Host changing agreed upon minimum

[ontheway]

So here is the situation. Contacted a host that is pretty reputable to set us up for One night at a club and then a day at a pool. I am keeping all names out for the time being. We agreed upon everything about 2 weeks ago. Received an email recently from him stating that the agreed upon amount for a cabana needs to increase by an additional 1000.00. I knew the day would be big when we starting setting things up as well as he. So I am battling in my mind how to handle this. Does anyone have experience with this or thoughts?

thanks

[whysohype]

Which venue is this at? I had this happen to me at EBC last year for a daybed they increased the pricing saying that the "DJ cost more" and the price of the bottles went up. We didn't end up going to EBC and opted to go elsewhere. Sometimes demand can increase the cost of things or maybe you need to "tip" more?

When and what venue is this for?

[BigPimp]

So here is the situation. Contacted a host that is pretty reputable to set us up for One night at a club and then a day at a pool. I am keeping all names out for the time being. We agreed upon everything about 2 weeks ago. Received an email recently from him stating that the agreed upon amount for a cabana needs to increase by an additional 1000.00. I knew the day would be big when we starting setting things up as well as he. So I am battling in my mind how to handle this. Does anyone have experience with this or thoughts?

thanks

Your question is a good one and I think you will get replies expressing disbelief and anger. However, in my opinion your host actually did you right. Here is my take. Vegas is an open market. Table costs may increase due to demand (or, in some cases, due to owners, friends of owners, celebrities, high rollers/whales, etc. requesting tables and decreasing supply). Your host cannot control that. When your host gives you a quote, that is your host's best estimate of the table cost. Many of us have had hosts give us better tables (or bottle deals) than bargained for because demand was less than expected (I have not had a host reduce my cost but I have been upgraded). I have a quote for a cabana at MDC this summer. The host said the cost may rise due to demand. I understand that risk because I booked the cabana so far out. Typically I book only a few days out so I know my deal is probably solid. I think a good host will try to hold firm on your quote but if demand materially changes he likely has little choice. I think your host did you a solid reaching out to you now - many times on this forum you will read stories of hosts changing the minimum at the door (when it is too late to switch clubs). Maybe your host did a poor job of estimating demand, maybe your host did a poor job of communicating the possibility that the cost could increase based on demand, or maybe facts outside of your host's control caused the change (see parenthetical above about owners, etc. requesting tables). I personally would not be down on my host but rather would appreciate him reaching out to me now and giving me time to re-plan. I know it sucks because you likely set your budget based on the club, table and location. I think your only option is to reach out to another host or hosts at the same club and ask for a quote. If the quote matches the quote you have been given then you know that is the cost. You could also ask your host why the quote changed.

[ccc]

This can and does happen. Demand drives minimums. Unless you've pre-paid, your min is never set until you sign the slip at the podium. You can try to negotiate something, but realize that every host has a boss and if all the other hosts are getting 3500 for the cabana you have at 2500 your min is probably going up.

Better that your host tell you now, so that you can negotiate something or make other plans, than at the podium that day.

[DeX]

it can happen yeah. for example this weekend, there was a certain venue that was not taking anything below 1.5kmin...its not up to the hosts when this happens. kinda screws the hosts over.

[ontheway]

I definitely get the economics of the situation and I do appreciate not being blindsided the day of the event. He had given me other options for daybeds and couches with obvious lower minimums, but it is kind of a bummer as I was stretching the group already to commit to the cabana price and then it bumped even higher. I dont think I will be able to get the group to agree to the extra money.
This is for MDC and it is opening day. Like I said I knew it would be big when we booked originally.

I guess if we still decide to move forward with going there anyone have opinions on daybeds or couches there? If i may have to get bumped from the cabana I am going to try to get the best possible location available to me.

Oh yeah, and on the tipping thing, I have communicated with him that we will definitely be taking care of him before. he has not mentioned dollar amounts at all to me.

thanks

[ccc]

Yeah, if it's Saturday I'm not shocked they went up. If the regular cabanas are under 4k by then I'd be surprised.

[ontheway]

no i booked at 4k they are now up to 5k!

[DeX]

its probably out of the host's control and management bumped up all mins.

[ccc]

It's the first Kaskade day at MDC this summer. I'm not shocked at all. The regular cabanas were 5k when he was there pretty much all summer.

[ontheway]

is it worth getting a daybed or couch there or taking the budget we had and head somewhere else?

[ontheway]

I get it and thanks Noah!

[artedm]

you could always ask if you prepaid could they lock the price

[chrisbru]

I'd rather bump down to a daybed than go elsewhere, that party will be insane!

[iamkhai]

Did you already pre-pay for this rate? I have been getting quotes for pool parties for my upcoming trip and all said they require a credit card on file to lock in the price. If you did this, then I would be pissed. If not, then the host did you a solid by letting you know that demand has increased the cost.