a pattern is developing

This year Ive noticed a pattern starting to develope. One that is getting more profound as we go. I always noticed that around 11:30 some of the family would start picking up decorations. But lately Ive noticed they now are having to clean up the tables.

Now our show on Sat they had about 20 people doing this including the bride...reason Im told is that when midnight hits it has to be cleaned up and people out.

It seems that more and more venues are requiring the quests to do the clean up for them...not all but at least the smaller venues. Anyone else notice this.

thats been the norm for a lot of my shows for over 20+ years

While this is the norm for smaller venues, I've been seeing it creep little by little into many of the larger venues around here.

Many of these larger venues (around here at least) have jacked their clean-up fee to astronomical amounts, so quite a few families are opting for a less-expensive solution and doing it themselves.

Unheard of and ghastly! What are these places, Mom and Pop joints run by 25 year olds? $12/head?

song Living In America come to mind.

Cheaper venues require more work. Plain and Simple.

My church hall is 50 bucks. But guess who cleans it?

I think part of it too is families. Leave things better than when you found it.....in some cases.

It happens at the Resorts here,, I play to 10, the bar closes at 9:30 and they satrt clearning tables that nobody is sitting at... kinda slimey I think...

first gig I did here in Canada the director begins taking decorations down 1/2 hour prior to the expected end of this Wedding reception. No not an elks lodge but a place I will be doing my first 1000 dollar Christmas party on November 30

In the smaller rental houses, this is the norm. VFW, fire halls etc. That's always been the case.

Back in '71 when my father was prez of the local FOP, the Shriners would rent the lodge building a few times every year for their wild-assed parties. They were charging $80.00 per couple back then and paid well to leave a huge mess behind, lol.

We haven't yet seen it occur in the more upscale venues but I'm presuming Kirby is right. The big houses ain't renting like they used to. The belt is being tightened and every dollar saved by the venue is being squeezed. Paying waitstaff to clean up is no longer cost-effective.

This is very true at the wedding I did Sep 15th not only did they have to clean up when they were done but they also had to decorate as well. This was also some sort of Fraturnal Order not sure which though.

I do know that some clean up has always happened like the decorations and the candles etc....but glasses the table linen.....its hard to rock a party at 11:30 when they are trying to get it done and out by midnight.

Are you talking about fully catered venues like banquet halls and hotels, or the rental halls where you have to bring in all of the services?

Are you talking about fully catered venues like banquet halls and hotels, or the rental halls where you have to bring in all of the services?

Not rental hall, that one I understand. Im talking about full service hall and venues.

I'm even seeing the "full-service" venues, starting their clean-up earlier than in years gone by.

They are just looking at cutting their expenses (like almost everyone) for their hourly staff by having the clean-up start earlier.

I understand them doing it, but don't like it. It's not in our power to do much about it though.

How would our clients react if we started tearing down our lights 1/2 hour or more before the end of their event?

That sucks, down here it happens at the extremely low end venues. But the weddings, parties, etc. that take place in the high end the party can go all the way to 7:00 AM and they usually plan either breakfast there or at the families houses, gotta love the all night parties :D:D:D:D

Part of me doesn't mind the cleanup. Plates and cups and stuff are being cleared out just as it would at a restaurant. Keeping the event clutter free is ok. If dinner is over, why wait 3 more hours to clear trash?

Now running a vacuum or rolling tables out....thats different.

Part of me doesn't mind the cleanup. Plates and cups and stuff are being cleared out just as it would at a restaurant. Keeping the event clutter free is ok. If dinner is over, why wait 3 more hours to clear trash?

Now running a vacuum or rolling tables out....thats different.

Dinner stuff yes....Im talking about linen on the tables the glasses that were used after dinner. The family and guests are being required to do the cleanup. They arnt staffing for this and they expect everyone out by midnight

Dinner stuff yes....Im talking about linen on the tables the glasses that were used after dinner. The family and guests are being required to do the cleanup. They arnt staffing for this and they expect everyone out by midnight

ahh...gotcha....