About That Tricky Tray.. I Just Want To Say_Chapter 10 (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. However..no personal attacks will be tolerated.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I attended one tricky tray where one of the Grand Prizes was a Grandfather CLock. It was beautiful. I must say, I've never seen another Grandfather clock at any tricky tray I've attended. Tickets to Broadway shows are always good, especially when paired with a gift card for dinner in the city and a hotel stay. Another high end prize I saw was camping equipment. An 8 man tent with an air mattress, lanterns, chairs and accessories. TV's and game systems are always nice. Another TT I attended had a beautiful framed mirror for the wall, it was huge. And an Air Hockey table was a prize, too. Not a table top version, but a free standing table like you find in the arcades. I hope these suggestions are helpful. I like different and unusual prizes in all catagories, but you don't want to go too unusual, because I also like the prizes to be something I could use. The 6FT Grandfather clock had to be one of the best, though. Beautiful wood finish, brand new in a box (it had to be disassembled to be taken home) and truly unique. Good luck with your tricky tray and don't forget to mention your prizes when you list the TT on this site.
Anonymous said…
To East Orange PAL organizers - last year I tried to get to your event, but I was concerned by the fact that parking was down the block and around the corner in downtown Newark and it was getting dark out. There was a parking lot directly across the street from the event building, but the attendant told me it was going to be locked well before your TT was over, and we couldn't park there. So, is there a possibility that we can park closer to your building?
Anonymous said…
Just a note:
I attended JFK HS TT on Sat. March 29 and I have to say how disappointed I was this year vs last year.
The prizes were wonderful from the low end to the high end but there were so many prize levels at least 8 or 9 and the cost was very expensize. for example Two of the levels with at least 60 prizes the tickets were 7 for $5.00 and the 1st level was $2.00 per sheet, (not so bad on that one)but when you thought you were finished buying tickets there was another prize table to purchase from. Although I always bring more money then I usually need (just in case) I came home with $1.00 just to get tickets in all of the levels. But that was not my biggest disappointment as I have been to many expensive TT's....I was sitting at a table close to the caller and I was very upset to see that they would take the cups of tickets and dump them in a 5 gallon pail, did not shake them up, and the young lady that was picking the tickets would look in the pail before she pulled a ticket out. We kept asking them to shake them up but nobody was listening and they mostly ended up calling the same group of numbers.
I had combinations of numbers on just 1 level starting with 1, 3, 5, and 6's, and at least 85% of the numbers they called all started with 7. Whatever was on the bottom of those cups (first ones dropped) were the numbers being called, and who drops their numbers first before we all get there?
I cannot knock the set up and arrangements, it was all very well put together, but not shaking up the tickets was unfair to many people who I am sure had some of the numbers that I and my friends had. I always thought the procedure was dump, shake, and pick without looking.....not dump look and pick!!!
Anonymous said…
sorry that would be JFK HS in Islen, NJ

