Charging 20$ a head for a potluck/BYOB

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I ran a neighborhood watch on a long block with 50 houses. We started a block party every year. I organized the first few. Some of us had more money than others. We suggested folks donate $10-20. This went to rent a bounce house for the kids (with the pre-event being 30 minutes for adults to bounce), burgers, hot dogs, buns, propane, etc. We asked everyone to bring a side, but it was fine if you didn't donate or didn't bring a side dish. Our neighbors are generous. Some donated more.

OP, I think you're upset about the spirit of the donation. Our goal was to bring our neighbors together. To get to know each other in order to reduce crime and work for positive change in our neighborhood. We did that. It was lovely. We worked together to do many positive things for the neighborhood.

I sat on this post all morning because I wasn't sure how to feel about your reaction. I think my advice to you is to suggest this year that a couple more "fun" activities be subsidized by the group (i.e. the $20 without talking about it directly). Do a bounce house. Get a food truck. Do frozen ice. Balloon animals. Pay for something. But you make it happen by going to this party and suggesting it lightly to a few key folks.

You let an anonymous post on a dusty corner of the internet bother you all morning? Yikes.

I'd rather be him than some creep peeping in the windows all day looking for something to snipe.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Great Falls. Basically every single person in our neighborhood is upper middle to *very* well off. Not to mince words: these are fairly freakin' rich people.

We have no HOA. No Board. No official body.

Every year or two, someone tries to plan a "Block Party." I do not attend because every year they start by saying it's $20 a head PLUS a potluck dish PLUS BYOB. The host family provides burgers, buns, dogs, fixins, etc, there's no DJ. There's no games. There's no bar, keg, bounce house or live band. No kiddie pool or petting zoo or face painting. It's a gas grill set up in the cul de sac. . .

My question is . . . Why is it $20 a head to participate? Are they serious? Do they not see how incredibly tacky that is? How is that a "Block Party"? Literally everyone here is richer than Croesus-- and I'm not exaggerating. There are four Maserati and a Lambo in this neighborhood!!

I experienced dozens of "block parties" in Philly and Baltimore and Queens. There's no open exchange of money-- you are allowed to tip the DJ or give dough to the "board" who planned it. but in no universe do they ask you to both pay $20 *and* bring a dish *and* BYOB!

I realize this is trivial. But still, thanks for reading, I just needed to get that out.

Let's say 50 people attend at $50/per person and bring a dish and their own beverage. The host providing burgers, hot dogs, plus condiments which they purchase at Costco for $399. $800 on their lickety. I would RSVP no.

These posts always bring out the broke losers. It's 20 bucks not 50. But doesn't matter because you can't afford either.

[Anonymous]

Well, at least your neighbors are friendly and trying to make sure folks in the neighborhood touch base once in a while. That's something.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, at least your neighbors are friendly and trying to make sure folks in the neighborhood touch base once in a while. That's something.

This is a nice way of thinking about it.

I mean, I'm still not paying $20/head to essentially attending a picnic where I'm doing some of the catering, but at least I'd be able to shrug off Shakedown Mom

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's tacky at all. It covers rolls , condiments, ice and beverages. Probably pays the kids who do the set up and break down of tables and chairs.

Honestly, its pretty tacky to expect your neighbor to pay for your block party, regardless of income.

I agree. This seems normal for all the rich areas I’ve lived in.

Rich people are the cheapest people, in my experience.

[Anonymous]

As a college student I was a server at a high end restaurant. There was a large party of 8 that was monopolizing my time. Lots of appetizers, wine, salads, most expensive entrees on the menu.

They were very nice and seemed very happy. Then I got the tip. It was 3%.

One rich person collected the $$ + tip, deducted what he owed from that amount, and gave me the change.

It was awful. I worked all night catering to these people for peanuts.

Sometimes rich people suck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I live in Great Falls. Basically every single person in our neighborhood is upper middle to *very* well off. Not to mince words: these are fairly freakin' rich people.

We have no HOA. No Board. No official body.

