OT: Ticket prices for HS Reunion

[Jenny3]

I got suckered into being on the committee for my 20 yr High School Reunion (although I'm still in denial that I'm really that old )

We just posted the invite today to our Reunion FB page and already have one classmate whining about the ticket price. It's set at $75pp for advance tickets ($90 at the door). For that you get appetizers, full dinner and dessert at a very nice venue, DJ, photographer, photo booth, door prizes, decor, donation to the school and will most likely include a free drink ticket (the rest is open bar).

I think it's very reasonable... do you agree? What was the price of your reunion and what was included?

 

[pipervali]

I honestly think it's a little steep. But I suppose it depends on what part of the country you're in as well.

I paid for my mother's 40th high school reunion last year. The tickets were $50 which included a buffet dinner, beer/soda/wine, the dj and the photographer and photobooth.

Perhaps to keep costs lower, you can make the school donation at voluntary thing instead of included in the cost of the ticket? It's likely that most of your alums don't even live in the same district anymore, and make donations to their own programs. If that could bring the costs down some, it might be something to think about.

Good luck with the planning though!

 

[trip]

I can't remember what we paid for ours but we wouldn't attend a reunion dinner priced at $150 per couple.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I planned my 10 year reunion (first class reunion my school had ever had!) NEVER AGAIN. You will never make everyone happy.

I will say though, $150 is more than DH and I would spend for a night out. (Factor in at 20 years, you could easily have folks paying for a sitter on top of that, plus any travel costs...) If that is the norm in your area though, what can you do? (I do agree it's odd to include a donation to the school?)

I honestly don't remember what we charged for the 10th, but it was "odd" anyway in that it was an entire weekend because of our school circumstances.

I went to my 20th a couple years back (different HS, I went to three, lol). I believe it was $20pp. It was a BBQ buffet at a local brew pub, price just included the meal and nonalcoholic drinks.

 

[SaraJayne]

I got suckered into being on the committee for my 20 yr High School Reunion (although I'm still in denial that I'm really that old )

We just posted the invite today to our Reunion FB page and already have one classmate whining about the ticket price. It's set at $75pp for advance tickets ($90 at the door). For that you get appetizers, full dinner and dessert at a very nice venue, DJ, photographer, photo booth, door prizes, decor, donation to the school and will most likely include a free drink ticket (the rest is open bar).

I think it's very reasonable... do you agree? What was the price of your reunion and what was included?

My 20th is next year. We wouldn't be attending at that price ($150 a couple? No way).

 

[momof1princess]

well, for all that you get, i don't think the price is terrible, but, at $150 per couple, it would be too rich for my blood. maybe there's a thing or two you could cut, and bring the price down a bit? i agree with the PP...you'll NEVER please everyone.

 

[Hannathy]

Wow No way I could attend that! $75 is the most I have seen for a reunion and between my DH and myself we have had a lot of them.

That is way to much with the economy the way it is now, you will have a very low turn out. And why such a big jump at the door? that is a BIG difference.

Ditch the photographer, Get the door prizes donated or skip, and if it takes it down get rid of the photo booth. Also does anyone really care about the decorations?

It is too bad that so many classmates will be shut out due to the price.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Quick Google shows average price of $50 to $100; no specific location, and some of the sites are reunion planners. Interestingly, those sites point out only about 30% of a class attends the reunion.

Bit of advice: whatever you end up charging, make sure it's enough to cover all your costs. I'm aware of one milestone reunion where the turnout was lower than expected, so the planners billed the attendees more money after the reunion. I'm also not aware that anybody paid - at least nobody I know did (not my party).

 

[momof1princess]

Wow No way I could attend that! $75 is the most I have seen for a reunion and between my DH and myself we have had a lot of them.

That is way to much with the economy the way it is now, you will have a very low turn out. And why such a big jump at the door? that is a BIG difference.

Ditch the photographer, Get the door prizes donated or skip, and if it takes it down get rid of the photo booth. Also does anyone really care about the decorations?

It is too bad that so many classmates will be shut out due to the price.

great ideas! just to elaborate on the photographer a little: would it be possible to get one of your classmates to take the pictures, OP? maybe for a free ticket? i have several classmates who do photography as a hobby, and they'd jump at the chance to get in free for just doing what they love.

