I hear your complaints, but do you really expect a coat room in Florida?
Reading your post about the band not knowing the time, that is just plain unprofessional for such and event, but it reminds me a funn thing which we started doing at Country Club where I worked. Year after year, we all noticed that the old folks couldn't stay awake until midnight, so they would sit in the dining room and wait. Some danced, but most sat around very bored, and quite a few slept. Midnight would come, the balloons drop, Champagne was popped, that old song to which no one knows the words was played, and the old folks slowly ran to their cars and went home. Meantime the young folks were partying hard in the more funn party at the Club, and when 3am came, they began to filter out.
Noticing this, I came up with a genious idea to have the old folks balloon drop at 9:00pm. Keep in mind these guys eat at 6:00pm. The young folks party was kept on the midnight schedule. We briefed all guests on the plan and it was a huge success! I have never seen happier old people. They even stayed around to drink Champagne and dance a few songs after the 9pm balloon drop.
Personally, my schedule requires a 9pm midnight.
Sorry to hear that FOW, which has such a nice appearance, really screwed this one up. That has to be the first time the entire WC Inn was fully booked, and when you have a full audience is the time you better shine. I still say that the labor situation in this town is hard for employers and as more and more retail shops are opened here, the labor is going to get even thinner.
), it is the same service and food, but it is divided among four times the number of guests, and for some reason the public doesn't seem to get it and are still willing to fork over twice as much money. 