I hope they see this and take note for next year.
Anonymous said…
There are 16 TT's listed on TT.com for tonight Friday April 4th.
After attending one this evening please leave us feedback. It would be nice to know if you think it was a good one or not and if you think the organizers had read and followed the suggestions we post on this site, or ignored our comments.
Look forward to reading your comments.
Thank You !
sbspta said…
We are having a basket auction on May 2nd and I am looking for some suggestions. Our committee is split on two big issues, so I decided to take it to the "professionals" to get your feedback. The 1st issue - what does everyone think about ticket packages? Good idea or bad idea? The second issue is - do we pre-sell admission tickets to our event and if we do, do we have to have reserved/assigned seating? Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
Anonymous said…
Pre-sell admission tickets are not a good idea. Check out previous blogs regarding this exact issue. Ticket packages are a good idea if you are offering a bargain. Reserved/assigned seating is also a no no. There is no point to it.
Anonymous said…
I went to People for Animals tricky tray tonight. I go to lots of them and I can't complain about one thing. Prizes were great affordable. Everyone got a goodie bag. Free snacks! Calling was quick and not annoying! Great job it was the second one for them I have been to and really they knocked it out of the ballpark!
Anonymous said…
What is a basket auction?
Anonymous said…
basket auction = tricky tray
Anonymous said…
I attended People for Animals TT last night. Great event!! There were over 300 prizes and I won about 10 times including winning the Ipod and Coach Bag Set!!! Nice goodie bags and refreshments. The volunteers were super nice and they even helped me tear my tickets. Calling could have been a little faster and I wish there had been more high-end prizes (such as electronics) but baskets were well done. Overall, very nice event and I had a great time. I will definitely attend again!!
Anonymous said…
I went to the High Point TT in Wantage last night. I will not attend it again next year. I should have known not to go to a tt that does not give details of their event on TT.com. They even posted the wrong time on TT.com and had plenty of time to correct it and didn't. The prizes were second rate. Many baskets should have been combined. The second and third tier should all have been regular trays. The 1st tier should have been third tier. There were no Super special prizes that could be called super special(first tier).
The price of tkts were fair. It started at 805p and finished at 940pm. The refreshments were also second rate. The CALLER was great and fast!
The staff did not even know what bent tkts are. Someone explained it to them. I don't think any organizer had ever been to a TT.
The 50/50 only went to $340.00. The ladies selling those tickets looked bored and sat down all night instead of walking around selling tickets the way it is done at every other TT I've been to.
Organizers please read the blogs for some very helpful information.
Anonymous said…
I think it's better to pre-sell tickets and have assigned seating. I like knowing that I have a guaranteed seat and that I can arrive any time after the doors open, instead of having to be there when the doors open to get my ticket and a seat. Getting my ticket beforehand usually just consists of a phone call and mailing a check or paying via PayPal. I have been to several TTs that i bought tickets at the door and had to stand in line when the doors open, and then try to gather a few open seats while hundreds of other people do the same. It's just chaos. Plus, pre-selling admission gives organizers a chance to see exactly how many people to expect. If they could pre-sell admission and then offer some open seating at the door (reserve a few tables for walk-ins) that would be ideal.
Anonymous said…
I'm the chairperson for the Stillwater NJ TT held on Friday April 4. I want to say a HUGE THANK YOU to all who attended & to those who helped organize our event. We recieved rave reviews throughout the nite. I hope we met all your expectations & look forward to seeing you again next year!!!
Anonymous said…
St. John Vianney in Colonia is having their tricky tray on Friday, April 11th. They posted great prizes like a WII, Coach bag, etc. Anyone going?
Anonymous said…
Stillwater TT Friday the 4th. Same color tickets PLEEZE!

PINK PINK PINK PINK PINK PINK when I have only yellow makes for a long and boring night.

First level prizes=great.

Second and third=lousey.

Grand=wonderful.

I loved the caller!

More then a few of the volunteers would better serve the committe from behind the scenes.

Way too many people. I wouldnt be surprised if it wasnt a fire hazard. Next year set a limit and stick to it.

