Some people think the hardest part about a date party is finding a date. Others know that finding a date is a cakewalk compared to actually planning one. While different people may have different methods of planning date parties, one thing remains constant – it’s a lot of work. So if you’ve ever been to a date party, plan on going to one, or are just interested, get ready for a few fun-filled facts about what it’s like to be in charge.
We start planning this stuff months in advance.
Date parties take a lot of work, most of which is time sensitive. Booking venues and buses needs to be done a month or more in advance, or you run the risk of neither being available. Most people have a go-to charter company that they stick with for every date party, but the venue changes each year (other than Barn Dance, which is traditionally the same location).
Date parties are crazy expensive.
Next time you complain about the cost of a date party ticket, consider this: the buses alone cost over two thousand dollars. A charter bus that’s willing to put up with drunken college student shenanigans, has an on-bus toilet (which is a necessity in this case), and isn’t a trash can on wheels is going to get costly. When you add in the cost of the venue, insurance, and any gifts or decorations, the price of your ticket seems a lot less than before.
We get so many emails. A lot of them are very dumb.
I once got an email from a sister’s date, asking if his “totally sober roommate” could drive him and the girl to the venue. I’ve gotten more emails asking what time things start than I ever thought was possible. We once had a girl send a question to the previous social internal, even after I gave a presentation to the chapter. I’ve seen it all, and it gets old. So think before you send that email–was that info already covered? Did you not read any previous emails? If no, then proceed.
We can tell that you’re drunk.
I know that you think that you’re so sneaky when you get on the buses, but let’s be real here. We can tell. When you approach me in tears, have the hiccups, or trip three times, I have a faint suspicion that something’s up.
We really just want you to be safe.
It may seem like overkill sometimes, but deep down we just want you to have a fun time at your date party, and to be safe while doing it. The pre-bus pat-downs may seem like a bit much, but if it keeps a sister out of the hospital or a date from passing out, I’ll do it 10 times out of 10.