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#Post#: 16031--------------------------------------------------
Re: Would you attend this?
By: Amara Date: October 12, 2018, 11:44 pm
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Nope. Please ignore my advice; it just didn't seem good enough
to warrant being left up. Sorry about that!
#Post#: 16039--------------------------------------------------
Re: Would you attend this?
By: Jem Date: October 13, 2018, 8:30 am
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What is the reason for the “standing room only” option? Just to
make it obvious who “cheaped out” (insert eye roll)? Because
$100 isn’t the sort of “cheap” that would warrant a “We couldn’t
afford to provide seating at that price” and comes across more
as a shaming mechanism? Overall, I can’t see this event bringing
in much money unless the headliner is a huge draw for this
particular group.
#Post#: 16043--------------------------------------------------
Re: Would you attend this?
By: Rose Red Date: October 13, 2018, 8:54 am
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If the author only managed to sell 20/25 tickets, I assume it's
not someone like Stephen King or George RR Martin. So I think
$250 is a bit steep. More people may buy if the price is less.
That is if the fundraiser *want* to sell more; they may want to
give the impression of exclusivity. :-\
#Post#: 16050--------------------------------------------------
Re: Would you attend this?
By: lakey Date: October 13, 2018, 10:56 am
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Like Jem, I don't understand the limited seating if there is
room for more. I wouldn't spend $100 to attend an event where I
had to stand for hours, including standing during the
presentation. Why not just have one price, and seating for
everyone? Whether they can sell enough tickets to cover their
costs depends on the speaker, and the potential guests' interest
in the non-profit. I, personally, would expect to at least sit
part of the time for an event that went on for hours. Also, the
appetizers seem a bit boring for what is viewed as a gala. They
might want to consider putting more thought into the
refreshments. I worked for a parochial school system that did
pricey fundraising events. People are willing to pay $100, $250,
and so on, to attend but they expect to be treated well, as in a
place to sit down.
Here's a hint, treat them really well, and they spend a lot
more on the silent auction. As far as the people making the
decisions, make some suggestions without sounding critical. If
they listen fine. If they don't listen, then the fundraiser will
either make enough to cover expenses, plus extra money for the
non-profit, or it won't. If it doesn't, then they will learn
from their mistakes. if it is a worthwhile organization, it will
survive.
#Post#: 16052--------------------------------------------------
Re: Would you attend this?
By: Pattycake Date: October 13, 2018, 11:44 am
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I am reminded of a gala I attended last month. It cost $75 per
person. Everyone had a seat at a table. We had the best food I
have ever had at a large function at a hotel. No kidding - mouth
watering steak, vegetables cooked to perfection, wonderful salad
and decadent desserts, all buffet style. I actually left a
review on the web site, it was so good. We also had to sit
through a very long and not feel good presentation (it was about
people with PTSD) but was a very worthy cause (service dogs for
first responders with PTSD). There was a silent auction and a
live auction.
So no, I definitely would not pay the prices your group is
charging. For the meet and greet at $250, it would have to be
someone very well known indeed. And then to have to pay $100 for
standing room only and just a few appetizers and desserts, um,
no. I would have thought those who paid for the meet and greet
would get a two for less price deal (like $300 if you attend
both), but to not even get a chair to sit in for $100 - nope,
wouldn't go. If it was a cause I really believed in, I'd rather
send in a $50 donation and save everyone the bother of all the
rest of it.
#Post#: 16056--------------------------------------------------
Re: Would you attend this?
By: jpcher Date: October 13, 2018, 2:23 pm
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[quote author=lakey link=topic=734.msg16050#msg16050
date=1539446175]
Here's a hint, treat them really well, and they spend a lot
more on the silent auction. As far as the people making the
decisions, make some suggestions without sounding critical. If
they listen fine. If they don't listen, then the fundraiser will
either make enough to cover expenses, plus extra money for the
non-profit, or it won't. If it doesn't, then they will learn
from their mistakes. if it is a worthwhile organization, it will
survive.
[/quote]
I completely agree with the bold above. If I attended an event
and was disgruntled I probably wouldn't spend a whole lot more
than the price of admission. I'd think that I'd already spent
enough. People like to be wooed. It makes them feel special and
usually they would enjoy returning the 'favor'.
NyaChan -- Thanks for the details.
The meet & greet plans do sound enticing enough with the
give-aways, free beer and photo with the author. So I think
you're good here.
Four hours! You absolutely must provide seating for everybody,
whether there's a table or not. I'd have to leave after an hour
or so if I couldn't sit down. I'm wondering if the Powers That
Be (PTB) are thinking that everybody will spend the extra $50
for a chair so they don't have to worry about setting up extra
seating.
Think about pitching this to the PTB . . . An elderly couple who
love the cause, donate what they can, but just can't afford the
price of a chair. Do you really expect them to stand for 4 hours
and enjoy the event? Go back to the point of wooing the patrons.
Making them feel like honored guests, special.
The timing of the event concerns me. Does your registration web
site explicitly say only appetizers will be served? A four hour
evening gala, to me, says dinner is included. From your OP I
think the app table needs some serious improvement.
Stand strong (without being critical) and do use lakey's hint as
a selling point with the PTBs.
Good Luck! Please keep us posted on the progress of this event.
I'm pulling for you and hope it will be a turn-around huge
success.
#Post#: 16059--------------------------------------------------
Re: Would you attend this?
By: HenrysMom Date: October 13, 2018, 3:34 pm
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Personally, I’d limit my involvement and let this “gala” and its
organizers sink or swim on their own. If it’s successful, well
and good. If it’s not, then you can’t be blamed for any of it.
#Post#: 16060--------------------------------------------------
Re: Would you attend this?
By: Rose Red Date: October 13, 2018, 3:58 pm
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How many tickets are they expected to sell? I still can't get
over that's the menu for $100-400. It seems there should be more
variety. I hope at least there's lots of food. I can eat 6-10
wings and countless meatballs all by myself. Especially for a
four hour event :P
#Post#: 16062--------------------------------------------------
Re: Would you attend this?
By: GardenGal Date: October 13, 2018, 4:20 pm
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No way does this sound like any kind of gala to me with such
limited food offerings. Also, a 4-hour event and you have to
pay $50 extra to sit down? That sounds like such a cheap move
that I'd be tempted to mail in a modest donation and not attend.
You know your potential attendees best, of course, but if you
have many of them who are over 50 or 60 years old, the standing
for 4 hours could be a major turn off.
ITA with PP who said to let others organize this, stay out of it
entirely, and let the chips fall where they may.
#Post#: 16064--------------------------------------------------
Re: Would you attend this?
By: wolfie Date: October 13, 2018, 5:19 pm
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[quote author=Rose Red link=topic=734.msg16043#msg16043
date=1539438863]
If the author only managed to sell 20/25 tickets, I assume it's
not someone like Stephen King or George RR Martin. So I think
$250 is a bit steep. More people may buy if the price is less.
That is if the fundraiser *want* to sell more; they may want to
give the impression of exclusivity. :-\
[/quote]
When I saw Stephen king it was less then 50 a ticket.
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