Every year or two, someone tries to plan a "Block Party." I do not attend because every year they start by saying it's $20 a head PLUS a potluck dish PLUS BYOB. The host family provides burgers, buns, dogs, fixins, etc, there's no DJ. There's no games. There's no bar, keg, bounce house or live band. No kiddie pool or petting zoo or face painting. It's a gas grill set up in the cul de sac. . .

My question is . . . Why is it $20 a head to participate? Are they serious? Do they not see how incredibly tacky that is? How is that a "Block Party"? Literally everyone here is richer than Croesus-- and I'm not exaggerating. There are four Maserati and a Lambo in this neighborhood!!

I experienced dozens of "block parties" in Philly and Baltimore and Queens. There's no open exchange of money-- you are allowed to tip the DJ or give dough to the "board" who planned it. but in no universe do they ask you to both pay $20 *and* bring a dish *and* BYOB!

I realize this is trivial. But still, thanks for reading, I just needed to get that out.

Let's say 50 people attend at $50/per person and bring a dish and their own beverage. The host providing burgers, hot dogs, plus condiments which they purchase at Costco for $399. $800 on their lickety. I would RSVP no.

These posts always bring out the broke losers. It's 20 bucks not 50. But doesn't matter because you can't afford either.

Spoken like a true classless person that you are.

[Anonymous]

I immediately thought of the quote from Arrested Development: “ It’s one banana, how much could it cost? 10 dollars?”
Rich lady may have no idea how much things cost, but know that $20 is a pittance in her world. She may be thinking “Each bun is $5, mustard jar is $15, etc”

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's tacky at all. It covers rolls , condiments, ice and beverages. Probably pays the kids who do the set up and break down of tables and chairs.

Honestly, its pretty tacky to expect your neighbor to pay for your block party, regardless of income.

I agree. This seems normal for all the rich areas I’ve lived in.

Rich people are some of the cheapest SOBs on the planet.

+100

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's tacky at all. It covers rolls , condiments, ice and beverages. Probably pays the kids who do the set up and break down of tables and chairs.

Honestly, its pretty tacky to expect your neighbor to pay for your block party, regardless of income.

$20 per head is too much.

We attended a picnic at a park - $10 per head, 100 people. Every family brought a potluck dish and those who did not signed up for $20/family for food. Besides that we collected $10 per person attending the picnic. The amount collected paid for the shelter, paper products, beverages (water, juice no booze) and 2 Large trays of food.

OP, the host does have expenses. But $20 per head is too much.

[Anonymous]

Yeah I def wouldn't go. That’s so tacky and cheap.

FWIW I’ve lived in all socioeconomic kinds of neighborhoods and the absolute worst hosts/cheapest people were in the wealthiest neighborhoods. Many people develop a sense of paranoia/money boarding when they get to a certain wealth level. The more middle class and low income neighborhoods had far more generous neighbors and neighborly behavior. They had more or a sense of all pitching in for a party or if they were hosting, they would not allow you to do a thing.

In my wealthy neighborhood, we also have many people trying to sell very used baby things on the listserv. Some women are always posting and asking full price for worn out clothes or items or even USED underwear. It’s so bizarre. I happily just gave all my kids’ baby stuff away and there are others who demand $5 for the same worn out stuff.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yeah that's tacky. Some people are just cheap.

+2

[Anonymous]

In our rich neighborhood there’s a block party and the host families chip in, I think it ends up being $300ish/family, but nobody pays for attending. There are about five host families.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I have never, ever, been invited to a paying block party. My (wealthy) street does block parties.

The whole idea behind a potluck is that you contribute in food instead of in money. The host can't have it both ways.

Our block party has the burgers/hot dogs catered (food truck thingy), and I think it was something like $20/adult and then people brought drinks and apps/desserts.

You get burgers at Red robin too (with fries and condiments) for $15. This is host is tacky for charging $20 per head for a burger they are grilling.

[Anonymous]

Could there be a permit charge/charge to block the street?