<p>Long story short, two young men in our small town are actors and both will be appearing in a Broadway musical opening in early Spring. I’m hoping to organize a bus trip for about 25 people. Any tips? I have a price for a group rate for tickets and a small bus price as well. Haven’t set a date, but looking at a weekend in April.</p>
<p>base your price for the trip on less than a full bus…
find out when the drop dead date is for your bus trip
try to have two options, bigger and smaller bus.
include a tip for the bus driver
promise refreshmnets on the bus and add in that cost (either or both box supper, wine and snacks, etc)
if bus has dvd player be sure to acquire movies and advertise that</p>
<p>then, make up an interesting flyer with your info and brag about all your included features.
state your price - offer a "discount’ for early payers and then add a little to the deadline payers…</p>
<p>if it doesn’t work out cancel and refund the money.
if it gets more people get better snacks, etc.
leave room on the bus for all your stuff for those snacks etc…you can’t sell every seat.
good luck!</p>
<p>Are you staying overnight? If so, find out if any large conventions are in town before you set a date. Call hotels directly and ask for a group rate.</p>
<p>We live within driving distance but the bus we would take costs $42 roundtrip and it does not have assigned seats. Also, if we do an evening show you pretty much have to RUN to Port Authority to make the last bus. Not good for our group. So, no we’re not staying overnight. A meal and a show is the current plan. Great suggestions memhismom!</p>
<p>wait: I’m confused…are you chartering a private bus or taking one of the commuter ones from your area?</p>
<p>I would look into chartering from one of those bus companies…(or call Community Coach if you are where I think you are)…</p>
<p>Most of the PA to NY bus companies will do this for you…otherwise, you could try a private one…</p>
<p>Looking into chartering a private because of the problems with the public. I have a price now and if we get 20 people it will be less then the cost of a public.</p>
<p>Never heard of Community Coach. Where are they?</p>
<p>I think they are based out of NJ but I know they also do chartered tours in and out of PA as well…</p>
<p>I thought a private would be less…and they may even have a smaller one that you could use if you don’t fill it…
then you can decide if you want to do a matinee or an evening? Matinees are soooooo crowded with all the busses in the city…</p>
<p>I guess this trip is for adults? If HS or lower grade students are present, I think you have to check into whether SPAB buses are required. Those buses require special license and will cost more. I am not sure the rules are in this kind of event. But when we orgazied a trip for our local HS in CA that was required. It might not be relevent in NY, NJ or CT where you are.</p>
<p><a href=“http://www.ncsig.org/JPA_PDFS/SPAB%20Manual.pdf[/url]”>http://www.ncsig.org/JPA_PDFS/SPAB%20Manual.pdf</a></p>
<p>Oh, no, NO kids. Probably mostly 50 something year old women and a few adult daughters. Not even any men! I was originally thinking matinee and then I thought it might be better to do dinner first and then just leave afterwards. I’m in PA, btw.</p>
<p>I like the idea of dinner first and then leave after the show…keep in mind, though, that some shows on some nights have recently changed to a 7:00PM curtain…those may be for weekday shows only but make sure…</p>
<p>make sure you have plenty slack time for traffic on 80 during the rush hours. It could be a parking lot every so often. </p>
<p>and yes, call around to find a bus company that is cheap but uses NEWER buses. It should not be more than 5 years old. They might give you an old one for little money, but I have had break downs in middle of no where between LA and SF, they waited 3 hours under 90 degree sun. Or during a trip to Lake Tahoe, the widow defogger did not work and its 10 below outside.</p>
<p>You should personally check the bus that is promised to go for the trip. NOT a bus that is from the company.</p>
<p>“widow defrogger”?..hehehe… yea, we knew what you meant; just busting your chops…</p>
<p>here I am sitting in my living room picturing a frog invasion on a poor widow…and having to get rid of the frogs…</p>
<p>sorry, it’s late here…I’m getting punchy</p>
<p>mee tooooooo…:)</p>
<p>artlover, I think we just take route 78 all the way in. No matter, we’re doing this trip on a weekend so no worries about rush hour. I’ve put out an e-mail to the core group, now I’ll wait a couple of days and see if there is enough interest. My biggest concern is getting people to commit with a check and not just a verbal, “Sounds good!” ;)</p>
<p>that’s why I suggested a “discount” date and then a drop dead date…
it is amazing what folks will do if there is a financial incentive to planning early…</p>
<p>just be sure to realy really include all your costs - it is easier to give rebates than to ask for additional to cover "unexpected’ costs…</p>
<p>I really like the early bird discount. I’ll have to figure that out!</p>