About That Tricky Tray.. I Just Want To Say_Chapter 9 (Closed)
Use This Post To "Speak Your Mind" About A Tricky Tray or Anything Related To A Tricky Tray. Tell us about the Grand Prize You Just Won or How You Haven't Won A Thing 10 Tricky Trays Straight. Just Click On The comment link below and start typing away.
Comments
With the return of Tricky Tray Season, September was 3rd for most traffic this year..just behind March & April. The website in Sept ..had 3146 individual visitors with an average of 2.12 visits per person!
Thanks for everyone's patience last week including posters and visitors with the updating of site over the past week.I had a work related project and deadline that had me doing 2 stints of 48hrs straight. Plus the postings were coming in by the droves. I must have added at least 20 tricky trays in last few days.
But site is now up-to-date.
Most of all..don't forget to support the site by buying at affiliate banners..or buying some t-shirts..sweat shirts.
Organizers..since there is no fee to post..buy a few various shirts and make it a basket at your event.
Have Fun..I hope to get to a few tricky trays to end the year myself.
Mr Tricky Tray
Let me tell you a short story.
One of the family that did baking for our school has a house full of pets, and when they brought in there goods we did not realize this, they went out and peple kept on finding cat hair in the cookies.
Another case, food alergy - how about sitting at a tricky tray to someone choking... this happened in a tricky tray in succasunna a few years back.
Give me snacks that are pre-wrapped - I prefer those, or professionally baked - in clean kitchen.
This is the major reason why I bring my own.
It started off the Host forgot the microphone and they had to holler out the numbres, You think after discovering you didn't have the mike you would send someone to get it.
Oh yes i won a basket. WHen i got it home i took the cellophane off it and all i could smell was cigarettes , The scent of cigarettes were on the used stuffed animals. I could go on and on. The winners of most of the baskets seemed to be kin to the host and the 50-50 was won by the tricky tray queen who sold the lottery apron. What a surprise. I will not go next year.
It a disgrace for the name of THe deborah hospital.
The one you referred to as tt-queen probably had more money spent on 50/50 tickets then you spent for everything. It's a wonder she doesn't win more 50/50's the way she spends money at events.
My only complaint is they used two different color tickets for the regular trays. Please people stick to one color. No one likes to be out of it before they even hear the number!
I have attended this tt in the past and for the life of me I can't understand why they only sell sheet tickets in one location. The line wraps around. Hey Boy Scout people... it's ok to have sellers on the floor. They have aprons, let them sell the single sheeets in random locations. It will allow the selling to go a lot faster and you will probably sell more.
My ONLY complaint is that the kitchen/cafeteria workers wear GLOVES when serving food. The guy selling the hot dogs was leaning over the counter when I arrived, then when I when I ordered two hot dogs, he reached into the bag with his bare hands, opened the roll with his bare hands, carried the roll when he went to find something to put the hot dog roll on, then opened the roll again when he was over the hot dog pot. TOO much touching of the food!!!
Overall, the auction was decent, but next year, please start your solicitation of middle table prizes a little earlier. They were kind of skimpy, but overall, the auction worked.
Keep up the good work!
Now let me tell you about one of the worst tricky trays. I went tonight to St. George Greek Orthodox Church. The cost of the small table was fine. Something was missing..... Anyone want to take a guess?????????? PRIZES!!!! It was 12-14 tables put together and I thought I was hiking to each prize. They were so far apart! When you spread them out like that it does not make it look like you have more prizes people. There were 350 people and not enough stuff. It really irks me when people say it was for a good cause blah blah blah. If you are putting it on tt.com your not inviting us because we are your family and friends and we go to your church or sponsor your cause. Let's get right down to it you want our money we want your prizes. With 350 people and at 7 bucks a head just to get in you could have went to Wal-Mart and bought prizes if your parish did not donate enough items. All the higher levels were all the same price but different colors. So 3 tickets for 5 bucks. At one table prizes were valued about 40 bucks then one table had a coach and another a wii. Someone needs to teach them how to coordinate prize value and tickets.THERE IS NO NEED TO BE CHEAP!!!
First, the positives.
1) the prizes were very nice
2) the prices of the tickets were fair
3) there were tables to sit at
4) they had a lot of snacks
Now, the issues.
1) they ran out of the sheets of tickets and substituted the larger "raffle" tickets. And, no surprise, a lot of those larger tickets were pulled. Very unfair!
2) traffic flow when dropping tickets was awful
3) it was very difficult to hear for those in the back (who, for the most part were trickytray.com people unafilliated with the school)
Would I go again? Not sure. Yes, I came home a winner, but it was so disorganized!
The trays were awesome, all 4 levels were priced right. Regulars were $4.00 a sheet and some of these trays were worth $75 or more. The largest prizes (Disney tickets, Flat screen TV) were only $3 a ticket.
PLEASE Tricky Tray organizers take advice from this one. They know how to run one (no presale, no overpriced tickets) I wish I would have one more than one tray but I can't complain, this Tricky Tray is one of the best and I will be there next year!
Also have to mention that they charged for nothing but the tickets. Coffee/Tea, Lemonade, veggies, cheese, crackers, cookies, brownies were all free. This is a great one, don't miss it next year!
Tricky Tray Lady
And I'm one that has trouble standing or sitting for long time.
Keep the number of prizes reasonable about 200, if you need to combine some and make them bigger. Too many will make the night last to long... I'm not a spring chicken.
Oh and door prizes ... are nice, but don't have too many of them that are junk. Less and better quality is better.
Win big guys. Don't you just love em'?
Great job...looking forward to next year!
www.pass4pets.org
The shaking of the tickets was annoying in the beginning (picking out of a brown lunch bag) but they quickly got something else to put them in that was bigger.
Top prizes were really nice. Funny most of them went to the teacher's table.
Overall, it was good. We didn't win anything but had a good time since the prizes were nice.
Refreshments were good and free!
