I have to say I am a bit peeved that 8 bookings pulled out with only 3 days to go. Is this normal for EnglishForum members?
2nd Annual Rabbie Burns Dinner

So you use the Forum only to promote your commercial interests and when you're not making money out of us, you 'Groan' the posts of people who politely explain why they can't attend and complain that the Forum as a whole is somehow not normal?

Perhaps with more experience you'll realise 8 people pulling out is normal for any event, especially with 120+ places. Don't assume that just because you're making a big effort - for what will undoubtably be a good evening - people will make your life easier. It's valid you're "peeved", but take it with a bit of Grace, mate.

Lang mae yer Lum reek...

Well, one could say that RSVPs here tend to be rather volatile, but I wouldn't necessarily say it is an English Forum phenomenon.

There are many of us here who have organised events and suffered varying degrees of RSVP-to-turn up ratios. The universal caveat applies:The decency of others can be expected, but never depended on.

With three days to go Max, two now, the fact that I have reminded them, and, as I mentioned, only one had the courtesy to confirm the booking, and then they cancel after the cut off date, is not really on. It's not as though it's a drinks evening down the pub.

More experience? I've organised many events in my career, and it's rare to get people pulling out with such a short time left.

It's an anticipation management lesson: until people actually pay, you're relying - as Litespeed mentions - on people being 'decent'. Your post suggests people were being the opposite - and even 'Groaning' potential future customers, which won't curry favour . Do you really want to give the impression you're no longer interested in future business?

Colin:

Pot: May I introduce you to kettle?

Indeed, Swissbob was the exception, and you will also note that I apologised to him on the same thread you took this post from, and explained the reason being the total lack of response from everyone else.
Max, I did ask these people to confirm, in order that I could let them have payment details.

I also note that one of the thankers of your post Natasha, is one of the individuals that have failed to respond.

Yes, I have certainly learnt a lesson. The American Club of Zürich promised 30 bookings, and confirmed 32. This forum promised 11, and 8 dropped out at three days notice. The other 3 remain unconfirmed.

I just don't think you had the need to be so aggressive and childish. These things happen.

I was under the impression that you got a fair amount of business out of this forum?

But if that's the way you are going to be, I won't buy your bacon anymore

:stampsfoot:

that'll be me then & apologies. However, Swiss Bob did contact me to ask if I had heard any more on this & as I received nothing from you & neither had anyone else, I put it out of my mind until this thread came to life today.
Mea culpa, I'm sure, I should have had the good grace to remove myself from the listing, but as it wa a dead subject for such a long time, it got lost in the darkest reaches of my cranium.

Colin, according to your post last week

Then you said

And you're complaining about a loss of 8 bookings. And all this groaning going on. I can see why you're having a groanathon with everyone here since you've got a lot of other punters elsewhere. 8 out of your anticipated 140 with unconfirmed booking running the risk of being lost.

Why are you getting so uppity about it? I'm perplexed.

I have been having a stressful time. Apologies all.

I shall remove my groans forthwith. I'm really sorry that I can't make it Colin, I was looking forward to it. I go to Zurich Pipes and Drums and I heard someone announcing it there a couple of weeks ago. At the time I thought I was going to make it. Alas.

No worries

Did I miss something? To me, it looks as if only two EF people (2+1 guest) ever said "yes" anyway. I don't know if I was included in the count, but I only posted a "thank you for posting and perhaps maybe I will come" post and I don't think I even went so far as to register myself as a "maybe". I did get the reminders, but since I felt I hadn't signed up for it, I didn't reply.

People have removed themselves from the list, hence only a couple of entries. So yes, I think you missed something.

yes, Colin, a prime example of how life can be - as well as an indication of how to not make friends nor influence people

If you feel peeved, there are a couple of people on here who can out-be-peeved you - seriously - and they've not reacted so.

Your choice is to not try again or force a more formal "ok, you've said you're coming: deposit" approach. Don't confuse community spirit with business...