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Whether the purpose of your event is to raise money or is strictly
for its entertainment value, it is important to determine how many guests
you expect to attend. While doing so can sometimes be difficult with
a first time fund-raising event, if your committee members give it some
serious thought a reasonable number can usually be determined. The key
is to be realistic, if previous events average 150 guests don't set
your sites on 400. We only ask that the estimate is make in good faith
and you keep us informed as the expectations change so that we can make
sure you have the right amount of tables for your guests.
Setting a date is very important. The golden rule is to plan well
in advance. Generally, you will need a minimum of three months to put
a successful fund-raising event together. Corporate and personal events
on the other hand can, if need be, managed on much shorter time frames,
the only restrictions being on the availability of the equipment configuration
you want. When selecting a particular date try and find one that doesn't
conflict with other major events. You will find however, that all dates
conflict with something, so don't expect a "perfect" date.
Fund-raisers should definitely avoid holidays. Note that Fridays and
Saturdays are the best days for fund-raisers, but that weekdays will
offer you discounts with us, DJ's, halls, hotels and other locations.
By using these discounts, starting the party earlier, and cutting the
event's length down slightly you can still be very successful. Corporate
events should note that December is our busiest month, most weekends
sell out early in the year, so plan well ahead. Remember we know it
is not always possible to have lots of time to put your event together,
so even if you only have a few days we can most likely help.
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Giving yourself plenty of time in the early planning will serve you
well in securing the right location, at the right price. Try and match
the location with any theme you are planning. We mention this because
many groups tag themes onto their casino theme, for example Wild West
Casino, Hollywood Casino, Cruise Ship Casino and Gangster Casino. Naturally,
the location will depend a lot on your budget and in the case of fund-raisers
the donation being requested of the guests. Make sure that you keep
the location in close proximity to the area, in which, your group lives
or works. When in doubt ask us, we've been in just about every location
imaginable in Southern California.
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It is not necessary to offer a full lunch or dinner at your event,
but whenever you put together a group of people for three or four hours
you will need to make some provision for refreshments or finger-food.
Food can be used as an additional source of revenue, at any rate it
must be factored into your budget.
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Of course, the most important decorations or props you need to set
a casino theme are the table games. They are more than sufficient to
generate an electric and enjoyable Las Vegas atmosphere. Some groups
choose to add additional character to the event with either small decorations
(like Jumbo Playing Cards for the walls) or by developing a tag along
theme (like Roaring Twenties Casino) with the help of additional props.
Ask us for information about what's available and where. When a tag
along theme is being used let us know as we can either supply our dealers
with special attire or have them dress in theme from their own wardrobe.
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If your event is a fund-raiser, than promotion will be your lifeblood.
The best fund-raisers, generating the most money, put their biggest
efforts into getting donations before the day of the event. It's important
that you advertise through all available channels open for little or
no cost, such as community service announcements. These avenues work
to create awareness, which is good, however they do not take the place
of a hard working sales force working the streets, phones and mail to
get people to make the needed donations.
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Before you can sell the event you must have a ticket to give as a
receipt. We suggest that you find a local merchant (restaurants are
great) to underwrite the printing cost of the tickets. Naturally, they
will get name recognition or even a coupon attached to the ticket, either
way both sides are ahead.
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Sponsors are most important for fund-raisers, however we've seen many
businesses use sponsors at events they put on for their customers thereby
defraying some of the event's costs. If a merchant can't attend they
might be willing to sponsor a game table. In exchange for a donation,
the merchant gets a plaque (a nice hand made tent card for example)
on one of the blackjack, craps or roulette tables indicating their sponsorship
of that table. Set a sponsor price on each type of table, craps and
roulette generally go for a higher rate than the blackjack. We know
of events that have covered their entire cost of the tables this way.
If possible don't let this option pass you by.
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Merchants and friends will provide for your event for the asking!
If you are planning a fund-raiser you shouldn't have to spend a penny
for prizes. Make sure the merchants get their name in any printed materials
and clearly announce them before their prize is given away, as a way
of thanking them. You can even give them a free ticket to the event.
Who knows? Once they are there, they may run out of play chips and make
another donation in order to keep playing. Most anything will do for
a prize; it's not the value but more the thrill of winning that people
enjoy. Don't get so many prizes that it takes more that 20 to 40 minutes
to give them away, otherwise your guests might start getting bored.
We want to leave them on a high, so keep things moving. This applies
to non-fund-raisers as well.
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You can leave these worries to Gourmet Catering! We will discuss your
needs with you and help you decide on the types of games you need and
the optimum number of each. We will work to get the right number of
tables that will properly service all of your guests but at the same
time not leave empty tables standing around, sending the message that
nobody showed up.
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There are two general rules that we try to follow. First, the start
time shouldn't be so late that guests have to stay out past midnight.
Contrary to the notion that everybody wants to party all night long,
most people want to be home at a reasonable time. That means you should
consider starting your event between 6-8 PM depending on the length.
Second, don't keep the casino going longer than four hours. Our dealers
are contracted for 4 hours and anytime over that creates additional
costs, but more importantly people just start to get tired after 3 or
so hours of doing anything. You want to leave them on a high wanting
more, not tired and wishing to go home.
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We always suggest some provision for background music or other ambient
sound. A lively event is a slightly noisy one. Generally, the excitement
at the tables will be sufficient for a fun event, but if the room is
too big for the group or the tables are split into different rooms,
there may not be enough noise. If a DJ or band is not in your budget,
ensure that you provide some other source of background music just to
round out the atmosphere. If a DJ or band is in the plans, we will be
happy to supply one.
(GO TO: ENTERTAINMENT)
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You can trust us to remove all the gaming equipment promptly once
you event ends. You need to make sure there are others on hand to help
with the mess that will surely be made by your guests.
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You may need to provide for additional help with the following areas:
entrance table/check-in of guests, food tables & servers, wet bar,
volunteer dealers to eliminate the cut of our professional dealers (ask
us for the cost difference), master of ceremonies, waitresses/waiters
and early cash-out table (normally the dealers cash everyone out at
the end of the event).
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We hope that we have given you some good ideas and points for consideration.
We expect that we have missed some areas of concern to you however,
so feel free to call and talk to us about these. These events are of
such great fun that it's hard to do the wrong thing, so relax and let
us help you put on a really super event. |