They sold a lot of tickets to school employees during the day and there were a couple tables minding the tickets of many who didn't attend. They won a lot more than the average table. What bothered me was those times when the announcer was clearly reading the name of the winner off the back of the winning ticket. The prize was claimed by the 'teachers' table and there were cheers all around. Strange how the one announcer called out a lot more of those type winners. Any modification to a ticket makes it a marked ticket and shouldn't be allowed to win. Don't you think you could feel for a ticket with writing on the back if you wanted to? tsk tsk Prizes were ok and I liked that large array of low level big prizes. Just wish the winning had been more randomly dispersed.
**Jefferson,Rockaway,Denville, Dover, Another In Rockaway, Parsippany.**
I was one of a few crazy people who went out in that nasty rain, my girlfriends decided they were not going. ~~ Bad weather is the best time to go to tricky tray, less people show up and more chances to win ~~
See you for the next round of TT!
I was left a voice mail message on last week concerning the START of the sale of tickets for the TT being held on November 9th and that tickets were going on sale on today - October 22nd. When I called to get a table of 10 or even a table of 2.. I was told the tickets were sold out.
I mean were the telephone lines blowing up like a Jerry Lewis telethon? I mean the day just started really, and they are sold out on the very day tickets went on sale. I am sure the auction is good, but I really think something is pulling a fast one. I called the woman as I was "INSTRUCTED" to do on today, although I wanted to call her right back when she left me the message, and she said, sorry we are all sold out. I then told her that YOU called me and told me when to call you. However, she was more than willing to put me on their "WAITING" list. Well with all the auctions happening during this season, I don't go on waiting lists. I must spend a minimum of $200-$300 and every auction I attend, and my attending the auction with 10 of my friends, also spending the same amount if not more is definitely their loss. I declined be put on a "WAITING" list and will not attend the Middlesex auction ever - no matter how many "votes" they get.
The next time they tell tricky trayers when to start purchasing tickets, stand by your word. Not offer a waiting list. What do they expect? Ten people to turn in tickets and say they are not coming. Bunch of garbage.
450 Drake Avenue
Middlesex, NJ 08846
Phone: (732) 356-6560 Fax: (732) 356-7860
I also called on today as I was instructed to do and was told they were sold out.
Why advertise an auction on Tricky Tray.com when you are not going to let anyone on the site purchase tickets.
If it is a PRIVATE tricky tray, don't post it here.
We don't like waiting lists. Far too much competition to get cute.
Be careful, perhaps next year you will have an empty room with a whole bunch of prizes and empty seats.
Don't get cute.
WOULD LIKE YOUR COMMENTS AND OPINIONS!!!!
Recently went to a tricky tray and witnessed a woman (not the first time I might add) who purchased tickets for the super baskets and did not put them in until all the lower baskets were called and right before they were ready to call the super baskets, she went over to them and placed handfuls and picked up the buckets and kept shaking, then looking in and shaking again. Then threw some more in! Everyone watched this woman, she does it at every one that I have seen her at. The kicker is " She kept winning all the best prizes" DVD, Flat screen TV, Gameboy, Etc. But the people running these tricky trays don't say anything. I feel this is almost the same as bent tickets.
What are your feelings on this???
It's weird because, people I didn't even know at the table knew of this woman and what she does to win. The feeling at our table of 20 was that it should not be allowed and an announcement should be made about this matter, the same way they do about bent tickets.
So, now where should we go on November 9?
Later this same lady sat next to me -- I asked why she waited. I was told that she only put tickets on baskets that have less ticket in the bags. Something about having a greater chance to win.
There posting here says "Save the Date" - well my reliable sources (straight from the horses mouth) says.. "SAVE YOUR MONEY TOO"
They are totallly sold out and NEVER advertised any contact number. I started calling them in AUGUST 2007, speaking to the rectory and school. They gave me the name of the organizer and said that they were no where near ready to sell tickets then. I left my number with the woman and she in turn gave it to the "committee". I called back again in September twice and said, they still have my number and will call me when they know how much tickets are going to be. I then called back the end of September and into October and said, they still have my number and will call me when they are ready.
I then received a call via my answering machine on last week and said, tickets go on sale on October 22 and the minimum is 4 tickets per person. I then said to myself, great we can finally get this over with.
When I diligently called on October 22nd, the woman blatantly told me that "between the school" and whatever excuse she gave me.. "we are completely sold out."
She then said, "I can put you on the waiting list." I then said to her, YOU CALLED ME. How can you tell me the tickets are all sold out and you told me when to call? She then was hesitant and then said, "well I can put you on the waiting list."
Dear Tricky Trayers.. what the heck is a waiting list to a true tricky trayer? WE DON'T DO WAITING LISTS. No one cancels. If anything, people are still trying to get in.
OUR LADY OF MOUNT VIRGIN.. you may have been voted best tricky tray of 2006, but you definitely won't have a lot of votes in 2007.
If you wanted to have a PRIVATE TRICKY TRAY then don't advertise on this site. There are far more other tricky trays going on besides yours. Am I annoyed, (to put it mildly)? Yes I am. I called you when you committee wasn't even in formation and then you had the gall to tell me tickets were sold out when I have been calling you for four months throughout all the months so I wouldn't miss the ticket sale. This is by far BAD business and I am putting the word out here.
Take your auction off this site forever if it is not open to the public.
There is ANOTHER tricky tray CONVENIENTLY located on November 9th:
St. Cecelia's in Iselin. I went last year and the prices were fantastic. Nice crowd - good callers.
I ask all Tricky Trayers to patronize St. Cecelia's because they appear to be one of the organizers with commons sense and decency in running an auction on this day. No offense to any other auctions on the 9th, but Our Lady of Mount Virgin gets TWO THUMBS WAY DOWN.
You guys have a lot of nerve. Too big for your britches. You are trying to raise money...and we won't forget your antics on next year.
Many years back I saw a women wait until the end to put tickets in the baskets.
Later this same lady sat next to me -- I asked why she waited. I was told that she only put tickets on baskets that have less ticket in the bags. Something about having a greater chance to win.