Wonderful food and it was complimentary!
Anonymous said…
Stillwater TT Organizers - Did you people not read any of the hundreds of blogs referencing the SAME COLOR TICKETS!!! Quite disapppointing when many of us already purchased our tickets & were at our max, then from nowhere comes YELLOW TICKETS. Poor planning especially knowing you were going to overfill a room. Ticket prices overall were great for the regular baskets and their values. 2nd & 3rd level prizes were disappointing as I usually spend a good amount of $$ on these levels @ TT's, but only spent a few $$ on these. Grand prizes were awesome. Caller was well paced, didn't necessarily have to name each basket as we all had access to programs (again read the blogs people). Complimentary food is always a plus. Not sure I will attend next year.
Anonymous said…
I have a huge complaint about Pilgram Covenant Learning Center I went to tonight. First of all there should be rules about what we consider a tricky tray like the number of prizes. I think it was way too small to even consider being called a tricky tray. It was more like bad food and no prize tray. It gets so much better I was standing by the door way and the lady selling tickets and her friend were there and she gave her friend lots of tickets and she never paid for them. What a load!!! Then when they did the 50/50 the guy pulling the tickets out of the nowhere hands the caller lady the ticket (which no one saw him pick) his wife's ticket..... Anyone see something strange with this picture. I heard them say this was there first tricky tray. I hope it's there last!!!
Anonymous said…
Just returned from the tricky tray at Sandshore School in Budd Lake.
It was just OK, nothing to rave about. The baskets looked great, well put together, but there was very little that interested my friends and I. Too many kids things and dust collector stuff. There was a wall of gift certificates which should have been added to the baskets to make them less skimpy. The cheap box of envelopes definitely needed something of value added to it.
The callers were good but so loud I had to cover my ears to avoid getting a headache. Admission was $10.00 with a $4.00 sheet of tickets, presale did not work for us since we do not live locally. For a $10.00 admission charge we did expect free refreshments and rightfully so, but there were none. Not even coffee or tea. They charged for everything. What a GREEDY bunch of organizers!
We were packed in the room with hardly room to move once we sat down. Runners had to squeeze down the aisles. WHAT A FIRE HAZARD!
WAY TO MANY PEOPLE FOR THE SIZE OF THE ROOM. AGAIN GREED AT THE EXPENSE OF SAFETY.
There was no mention of NO BENT TICKETS! Looks like these organizers do not read these blogs either. All the suggestions we TT folks make fall on deaf ears. So a thumbs down to you. We will not be coming to your TT next year.
Anonymous said…
I went to the Sandshore School TT last night also. I thought the basket prizes were bad but the gift certificates hanging on the wall were pretty good. The price of the super specials at $5 a ticket was too steep. They had at least eight of them! Even five tickets for $20 was too much. Sorry, you need to re-think the special pricing organizers. People want to be in on the fun not blown out of it by your greedy prices.

Oh and charging for coffee, tea and cookies was TACKY!!!! Really, people.... :-(

Caller was good. I liked the program. It was interesting how they called the 50/50 before the regulars were done being called. But since I didn't buy those specials (because they were too expensive!) I got to leave right after the regulars because the 50/50 was already done.
Anonymous said…
Attention Lafayette Organizers:

I see you listed your prices for the upcoming Friday TT. I'm glad you did this. Now I would like to know home many specials, super specials and mega specials you have. Your prices are OK if say you only have 10-15 (specials and super) and say 5 megas. However I recall last year you had like 50 or more specials AND super specials. That would mean I would have to spend at least $50 to get one ticket in each. That's a little much, don't you think?

REMEMBER, people come with a certain amount of money to spend, say around $40. We will be super disappointed if we can't be in every level including the 50/50. Last year some of your specials could easily have been regulars split up into two baskets. I hope you consider that this year!

There are at least THREE other Tricky Trays on the same night April 11th all within 20 or so minutes from each other. In fact, Hardyston is running one right down the road! So many choices! We want as much information about each one as we can get!
Anonymous said…
I also vote for pre-selling of tickets and assigned seats. Many times I am going somewhere unfamiliar directly from work and I like to know that I am getting in and have a seat when I get there. Bundled tickets are OK but many times I find that there are too many low level tickets in the bundle.

Went to Our Lady of Peace school in Mountainside on Friday night and had a great time. Really great prizes, some very unusual (gift certificate to Telecharge, rental of a moonwalk, $150 gift certificate to Uggs.com). Callers were good, food was good. We will be back.
Anonymous said…
Pre selling tickets is a pain for those of who don't want to plan ahead for TT's. We just go! I plan ahead for a Broadway show not for a tricky tray!
It's annoying when presale tickets are less than purchasing at the door. Assigned seats...I also don't like.

