this has been an issue for a loooooong time i'm afraid-

http://www.glocals.com/forums/general/RE--Dealing-with--No-Shows--29796.htm#msg_43241

 How can you plan a nice event in advance avoiding no shows? 
 

You cant. Ask any airline, hotel etc.etc. Peoples attitute towards this kind of thing these days is different. But also remember, people do have sometimes an event which makes them to have to change their minds.

- Is "advance payment" the only way to make sure that people come to the event (especially when the organizer has to take car of bookings)?

Could be - Once shouldn't go out of pocket if somebody cancels!!! Do it if it's needed. But be accountable what you do with that money!!!!

- Should we have a common standard disclaimer for participants?

And what? Again this list of shame etc.etc. ??? We have been over that discussion before. I wouldn't say no - but people should bring up the politeness to advise in time if you can't make it!!

- Should we define common guidelines for event organizers?

How many guidelines do you want. It should be fun and easy. Next thing, a checklist????? The whole reason that this started is that somebdy  might a very very minor mistake which he shouldn't have made - and that somebody else made a very good point about it that somebody can't just make a decision to do with something which is not his in the first place. But that was done and dusted. 

- Should we grade Organizers and/or participants?

Why? That would create an even bigger witchhunt and bullying.

Martin : I just gathered ideas that I read on other posts. I don't especially agree with them. It's just a kick start for the debate :D

G___ : Of course this has been talked about before... But maybe new members have innovative ideas.

Cheers!

I like this thread. Many have started with simmilar issues, but many have been damaged by users not respecing each others' views.

The following are my own views. Feel free to propose your own if you don't like them.

- How can you plan a nice event in advance avoiding no shows? 

No shows can be reduced with people being more responsible towards the work that organizers put in their planning.

Personally I don't usualy mind if people change idea the day before, but I is terrible when they simply forguet they commited to it.

Julian started a thread a long time ago proposing a black list. I supported the idea and even put some input with innovative ideas (a grey list). 

I am glad that Carolyn made me change my mind. These public displays of criticism are used by toxic people to bully others and show their power to convince people to follow them. I am now against this cure as I see that is worse than the initial problem.

An alternative to this is a "silent" reference system from which all users get a number of no shows, but only the user knows his/her status. Organisers can then fix the number of maximum no-shows that their even could automatically accept.  

- Is "advance payment" the only way to make sure that people come to the event (especially when the organizer has to take car of bookings)?

I think that payments are at the moment the only way to be sure of no shows. However, payments increase the organizer's planning time. 

Again, an alternative could be made from which users pay a no-show fee, even if the event is free.

- Should we have a common standard disclaimer for participants?

It would be good to have a model that organizer can use, but each organizer is responsible for their events, and their responsability depends on the type of activity.

- Should we define common guidelines for event organizers?

It would be good to have a model that organizer can use, but each organizer is responsible for their events, and their responsability depends on the type of activity and therefore needs to be able to decide the guidelines.

In my opinion activity attendants should respect the organizers disclaimers. As an attendant I have the choice to go or not, but I do not have the choice to argue, complain or moan about an organizers point of view.

If you organize a hike around Mt Blanc and you request all attendants wear a pink t-shirt, then I either choose to wear it or choose not to go to your event.

If I believe that it is cooler to hike around Mt Blanc with a yellow t-shirt then I either give you my opinion privately or I organize another event with a yellow t-shirt or I just go on my own.

I have encountered many participants who have come to my events knowing they were violating my conditions. 

Organizers invite users attend their events and as long as they guive equal opportunities and do not differentiate gender, race or political views they can do as they please. It is their event.

- Should we grade Organizers and/or participants?

If only the person grading and the one being graded knows about the scores, I don't see why not.

I am absolutely against public labeling of organizers or participants.

I do think, though that the "thank poster" easy button could be added to "thank organizer" and this and other POSITIVE comments could be made public.

