Advice - March Madness bachelor party?

[russ-722]

Hey guys and gals.

I'm planning a bachelor party for the first weekend of March Madness, 15-18. There will be about 10 guys, and we are interested in going to a Tier 1 club that Saturday night. We'd like to do bottle service at XS or Marquee, but we would settle for something a notch below those two.

We understand that given our size and the weekend, we might have our work cut out for us. Therefore, I am leaning toward using a VIP service, but I am also starting to call club hosts on my own for comparison.

What are our prospects (considering we're 10 guys and it's March Madness) for arranging a successful evening ourselves without a VIP service? I've heard that issues with NOT using a VIP service include:
* higher table minimums
* unexpected fees and gratuities
* potential for waiting in line
* being asked to leave once you've finished your bottles or at a certain time

Also, what are your best guesses as to table/bottle minimums, soft gratuities to the hosts, etc., for a party our size, if we were to arrange things ourselves? I was thinking 4 bottles, and $2,500 to $3,000 all-in, after taxes, fees, and gratuities.

Any referrals for club hosts would also be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer!

[Universal]

Hey guys and gals.

I'm planning a bachelor party for the first weekend of March Madness, 15-18. There will be about 10 guys, and we are interested in going to a Tier 1 club that Saturday night. We'd like to do bottle service at XS or Marquee, but we would settle for something a notch below those two.

We understand that given our size and the weekend, we might have our work cut out for us. Therefore, I am leaning toward using a VIP service, but I am also starting to call club hosts on my own for comparison.

What are our prospects (considering we're 10 guys and it's March Madness) for arranging a successful evening ourselves without a VIP service? I've heard that issues with NOT using a VIP service include:
* higher table minimums
* unexpected fees and gratuities
* potential for waiting in line
* being asked to leave once you've finished your bottles or at a certain time

Also, what are your best guesses as to table/bottle minimums, soft gratuities to the hosts, etc., for a party our size, if we were to arrange things ourselves? I was thinking 4 bottles, and $2,500 to $3,000 all-in, after taxes, fees, and gratuities.

Any referrals for club hosts would also be appreciated.

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer!

You have it backwards. Those things are much more likely to happen if you DO use an independent host. Deal with the clubs directly.

For XS, I recommend Ryan Perrings - 505.507.6111

Marquee - Larson Legris - 702.813.3738

1 OAK - Joey Orr - 586-873-4876

[dnix]

I cant think of any Tier 1 clubs that ask you to leave when your bottles are done. Bank is the only club I can think of that does this.

[BigPimp]

As Universal noted, you have bad intel on the difference between VIP hosts and the direct club hosts listed on the front page of this website. Your intel is backwards. Deal directly with a club host listed on the front page of this website and you won't have any of those problems.

I typically assume the cost per bottle at a club after taxes, tips, etc. is $700/bottle (that includes $100/bottle tip to the host to lock up a good table location).

Contact hosts at the clubs you are considering, ask about table locations and number of bottles, and then select the club based on that info.

[russ-722]

Awesome feedback. Thanks, guys.

Universal, I will call your guys now. Thanks.

Any more feedback is welcome.