Paying for coffee/tea and treats is just plain GREEDY!
LIGHTEN UP! I JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN...IT'S NOT THE HIGHLIGHT OF MY LIFE! I don't even care if I don't win anything!
Anonymous said…
Where is Pilgram Covenant Learning Center? Didn't anyone say something to the caller and organizers when noone saw the ticket pulled and his wife won?
Everyone needs to be more critical when we see blatant cheating going on.
Anonymous said…
IN REGARDS TO THE STILLWATER TT, I DO APOLOGIZE FOR THE DIFFERENT COLOR TICKETS HOWEVER WE WENT THROUGH OVER 4000 SHEETS IN THE FIRST HOUR & WE WERE STILL WITHIN 'CODE' FOR ATTENDANCE. I HAD SEVERAL PEOPLE STOP ME & SAY THEY WENT BACK TO GET MORE TICKETS BECAUSE THERE WE GREAT REGULAR TRAYS THAT OTHER TT HAVE USED AS SPECIALS. THEREFORE I MADE THE DECISION TO OPEN THE YELLOW & BLUE. BUT I WILL MAKE SURE WE WILL HAVE PLENTY OF ONE COLOR TICKETS FOR NEXT YEAR.

ALL OF OUR PRIZES WERE DONATIONS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF THE DUNE BUGGY & THE TV/WII. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE WINNERS OF THE $150 HOME OIL GC, THE CONCERT TICKETS, THE WILL, THE 16 CIRCUS TICKETS, WERE HAPPY WITH THEIR PRIZES. WE EXCEPT ALL DONATIONS & TRY TO CREATE A VARIETY. WE HAD OVER 20 SPECIALS FROM ONE EXTREME TO THE OTHER. ALSO WE TRY NOT TO REPEAT WHAT EVERY OTHER TT HAS.

OUR COMMITTE IS CREATED FROM VOLUNTEERS. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE NEW PEOPLE EVERY YEAR. THEY ALL HAVE TO LEARN THE ROPES AT SOME POINT.

I DO READ THE BLOGS & TRY TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING GOES 100%. WE HAVE GROWN TREMDESOULY IN THE PAST 2 YEARS, AND HAVE SOME ADJUSTING TO DO.

I'M GLAD YOU ENJOYED OUR EVENT BUT I JUST FELT IT NECESSARY TO DEFEND THE VOLUNTEERS & DONORS THAT SUPPORTED OUR TT.
Anonymous said…
I enjoyed the Stillwater TT and I think it's certainly worth the drive. The regulars are absolutely fantastic prizes. You'd be happy to win any of them. I know the change in ticket colors was unavoidable. I was able to get pink and yellow, but I was out by the time blue came around. I'll still go back but I know they'll buy enough next time.
Anonymous said…
Went to Stanhope's TT last week-but no chance to post with two sick kids...

Great prizes-loved that Coach bag. I didn't mind the caller describing the baskets-I like to know which each one is. Also, they had free cheesecake ;)

Def be back next yr.
Anonymous said…
We went to Good Shepard Academy Friday night. Overall we liked it very much. The first level prizes were very nice and plentiful. The other levels were also very nice. There was just one HUGE problem with the event. All the levels tickets except the first level had tickets of the same color but very very different in size. Example blue tickets from a regular roll of tickets and then BIG square blue tickets. I dont understand how this happened. We see the people who run this at many different tricky trays and we would think they would know better!!! Hope you dont do this again next year because people at our table were visibly angry and upset when they realized other peoples tickets were different.
Anonymous said…
Where is Good Shepard Academy?
Were the bigger tickets being pulled more often? Who had the bigger tickets? Was it a select group, organizers, friends? All who were visibly angry should have let them know how upset you were right then and there. Don't sit there and take it. Let them know all of you will let everyone on TT.com know of their shananigans.
Anonymous said…
I went to the Morris Hills High School Tricky tray last night. Not as good as in past years but ok overall. Ticket prices were reasonable. The small prizes were not to good, and they made one huge mistake. They used a pretty kind of cello wrap. It was pretty but not really see through. So some of the prizes you really had no idea what they were or the color of the items such as towels, etc. The rest of the prizes were better, but i still found at the end of the baskets I had to go back around to get rid of tickets instead of looking for someone to buy more from. The callers were good. Moved along pretty quick with the exception that one of the ladies had to reread several numbers as she kept losing her train of though. I thought it was funny, the group I was with did not think so. All in all an ok night.
Anonymous said…
For the Stillwater TT response. The volunteers shouldnt have to learn manners. That was the issue. If they cant be polite and patient with the attendees, then they shouldnt volunteer.

