag. And I learned how much the details mattered. I made laminated schedule lanyards so people knew where we’d be. I even included a taxi number. This was before rideshare apps were part of everyday life. If you missed the bus, you needed a way to catch up! Those details helped people relax and enjoy themselves. By the final year, I was pregnant and ready for a different season of life. A longtime attendee bought the event and carried it forward. I still own HalloweenBusParty.com, and friends still ask me to bring it back. Maybe one day. But what matters most to me is that people still remember being there together. More than 25 years later, bringing people together is still part of my mission. And you can help create that feeling through a service. You don’t have to start with buses or hundreds of guests. You could help someone set up a birthday party, arrange decorations, prepare tables, or organize the little details before everyone arrives. AI can help you brainstorm themes, draft a schedule, and create a setup checklist. You bring the hands-on help and the care that makes the plan work. Your first money move? Offer a clearly defined setup package for one small gathering. Agree on the tasks, timing, fee, and who provides the supplies. Walk through the plan with the host so everyone knows what’s covered. Then help them welcome their guests without having to do everything alone. You don’t need hundreds of interested people to begin. I needed enough people for the first bus. So, what gathering could you help someone bring to life? Explore Party Setup Assistance in Celebration Square at SideHustleGPS.com. Throw the party anyway. Big memories start with an idea—and someone willing to bring people together.