Convention party advice wanted.

[justkitteh]

Hey guys, so I'm not new to throwing parties, be they at cons or otherwise, however this time I wanted to do something a little different. This party is destined to come to fruition at Expo this year. I have a suite, I have party planning skills, etc etc... here's the plan, then I'll ask you what I'd like advice on.

I decided to do a really good party this year cause what with the hotels being so messed up, everyone should have one party destination; skipping from room to room isn't really an option anymore.

The party will be one night (maybe all 3 if things go well) and unlike most parties, will have a closed bar. That means drinks will not be free... at the same time though, there'll be someone mixing from a list of 40-50 drinks, so there'll be much more to it than bad vodka and juice as most parties have. Drinks will probably be something like $2 for a beer or shot, and 2 for $3 (so basically $1.50, but I don't want to deal with coins) and $3 (or two for $5) for mixed drinks and cocktails.

What do you think of that price structure? It's a little over cost, but only enough to pay for cups and ice and everything. Depending on what we go with, it might drop to $1/$2 flat if people think $1.50/$2.50 is too much.

I have a projector that will be showing something, but I haven't decided what yet. Simply a movie would be eh, but AMVs or something would be worse. I was thinking some random culty stuff, music videos, or even just a visualizer. What  would you show? Assuming there will be a large number of people and people will be doing more socializing than sitting watching. There'll also probably be a few light machines or something which would distract from a real movie.

Lastly, what drinks would you serve? When I say serious, I mean serious. I privately tend on my own time, so there'll be a huge variety to this bar, and it will all be quality stuff, not Bicardi and Smirnoff.

Anyone who gives some really awesome advice might get a free drink or something like that! ;)

[SOawesomeness]

As long as it isn't at Fanime, I'd be happy. (:

[justkitteh]

As long as it isn't at Fanime, I'd be happy. (:

And why's that?

[Jun-Watarase]

As long as it isn't at Fanime, I'd be happy. (:

Are you kidding? Fanime is like, the most drug and alcohol infested convention I've ever been to.

But anyways, why are you charging people per drink? I don't think you'd want to stand there and handle people's money-- you aren't doing a job, and the charges you've set have the intent of making a profit... at a con party... that you're hosting. Unless you're hosting some sort of event, I'd just suggest asking everyone to pitch in an amount when they go. It won't be exactly even or fair, but it'll hopefully cover the costs and you won't have to worry about charging people and working with change everytime someone gets a drink.

But uh, good luck with that.

[OniCourseMusha]

I don't think its cool where we have to be charged for our drinks as long as people pitch in than being charged.  Feels like a cheap bar than partying.  Room party is more like sharing, get together, and have fun.

[Kazuko]

I agree with Jun, I have seen alot of drunks and some pot heads at fanime :d lulz

but yeah maybe you should just have a cover fee like in clubs that way they pay and get their drink without paying for it everytime or just one flat fee and that could give you a certain amount of drinks

[otakuapprentice]

Are you kidding? Fanime is like, the most drug and alcohol infested convention I've ever been to.

damn girl, who the hell do you hang with at con?!

[Moonblossom]

I think if people wanna be overcharged for drinks, they'll go to a bar. I'd much rather pitch in with a flat fee than pay per drink at a party.

[Steve.Young]

Are you kidding? Fanime is like, the most drug and alcohol infested convention I've ever been to.

damn girl, who the hell do you hang with at con?!

Probably the people who get escorted out, kicked out, arrested, or smacked every year.

Trust me, they are there.

[SOawesomeness]

Are you kidding? Fanime is like, the most drug and alcohol infested convention I've ever been to.

damn girl, who the hell do you hang with at con?!

Probably the people who get escorted out, kicked out, arrested, or smacked every year.

Trust me, they are there.

^ = Ditto.
o.0

[justkitteh]

Hurrr...

Well a cover is all nice and dandy, but realistically, not everyone is going to drink the same amount, and those who don't drink will get FUCKED because they shouldn't have to pay anything at all right? Why don;t you do a little math and see how much alcohol costs per drink, then when you're done with that find out how much drinks are at bars... it's usually closer to $4 beer/shot and $8 mixed drink/cocktail...

Just sayin... ;P

2oz Bombay Sapphire
1/2oz Cointreau
1/2 Lemon Juice

It's called a Chealse Sidecar. I'll use BevMo for prices, even though nearly everyone at Con will be over paying at whatever local liquor store they went to.

Bombay is $21.99 for a fifth, that's about 25oz.
Cointreau is $34.99 for a fifth, again, 25oz.
Lemon Juice? Who cares.