Of course all who donate need to be thanked and appreciated, but It doesnt mean that those donations warrent a spot on a second level prize table.
Anonymous said…
As for why I didn't say something at Pilgram Covenant Learning Center? Well I would love to say it's the first and only time I have ever seen people not charge there friends for tickets but sadly enough it happens so often. I once said something at a tricky tray and the hassle it caused made me look worse then the cheaters. I didn't know it was her husband calling until we were walking out. I just really hope they never have another one. I will keep my eyes posted for next year and remind everyone to stay away!!!
Anonymous said…
I went to the Stillwater TT on Friday night, and let me just say.. It was AWESOME! I had gone to a few other TT in the area, and they were absolutely AWFUL.. with "special" prizes that were only worth $50!! Stillwater had an American "bitty baby" AND an IPOD shuffle in their REGULAR TRAYS!! I was a little disappointed about the colors of the tickets.. but I am pretty sure that they will be remedying that next year! As far as the complaints about the specials.. I didn't see anything in any category that wasn't worth what it said it was worth.. so I am a bit unsure of what the complaint was. Maybe sour grapes because they didn't win them? I would have liked to win those military models! I thought that the caller was great, and went quickly.. didn't describe all the trays and take forever.. like some people do! Also.. the food was great, and I liked that it was in a separate room. All in all, the prices were great, the prizes were great, and especially for such a small community! You guys did a great job.. I know that I will be back, as well as everyone that I came with!
Anonymous said…
I went to the Stillwater TT on Friday night as well.. and as far as only having yellow tickets.. well, you must have shown up late.. because they only started selling yellow tickets when they had sold out of their pink ones.. which is what everyone was selling when I got there at 6:30.. a half hour after they opened! I thought it was a great event.. I wish I had won more ;) but your prizes were GREAT!
K.C. said…
Hi everyone,

This is my first post here. I am going to be running my schools PTA tricky tray this fall. I love tricky trays but this is my first time organizing one and I want to do it right. Here are some questions I have.

Does anyone know how to obtain disney hopper passes as a prize? I have seen this at several tricky trays and it is very popular.

Also, what do you think makes a good tricky tray and what makes a bad one? I am open to all feedback.

One more thing - if anyone has organized a tricky tray before and has a timeline or schedule for when to do what, I would appreciate using it. If not, I'm sure I can figure it out but all help is appreciated - I want this to be really fun and also a good fundraiser. I will probably do it in a church and charge about 10 admission, which would include a sheet of tickets and coffee and desserts. It seems people don't really like paying lots of money for a dinner.

Also, where do I get the actual tickets?

Thanks to anyone for reading and responding. You can also e-mail me directly at kccollins@verizon.net.

