How to host a birthday cafe

🗓️ Preparation schedule (starting at least 2–3 months ahead)

1. D-90
   Set concept and budget

   Decide whose birthday it is, what concept, and how many days it will run. If you have co-organizers, divide roles in advance (design, goods, operations, settlement).

2. D-60
   Confirm cafe rental

   Center the date around the weekend before or after the birthday, and confirm the cafe and terms. During popular idols' birthday weeks, Hongdae and Hapjeong cafes fill up fast, so it's better to hurry.

3. D-45
   Design

   Create designs for posters, cup sleeves, photocards, and banners. If you outsource art or design, allow ample time.

4. D-30
   Ordering perks

   Cup sleeves have the longest production time (usually about 2 weeks), so order them first as soon as the design is ready. For photocards, stickers, and acrylic goods, check each vendor's production time and leave about a week's buffer.

5. D-14
   Start announcing and promoting

   Announce with a poster on X (Twitter) and register your event for free on this site's birthday cafe map. Once registered, it appears on singer and member pages and the birthday calendar, and is translated into 21 languages so fans overseas can see it too.

6. D-3
   Packaging · Supplies

   Packaging perks in advance by quantity makes the day much easier. Prepare banners, photo-zone props, and signage (perk terms, first-come quantities, ordering method).

7. D-day
   Operated by

   Decide the queue location with the cafe before opening, and frequently announce remaining first-come perk quantities on X to reduce fans making wasted trips.

8. After the event
   Wrap-up and thank-you

   After settling with the cafe, post a thank-you notice. Leftover perks can be given away so fans who couldn't attend also get a chance.

☕ Cafe rental method

Things to ask before renting a venue

• Daily rental fee or minimum sales requirement, deposit and refund policy
• Number of seats, daily maximum capacity, and queue location
• Drink prices and menu; whether staff or the organizer hands out perks
• Decorating walls and windows, scope of use for banners and tape, and restoration
• Operating hours (whether it closes early on the last day) and handling complaints from nearby shops
• Parking, elevator and other accessibility, and banned items

🎁 Making perks and budget

Costs and production time are reference values gathered from organizer reviews and vendor information. Actual quotes vary by vendor.

📣 Promote

• Include the date, operating hours, location (address), perks, ordering conditions, and hashtags all on one poster.
• Use a short, searchable hashtag like “#이름생카” and keep using it consistently.
• Registering on this site for free lists your birthday cafe on the map, singer pages, and birthday calendar, and it is translated into 21 languages to introduce it to fans overseas.
• To attract foreign fans, adding a line or two of English info (how to order, perk terms) increases visits.
• Notices about first-come closures or changes in operating hours are posted right after the announcement.

⚠️ Things to be careful about when running

• Making and selling goods with official photos or photos taken by others can raise copyright and portrait-rights issues. Giving them away free as perks is safer than selling them.
• Clearly announce in advance the conditions for receiving perks (e.g., one set per drink) and the first-come quantities.
• Plan the cafe and flow so you don't block roads around the cafe or create queues in front of neighboring shops.
• For events that collect visitors' personal info (contact details, etc.), collect only what's necessary and delete it after the event.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions