Am I crazy?

[RedSoxParrotHead]

I guess this goes out to all the "party planners" of the bunch...

I'm "that guy" the guy that plans Buffett for everyone every year. This year I have arranged a group of 29 people. We're going on a full sized bus with a bathroom. I've secured everyone's tickets. I booked the bus. I'm buying the booze and supplying lunch and dinner.

People in my group have a bus for 15 hours, all the food and drink they can handle all for $80 + their ticket.

I ask, am I crazy? Becuase all's I'm getting from people is static and pushback about how can we make it cheaper...and all I can think is, "It's $80 for a bus from 10AM to 1AM, lunch, dinner, margaritas, beer and snacks ALL day and night for $80!!!!!!" All's they have to do is SHOW UP!

I feel more and more every year like it becomes a chore to go to Buffett. I miss the days when it was simple and the people I knew got "into it". I guess that's the price I've paid by trying to include too many people. Next year...we'll forget saying that...I've been saying it way too long!

Can anyone else out there feel my pain?

~Sad Parrot

[caly]

I say you are crazy, but I am right behind you.

I am also the kind that wants everyone to have a good time and try and make arrangements and concessions for everyone.
I got spoiled this year with Buffett, as I met a phellow BN'r and he had been to both venues that we were going to, so he had the inside track. He did the planning and I was just happy to tag along.

Everyone can tell you to chill and just enjoy yourself, but that is easier said than done.
Feelin your pain.

[FunkHouse9]

I used to look forward to going to Buffett with a huge group and somewhere along the way in the last couple of years, when I had my back turned, they all went and grew up on me. It was always so much fun to make a big deal of it and now people don't want to deal with it. Even with all of the traffic and high ticket prices, in the end, it's still my favorite part of the summer.

I feel your pain.

[STL PARROTHEAD]

I say ditch your friends (who apparently need to look up the word friend) and take me and Caly!!!!

We are loads of fun, and won't b**** about $80!!!!!





whatdaya say??

[karat]

You are the best!

Your friends would be lost in the woods without you! My friends did the whole pulled a similar thing on me this year. Fine I am done with that - fend for yourself I say.

You have done nothing wrong but be a leader, one with responsibility and well perfect in my eyes!

(by the way you married?)

[docandjeanie]

I say ditch your friends (who apparently need to look up the word friend) and take me and Caly!!!!

We are loads of fun, and won't b**** about $80!!!!!





whatdaya say??

I think you need new friends, also. Can I join in, $80 for all that fun and they don't have to do anything, are they nuts. They don't even have to struggle to get a ticket.... you need new friends..... Let them try it on their own next year and see how they do....

[mjeischen]

You're right on and working a good deal there.

Sometimes you need to break it down for people. Ask them if they would go with or without your arrangements. If they say yes then explain thats $47 right there. Challenge them to eat lunch and dinner and get wasted on $33 at one of these concert venues. Couple that with not having to fear a drunk driving ticket and your set!

It's all how you package it really. I've been in this position and you really need to sell it. It's sad but you do.

[CaptainP]

I feel more and more every year like it becomes a chore to go to Buffett. I miss the days when it was simple and the people I knew got "into it". I guess that's the price I've paid by trying to include too many people. Next year...we'll forget saying that...I've been saying it way too long!

Can anyone else out there feel my pain?

~Sad Parrot

Sometimes, when planning the Alpine tailgate every year, it feels like more work than it is worth. But when I start to see everyone show up, have a great time, meet new people, etc....it all seems too short.

Is it Alpine yet?

[STL PARROTHEAD]

yea, the only thing is that sometimes people still don't get it!!!

Every year our group of friends goes to Hagar.... we have since high school and it has become an event... My kids even have waited until they were 18 so they could go with us and I would allow them 1 beer (yea,right one beer my butt), but anyway...............Tom and I would get everybody's tickets,we'd have a preparty at our house as we live only about a mile from Riverport, and I would make alot of food (those of you that know me, know I love to cook for parties)

Well, this year, we went to Tinley to see Jimmy when the Hagar tickets went on sale..........Do you think any one of those a**hats got us a ticket???? NO!!!!! and 4 of those people are family....

What I guess I'm saying is that I don't think some people will ever realize some things...... But if it is fun........keep doing it. When concert day comes... it will be fun and you will have a blast!!!!
Unless I just totally bummed you out! sorry............

[mommar]

yeah, you're probably crazy like the rest of us............but.........A woman I work with, age about 50 sometihng is taking a bus for $80 and is THRILLED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have a feeling she's not in your group, as she's from North of Boston, but, there may be some in your group that really do appreciate it, and you may not know that

As for the whiners, maybe they are a younger crowd, with a much tighter budget than my co-worker, so the $80 may seem high to them........just a thought

Enjoy the show

[caly]

I say ditch your friends (who apparently need to look up the word friend) and take me and Caly!!!!

We are loads of fun, and won't b**** about $80!!!!!





whatdaya say??

Ya....what she said.

[Dutch Harbor PH]

Heck!!!...Can I take the place of one of those whinners?????
The "VIP" tickets cost $300 and you only get a couple of beers and a place to hang out for an hour or 2...

[ParrotheadKalee]

All that for $80... I'd be asking what I can do to help!!

[jonesbeach10]

Tell them that $80 got them the most fun (food, drinks, time to tailgate, etc.) for the least price and if they want it to be cheaper in the future, invite them to help you next year with preparations. Either no one will take you up on it and will shut up, you will get a few good helpers and have a little less work for next year, or everyone will want to help and you get gridlock and people will appreciate all the work you do.

[Snowparrot]

Sure you're crazy, but we need more Fruitcakes!!
Keep up the good work!

[RedSoxParrotHead]

Wow! Thanks to all you tried and true Parrotheads that have spoken up and assuared me there's still more of my kind out here.

There are some with tighter budgets in the bunch, those to which $80 is a big budget buster. It's the newer folks that haven't experienced the day before that don't realize what goes into a real day at Buffett!!

You've helped raise my chin...I spent the night in the backyard with a few beers and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays on the backyard stereo and that seemed to help change my mood too!

I shall overcome and enjoy!!! See you all there...

Foxboro here we come!

[flipflopgirl]

WOW! That is a GREAT DEAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i would be in on that in a heartbeat! you are doing it right! just keep reminding people about the time to shop for all of that stuff too not to mention the $$$$$

[ragtopW]

Good luck!!!

[Elrod]

I feel more and more every year like it becomes a chore to go to Buffett. I miss the days when it was simple and the people I knew got "into it".

That's why I'm going to Florida next month to see Sunny Jim!

$80 is a steal. Your friends that complain don't have a clue.

[Mr Play]

It sounds to me like you're trying to please a bunch of people who aren't going to be happy no matter what you do. That doesn't make you crazy, it just means you're catering to the wrong crowd. Maybe you should offer the complainers a refund and take some of the people who are showing an interest here.