Take care~
Anonymous said…
(stillwater tt) thank you everyone for your comments, good bad & indifferent. They will only help us grow for next year!! ya'll come back now ya here! (lol)
Anonymous said…
TO THE LADY ASKING FOR ADVISE ON RUNNING A TRICKY TRAY. WE DON'T LIKE PAYING ADMISSION EITHER. WITH ALL THE MONEY WE LEAVE BEHIND FREE REFRESHMENTS ARE EXPECTED. SO MANY TT'S HAVE A WONDERFUL VARIETY OF REFRESHMENTS AND DO NOT CHARGE ADMISSION.
Anonymous said…
kudos to Stillwater tt. Trays were awsome on the regular level and you certainly understand the concept of no bent tickets to include dropping the larger doorprize tickets in prize bags. I also appreciated the announcement/apology when circumstances pushed you into putting different color regular sheets on sale. Considering that you worked with donated prizes and that Stillwater is an elementary school, my friends and I were pleased with the range and value of regular prizes available. having a fair number of kid oriented prizes is normal and expected at an elementary school fundraiser since most of the attendees have kids attending Stillwater. tt regular's understand that the variety of trays differ depending on who is sponsoring.
Looking forward to next years event.
Anonymous said…
Sandshore - Maybe next year you could compromise and put small prizes back in cafeteria and let us sit in the gym again where you could keep the gift certif/larger prizes. The room just isn't big enough to handle either all the prizes or the seating.
Get another announcer who will get on with announcing winning numbers without shouting, without reading prize discriptions, without ongoing comments to his wife. Starting at 7, there was no reason for the crowded event to run that late.
The value and range of the regular prizes was fantastic. We thought you did a wonderful job bundling most trays. The gift certificates were mostly 50-100 in value. There were a very few low value items/gc, but they stood out and should of been grouped with something else.
Clearly the Sandshore PTA understood they should bring their own food/refreshments. Perhaps thats why the committee always disregards complaints about how they handle refreshments. Free coffee/tea is standard at tt's, especially when they charge admission.
Anonymous said…
There are still some tickets available for St. John Vianney Colonia for this Friday at the Victorian Manor, Edison. We have over 250 prizes including Wii, Rutgers tkts, Coach bags, Yankee and Mets tks, golf outing and lunch for 4 at the Colonia Country Club, family membership at Springwood Swim Club, Colonia and much more. Contact SJVTrickytray08@comcast.net for tickets.
Anonymous said…
I think its expected to pay for going into a tricky tray. If it's free with some in certain areas it would be a mob scene. $10 and a free sheet of tickets with coffee, tea and dessert is good. $5 is better but $10 is average.
Anonymous said…
No, it is not expected that we pay for stepping into a TT. IT IS NOT A MOB SCENE! I'VE BEEN TO BOTH AND THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE! OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO BOTH! Paying for admission is no guarantee that free refreshments are served, quite the opposite is true. Prizes also are no better either.Since there are so many TT each weekend my friends and I avoid TT that charge for admission. (Except those serving dinner). You sound like an organizer trying to justify charging admission.
Anonymous said…
I completely disagree with the poster who thinks it's OK to charge admission. You couldn't be more wrong. If you're holding your TT in a public building (not a hall or restaurant) you should NOT charge admission. I attend at LEAST one TT every weekend. I refuse to go to one if they charge admission. I'm going there to spend money. No one goes just to sit there. Let me decide how to spend my money, thank you. After I see your prizes, I'll decide how to spend it. DO NOT CHARGE FOR COFFEE OR TEA!!! Free baked goods are a nice touch.

These are the best tricky trays that I have attended this season so far. They all charged NO admission and had FREE refreshments. Great prizes too!!!

1. Mckeown School Hampton
2. Alpine School, Sparta
3. Fredon School, Fredon

By the way, I've been to at least ten in the past few months. I have two this weekend. I KNOW WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!
Anonymous said…
Everyone has their opinion and alot of people seem to know what they're talking about. I've been to way more than 10 tt's in the last few months. Every organization has their own reasons for charging or not; if one feels so strongly about paying admission, well hello...just don't go, but let it go at that. No need to go on and on in a blog about it.
Anonymous said…
That's what this forum is for to blog.......hello
Anonymous said…
Really.....HELLO...they said they don't attend TT that charge admission!

Geez, this is a place to share opinions! Feel free to "go on and on" if you want!
Anonymous said…
HERE IS MY OPINION TOO! No, it is not expected that we pay for stepping into a TT. IT IS NOT A MOB SCENE! I'VE BEEN TO BOTH AND THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE! OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE NOT BEEN TO BOTH! Paying for admission is no guarantee that free refreshments are served, quite the opposite is true. Prizes also are no better either.Since there are so many TT each weekend my friends and I avoid TT that charge for admission. (Except those serving dinner). I ALSO AGREE THAT You sound like an organizer trying to justify charging admission.
Anonymous said…
i don't understand why some of you feel the need to give your opinion with such nasty attitudes.ARE THE CAPS LOCK REALLY NECESSARY??? You don't wanna pay admission, don't go to the ones that charge it..all the more prizes for me!
Larissa said…
And then there are those of us who DO go to the $50 dinner tricky trays that have 300 attendees, go to the $10 admission tricky trays that have 300 attendees, and go to the (few and far between these days) free tricky trays that have 300 attendees.

In the end, it doesn't matter. You will have attendees. One person doesn't go, another will.

