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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. |
