Another dynamite turnout!

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This posting is from: Vera Delmar
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Do we actually need a formal contract to use these places? Why not have
them in adjoining bars in the same location or at two different adjacent
locations with half of us going to one and the other half going to the
other. Then, throughout the evening we just mingle and circulate between
both places, with the requirement to check in at both. I'm thinking
here's how it would work....We can arrange it so that the attendees with
last names beginning with the letters A - L to go check in at, say Bar
A, say of the Parisian and those with last names beginning with M - Z
check in at Bar B of the same Parisian, (or one at the adjacent casino
whichever that would be would be up to the final vote). Then, throughout
the evening we just flow between the two bars making sure we recheck in
at the bar we didn't get our badge at. That way we're bound to bump into
all of the attendees at one point during the evening. With 100's of
visitors in Las Vegas at any given night frequenting these are, 50 or so
of us at two different adjacent bars shouldn't be to much for the
business to bear, especially if we were gathered into smaller groups
that would be fluctuating throughout the evening. We'd be just like
everyone else in the bar - there to have a good time and meet up with
old friends and make new friends. Then, at a certain point in the
evening we could all head out to our choice of eating establishments
there on the strip or else where with no real big get together for
dinner. We'd save that for the Bahama Breeze Farewell at the end of the
week.

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(This posting was entered by Vera Delmar, an external user of MyDLV.)

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This posting is from: Cynthia Phillips
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Hi All,

I called Arty Event Manager, Dana Boyce and leveled a subtle complaint
to her about those drinky prices. She stated that there was no increase
in prices from last year and that the in-house staff would not have
jumped them up on us behind her back; ha ha.

Look, if you believe that you'ed buy Martian real estate. She wasn't
even there last year and of course she's just shooting from the hip.
Joanne, Vicky, Vera, Annie, are all pretty much on point. This Las Vegas
economy is a game and a half.

We need a new Opening Venue. So, to all you lovely ladies and gentlemen
who live here: Let's start nosing around now. Follow Annie's guidelines:
affordable prices, no contract, space for all of us, close restaurants,
free parking, trannie friendly, ambience, atmosphere, etc. etc.
Admittedly, it's a tall order but it's not impossible. It's going to
take a concerted effort from all of us, locals and out-of-towners too.
On the positive side, we've got a whole year to do it. The table is
open; play your cards girls.

Cynthia

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This posting is from: Sara P.
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> guarantees, minimums (minima?), deposits, etc., you're gonna
> have to be very creative and a skillful negotiator! It's not
> impossible, and Mindy, Kimberly, Marisa, Cami, and Cynthia have
> all done it in recent years. (I'm sure I'm forgetting somebody,
> sorry!)

If you're referring to such negotiations over the course of the entire
week (rather than just the opening/closing events), you forgot me!!!

Actually, you brought up a point that I had intended to make in my last
comment about Artisan. In negotiating P.F. Chang's the first time for
DLV 2011, it took a lot of effort to get what I wanted... their upstairs
semi-private balcony area, no set menu, no minimum, etc. When the
reservation started getting a bit large for such parameters, they'd
threaten a set menu and a crazy minimum purchase per person (like in the
$50 range), at which time I said I would walk and they always would come
back to accommodate. This happened both in 2011 & 2012. However, this
year was the smoothest as I think they are getting used to our group.
Getting separate totals per person was no problem either. My point is
the same as Annie's, that these venues should be eager to get our
business for a number of reasons, mostly financial for them...not to
mention we are simply a fun group to grace their establishments!!!

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This posting is from: Samantha Markson
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Brilliant!

Samantha

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[annie]

>> impossible, and Mindy, Kimberly, Marisa, Cami, and Cynthia have
>> all done it in recent years. (I'm sure I'm forgetting somebody,
>> sorry!)

> If you're referring to such negotiations over the course of the entire
> week (rather than just the opening/closing events), you forgot me!!!

That's the problem with naming names. Somebody who deserves to be mentioned gets left out. I probably should have clarified that those I mentioned were those who took the lead on our opening gathering in the past several years. There are quite a few other activities which involve the "heavy lifting" and the negotiating with the vendors. We do need to specially recognize those like you who are willing to do that extra work in order to make our medium to large activities happen!

> they'd threaten a set menu and a crazy minimum purchase per person

Over our several years we have indeed learned what our people like and do not like. Those fixed "party menus" generate a lot of complaints. Our people love having choices and love being able to order off of the full menu. Needless to say, any charge "just to walk thru the door" is a show-stopper.

> However, this year was the smoothest as I think they are getting used
> to our group.

I think you have them well trained. Same can be said for Beverly and the Bahama Breeze.

> Getting separate totals per person was no problem either.

Our people love separate checks. Not all places cooperate, but I was pleasantly surprised that Trevi did it this year. Hard Rock did it without even being asked.

> not to mention we are simply a fun group to grace their establishments!!!

We're good customers! We pay our bills and we're better behaved than many of the other groups that haunt Las Vegas. Our impact to the Las Vegas economy has been over 1/4 of a million dollars in recent years.

This is not the 1970s when a TG group had trouble finding a facility that wanted the business. We're welcome almost anywhere and we have a lot of options - and we use them!

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This posting is from: Vickie Stone
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Well if you think about how much we would have lost at the tables in
that same time span, we didn't do so bad with jacked up drink prices. By
the way I was charged $14 for a glass of chardonnay at the bar at Paris,
when we went there after the Bahama Breeze event.

Sincerely

Vickie Stone

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[Marisa]

I had a really fun time with everyone!Thanks to all the planners(without naming names) for all the fun events we had this year and thank you everyone for the nice turn out at the EHM again this year!Is anyone interested in coming to LV on halloween for a half way to "DLV 2014" get together and look for new venues for our group?There is always a big parade and after party at Fremont street on halloween eve. Marisa

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This posting is from: Vera Delmar
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Maybe we should start carrying our personal flasks full of our favorite
liquor and then just replenish our drinks through out the evening.

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This posting is from: Vickie Stone
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Oye...carrying a makeup bag isn't enough! Ha!

Sincerely

Vickie Stone

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[Linda]

>
> Well if you think about how much we would have lost at the tables in
> that same time span, we didn't do so bad with jacked up drink prices.

Vickie, that is negative thinking. There's no guarantee that "we would have lost at the tables". In any large group, there are always some winners, unless they are playing a game where the odds are really stacked against the player, like Keno, Roulette or one of the horrific variations on Blackjack. But I get your point. $15 for a drink, even $10 is akin to the house cheating the players.