Question about organizing group trip

[phantomcrazy14]

Hi everybody! So I was planning on trying to arrange a group trip to one of two shows with my church and had a question about how it's done. Should I call to see if there's availability before I go about getting people? I don't want to buy a group now and then not get enough interest from my church. And I'm probably just make the group number quota, so it's not like I'm reserving 30+ seats. Thanks!

[anmiller07]

Tips for Planning Your Group Trip

[Brian07663NJ]

Group trips are a lot of fun but they are a lot of work for the person in charge of them. Be clear what your expectations are from those attending. I make it clear that once they pay me for the ticket and I give them the ticket - it is their responsibility to find someone if they cannot go. Be prepared for a few who say they are going to attend to back out. Who is going to lay out the money for the tickets before people repay you? Once you pick a date there is a relatively short window of time to pay the ticket company. It is not easy to get money out of the hands of all those who say they want to go so someone is going to have to float several people. 30 doesn't sound like a lot of people but when it comes time to part with the cash...suddenly everyone looks to the sky and no one hears you. How will everyone get to the theater? I make it clear that it is each persons responsibility. We will try to car pool together but there are no promises. Good luck! It is fun, it is worth it. I've done it many times for my friends and family.

[dreaming]

Many years ago, my mother successfully organized a group trip bringing her co-workers and their families to New York from CT. They got a bus and tickets to Phantom. It wasn't as complicated as you might think. She got a list of all interested parties, then took the money (cash or check), and used that towards the cost of the tickets (a group rate, obviously). The bus payment, again, required the people to pay ahead (I think it was $15-$20 a person which is not bad at all really).

The key is to get committed parties to give the money BEFORE the tickets and transportation are purchased. Once they give you the money, if they cannot make it, it's their problem, not yours. (Pre-payment is key to you not getting stuck footing the bill.)

[phantomcrazy14]

Thanks for all the advice!