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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To question how much a prom venue wants to charge per head for non-eating members of staff?

76 replies

Ginmere · 04/06/2019 18:11

This isn't as much as an AIBU as a -has anyone heard of this?

I work at a secondary school and have got a prom booked for the end of the month. There are about 160 students attending and around 40 staff. The venue quoted £20 per head for the students for buffet food and unlimited soft drinks all night. No problem with that but..... have now said that they charge £20 per head for all attendees whether they eat or not!!!' In other words they want £20 per head per staff member attending who won't eat the buffet food and will buy their own (mainly alcoholic but not to get drunk drunk) drinks at the bar.

Is this normal? Has anyone heard of this, we are thinking it is pretty shocking to be fair 😳 but it is mainly a wedding venue so wondering it they are right?

OP posts:
NicoAndTheNiners · 04/06/2019 18:14

Maybe they think staff will sneak some Buffet food?

I think you need to ring the manager remind them of what fine, upstanding role models to your pupils the staff are and that you wouldn't be naughty and eat the food. And that if they want a repeat booking next year, etc then don't charge the staff who are there to supervise the teenagers and won't be eating.

BackforGood · 04/06/2019 18:16

Well, from their pov, they are putting a buffet out, and 200 are attending.

How do you know no staff members are going to fancy a sausage roll part way through the evening ?
How come they need supervising at a 1:4 level ? Confused that is the ratio for 2 yr olds in Nursery.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 04/06/2019 18:16

The proms I went to as a member of staff, were held on school premises without alcohol. There was a prom committee who raised funds, decided on a theme, decorated etc. There were donations, generally from the parents of Year 11.

Sometimes the staff brought food to share in the staff room and took turns to supervise the prom, or to have some respite.

NicoAndTheNiners · 04/06/2019 18:16

And to be honest even if a staff member snuck a canapé (which I'm sure they wouldn't) it makes no difference to the venue. If you tell them there's 160 paying people they will do a buffet for 160 people.

Are they saying they will cater for 200 people if they charge the extra or still only cater for 160!

WorraLiberty · 04/06/2019 18:17

I would've thought it was fairly standard, otherwise someone will have to police the buffet.

Caffeto · 04/06/2019 18:17

I'd tell them if they are charging you full whack you want a teacher's buffet and soft drinks as well.

Either that or you divide the total staff costs and add it to the ticket price for the pupils.

samsonthecat · 04/06/2019 18:18

You’re lucky, ours is £25 a head for staff with a sit down meal.

PCohle · 04/06/2019 18:18

40 additional guests is an awful lot. Both in absolute and percentage term. I imagine the venue are expecting them to eat something from then buffet, yes. But also that extra individuals will create costs in terms of staffing, cleaning, space within the venue that can't be used by other customers etc.

Cakeisbest · 04/06/2019 18:18

Just charge all the kids £25 to cover it.

NewAccount270219 · 04/06/2019 18:18

I can see with a buffet why they're charging everyone, because it would be so hard to police if extra people are eating. It would be very different if it were a plated up meal. You could try pointing out that, unlike most crowds, in this one it'll be very obvious which ones are the ones who aren't supposed to be eating - the adults! How certain are you that none of the staff will want dinner, or at least to snaffle a few sausage rolls or whatever, though? It would be super embarrassing (and unreasonable) if you talk the venue down from charging the staff and then Mr Chips is caught eating the fries or whatever.

bridgetreilly · 04/06/2019 18:18

That is a LOT of staff to expect free places for, tbh. I think you need to expect staff to pay (and then eat) the buffet.

Treaclesweet · 04/06/2019 18:19

Why so many staff attending?

fairweathercyclist · 04/06/2019 18:21

Why can't they just provide enough food for the kids? If the staff nick the odd crisp it's not going to make much of a dent in the buffet is it?

fairweathercyclist · 04/06/2019 18:22

Oh just saw the numbers. 40 is a lot. If it were 10, then I think my suggestion would work. Maybe not then.

Original poster
Ginmere · 04/06/2019 18:23

It's a year 11 celebration, the staff are their teachers, pastoral staff etc so always attend to celebrate the end of GCSEs and their school life

OP posts:
DramaRamaLlama · 04/06/2019 18:24

Presumably staff are attending for reasons other than purely supervising?

The venue are putting on a buffet and it's reasonable to assume everyone attending is eating.

BackforGood · 04/06/2019 18:24

You could try pointing out that, unlike most crowds, in this one it'll be very obvious which ones are the ones who aren't supposed to be eating - the adults!

Not that obvious when you get to my age though - I haven't a clue at my dc's 6th form who is a 6th former and who is a member of staff. Grin

Waveysnail · 04/06/2019 18:25

40 staff is quite large number. Not surprised they are charging.

PCohle · 04/06/2019 18:25

If the staff "always" attend then can you remind the venue of the previous arrangement or go back to the venue that previously offered better terms?

Uzicorn · 04/06/2019 18:25

Maybe it's difficult for the venue to enforce the free food and drink for students only so they have a blanket charge for everyone?

BackforGood · 04/06/2019 18:26

x-posted.
In response to your post, then, in effect, they are attending as guests then.
Fine, if that is what they would like to do, but if they are attending as guests, they pay.
Like a lot of places will let a free teacher / leader / adult in with 10 young people, but any others who "just fancy the occasion" obviously have to pay too.

NewAccount270219 · 04/06/2019 18:26

It's a year 11 celebration, the staff are their teachers, pastoral staff etc so always attend to celebrate the end of GCSEs and their school life

Which is fine and lovely but I don't think it's therefore fair to expect them to attend for free. It would be a bit different if it were a handful of them there purely to supervise as a safety measure.

NewAccount270219 · 04/06/2019 18:27

Not that obvious when you get to my age though - I haven't a clue at my dc's 6th form who is a 6th former and who is a member of staff. grin

Fair point. I had a boyfriend who became a teacher at 21 and he was constantly being mistaken for a sixth former, much to his chagrin - one of the dinner ladies shouted at him for going down the staff corridor, poor thing!

DollyPomPoms · 04/06/2019 18:28

It shouldn’t matter if the staff eat from the buffet! You have asked them to cater for 160 students. The food is therefore the food. Doesn’t matter who eats it it will still be the same amount of food!

lisasimpsonssaxophone · 04/06/2019 18:28

So it sounds like the staff aren’t all just there to supervise but are going to be drinking and celebrating, in which case I can understand why the venue want to include them in the numbers I’m afraid.

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