I am doing an event for a children's museum. Adults only, auction type event. Hope to raise $20,000. We are looking at tickets about $50 pp. We can do either a Friday evening 6-10 or Sunday afternoon 2-6. Which would you prefer timing wise?
Thanks! ETA we can offer child care at the museum as well.
At $50 per person I think "elegant affair," which automatically says "evening out." A Sunday afternoon just wouldn't cut it for me. Just not the same.
I think it has to be Friday.
An event with tickets that price (and it's a truly doable and reasonable price for a fundraiser!) definitely should be a big night out, so go with Friday night. Parents will see it as a date night, whereas Sunday afternoon is more stressful since parents' minds will be turning toward the week ahead, and they won't be as focused on enjoying the event as they will on a Friday night. .
Adults only? Friday night for sure. Sunday is family day and 2-6 kills the whole day.
Good luck!
Sun afternoon would be better timing for me.
Friday after work, during rush hour / dinner hour - is usually pretty hectic for a lot of parents.
Friday evening. Babysitters are more plentiful on that weekday. If you're doing adults only you have to plan it around babysitters.
Definitely Friday night. Maybe shift the time though 7-11 or even 6:30-10:30 to give people time to get home from work, change, etc.
Friday night gets my vote too
I would prefer Friday evening... That way I have all Sunday to be with my family/laze around/enjoy the weekend. Plus, 2-6 is right in the best part of the day and I wouldn't want to spend it at an auction. :)
Also... There are a few religions out there that "keep the sabbath day holy"... Auctions aren't exactly reverent, so I'm not sure how many prospective attendees you would lose for that reason.
Though... That doesn't really allow much time for working parents to have a chance to go home, change, decompress, then go to wherever the event is held. If you DO go for Friday, I would try to make it a silent auction or something, so that the start time can be flexible to accommodate those who can't get there for the official start. (As well as making sure any food served will be available throughout at least the first half without putting the latecomers on the spot...)
Friday night date night!
Friday night for sure!
If there's childcare at the museum, I'd prefer Sunday. I cannot stand a Friday night event, especially starting at 6:00. I would have to take the afternoon off from work to refresh--rest and pretty up and put on my social brain. AND deal with not seeing my child since dropping him off at school.
If it's a fundraiser, $50 pp is not a lot, so a big night out isn't automatic. Sunday afternoons can be just as glamorous. In fact, I think that "day parties" are sexier than evenings out.
Bottom line, I would enjoy it better if I were relaxed from my long week. I would feel carefree and more inclined to spend money. On a Friday, my attendance would feel more obligatory, and I'd be way more conservative with my spending.
Friday night, for sure.
Our children's museum does a themed Adult Play Date every few months. Friday or Saturday night in the museum, DJ and sometimes live music, adult games like old-school Atari, dance lessons, etc. Cash bars on each floor with themed cocktails, beer, and wine. Food trucks in parking lot available. Ticket price (not including food or drinks) around $35/person. So much fun and makes a ton of money!