MATH TIME! 22/25 is .88, so the Gin is 88 cents per ounce. The cointreau comes in at $1.40 per ounce. We're only using half an ounce, so 70 cents...

70 + 88 + 88 = $2.46

You know what, you guys are totally right, I'm definitely over charging on that one... gosh, $2 for $2.50 + a cup + someone's time to know how to make a good drink and then making it for you + ice to shake it + a kick ass party? I'm definitely screwing everyone over...

You guys enjoy your $20 fifths of Smirnof and Bicardi.

[justkitteh]

Hurrr...

Well a cover is all nice and dandy, but realistically, not everyone is going to drink the same amount, and those who don't drink will get FUCKED because they shouldn't have to pay anything at all right? Why don;t you do a little math and see how much alcohol costs per drink, then when you're done with that find out how much drinks are at bars... it's usually closer to $4 beer/shot and $8 mixed drink/cocktail...

Just sayin... ;P

2oz Bombay Sapphire
1/2oz Cointreau
1/2 Lemon Juice

It's called a Chealse Sidecar. I'll use BevMo for prices, even though nearly everyone at Con will be over paying at whatever local liquor store they went to.

Bombay is $21.99 for a fifth, that's about 25oz.
Cointreau is $34.99 for a fifth, again, 25oz.
Lemon Juice? Who cares.

MATH TIME! 22/25 is .88, so the Gin is 88 cents per ounce. The cointreau comes in at $1.40 per ounce. We're only using half an ounce, so 70 cents...

70 + 88 + 88 = $2.46

You know what, you guys are totally right, I'm definitely over charging on that one... gosh, $2 for $2.50 + a cup + someone's time to know how to make a good drink and then making it for you + ice to shake it + a kick ass party? I'm definitely screwing everyone over...

You guys enjoy your $20 fifths of Smirnof and Bicardi.

Oops, I forgot tax and CRV! :P

[Amon_devilman]

Are you kidding? Fanime is like, the most drug and alcohol infested convention I've ever been to.

damn girl, who the hell do you hang with at con?!

Probably the people who get escorted out, kicked out, arrested, or smacked every year.

Trust me, they are there.

I know, and the worst at the ones who decide to do something stupid afterwards. I actually got "threatened" by a hammered high schooler who wanted my Zangetsu (I was cosplaying as Ichigo Kurosaki last year).

The look on his face when I started laughing at him was priceless. Probably got tossed out later.

[Tony]

I don't see this ending well.

Just a note - even a one-cent price difference makes or breaks certain things. In this case, there's a world of difference between paying for drinks and paying even $1 per drink.

If you're not even going to break even, you may as well solicit donations. That tends to work well, especially when people are sauced to the point of not doing the math.

In short: aim for profit or go for broke, I say!

[Moonblossom]

If you're going to pretend to be a booze snob, at least have the decency to spell shit properly

Chelsea Sidecar
Smirnoff
Bacardi

[Jun-Watarase]

Hurrr...

Well a cover is all nice and dandy, but realistically, not everyone is going to drink the same amount, and those who don't drink will get FUCKED because they shouldn't have to pay anything at all right? Why don;t you do a little math and see how much alcohol costs per drink, then when you're done with that find out how much drinks are at bars... it's usually closer to $4 beer/shot and $8 mixed drink/cocktail...

Just sayin... ;P

Well, fuck. That's how it's normally done. People going to a party and paying a flat price. It doesn't matter if they're drinking much or not. They're not going to a bar-- they can find somewhere nearby to do that. People normally understand to pitch in when they're attending someone else's party, and it cuts out all the bs and inconvenience for people to pay and you recieving money and giving out change each and every time someone gets a drink. It's inconvenient, a waste of time, and who knows-- maybe you might break even before everyone gets there if you charge the same flat price, if more people come. But trust me, at Fanime, you aren't the only one hosting a room party. Such is simple advice, if you won't take it, then that's all you. I personally would go elsewhere.

2oz Bombay Sapphire
1/2oz Cointreau
1/2 Lemon Juice

It's called a Chealse Sidecar. I'll use BevMo for prices, even though nearly everyone at Con will be over paying at whatever local liquor store they went to.

Bombay is $21.99 for a fifth, that's about 25oz.
Cointreau is $34.99 for a fifth, again, 25oz.
Lemon Juice? Who cares.

MATH TIME! 22/25 is .88, so the Gin is 88 cents per ounce. The cointreau comes in at $1.40 per ounce. We're only using half an ounce, so 70 cents...