At October 23, 2007 10:14 AM, Anonymous said…
I do have one comment about the person holding her special tickets until all of the lower tier baskets are called and then depositing them into the bags. I have also witnessed this behavior. I guess she can put her tickets in the bags whenever she feels like it as long as it is allowed by the organization. HOWEVER, she should not be allowed to put her hands in the bags or shake the bags repeatedly. Wouldn't that be against the gaming laws? I know it makes me cringe when I see it.
RESPONSE:
The lady is a cheat. Period, exclamation point and etc. etc.
She knows clearly well what she is doing. She is putting her tickets in last so they can be first when the bag is flipped over. She then increases her chances by putting a hand full of tickets in.
Most of the times the HIGH end tables are very high priced. But the only thing she has going for her is that she is spending a lot of money. Should she wait right before they call it to drop her tickets in? No, because that pisses everyone off in any drawing. Just like I hate to see late arrivals come in and start running around cans dropping in tickets.
You are not being fair to you fellow tricky trayers.
Granted, she is probably spending serious money, but she knows that she is not doing it the right way. Does she care, apparently she doesn't.
Hey, the next time she does it, maybe the cans she put her tickets in last can mysteriously "tip over" into the garbage or into another can like magic. Lol.
Good luck guys!
FRIENDS OF CHRISTINA FUNDRAISER
Christina is a Kean University graduate and student leader and was a 24 year old elementary school art teacher. Christina became permanently paralyzed from te neck down in a diving accident in the summer of 2005. The goal of the Friends of Christina is to raise $50,000 to enhance Christina's quality of life and assist in providing funds for the everyday care and comfort she needs.
Auction will be held on:
Friday, November 2, 2007
Location: Union Elks
281 Chestnut Street
Union, New Jersey
(Next to Union Hospital & between Chestnut and Galloping Hill Road)
Time: 6:00 P.M. - Drawings at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets: $10
For advanced tickets contact Peg M.
(908) 451-0968 or email Springla2@yahoo.com
No one under 18 years old will be permitted entry.
If you want tickets spread throughout teh can-make a few trips around the table-one early-one later.....
Somebody has to be the last person to place tickets in a can--if drawing is set to begin at 7pm-there is nothing wrong with dropping tickets in the last 5 minutes-the wrong thing is to continue after that time and hold up the calling...I've been to TT that specifically allow extra time to continue to play higher levels during 'break times' or while lower level prizes are called-
But this should be stated by the organization-
i.e. at 7pm all ticket dropping will be ended or you can continue to drop tickets until calling for that level starts
I went to a nice TT recently that had a list of rules on the first page of the program-maybe MR TT could put a list of suggested policies up for organizations to use--including-no bent tickets, rip tickets at your seat instead of 1 at a time at the prize table=go in numerical order-
I would think an early ticket has a better chance than a last minute ticket as if the can is dumped into a bucket-the first bottom ticket would end up on top
I could say I don't think it is fair for the people to be waiting at the door when it opens and being the first to put their tickets inthey get more of a chance to spread tickets around-and thrn complain about the late comers
-I work late on Fridays-there is an event I really want to go to-but I can't be there to until the last 1/2 hour of ticketing-what am I supposed to do-take off from work-I get 10 sick/vacation days per year---i need them for when i am sick or for things I have to do-not what I want to do-so yes-I will be dropping my tickets to the last minute
It sounds like TT are becoming as much of an attitude convention as BINGO-
Yes there are some rules to be followed, but some of these complaints seem petty
I have no problem with your arriving near the end of the drop time, BUT do not expect the organizers to allow you to purchase and drop tickets after the stated calling time.
The only real "advantage" latecomers could have is that they see which items have the least tickets in their buckets and can therefore "stuff" the bucket. Of course, there is a reason these have less tickets - they're usually crappy prizes!
And, under NO circumstances should you be putting your hands in any of the bags or buckets! If you put the wrong tickets in, either speak with someone working the tricky tray or buy more tickets and consider it an extra donation.
BOO Our Lady of Mount Vigin. You never offered a contact number or anything.
BAD AUCTION OF THE YEAR: OUR LADY OF MOUNT VIRGIN. I hope no one attends.
I also don't think this is petty.
We are all there to win something the fair way.
She is a CHEAT!
If that is the case all of use would be shaking buckets all night long!
2. dumping and peeking into without stirring or shaking
3. or the old stick my hand in the paper bag and pull one out trick.
with that said, I also agree that no one should shake or reach into a container or in any way touch the container other than to simply drop the ticket in. Maybe a sign should be posted at the entrance saying, if you touch a container or put your hand in one you will be ejected from the event immediately!
Give people a break, or take a break yoursleves from attending so many events and thinking you know it all.
While you give out some good information, sometimes you are all a bit too petty.
To all of the tricky-trayers who have been posting negative comments regarding the OLMV basket raffle....
