Here's Ginger's post from a while back:
Using the ballroom would be a net cost of about $900 (since we'd pay less for the hospitality suite), plus food plus drinks plus bartender. I think we can bring in party trays pretty inexpensively, but we're still talking about dividing up about $1,300. The advantages of the ballroom are:
It's in the hotel.
We'll have it all day, so we can use it for other things
We can dance and have our own music
Disadvantages:
Cost
More work for us, since we'll have to arrange food, buy drinks, hang a disco ball, etc.
Alternately we could go down the street to Manuel's. The room would probably be free and they have some pretty reasonable party trays, plus people can also order whatever they want. However, the drinks would have to be purchased from the bar.
Advantages:
Cost (Most of the cost would be paid by people ordering food and drink, not a lump sum.)
Disadvantages:
Not entirely separate from the rest of the bar
Can't really have own music
Did we ever come close to a total for numbers at prom? I'd like to try to run the math, and also to find out from Manuel's what the situation would be - I'd think they might be able to work with us on music, but I don't know for sure. Figuring out what room might be available to us would also be helpful.
ETA: I've left a message with Manuel's, so hopefully we'll know more soon.
We can dance and have our own music
Just as a note from having covered this at past F2F's, check into the cost that you are going to incur renting a sound system for the music, it can get expensive quickly.
The poll results say 18 people, but it certainly seems like a lot more are talking about coming.
Thanks for doing all this calling, Brenda. I didn't anticipate having the Martian Death Flu, plus the subsequent laryngitis.
No worries, Ginger, I've felt bad about how much of this is falling on you.
Yeah, we say 18, but I'm thinking more like 30. Hopefully I can talk to Manuel's tomorrow and find out what's the what. I'm still a little worried about the whole Cinco de Mayo thing, but I think it could be workable.
Reminder: People, send me your travel info.
Push comes to shove, we party at Ginger's house. Right, Ginger? Just as good for letting down our hair and costume changes as the hotel would be.
"Be kind to her. She's been mostly mute all day!"
Ginger, I'm so sorry about the death flu and the laryngitis. No.fun.
The no-talking thing is getting really old.
My house is small, but I've certainly had parties here with more than 30 people.
Okay, y'all. I've gone ahead and reserved the North Avenue Room at Manuel's.
I told her we were about 30-40 people just to make sure we weren't too crowded, and was told there would be ample room.
We can push tables aside for dancing.
We can bring our own music (she said people ususally bring a boom box?) - more detail needed there obviously. There is also DVD hookup in the room.
We can either order off the menu or pre-order from their party menus. I'd suggest doing that - ususally a lot easier and cheaper for a large group, and no big surprises at the end of the night. It has to be all one check regardless.
Tax and 20% gratuity will be added.
So, are we good? Anyone have concerns? I don't mean to suggest that anything is set in stone, but I was getting worried about not having anything lined up this close to the day.
Menu is here: [link]
Whether we go with this option or not, I'd like to start collecting prom/hosp suite money sooner rather than later. I can offer my PayPal unless anyone else wants to jump in and handle that part of it.