70 + 88 + 88 = $2.46

You know what, you guys are totally right, I'm definitely over charging on that one... gosh, $2 for $2.50 + a cup + someone's time to know how to make a good drink and then making it for you + ice to shake it + a kick ass party? I'm definitely screwing everyone over...

You guys enjoy your $20 fifths of Smirnof and Bicardi.

Yeah, it's not even about how MUCH you charge per drink. It's the fact that you're asking people to pay individually per drink at someone's party. No one wants to spend the time to do that. Some people are eventually going to get sick of paying each and every time and ask you to keep a tab until it's over, whereas they have the opportunity to leave and screw you over. What was the best and most convenient solution, then? Asking everyone attending to chip in and pay a flat price! People understand it, have done it, and agree to it. You hopefully don't lose money and it may cover things you didn't expect, like damages. You don't need to spend time working with money throughout the entire party, and it'll feel more like an actual party rather than running a business.

But hey, if you want to go on with your smug attitude and shoot down the advice people here agreed on... WHEN YOU BOTHERED TO MAKE A THREAD AND ASK FOR IT, what the hell are you here for? This was about the most basic thing to advise on in terms of someone asking tips for a party-- make it as less annoying and inconvenient as possible. As for anything else, like entertaining your guests and having fun, you have friends, don't you? If you have a social life, you should be able to do something with them basic interaction skills. But it sounds to me that you're probably going to host more strangers than friends, if you're thinking about going through the bs if charging them per drink-- friends don't do this amongst each other, ask they trust them to pay the flat fee to help chip in.

If anything, you might even get a few arguments over it. Your reputation isn't exactly great-- and it's not as if people here don't know you. You even posted yourself on how someone wants to stab you. There wasn't really a point to that thread, and since you're actually NOT looking for advice on this one, it probably doesn't have a point either.

[mDuo13]

Less people wandering drunk around the con => all the better.

I say you charge $10 per drink.

[justkitteh]

Yeah, it's not even about how MUCH you charge per drink. It's the fact that you're asking people to pay individually per drink at someone's party. No one wants to spend the time to do that. Some people are eventually going to get sick of paying each and every time and ask you to keep a tab until it's over, whereas they have the opportunity to leave and screw you over. What was the best and most convenient solution, then? Asking everyone attending to chip in and pay a flat price! People understand it, have done it, and agree to it. You hopefully don't lose money and it may cover things you didn't expect, like damages. You don't need to spend time working with money throughout the entire party, and it'll feel more like an actual party rather than running a business.

First of all, your post was useful, and I can appreciate that, your flaming aside. People accusing me of overcharging and shit is douchetastic, especially given that I'm not in anyway doing so. Advice is cool, but accusations and irrelevant discussion is just about all that's been in this thread. I never said I was ignoring people's advice, I was just responding to "you're over charging."

My "reputation" is probably the biggest joke in the Fanime community, I protected a girl from being stalked and harassed by an ex-mod (thanks George), and he tells everyone I'm porking his girlfriend? Hilarious retrospectively, but ask anyone who actually knows me who I am and you'll hear quite a different story than what you hear on the oh so serious interbutts. If you guys are going to take that tool shed seriously and think less of me, then it just means I have to interact less with tools like you. It's win win! ;P haha JK JK Seriously though, save a girl from a stalker and the drama just snowballs, WTF? Reunite old friends and someone wants to starts a fight? What's wrong with you people (not necessarily you specifically, but really? Really really?).

@ Moonblossom - Really, spelling = taste? I had no idea! :P I'm far from an alcohol snob, but unlike most people here I'm just just downing whatever will get me drunk and hide my social awkwardness. There's a field (not just a line, a field) between someone who doesn't like pounding 151 cause "it gets the job done quick" and a snob. I'm probably somewhere in that field...

Now, back to people not pissing all over themselves and whining about irrelevant things.

I never liked a cover because here in LA covers for parties aren't as uncommon as they were in the Bay Area. If I'm the designated driver, or in any position where I will not be drinking, I think it's retarded to pay to get into a party. Even if it's only $5 for a keg (that doesn't end up existing), if I'm not drinking, I don't want to pay... at the same time if I am drinking, I will.

So, what do you think of a bar cover as Kazuko suggested? You pay once at the bar, get a stamp or something, and then boom, it's open? Or you get a card with 10 "points" on it or something? I think the card idea is good (you can use it again the next night) but there's still a bit of a hassle when you go to get a drink. I just don't like the idea of paying at the door, you know? Once upon a time someone dragged me to a house party in OC and it sounded bumping, paid to get in, and it was freakin lame... :(

[Tony]

And there it goes! Actually, I'm not even sure it should have existed in the first place.

I think there was some good advice in here. I learned something.