I apologize that we were not able to accommodate all of you who voiced interest in attending our event. If you have bad things to say, plesae do not trash our school, our event or our committee. As Chairperson of this wonderful event, I must fall on my sword and take full responsibility for not expecting such an overwhelming demand for our tickets. Some explanation to you is in order. 2006 was our "rookie" year. I spent MANY evenings on your blogs, reviewing your comments and suggestions as to what to do/what not to do to make a raffle a success. We have a small venue (approx. 350 people). In 2006, we did not sell out until 2 days before our event. Local people did not seem to 'get' a tricky tray and it did not appear to generate much local interest. After months of very hard work by 25 very dedicated parents, we pulled off a nice event that substantially benefitted our school children. Because of all of your comments/suggestions that we took to heart and implemented at our raffle, people (a) had a good time (b) had a good chance to win a prize (our person to prize ratio was about 3 to 1) and (c) we ended the calling of over 280 baskets before 11:00. As the Chairperson of last year's event, I never dreamed we could have such success in only our first year. As the Chairperson, I certainly cannot take credit for the success of 2006's event, as I had a hard working committee beside me. No one was more surprised that I was when we were voted Best Tricky Tray of 2006. For 2007, we simply underestimated the excitement our raffle had generated. We have a small venue and have considered moving the raffle to a bigger location; however, that would mean more people and the odds of winning a prize would decrease substantially (and we'd have to charge more for admission, tickets, etc.) That did not seem like a good thing to do after only one year, even though it was a successful first year. I guess we did not want to get too big for our britches in just one year. We decided to keep our small venue and kept all of our policies the same. In 2007, we were simply not prepared for the huge response. Instead of selling out only 2 days prior to our event, we sold out immediately. This was completely unexpected. We posted the "Save the Date" not to be cute, but in hopes of generating some excitement for our raffle that we did not seem to get in our inargural year. We didn't have a lot of TT.com-ers at our raffle last year. We promoted this site to our guest in hopes of seeing successful events enjoyed by other worthy organizations as well. Seeing all of your comments telling people not to come now disappoints me, since it was this site and you folks who, in effect, helped us out in so many ways last year with your comments and suggestions on how to run a successful tricky tray. So, with that being said, on behalf of OLMV, I take full responsibility for the disappointment so many of you feel for not being able to get tickets to our event on November 9th. As I said, our demand locally was more overwhelming than we anticipated. I cannot shift the blame on the school, the raffle or the committee; I never imagined that our small school's event could possibly become so popular just one year out. Please accept my apologies. We really do have a nice event with some nice prizes and our children will truly benefit from the funds that we attempt to earn. I know some of you have now "black-balled" us and I am sorry that you will miss out and we will miss you. We would love to consider a bigger venue for next year but that decision has not been made. I personally regret any inconvenience that this may have caused to you and I hope that instead of all the negative posts, SOMEONE will give us some suggestions on how to balance the demands of the public with the demands of our local people so that we are not faced with this unfortunate situation again next year. Please don't count out this excellent event just because I made a "rookie" mistake by underestimating the excitement and popularity of our event. My goal in Chairing this event for OLMV was to bring a fun, new, and exciting event to the community where people can come and enjoy themselves, have the chance to win some amazing prizes (with pretty good odds) while raising much-needed funds for our school children. It would devistate me if, because of my shortsightedness, the school and the children suffer particularly because this is supposed to be a fun event. I do read all the comments so really, if you can help us out for next year in trying to balance a small venue with a huge demand, please let us know how to do it so that we don't suffer the same "negative" press that is so prevelent in the posts these past 2 days. Again, the blame must be layed here at ME and not on the School or the Event. Thank you. Susan S. OLMV Harvest Moon Basket Raffle Chairperson, 2006 and 2007 but not too sure about 2008 :-( anymore.
Thanks for your response. I think what disappointed people on the site (including me!) is that the hold the date was there. If you had sold tickets to the people within your school earlier and then still had seats available, that's when you should have advertised on trickytray.com. I'm not blackballing your tricky tray and would try to go in the future if I could get tickets! Sounds like there are great prizes.
Yes, I have "studied" this website intently, but still are making mistakes - there will never be the perfect tricky tray as far as I can tell, no matter what the coordinators do - it is months of worrying, spending lots and lots of hours on the computer, putting baskets together, spending money - and for what - to be shot down by people who have assumed they know it all.
Good luck with your event, I am sure it will be a huge success.
Don't get disheartened.
I was able to get some last minute tickets to your tricky tray last year. I will corroborate with the coordinator that the event is smaller than the more established tricky trays. Winning the Best Tricky Tray of 2006 had to generate a lot of interest and obviously more than you expected. Keep your head up. I go to a lot of tricky trays and even though I don't have tickets to this year's, your not on my "right side" list. I hope you can move off site sometime. I enjoyed your event last year. Much success again.
Sincerely,
A Fellow Volunteer
Get a life.
To all the TT organizers who read this blog...Thank you for investing your time to fight with your committees, your school, your organizations, playground naysayers and husbands who feel neglected as their lives get upended during TT season! I like going to Tricky Trays, and if it weren't for you...we'd be back at bingo!
Keep your event just the way it is.
Watch many local organization start doing events, soon you will be fighting for days and attendee.
Your doing it right... Keep it going.
TT Queen.
Many time you have if lucky 5 families to help. I have noticed more and more events being run by less and less people and there is lots to take into account, if you work forget it. This puts such a strain on your family ...that most people can't do it every year. YOU simply BURN OUT - WITHOUT THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF SUPPORT FROM THE SCHOOL AND COMMUNITY.
Lay off the volunteers - this is not there paying job, they do it to help and help should be appreciated not critizied.
Here is a thought????
Its dosen't matter if the tickets are put in 1st or last. When the caller shakes up the container and pours the ticket into another container the tickets get mixed up ANYWAY.
Your being petty!!!!!!!!! Its a matter of LUCK.
It seems no matter what you do, you displease somebody and they don't come to your event - maybe best if they are going to cojme along and complain and then trash you on this website.
I know I am doing the best I can to put our event on and that is all I can do - I have put my husband abd family, home, pets and social life on hold because of this and will not do it again next year if people who think they "know it all want to trash you".
I agree, what does it matter if you get your ticket in first or last, they get shaken up anyway.
It's kind of like Ellen DeGeneres with the little dog - she tried to do the right thing and it turned out she got bit in the butt.
The chairperson and her committee are to be commended for their hard work. To have to read what I've read is so sad and demoralizing. Who would want to work on a committee knowing there were others out there ready to make comments and potshots. Another thought...It's better to have it sold out than have it half empty so that the OLMV committee could hope that some outsiders would show up and maybe show some profit.
And to the people who are complaining about the person who puts the tickets in last...All I have to say is that you must have agreat life if this is what you are worrying about.
SO - Where is everyone going this weekend?
I started telephoning their offices in August 2007.. before a committee was information. I spoke to live people in August, September and October.
My interest was clearly there and I had every intention of buying admittance tickets in abundance. I have a problem with OLMV and it if was a PRIVATE auction it should have never been posted on this site.
Whomever kept taking messages clearly had my name and number and I received a call back from the committee chairperson detailing when I could purchase tickets.
Why is it when I call for tickets on the date you tell me to call - you say they are sold out.
