Surviving Tampa: How to Party Hard While Staying Safe

By Amey DiSisto

Tampa is no longer the sleepy little city that was engulfed in Miami’s shadow. Over the past two years, over 45,000 people have made the Tampa Bay area their home, according to The Title Report. The perfect storm of countless new businesses, beautiful weather, and the boom of the local influencer population has young people flocking to the Tampa area. 

You’re finally legally allowed to go out, and with Tampa’s good-time reputation preceding it, the next logical step is to head to Ybor, SoHo, Downtown, or even over in St. Pete for a First Friday. It’s risky to go out in a place you don’t know — especially when 45,000 people want to do the same thing — so how do you stay safe without compromising the fun?

Think of me as your Going-Out-Fairy-Godmother! As a professional in navigating SoHo, I will teach you everything you need to know about what to do before, during, and after your night out to ensure that there are plenty of fun memories without putting anyone in danger or EVER having to cut the night short. 

Sometimes, the best part of a night out starts way before you get to the bar. Getting ready, pregaming with friends, and the pre-bar jitters are pillars in the going-out community. Within the glitz and glamour of a pregame, however, are crucial steps that must be followed.

1. You have to eat. I don’t care what it is, but you have to.

• A plain chicken cutlet, a bowl of leftover rice, Pandini’s (R.I.P.), really anything is sufficient. It is not quirky to be the one who blacks out immediately and ruins the night out because you “literally haven’t eaten all day.” Eat a snack, grab a granola bar for the road, head over to Santoro’s, and get fueled up. 

2. You’re always on your phone, so why is it dead right now?

• We are the generation of cell phones, so make sure you’re not sitting on 5%. Outside of the fact that you’ll get zero videos of your friend on the mechanical bull at Sunset Rodeo, being able to stay in contact if anything goes wrong could be the difference between a great night out and your last night out. 

3. Wait, where are you? WYA? Do you see me?

• I know your mom didn’t send you off to school, and not even threaten the idea of having your location. While mom doesn’t need to know why you were at The Jade last night (or this morning!), your friends should know if you got home safe. Turn those locations on and minimize the fear of not knowing where anyone in your group is. 

While it seems like a lot of prep, even a few steps can make the change for a safer night. 

Kayla Schmidt, a UTampa senior, said, “There are so many ways a night could go wrong. I think it just takes a bit of thinking beforehand to make sure that doesn’t happen.”

The Uber was called, the IDs were checked, you’re there! But now is not the time to go completely buck wild. Being in the bar itself is probably the time you need to focus the most, and not just on what your McDonald’s order will look like at 2 a.m. 

1. Look over there, no, I mean, look there!

• You’re looking at a lot, I get it. The frat guys are over there; the girl from one of your classes is talking to your old RA, and your random roommate has just materialized after you hadn’t seen them for the entire semester. However, if that cutie from down the hall offers to buy you a drink, you look at that drink like you’re having a staring contest. Stay alert and stay cautious. At the very least, you were overreacting; at the most, you’re saving your own life. 

2. Drunkie sees, drunkie does.

• If you see your friend get whisked to the dancefloor, surprise! You are also going to dance! Bars are like playgrounds for adults, and if your friend is going on the swings, you’re joining them. Ensuring you’re in the vicinity of your friends ensures that anyone who may need help receives it and all is in order. You can’t get lost if you’re all together!

3. If I’m drunk… and you’re drunk… then who’s keeping us safe?

• It is universally known that being the Drunk Babysitter is one of the worst jobs known to humankind. But being the babysitter doesn’t mean you can have no fun. Everyone can drink as long as at least one person has their wits about them. This is not to say that all others put their guard down, but rather one person should stay a drink behind the pack. 

The lights are turning on, the Grove food truck is closing, and you’re eyeing to see if your chem-class-crush is leaving alone. This is the home stretch!

1. Something about walking down Kennedy at 2 a.m. is so romantic…

• I am starting with this because I have been there, trust me. A ten-minute walk when you’re drunk could feel like a minute, and also five years. It is fine if you walk if — and only if! — A babysitter is present, and you are in a group. A group of multiple young people whose phones are charged, locations are on, and are not side-questing. 

2. Alexa, play Uber Everywhere by MadeinTYO.

• If you are not walking, you’re Ubering (or Lyft, whatever). If you do not know what a Toyota Corolla looks like, I advise you to start Googling. Keep your app out, keep track of the screen your driver has, and make sure you get home in one piece. 

3. Hitting the Honeymoon Suite?

• Do you have a romantic interest for the evening? Make sure not only you know their name, but your friends know their name. You can make it a sexy, flirty thing, who knows! Make sure your friends know what they look like, who they are, and where you’re going. All past rules are still in effect, maybe minus the eating thing; I’m not sure how that would correlate.

“It sounds overdramatic, but Tampa is a major city that has more and more people coming every year,” said Macey Breedlove, a senior at UTampa. “I wish I had someone my freshman year who would’ve given me some advice. It could have made some bad nights go a lot better.”

You are in bed, you had an amazing night out, and you are so happy you followed all of my rules. Your Going-Out-Fairy-Godmother is now downing a 10-piece McNugget meal and chugging a LiquidIV because I’m not as young as I once was. 

While it can be overwhelming to keep up with so many rules, this is also a time to gain freedom for the first time now that you’re legal. Your future self will thank you for dabbling in being a bit of a Debby Downer. Make sure to stay safe and stay together.

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Photo courtesy of Amey DiSisto.