Incredible.
Jeff, very good point. I also don't wish to offend anyone, but I have heard from many forum members that they have opted out of some of our dinners because of what they consider to be unreasonably high dinner bills. One member in fact paid over a hundred dollars for a salad and did not drink and vowed to never again participate. I hate to miss out on meeting up with old friends because the bills are too high. Perhaps there is a better way to split up the costs more equitably or democratically (pay for what YOU eat or drink, not what your neighbor eats and drinks). My thoughts, for what it's worth.
Gentlemen,
Perhaps it's the economy, but I think it's more than that. There was a time when GT Forum members would go to great trouble, time, and expense to assist or socialize with other members. The El Chorro Lodge has a MINIMUM of $100 per person in food and drink plus a mandatory 20% tip to hold any function there. They were kind enough to waive that for our group. A typical dinner there is $50, that's $60 when the tip is added in. Cocktails average $10 so if the average is 1.5 per person that's $15 more plus the 20%. That's $80 gentlemen. Maybe we need to go to Denny's for a more attractive tab. For 5 years I have organized this function along with the Rallies to the Rally, and dinners at GT events around the country including the opening night dinners at Rallies 4 & 5. The highest tab including tip at ANY function I've held was $90, the 2nd highest was $75, all others were less. The least expensive functions were the 3 GT Forum catered/open bar events I hosted at my home. All you could eat and all the cocktails members cared to drink for $0.00. Nobody complained about that price. The manner of payment has been clearly spelled out before every event. So if someone showed up and had a salad with no dinner and drank water and then paid way more than the divided tab, why would he do that? Doesn't make sense. I paid the exact same amount as everybody else per person at every dinner even though I normally had 2 non drinking kids with me. I've also covered over $500 in shortages out of my pocket in addition to over $4000 for functions I've hosted and paid for. After the Rally V dinner I got blistered by a long time member telling me that everybody got screwed and was pissed at me. I spent a considerable amount of time organizing that event, put up my credit card to guarantee a very large sum, clearly detailed in advance how the bill would be paid, I paid the same amount as everybody else, I also paid for two people who left without paying, I have never made a dime for doing any of this, yet somehow I screwed everybody and I'm the as*hole.
Getting a nice restaurant to provide a private room and a wait staff capable of serving 40 to 100 people at one time is not easy. The objective was to allow members to move around the room and socialize before dinner with cocktail waitresses eliminating the need to wait in line at the bar. The El Chorro Lodge (and most other fine restaurants) will not provide 20-30 separate checks to a party of 40 people and you can't have dinner there for $30.00. I've organized get togethers that I thought members enjoyed in the past and tried to make it as simple and hassle free as possible. I have required no form of deposit from members even for those functions where I had to personally guarantee 4 figure sums to reserve facilities. I have allowed members to cancel at the last minute or just not show up even though space was reserved for them. And I have burned untold hours keeping track of who's coming, canceling, changing #s, answering calls & questions, directing traffic, and collecting, counting, and paying the tabs. My sole reward was seeing members connect and have a good time.
If indeed we are now at the point where members who own $175,000 cars will avoid a GT Forum gathering rather than risk potentially paying $10 or $15 more because another member had 3 drinks and they only had 1......and we need to give every member a separate check.......and we need to go to restaurants with no minimums that will seat, serve, and wait on someone who just wants a salad and water and who wants to pay only for that....I'm afraid that's beyond me and I don't wish to have anything to do with such a gathering. Can you even imagine, at functions with up to 100 people, trying to figure out and collect a different amount from each person? Add to the fun the knowledge that I have to guarantee payment of the entire bill and cover all shortages. Forgive me for losing a bit of my enthusiasm after being called out as a dick and a ripoff on more than one occasion now by members who thought the $50 dinner plus drinks plus tip they ordered SHOULD have cost $30 at an event that just "magically, spontaneously happened". Any member who attends and then wants to bitch afterward should step up to the plate and handle these functions himself (you won't hurt my feelings for taking over), negotiate lower prices at better establishments and make everybody happy.
I have already finalized everything with El Chorro. For those who have not been there since it's reopening last year, it's really cool. Expensive, but cool. Again, separate checks for a large party are not an option so if you require one, or don't want to have dinner, or the thought that someone might get a slightly better deal than you is mortifying, just send me a PM and bow out. Maybe Tim can organize a lower budget dinner at a cheaper restaurant with separate checks next year.
Ahhhh, I feel better now. For those that want to join us, I'll see you tomorrow (Thursday) night. Cheers. :cheers
Chip
My guess is that showing up for the social aspect of the event would be frowned upon... right? Maybe pop over & have a few drinks but skip dinner? Might be a good solution for those cheap bastards who would rather grab a $6.99 rooty tooty fresh and fruity at ihop, but still want to see the crew.