Clearly there was not a contact number on Tricky Tray.com and I went to great lengths just to speak to a live person.
If you ADVERTISE HERE then we are expected to RESPOND from here. Not by calling you and being told you are sold out. You never mentioned a start time here or contact, but clearly you knew who I was because you called me after finding out I had been doing research for 3 months.
Yes, I have a problem with you as the chairperson and no apology you can give me will be accepted.
I don't care what you do beyond here.
For all the folks accepting this behavior you are in the same boat with her.
And for your information, I am an event planner 22 years strong and we stand by our events. If we advertise tickets, then our customers are able to get tickets. Why type of business would we be if we didn't accomodate the customer?
We applaud OLMV for meeting the needs of its students, but in order to keep the funds coming, you should better strategize your fundraising efforts. What happens when you "private investors" can't invest one year, and you might possibly have to rely on the folks who you shunned because all of your "friends" just had to be in attendance?
Bad business OLMV and false advertisement. Why advertise at all?
If we are on this site, it's because we are Tricky Trayers tried and true. We spend a LOT of money and travel great distances and if we are supporting your cause, we have the right to say anything we darn well please.
Don't like it? Touch cookies.
Tricky Tray Sponsored By
St. Cecelia
Home School Association
Location:
St. Cecelia School, Lourdes Hall
45 Wilus Way
Iselin, NJ 08830
Very nice last year. Support this one.
When planning your 2008 event, make sure that the room will accomodate "OUTSIDERS" and not just your immediate circle of friends or people YOU deem fit to attend your PRIVATE auction.
Have your gifts attractively wrapped or presented. Tricky trayers hate OLD attic stuff that looks worn.
If something costs $5.00 retail, but no means put it on the high end table. That will send everyone running for the hills.
Have enough ticket sellers throughout the room to avoid long lines. The longer the lines, people tend to get out of line thereby hurting ticket sales.
Start early... the more prizes you have, the more tickets will be purchased.
Have callers who are clear speaking and not comedians. We don't want to hear a joke everytime a ticket is called.
And one of the THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS EVER...
SHAKE THE BUCKET, BASKET, BOWL or whatever device you are using to pick your numbers - up. Can't stress this enough.
If a caller is looking down into a bucket pulling out numbers, there are invisible knives and daggers hitting him on ever pull. Trust me.
Also, please try to have the same colored ticket, especially on the cheap tables. Nothing pisses attendees more by having two colored tickets.
For example: A caller will pull out a number and say: Blue ticket or pink ticket and it's all for the same table. If you don't have either color, you are doomed from the start. Buy enough of the same color to lessen the aggravation.
Try to start on time if you can. Not a biggie, but at least 10 minutes after the scheduled start time is acceptable.
Period.
Was this her first year? Well if it was she is learning from her mistake. Next time you advertise an auction, have tickets available. A few tricky trayers called her way before the start of the sale of tickets and the common sense approach would have been to keep a log of the callers and hold tickets aside especially since they were trying to buy them for months before the tickets supposedly went on sale.
How could tickets be sold out and you never advertised a contact number on the site? Interesting.
Then I believe the organizer offered folks to be put on a waiting list. A waiting list for what? A waiting list for next year?
Although probably not totally intentionally, it was done incorrectly. I am sure the tricky trayers here have lives and are just a free to express their honest opinion as the organizer.
Hey, their loss.
Wouldn't it be great if all tricky trays stopped advertising on this website because of all of you obnoxious people? Then what would you do with your lives?
Regarding the butt backwards comment left by this kiss up....
Apparently you were in the "club" last year that's how you got your ticket. You got a CHANCE to win, because you were given a CHANCE to buy a ticket. None of us were.
We have no problem supporting a tricky tray we can at least get a ticket to. Everyone on the site has a life and who are you to say that one doesn't.
So what the tricky tray is organized. So what you "voted" last year... they won't get any of our votes this year because we were not afforded the opportunity to attend.
The folks here aren't nasty, just saying what needs to be said.
Next time have the tricky tray in the basement of your home and tack a big sign outside your house. This is just about what you are doing anyway expressing a small venue and select people.
Hey it is what it is.
The real tricky trayers spend a lot of money and aren't use to this type of behavior from "ORGANIZERS" so if you get a rebuttal, it is probably worth rebutting.
Hopefully someone else will be in charge next year and properly sell tickets on the site that it advertises on.
500 SCHOOLEYS MOUNTAIN
HACKETTSTOWN, NJ
OCTOBER 26TH - TONIGHT !
ALL TICKETS SOLD AT DOOR - NO HOLDING FOR PEOPLE
LOADS OF GREAT PRIZES !
CHECK OUT THE TT LIST OF EVENTS FOR MORE INFO.
LOL
-------------------------
To All Tricky Trayers:
WOULD LIKE YOUR COMMENTS AND OPINIONS!!!!
Recently went to a tricky tray and witnessed a woman (not the first time I might add) who purchased tickets for the super baskets and did not put them in until all the lower baskets were called and right before they were ready to call the super baskets, she went over to them and placed handfuls and picked up the buckets and kept shaking, then looking in and shaking again. Then threw some more in! Everyone watched this woman, she does it at every one that I have seen her at. The kicker is " She kept winning all the best prizes" DVD, Flat screen TV, Gameboy, Etc. But the people running these tricky trays don't say anything. I feel this is almost the same as bent tickets.
What are your feelings on this???
It's weird because, people I didn't even know at the table knew of this woman and what she does to win. The feeling at our table of 20 was that it should not be allowed and an announcement should be made about this matter, the same way they do about bent tickets.
They go from the sweetest people while soliciting gifts, to androids from space when you ask the simplest of questions.
I am of the firm belief that if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen. Sure there is anxiety to be had in any function, but if anxiety aint your thing, then an auction isn't either.
Non one is going to come to an auction and put up with you B.S. - I personally know I'm not. That is from the staff at the door to the cooks in the kitchen. We are doing you a favor and you are obligated to be nice. Period.