Alvaro

Im sorry but i dont agree with grading or blacklisting anyone.. however that said if i get someone registering for my events 3 times in a row, and not showing up, i politely ask them not to register again...  if they do and dont show a 4th time , i simply remove them from the invite list. 

Maggy,

Thanks for (re)kicking this off. The issue of no-shows has been around for a long time, and so far we havn't been able to solve it. Interesting to see if new solutions come up here. 

The main idea that came up in the past is to allow organizers to mark attendants as "no shows". Once a certain participants collects more than x no-shows, he/she are prevented from joining more events for a while.

Let's see what other ideas come up here.

Nir, glocals admin

In other words a private blacklist which is what I do

I received the following excuse for my walk last Saturday which took place in brilliant sunshine (probably the only place in Switzerland but then it was central Valais:

"I am sorry I cannot make the walk tomorrow. I am expecting my second child and was not aware of this when I signed up."

Do you organisers think this is acceptable as an excuse?

Regarding advance payment I have not had to resort to this and have always managed to come to an agreement with huts when I arrive with fewer people than expected but I warn the hut 2 days in advance of changes.  Also I restrict the number of new faces an a weekend walk and take none on a week's hike.  Not just because of the no-show problem but also because of the the danger that they might not fit in with the group. 

How about a code of ethics for organizers and members?

It could be voluntary.  Like the Geneva Convention. 

Members can have confidence in an organizers events if they can see that the organizer has agreed to a code of ethics or an "Honor Code."  They'll know those events are not risky. And that everything will be above board and transparent. And organizers can have confidence in members to show up and pay their share because they can see that the member agreed to the Honor Code. 

We can govern ourselves or we can have oversight.

Jean Jaques suggested a rating system. I like this ideanas well. Especially if it's multi tier. Judging an event on a numbers of separate parameters tallied into a final score. And have it user driven. 

What I found did significantly reduce the number of no-shows was to set the event up with 'RSVP with approval' so anyone interested would need to contact you directly and which would give you greater control over who's attending. Also it seems to make people think twice before signing up.

Sometimes, it seems that people just randomly sign up for as many things as possible (even on the same day and time) and then cancel when they have a better offer without notifying the organiser.

If the event involves payment then I'd get them to try to pay me in advance by a certain date, say one week before. If they don't pay then I drop them a pm and remove them from the activity and open up places for other people who would pay in advance.

Also following up with a message to all attending two days before with a reminder saying please bring cash or whatever and if you can't make it then have the courtesy to let me know, which most people do. 

Failing that, if they turn up with no wallet/purse/dog ate my last fifty franc note then I'd have no compunction about directing them to the nearest cash machine to get money out or walking them there myself if needed - but then I've been collecting debts for 23 years so I'm kind of used to it.  

For any black, grey or white list, do what you promise you'll do - 3 strikes and you're out for the next three events. If someone doesn't show without a reason, then as an organiser it's your right not to have them waste your time in future.

The "RSVP with approval" might be a good system but many people like to see who's coming as each of us may like or dislike some members in particular. That's the reason I rarely use this system and don't join such activities either.

Preganant overnight ?? great excuse, and 10 points for effort ;)

HOw about adding a maybe button, for those that arent sure about being able to make it as well . I like the marking of no shows in addition to this. 

For events with people quota's I can see people getting annoyed at being unable to sign up because someone else has decided they might come. So maybe this would only work for events without number limits.

its easy to increase the quota, or to mark the event as full with definite yes, rather than 50/50 with maybes.. common sense on behalf of the organisor is required... 

definite yes take first place with maybes regarded as nos until confirmed .. 

Muhahahahaha !

realy funny !

There is also an urgent report that appeared during the night from Saturday to Sunday.

The same grandmother who died for the third time this year.

etc ... etc ...

I think we could write a book with all the lies that we have read or heard.

Sometimes the excuses are pathetic !