Chicago, apart from its bold skyscrapers and unique positioning on the banks of Lake Michigan, has a lot of other things to offer if you're organizing private events and corporate events alike. With historic neighborhoods like Old Town and Logan Square, as well as modern hubs like the River North neighborhood, you'll find a small party venue to suit your budget and creative vision in the city.
Giggster can find you the best venues in the world for any occasion, and Chicago is no different. From a small wedding reception at a beautiful historic home with a cozy backyard on a tree-lined street to a birthday party at a bohemian-style bar, you'll find a great venue in every corner of the city. Alternatively, you can opt for a photo shoot at a modern row home in downtown Chicago with classic furnishings and decor or a versatile creative studio in a former organ factory.
Whether it's filming locations or event spaces that you're on the lookout for, the easy-to-use Giggster site can provide! Find the ideal venue for your next event and book without any hesitation.
Find the best and most popular small party venues in all of Chicago with the help of the Giggster app. Well-lit studio apartments with a flexible layout or a cozy restaurant and bar that's ideal for a small group, we've got the perfect venue to suit your needs.
A cozy and eclectic home with a beautiful kitchen and backyard is just the space to shoot the family scenes of a heart-wrenching film or TV drama.
On the other hand, a hip, creative, stylish loft space with huge windows and plenty of natural light can be used for corporate meetings, wedding ceremonies, and fashion shoots alike.
A Mediterranean studio in West Town with exposed brick walls and potted plants for a touch of greenery is the ideal space for a bridal or pregnancy shoot.
Check out a unique craft distillery and bar in a historic 1912 building for a one-of-a-kind cocktail party that your guests will never forget.
Exceptional Variety & Quality: You can choose from as many as 108 spaces on Giggster to find the small party venue of your dreams in Chicago. From coffee shops with cozy seating to a fun and intimate gallery space with carpets and planters, we've got a variety of options.
Hassle-Free Booking: The Giggster site provides information about the venue so you're not going in blind. Rental fee, amenities included, and how many people the space can accommodate are all details that you may want to know. Find Chicago venues starting at only $20/hour.
24-Hour Free Cancellation Policy: Our flexible cancellation policy also means that you can cancel your booking for free within 24 hours of confirmation, just as long as you booked it at least 48 hours before the actual event.
Platform Protections: Giggster's optional protection against things like damages and liabilities allows you to book a space like The Park Supper Club without worrying about the small details.
To plan private events and corporate events or even filming projects, check out 108 venues in Chicago. Big or small events, we've got plenty of studios, homes and restaurants with private rooms to accommodate you and your guests.
Photo Shoot – Sunny and Cozy Settings. Find a Chicago studio with big industrial windows and plenty of sunlight to shoot a fashion spread or a family portrait. These studios provide various colored backdrops so that your imagination is truly the limit of what photographs you can produce.
Filming – Versatile Backdrops. Need to film a short scene or a music video with a limited cast and crew? These small Chicago venues will work perfectly in your favor. Opt for a cozy house, a unique gallery space, or even a boho chic bar for that authentic look.
Podcast/Interview – Private Atmosphere. In this day and age, podcasts have become extremely popular, and a small, quiet venue is just what you need to set your guests and interviewees at ease. Comfortable couches and great acoustics are obviously a huge plus.
Professional Events – Formal Occasions. From networking events with select people in the same field to exclusive charity fundraisers, there are many corporate events and parties that require a small party location.
Private Parties – Intimate Events. An event space like a loft apartment or the backyard of a historic home is the perfect space for a small party, such as a bridal or baby shower. You could even host a micro wedding in these beautiful and memorable locations.
All small party venues in Chicago have a certain appeal. But to be truly viable as an event venue, a space should have more to offer than the aesthetics.
How much space is there? Even a small venue can differ from one to another in the amount of room it has and the number of people it can accommodate.
Does it have basic amenities? Things like a washroom or elevator access can make or break a venue. Even if you host just ten people, there are certain amenities an event space simply must have.
What is the atmosphere like? Looking for a warm and cozy daylight studio or a unique venue like a bohemian-style bar? Check out what kind of ambiance and vibes the space provides. The requirements for a baby shower are quite different from a horror movie shoot.
Small party venues have their own set of benefits and drawbacks. Don't book a venue without thoroughly researching whether that's a good fit for you.
Advantages
Unlike large gatherings held at big halls, events at small venues can work within small budgets.
Chicago has no end of small lofts and studios that are really very versatile. The city's small venues can just as easily host parties as productions.
Smaller venues are much easier to light up and illuminate, especially for productions. Those that come equipped with windows and get lots of sunshine are even better!
Disadvantages
There's definitely a bit of a staffing issue. There certainly won't be enough room for bands that play live music and lots of servers and bartenders. The few that you have will need to be very efficient.
Smaller venues need extensive planning and won't be able to provide an option B in case your first plan didn't work out that well, especially small outdoor venues.
Things like parking and seating plans might be difficult due to the limited amount of square footage.
Event planning or filming, whichever you're planning on doing at a small Chicago venue, requires a lot of organization and forward thinking. A step-by-step plan would help you keep track of everything.
Determine Your Budget – Nothing gets done without a budget. First of all, it's most important to find sponsors for your passion project or event and come up with a budget that takes into account all the necessary expenses.
Choose a Venue – How many people are involved and will you need seating for all of them? What kind of amenities can the studio or restaurant provide you? All of this plays into whether a venue is the perfect fit for your needs.
Gather Equipment – From camera lenses, props, and microphones for a production to chairs and tables for a fun event, speak to furniture rentals and explore thrift stores to find the equipment of your choice.
Delegate Responsibilities – Not even the most efficient planners can do everything themselves. Put together a team of assistants to take care of everything, from catering and food and drinks to big deliveries and hotel bookings.
Finding a venue at just $20/hour is the first step. Shoots and events are both expensive endeavors, so let's look at some other ways you can cut down costs.
Think of your budget.
Passion projects don't often rely on a lot of money. Even if you've got a sponsor, carefully plan out your budget and stick to it so that you don't overspend on unnecessary items.
Borrow or rent gear instead of buying.
Filming requires all kind of gear and equipment that you might not possess. But that's what rental stores are for. Borrow from a friend or rent a lens from a reputed store instead of buying brand new stuff.
Shoot in one location.
Even shifting a small party of cast and crew from location to location is expensive. So why not opt for a studio where you can shoot all your scenes in one go?
Look through the Giggster site to find the best small party venues in Chicago! From world-class restaurants with old-timey white tablecloths to vintage lofts with walls covered in vinyl records and free solid color backdrops, we have all kinds of options available for you to choose from.