If all of us turn around and walk right out the door - perhaps that will give you a moment to think about why your butt was on your shoulders in the first place.
Chill out and let the night happen. If you make a mistake in your ad, fix it with courtesy and not cockiness. Hey, life is a two way street... you get as good as you give.
I was at one last week in dover, and when it started to rain, there was a few people waiting in line at 6:00 when door open at 6:30. The lady organizing the event, rushed the worker that where there to the admission door and told the people as they were walking in that they where not fully ready, but because of the rain she was not going to have them stand in the rain. We went in all the workers where NOT in place but we knew that, but she quickly set up a universal table for a one-stop ticket purchase.
Because of this I called a few of my friends who said they where not going out because of the rain, they showed up ... we had a great time. I also noticed a few people pick up there cell phone and start calling their friends.
I guess it all goes to the organizer. The more experiece they are the better they are to handle issue and make dission on the spot. I was also suprized to see some very nice big items, notebook, Flat TV, Freezer and some really nice stuff. the display was easy to follow. Table color match the tickets. Like this......... keep it simple. I also liked the food, chilli & stew.... I was getting tired of the hotdog and pizza thing we ALWAYS see at a tricky tray, no matter where you go (of course under $15 admission).
*** Key things to remember this is about fundraising and SERVICE to the community (customer).***
I just went through this with my homeowners association-they use to talk down to and berate the owners in the neighborhood-after a lengthy battle-the old bosses were ousted and new ones voted in-the letters that discuss problems are now constructive in nature and both sides are more responsive
I went to St. Joseph's School in Newton. I thought the prizes were nice ($100 value) and the prices were good ($5 a sheet - 6/$25). The next level was really good, too (10 tickets for $5 - values $125+). The only problem there is that they ran out of tickets. But, they did quickly get additional tickets and resume selling. As in the past, I'm not that impressed with the really big prizes. Instead of a few hundred dollars worth of groceries (16 bags! and then maybe $150 in gift cards), spend all the money on gift gards and have the prize be $500 in shop rite gift cards). I also think the dine-around could have been broken into a couple of prizes. And, it's great that you have sponsors who will donate mulch, concrete, etc., but those items don't necessarily have broad appeal and for many tricky tray goers, they are not worth the retail value, so we won't spend big money on tickets ($6 each).
It's a very crowded tricky tray - good thing I didn't win anything because there would have been no place to put it! I understand that not all tricky trays can have tables to sit at, but if you have rows of chairs, try to make it a little more spaced out. I guess because of the heavy rains this year they didn't have the regular baskets outside under the tents, so it seemed even more crowded indoors.
I wish you all well and enjoy the future TT's coming up. I won't be checking this site again.
Mr. Tricky Tray you do a great service.
This is for the last comment:
"Boo Hoo Hoo" woe is me... the faithful tricky trayers on this site are talking about me!
Tricky trayers have every right to voice their opinions be it good, bad or indifferent. We have to agree to disagree sometimes. While I have been to some great auctions... some are horrible and I don't care how much work you put into it.
I know anxiety runs high in organizing and running these events, but the short tempers and rudeness that some organizers display at some events will not be tolerated. While you organized it.. we are the ones spending the money. If we don't show up, you don't make a cent.
Grow up and get over it. If you are in the tricky tray business you are going to have to toughen up. And that my friend is called: LIFE.
'The workers were rude when they said xyz'
'They did not have enough abc'
'The seating was uncomfortable because 123'
'Tickets were priced too high for the trays offered'
'I wish people would rip their tickts at their table instead of 1 at a time in front of the prizes'
But, a long tirade and lambasting are uncalled for.
For example-(this is fake-just for demonstration)-the following is over the top
there is a person I see at a lot of tricky trays-she always slows up the line-stops to look at every package for a long time and then rips 1 ticket at a time. This is rude and inconsiderate and stupid-she seems obliviously that there are a room full of people trying to enjoy themselves-but she wastes there time by blocking the buckets--get a clue-have some common sense and be considerate of others-
The 1st examples are constructive-the last is demeaning and beligerant and people have the right and duty to defend themselves against that type of garbage
The first year I didn't win a single thing, but it was fun. Last year I won a really cute cookie jar & advertising, which was great, 'cause my mother and I are both business owners - the paper let me split the 8 ads I won into 4 & 4. I was disappointed that the same prize wasn't available this year - but that's NO reflection on RBARI or the TT.
This year, I spent a bunch of money and actually won FIVE prizes! That tells me something: They ONLY pull flat tickets, first & foremost. I don't bend my tix, so they couldn't have been pulling bent tickets - and I did see several in the bins. Ha to the cheaters!
It's a more expensive tricky tray - a dinner one - but dinner was good. They call pretty fast, and there were LOTS of prizes. The divisions of levels is a little odd - they have 4 regular levels. But then they also have a separate drawing for trips & another separate one for the lottery tree. And then the 50/50. I don't bother with the trips or lottery tree, myself. The trips include plane tix & the stay, but they're for specific weeks/weekends so you have to be free on that exact date.
about the 'over the top' comment about people holding up the line tearing tickets one by one: There are several I know who carefully tear their tickets individually so that they are ragged and uneven. It's a version of 'bent' ticket because they certainly don't look or feel like a normal ticket. The tear goes down either side of the perforation so the tickets can be slightly bigger or smaller but that ragged uneven edge makes them different. Check out the big ticket prize buckets and you will see more unevenly torn tickets than bent tickets. People who do this are often heard to complain 'it's so hard to tear these tickets' but notice how they refuse to crease the tickets which makes tearing on perforation a non-issue. duh Some of the regular winners of big prizes are the biggest proponents of uneven tears and slightly curling/bending their tickets. This is most effective where the high school kids are allowed to draw tickets or worse, random members of the audience.
Would that satisfy the tricky tray community?
Nothings perfect, but some things are very premeditated and leaves the organizers looking like they are in on something illegal
Thanks
Mr. Tricky Tray
the point is-it's okay to say ripping tickets at the prize tables/unevenly isn't right-it not's okay to use a derogatory paragraph long tirade on the subject
Very smoothly run. Great prizes. Good prices. Great caller. Good food and good prices.
