Anyone who’s a fan of hip hop and R&B knows that the 2012 BET Awards comes on Sunday, July 1st at 8P/9C, and you don’t have to miss the hottest awards on the planet just because you can’t get out to L.A. Don’t sweat it! You and your friends could totally have your own screening in your very own hometown.

SETTING UP THE NIGHT
Invite some friends over to the dorm. Go down to the game room, or even kick it on the couch in the living room. You can even try downloading some of 2012’s hottest songs by your favorite artists that will be performing this year, like Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj and Usher, and play them as your friends arrive to the party. Can’t forget the snacks! Bring out the chips and dip or the old faithful carryout menu and indulge in an evening of entertainment and fun.

SHARE THE EXPERIENCE
Share your thoughts on the awards and keep the cyber world updated about your viewing party. Go virtual! It s an excellent way to help share your experience with Twitter and all your social media accounts updated about the awards and your night. Interact with your friends and other fans from all over the world that may be watching the awards via live stream on BET.com!

TRIVIA GAME
Test the knowledge of your friends by playing a fun trivia game. Compose some fun fact questions about past winners, how many times an artist won an award in that category or even picking their brains to see if they can name all of the categories (Best Collaboration, Video of the Year, etc). Better yet? Head on over to BET.com and play Too Big to Pick! 

DANCE OFF/KARAOKE
So you think you can dance? Re-live the past awards shows by grabbing some friends and learning one of your favorite performances. Showcase them before the awards or during commercial breaks to keep the party going.

LOOK A-LIKE/COSTUME PARTY
Come dressed to impress as your favorite celebrity and have some photo-ops with you and your friends. Ladies, feel free to have your own Nicki Minaj-inspired outfit to express your inner "Barb." Fellas can join the fun as well, just don’t forget the Rick Ross shades and your freshest kicks like Wale.

Got some suggestions of your own for viewing parties? Leave them in a comment below and they might be added to the list.