As for me, I prefer when it's more expensive but there's dinner, especially on a weeknight. If I have to go straight from work, I simply cannot sit there for 4 hours without eating more than cookies.
Anonymous said…
I guess if people don't have something to compain about, they'd have nothing to say at all. Those who have been attending Tricky Trays for a few years should know by now which Tricky Trays they like & the ones that totally bomb. Either you go, or you don't. If someone feels they are such the "expert", then why aren't they organizing a tricky tray instead of complaining about them.
Anonymous said…
For some, charging admission is just a way of covering small expenses, like the price of baskets, wrap and tickets. Offering tickets, coffee, tea and snacks is just good business when charging admission. And yes, I'm speaking as an organizer. But, I've only organized TT's that are at halls with dinner, so our admission just covers the cost of dinner, which keeps going up each year. Some have complained that the bar should be open and not cash. I've never really seen much comment about that, but in my opinion, not everyone drinks, and halls charge and additional $30-$50 per person when you offer an open bar. For some who only drink soda, there's no way you can drink that much soda, and no one should drink that much in alcohol. The halls make out because they know everyone can't drink that much, so they make a killing and everyone pays for it. A cash bar allows those who wish to drink the chance to, and they may only spend $20 on drinks. This way they choose how to spend their money, and the hall doesn't get overpaid for drinks that will never be consumed. Anyway...getting back to the admission...it's a preference of the organization, but admission price or not, they are all well attended. Don't be so harsh on those who charge admission. There are a lot more of them around than there are with no admission.
Anonymous said…
So many tricky trays this weekend! Where is everyone going? I'm going to St. Clare's in Clifton. I think they are sold out.
Anonymous said…
I'm talking Central Jersey. No I don't run any tricky trays. I don't think I've even seen one that has Free Admission. Tell me where???? Mostly are run in schools and I think (could be wrong) that they have to pay the janitors and sometimes seperate insurance for being in a school.
Anonymous said…
I totally agree with no including open bar in the tricky tray as that is a huge liability on the organization as that only says they condone drinking of that nature. I've been to enough tt's @ catering halls in which at the cash bar, and seen way too many people make fools of themselves on their own. Let the liability fall on the establishment that has the liquor license.

When charging admission, I feel as long as the "extra ticket" prices/packages are reasonable, then by all means, cover the overhead with admission; and yes I am also speaking as an organizer.
Anonymous said…
Alot of the "free admission" tricky trays are in Northern Jersey. It's a combo of some schools, church organizations & some athletic groups w/in the school itself.

Hope this helps.
Anonymous said…
I agree about not having an open bar...while I do enjoy the nice dinners at a catering hall, having an open bar can only lead to trouble (we have all been to those weddings where so and so drank too much and made fools of themselves). I'd rather pay $6 for a glass of wine instead of $30 additional for an open bar.
Anonymous said…
Im going to Lafayette TT. Can't wait...always have a good time there. ...and to join the conversation they don't charge admission! =-}
Anonymous said…
I have found that most of the tricky trays in Sussex County (and some in Warren and Morris counties, too) do not charge admission. And, in general, they are not greedy with their ticket prices. If I have to pay admission (which seems to happen in most other areas - Somerset and Middlesex counties), I think $10 is ok if they give you tickets valued at $5 and free desserts and coffee. I've paid up to $20 for admission and that has included a light dinner (sandwiches or small buffet and soda) and a starter sheet of tickets, but don't go to ones like that too often.
Anonymous said…
I'll be at Lafayette too. I like sitting in the auditorium rather than a hard metal chair(ouch!).
I'll also be winning one of the Wiis!!!! Ha! Ha! Keep your fingers crossed for me gals!
Anonymous said…
Our group is going to the Hardyston TT. I went to the Lafayette one last year. Not impressed. High prices on specials. Regulars were not very interesting and lacked value. I won there but it was just OK.

Anyone going to the one in Ogdensburg?
Anonymous said…
Hardystons prices are more expensive than Lafayette. Don't know why they are on the same night...wish Sussex County would spread them out more.
Anonymous said…
There are 15 TT's listed on TT.com for tonight, Friday 4/11.
After attending let us know what your thoughts are for the one you attended.
Anonymous said…
15? wooo hoooo! Better chance of winning!
Anonymous said…
Lafayette's regulars maybe one sheet cheaper but their specials are more expensive and from what I remember, there are MANY of them.