If I had to give some constuctive critisism it would be to somehow set up the sale of regular tickets differently so the line for them would have moved more quickly. Perhaps two stations for ticket sales, or looking into pre-sale tickets.
God only knows that when you have 400+ attendies, your not going to please everyone, but I for one had an awesome time, and thought everthing was run well.
Just please if you, the organizers, do get any critisism, don't let that irk you, just try to take it and learn from it. Do know that you all did a great job as far as the event went.
Thanks!
Also, don't know if you guys know about Holy Spirit's gift auction... held every first Friday in December. They never advertise here, but they also have a great auction. If you go into Holy Spirit School - Union, NJ, the details should be listed. Betty Speronza is the chairperson. This auction is so popular, they don't have to advertise and the organizers are SO nice. I have been going for 10 years and each year it gets better and better. Some of the prizes in past years: 6 foot curios, 4 rooms of carpet, trips, hotel stays, lottery and money trees and hats, 7 foot Christmas trees, pairs of lighted reindeers...you know... big stuff that won't fit in your car.
Lenox, Mikasa, Lladro.. they really have their act together. If you get a chance, check them out. The line to get in starts forming at 4:00 P.M. - trust me, I was the first one there one year.
To all the St. Cecelia people on this Friday.. good luck. I will be the one with the twirly ball that will be going up in the air every two minutes saying "right here"!
Could organizers not wanting the hassel of ticket presales, consider sending a couple workers out to sell tickets to those standing in line before the doors open? Even 10 or 15 minutes of this type of preselling would make a world of difference to the immediate congestion getting people in the doors.
$100 each
Just Kidding :)
Just trying to stir up the blog and see if anyone is out there!
That said, I have followed the postings here since tickets went on sale and have withheld comment until now. The absolute vitriol spewed by some of the people here is really a reflection of what we have become as a society. People whined incessantly about waiting lists and not getting immediate gratification like spoiled children because tickets were not instantly available. After seeing how great the demand was for tickets, the Chair decided to slightly reconfigure the room and most of people on the waiting list wound up getting tickets.
To the spoiled brats and whiney babies who chose not to get on the waiting list, your impatience was your loss, not ours. To those who excercised patience with us, I thank you, sincerely hope that you had a wonderful time and look forward to spending another evening in your company next autumn.
I've seen all the negative comments that were posted initially and still cannot believe that adults would react this way. Let's remember that for any event, there are only so many tickets available, and reacting so badly is totally inexcusable. People really need to grow up and behave appropriately.
The amount of work that these people put into this event clearly shows. The prizes were outstanding, the refreshments were complimentary, everyone was friendly and courtious. TOP NOTCH JOB! I think a great job was done by this crew and look forward to this event next year.
i DIDN'T WIN ANYTHING BUT I HAD FUN LOTS OF NICE PRZES.
I have to say we were very disturbed by the obvious bending of tickets in each bag. The organizers have to take more responsibility in posting signs and making announcements that NO bent tickets will be called! This is gambling and that is cheating.
We won and enjoyed ourselves very much. Refreshment were plenty and 50/50 was over $2000!! Nice job.
On the line of a constructive comment, consider doing something else with the large amount of doorprizes. Maybe include a doorprize in the bundle bag of tickets. The caller each year seems to get bored with the drawing out of tickets to handle these prizes. Throwing them out at the crowd, having runners simply hand them out to who they choose, asking who wants one and giving it to whoever she happened to be looking at is not random, not fair and still takes up time. Again, consider putting them in the bundle bags or hand them out one per attendee as they come in the door. ??
It's an ego boost to advertise as the 'best tt', but why bother if it just brings in those who whine.
Not to be petty, but that person who said in a previous post that they hoped nobody shows to the event, I'm here to tell you, it was your loss. It was a full house and a GREAT time. Great job OLMV!
went to the Ogdensburg tt last night and it was pointed out to the people running it that 2 woman were bending the tickets, so they made an announcement that they would not pull bent tickets - the 2 woman who were bending the tickets had the nerve to go up and complain that they should have made that announcement earlier before they dropped all of the tickets...I could not believe it.
Come on, TWO 50/50s and BOTH were over $1300.00 (I think one was over $1700.00 like some prior poster stated). I would have loved to have won one of those. You can say what you want about them, but the event was well worth it. For the price of the tickets to the value of the prizes to the FREE water and soda, my friends and I had a great time out and we are definitely putting them on our list again next year. (Oh yeah, I won a "second" level prize and it must have been worth over $250 bucks). They had around 15 grand prizes too (wish I won one of those too!)
And in response to the posters above on the bent tickets, they announce it ALOT, they have signs all around, and it was in their "rules" in their program. I spent a lot of money there and I was glad to see that they won't pull tickets that are bent by cheaters. I want to know that it's fair and I definitely thought that it was. Good job people! And trust me, I'm not an easy to please TT-er!
In any event, I did attend a more CIVILIZED and structured auction on Friday night at St. Cecelia's in Iselin and I can certainly say they outdid themselves. VERY ORGANIZED. Kathy - hats off to you and job well done. Everything was totally great. Question, did you guys rob a liquor store or something? I have never seen so many liquor baskets being auctioned off! lol. But although the evening was kind of long... you guys did a phenomenal job. Simply loved the new layout.
The ONLY problem I had was with the series of tickets being drawn. Some series were drawn maybe twice in the midst of 100 orr so prizes. Shake up the bucket, change the caller, something....but you guys had some REALLY nice prizes. Couldn't have asked for better.
Great job and I am looking forward to attending next year.
Hey, perhaps everyone will because OLMV will only sell to select individuals.
Most TT's are not run by people who run McDonald's and instant gratification is not always available. And schools spend most of their time trying to educate our children instead of worrying about people not getting TT tix. Sorry, but that's life.
Patience, people. It pays off!
