topic Re: I Must Be Clueless in Community Chat

I Must Be Clueless

SXMGirl — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:10:20 GMT

Our neighborhood, which is made up of a large circle of 100 homes, is having a meet and greet with our local state senator on Saturday. In today's announcement, one of the neighbors has invited the neighborhood to her home for a private concert. The invitation says to bring your own chair, refreshments will be available for purchase, and please bring tip money. Is there something wrong with me? I do not have plans to attend her "concert" but I have never heard of something like this. Is this a new thing? Am I just too old and clueless?

Re: I Must Be Clueless

LuvmyLab — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:12:24 GMT

That sounds ridiculous. I could see bringing your own chair but that's about it. You have to pay for the food and tip, for what? Usually, when you are invited to something, you are the guest and the host is the one providing the stuff. Sounds weird to me.

Re: I Must Be Clueless

proudlyfromNJ — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:15:52 GMT

I have no idea as I don't live in that type of neighborhood. Of the seven houses I can see from mine (as it is very woodsy here) I only know one neighbor and have never been in her home. We have lived here almost 40 years. Everyone minds their own business and that's the way we like it. To answer your post, I agree with you and would not go.

Re: I Must Be Clueless

jackthebear — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:16:10 GMT

nope the hostess is clueless

if you can't afford to host an event scale down or don't

at least you got a heads up, I can't imagine showing up to such an event

Re: I Must Be Clueless

CrazyDaisy — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:18:11 GMT

Sounds like she may need having something like a food truck available for you to purchase resreshments. Our city has concerts in the park and these trucks every couple weeks.

Re: I Must Be Clueless

deepwaterdotter — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:18:42 GMT

So the senator is a musician and is planning to perform for the gathering? Sounds like a fundraiser to me.

Re: I Must Be Clueless

Lisa now in AZ — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:18:52 GMT

It sound like it is a fund raiser for the senator.

Re: I Must Be Clueless

4kitties — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:20:29 GMT

I have never heard of this type of get together. I can understand it all except for the tip money. I am wondering who is to be tipped. Possibly the musicians that will be performing or if there are wait staff serving refreshments????

I would probably not attend unless I was a friend of this neighbor.

Re: I Must Be Clueless

depglass — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:26:16 GMT

It sounds like she is having this shindig catered, so tips are for the caterers. If this were a fundraiser, it should have been spelled out. Personally I'd stay home.

Re: I Must Be Clueless

gizmogal — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:27:12 GMT

Since it seems to be related to the meet and greet with the state senator, I would guess this concert format is a subtly presented fund raiser. To keep her own expenses down, the host will provide refreshments at a modest price to those who attend. She certainly wouldn't have seats for those who come, so instead of renting chairs she expects you to bring your own. The music entertainment may be "donated" by the talent or they will receive a token amount.

But no one is making money out of lemonade and tea sandwiches. If you decide to show up, besides your own chair, you're expected to bring your checkbook and a pen.

You might wonder why they would be so subtle about a fund raiser for a politician. There may be some legal reason like needing a permit for a large gathering on private property for political functions. There may be a reason not as obvious. But it is very unlikely this invite is just a concert for 100 neighbors dragging chairs over to someone's lawn. It's related to the meet and greet, it's political, and its purpose is to raise money. It's not just a friendly neighborhood social thing.

They can't demand you contribute and you can attend just to be entertained by the music, but you may be urged or expected to contribute a substantial amount so decide to go or not on that basis rather than be embarrassed by not having a donation amount in mind.

It's not a thing happening everywhere every day, but it's not that hard to see what it's about once you mentioned the meet and greet for a political figure. I don't think you're clueless, but perhaps naive.

Re: I Must Be Clueless

icezeus — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:27:58 GMT

@jackthebear wrote:
nope the hostess is clueless

if you can't afford to host an event scale down or don't

at least you got a heads up, I can't imagine showing up to such an event

@jackthebear

This reminds me of a co-worker from several years back that was giving herself a 40th birthday party. Several weeks after I sent my RSVP, she sends out another notice to all telling us how much we would have to pay to cover the cost of the venue and the food.

I did attend!! However, I thought it was beyond tacky and classless.

Re: I Must Be Clueless

Anonymous032819 — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:32:33 GMT

You only need to bring money to buy your own refreshments, and to tip the food trucks, or caterers.

I would go.

I hope that there aren't too many "noise complaints" or complaints parking, since this much notice was given .

Re: I Must Be Clueless

Mistreatedbycs — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:32:34 GMT

@SXMGirl I sure wouldn't want to be "branded" and photographed in a political arena for which you may or may not support.

I have never heard of one organized in a neighborhood (maybe a rummage sale) but not a political event.

Too bad you're busy

Re: I Must Be Clueless

millieshops — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:35:58 GMT

@SXMGirl Unless it's a fund raiser for the senator?? But usually that info would be big and bold on the invite.

Re: I Must Be Clueless

SXMGirl — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:36:19 GMT

@Mistreatedbycs This is really not a political event, and the concert is in a private home. I do not believe our state senator will be attending that. In our area, state representatives and senators usually show up to meet with the residents in an informal setting. That way, we all know each other on a more personal basis.

I had no idea that we had a singer in our neighborhood and have no idea what her style of music is. I doubt that any of my immediate neighbors will be attending.

Re: I Must Be Clueless

SXMGirl — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:39:24 GMT

@millieshops Not a fundraiser. The senator who is coming is very popular and really does work hard in our area and always responds to inquiries from her constituents. I am not a fan of most politicians, but she is one of the best.

Re: I Must Be Clueless

RainyDayGal — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:42:56 GMT

I'll be odd man out and say it sounds like fun and I would probably go. ASK her for details, easy peasy.

Re: I Must Be Clueless

reiki604 — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:44:21 GMT

I have gone to many concerts like this except it is pot luck and usually costs about $20 for the performer and defrays the cost of paper goods for the food. I have heard some excellent music and some uh not so good music. In either case it's a good time with like minded people who have a common interest.

Re: I Must Be Clueless

Kachina624 — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:51:39 GMT

@4kitties wrote:
I have never heard of this type of get together. I can understand it all except for the tip money. I am wondering who is to be tipped. Possibly the musicians that will be performing or if there are wait staff serving refreshments????

I would probably not attend unless I was a friend of this neighbor.

@4kitties Maybe she wrangled some free entertainers willing to work for tips. So the whole affair costs her nothing except a lawn mowing. She must have a big yard. Wild horses couldn't drag me to something like that.

Re: I Must Be Clueless

chrystaltree — Tue, 15 Jun 2021 20:57:25 GMT

I don't live in that type of neighborhood the concert seems like a lovely idea to me. There's nothing better than an outside summer concert. We have them in our town common every summer on Wednesday evenings. We bring our own chairs. Some people sit on blankets. People bring their own snacks or get takeout from nearby restaurants

That's what this sounds like except it's on private property. It's fairly clear that it is not a party. It's like it will be a fundraiser.