 

[Mickey527]

My reunion is this weekend and I am still not sure if I will go.
Dinner at an italian restaurant, soda and cash bar with DJ for after. I enjoy italian food but I don't dance so that part is a bust.
We are also going to a baseball game the next day.
If I went to this restaurant on any other day my meal would run under $20. the game cost about $15 for the seats we are getting.
they are charging $100 per person for the night and the game the next day.
I tried to get the person running this party to tell me who is going because unless some of my old group is going I really won't enjoy myself because I am planning on going alone. From what I have read on facebook the people who are going are not the people I was friendly in HS and I don't like the way they have presented themselves on facebook so the thought of spending 4 hours with them and then again for 2 or more just don't sound like it will be worth $100.
This will be my 40th reunion.

 

[danceintherain]

You have to consider your goal. Is it to have a nice party, or to get together with people who you haven't seen in 20 years?

I don't know what your high school was like, but while our general area was affluent, we had a wide variety of economic situations. $75/head can be a lot of money for people. In my case at least, I'm fairly certain my parents won't live in the area anymore by the time my 20th reunion rolls around, so I'll be paying for a hotel in addition to transportation etc.

I say the inclusions should be pared down in order to make it a reasonable cost for everyone.

 

[kydisneyfans]

Don't forget those that would need to travel in since they moved out of the area. Add $4+ a gallon for fuel and hotel costs. If a person now lives 100 miles away the cost now exceeds $300 for a couple to attend.

There is no way I would ever consider spending $75 a ticket.

 

[Nomad70]

Hm, I don't find it unreasonable personally. It's a 20th HS reunion, a special occasion at that. We all splurge now and then. Heck, we are on the DIS boards, that means we choose to spend $ on something others may consider frivolous. You are not going to make everyone happy, that's the bottom line. And if it is too much for some, that's too bad, but it's not the end of the world.

 

[POOHsie]

Just came back from my reunion. It was $45 pp but we didn't have a professional photographer, dj, or free drink ticket.

 

[Jenny3]

Lots of differing opinions, I appreciate it!

Just to elaborate a bit... we went to a Catholic HS and a donation is expected from all reunions. I don't personally agree with it, but was overruled on the committee. Whatever is leftover in the fund will be sent to the school.

The photographer is a classmate and is doing it for free to help his business He is just going to do candids, nothing staged. We got a great deal on the photobooth and thought that would be a lot of fun

We are doing this on our own (not officially through the school), so had to make the advance price much more desirable than the door price. There are 5 of us taking care of this and we have to pay for the venue, DJ, food, mailed invitations, etc. ahead of time. We are definitely making sure our expenses are covered. (and yes, I'm annoyed I got sucked into this, LOL)

If area matters at all, we are the NE suburbs of Philadelphia, in a pretty affluent county. Our 10 year was about $60pp and that was just drinks and munchies at a bar down the city; we didn't do a 15 year.

Do most people bring their spouse? I talked to my girlfriends and I think we are leaving them at home since they won't know anyone. I brought my hubby to my 10 year, but he didn't have a good time at all.

 

[eliza61]

I got suckered into being on the committee for my 20 yr High School Reunion (although I'm still in denial that I'm really that old )

We just posted the invite today to our Reunion FB page and already have one classmate whining about the ticket price. It's set at $75pp for advance tickets ($90 at the door). For that you get appetizers, full dinner and dessert at a very nice venue, DJ, photographer, photo booth, door prizes, decor, donation to the school and will most likely include a free drink ticket (the rest is open bar).

I think it's very reasonable... do you agree? What was the price of your reunion and what was included?

I'm on the reasonable side. I figured if I went to a nice dinner it would run me 50 bucks a person and through in the dancing, door prizes, 1 drink.

I'm fine with it. I would definitely get my tickets in advance.

 

[HM]

Our 25th cost that much and we didn't get as much. Only 50 people came. Our 30th was $40 and a lot more people showed up.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Do most people bring their spouse? I talked to my girlfriends and I think we are leaving them at home since they won't know anyone. I brought my hubby to my 10 year, but he didn't have a good time at all.

DH and DS went to my 10 year as it was 500 miles from where we lived. It was a weekend thing and since my co-planner and a couple others were also coming from a distance, with kids- it was planned as a family event.

DH did not attend my 20th that was literally 3 miles from our house. I think most spouses did go though (and most did look miserable.)

 

[ilovemk76]

There is nobody, who I have not seen in 20 years, that I would pay a $150/couple to see.

 

[HM]

Our reunion committee or the class president has tried to make sure that we had a few events during the weekend for our reunions. We do a get-together on Friday night at a local bar (free except beverage purchase), a family picnic at a local park on Saturday afternoon so that spouses and kids can participate with a small fee for bbq food and drink, and the real reunion on Saturday night where some people bring spouses and some don't (I haven't since our 10th....DH would be bored to death).