And to OLMV, you don't need these people at your event. You had a great, fun crowd, most of whom probably never even heard of "trickytray.com" so don't worry that you are getting some bad press here. You will pack your house year after year simply by continuing to do an excellent job, have great prizes at great prices, by only word of mouth. People will come to your event if they feel it is well run, fair and they have a chance to win. I definitely thought that all these things were done. Although I didn't win a prize, I had a TON of fun. I will keep my eyes open next year for advertising in places other than this site, so keep on doing what you are doing and good luck in 2008!!!
A Friend From Town
So don't bad mouth TrickyTray.com.
I was there last year for OLMV to advertise their First Event.
Mr. Tricky Tray
An alternative to voting a best event, could be letting us vote a 1-5 star rating on all events. Open the rating period for just a limited time after an event is held. Sponsors could use their 5 Star rating in the next years promotion.
This tricky trayer is a very decent person with money to spend and would be willing to donate money to OLMV had a chance been given to attend the auction. However, whomever who was in charge took it upon themselves to omit this person for whatever the reason was.
The tricky trayer wanted a table of 10 and the table of 10 people are folks who just enjoy tricky trays and the secret key is..they are folks with real money who were looking for a new investment.
It appears as though some of the comments here attacking this person are by folks who are totally clueless and are happy they were able to attend. Hey, anywhoo... these folks are rightfully offended and called in well enough time to secure tickets before OLMV list of favorites got tickets instead.
The decent thing to do was to honor the requestor that was calling for 4 solid months continually. How do you justify not being able to accomodate this person?
I am not liberty to state the person's name for privacy issues, but OLMV school would have totally benefitted by doing the right thing and not getting caught up in the hype.
Hey, their loss. These people have crossed OLMV off their donation list and frankly could care less whether the school or tricky trayers care or not.
Senator Hillary Clinton LOL
Thanks for setting the record straight! As the organizer for OLMV I've had to endure many personal attacks from this blog; however, I take the good with the bad and we use the feedback to help us plan the next event. I have no problem with people commenting on our event, as it helps me plan how to handle certain aspects for next year's event, like the ticketing situation which obviously angered many of your regulars. While I understand that the blog invites "freedom of speech" and I thoroughly welcome the debate and constructive criticisms, it would be nice to see a curb on the personal attacks. I know we cannot please all of the people all of the time.
Thanks to you and your folks for your support. And to those who for some unknown reason still feel the need to trash & bash me and this event, May God Bless you and your family and I hope that you can find some other worthy school to shower your money upon as I am sure they will be just as happy as OLMV to take your money.
And, I'm not embarrassed to sign my name; quite frankly, I'm very proud of the outcome of this event and how much funds it raised for our school children.
Susan
OLMV HMBR 2007 Chairperson
You did an excellent job and clearly your OLMV event was a success.
She can take her auction and stick it up here tricky tray butt!
The "advertising" on this site did nothing for them except generate some cry-baby comments from whiny losers who couldn't get a ticket and who obviously have nothing else better to do with their lives every Friday, Saturday and Sunday than to go to tricky trays and then sit in front of their computers and co-miserate with others and trashing these events. Boo hoo hoo. Get a life people. And God Bless the First Amendment!!!!
Not only that, but schools and organizations don't really PAY for advertising; they usually advertise for FREE in local papers, community news, local businesses, etc. Or, they get their advertising donated. Shows how much you REALLY KNOW about these things... (which apparently is absolutely NOTHING!)
Hey OLMV, if I were you guys, I would just stay away from this site next year. I'm sure many other organizations who have been "panned" in the past by a few of these people probably feel the same way.
Mr. Tricky Tray has a nice thing going here but I guess you just cannot police the people who post.
And it's pretty obvious that it's only one or two people who are continually posting the negative posts (over and over and over and over). Why not sign your name like the lady from OLMV did? Are you ashamed of your comments? Pretty easy to hide behind anonimity isn't it??? Own up to your comments.
Regards,
Cindy A.
I can not allow personal attacks on this blog. Talking about likes & dislikes of ane event is fine . Any posts attacking personally will be deleted.
You have been able to post anonymously here, but google allows me to make it that you have to register to post and I can block certain posters. Please do not let it come to this.
Thanks
Mr. Tricky Tray
Again, OLMV sold out last year before receiving the award, so the website had nothing to do with their success. It increased demand this year, yes, but clearly, they have no problem selling tickets. As a Catholic school, they probably do not miss the revenue from vindictive people like the personal attacker who just won't stop.
Keep the discussion to TT's and keep the personal stuff to yourselves.
Have a nice day!
I'm in favor of your blocking the inappropriate blogs. It's a terrible negative energy to those of us who just enjoy hearing the inside scoop about TTs. As a business consideration, it's not inconceivable that you're loosing business because of those few who continue to perpetuate their tirades on this blog. Who wants to read this vitrole over and over? You and this site are having your reputations sullied. That is so unfair!
I personally am checking the blog far less frequently these days, as I find the negative tone of what's being written uninformative and tiring. It's as though we are being taken advantage of...kind of like, a captive audience. I feel that's inappropriate. I'm also not in favor of people thinking that if they choose to identify themselves with their names they can blast others...I think they missed the point you were trying to make above. Please nip this in the bud.
There are several tt's this weekend so any thoughts would be appreciated. I'm waiting for a call back on the Sussex Tech School one on Friday. Does anyone here know ticket prices and number of trays? thanks
And to the woman who said some of the proceeds should be donated...she was right. Hey, no one from this site where OLMV advertised seemed to get tickets, so why not donate some of the proceeds?
In Mr. Tricky Trays original invite to post on the page said that you could pretty much post and have free speech, perhaps he's changing his tune.
I just think that if you advertise here, stand by you advertisement then you can alleviate negative comments across the board.
If Mr. TT wants to charge for advertising on this site you should let HIM make that decision and not everyone else who has an opinion. He could always charge a nominial "registration" fee to advertise your event. If you don't want to pay the fee, you don't advertise here. Just a suggestion...
Now, AGAIN, lets stop all the bashing and get back to the things everyone really wants to talk about... what's coming up and who's going where?