Good luck to everyone!
Anonymous said…
The more trays the better for me!!! Lafayette always has a little something for everyones interest. Their special prices and reg prices do look cheaper than Hardyston as posted here at TT.com. I personally would love the wii or the great wolf lodge prize.

Good luck to you all!!!
Anonymous said…
I just got home from the Lafayette TT. It lasted way too long! Too tired to comment right now.
Anonymous said…
Where to start on Chittick Elementary School???? hmmmmm ok nothing was in order? They had no clue what was going on from one end of the room to the other. There were kids running all over the place playing in the back and no one watching them. They were screaming and yelling and hitting each other. Callers were bad and so long and drawn out. The good parts about it was lots of prizes at good prices. Plenty of free food as well. Next year please just get it together and maybe ask to leave the kids behind!
Anonymous said…
Lafayette rocked!!!!! The DJ was such a great touch! Soooo many great baskets...very friendly bunch. I accidently put both parts of my tickets into the ticket holders (the one that says hold this stub) and they replaced my tickets free of charge, no questions asked. They didn't call bent tickets and had tons of signs saying so. Free snacks and fair priced tickets. This is my kind of TT. Definately a winner!
Anonymous said…
Lafayette was NOT the best Tricky Tray as all their signs said. I have been to much better events. At 10:30 after finally finishing the regulars they had an intermission that was suppose to last 10 minutes ended up lasting more than 20. Come on people, we don't need an intermission. Just call the numbers so we can get out of there! Than the caller instead of just letting us read our program starts naming off what the specials are. We didn't get out of there until after 11:30pm.

They had 55 specials priced at 6 tickets for $10. Sorry but that's too many specials and I heard many people saying so. In fact it didn't look like there were many tickets in any of the buckets. People simply couldn't afford to put a ticket in most trays.

The regulars were nothing special at all. 255 prizes in which maybe 100 of them were good. Even the specials and super specials were not so special.... The Megas were nice though if you had money left to buy tickets for them!

I'm sorry, It was not a fun night. I won't be back. You are not the best Tricky Tray. Stop bragging that you are.
Anonymous said…
I would agree with the time frame. We will certainly work on that next year.

Yes, we do have a large amount of Specials. It is a fundraiser and we try to make as much money for the kids as possible. Tricky Tray goers look at it as an fun night out as we look at it as a fundraiser. We try to make it fun and inviting for the Tricky Trayers as well as keeping in mind it is a fundraiser. We have consistanly raised large amounts of money year after year for our kids and teachers so we must be doing something right. Though things can always be tweeked each year to make better and better.

Your entitled to your opinion is exactly what it is - your opinion. I'm sure it is a good idea that you and your mother should go somewhere else next year since you are unhappy with us. Thanks for trying our Tricky Tray again this year as your did last year.

We raised quite alot for our kids and teachers last night - thanks to all who attended, we really appreciate it.
Anonymous said…
We went to Fighting Childrens Cancer Foundation in Whippany last night. 227 regular prizes @ 1 sheet for $5. The regular prizes were what other peoples 2nd level are, very very very nice. 66 large prizes @10 tickets for $20. The prizes were also very very very nice. 11 grand prizes @ 5 tickets for $20 also nice prizes valued @ $300 and up. 6 super prizes @ 1 ticket for $10 prizes valued at $500 and up. It seemed like it was going to be expensive at first but we actually spent less than at other TT's. Didnt need the super tickets because although the prizes were lovely we werent interested in any of them. The grand we just wanted Great Wolf and the Young Frankenstein tickets so we saved there. We bought alot of the large tickets and alot of the regular tickets because those prizes were so awesome for regular. The 50/50 was $1600 + for the winner. The whole evening was organized and quiet, no one pushing, no lines, nice food for a change. We liked it and will return next year definitely!
Anonymous said…
Everyone is entitled to their opinion. Organizers need to lighten up and realize your going to get good comments and bad. That's what this blog is for.
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