1. Financing the event. We assume all financial obligations, starting with paying the deposit to reserve the venue for the reunion. Class Act doesn't require or ask for any funding from the committee or other members of the class. We pay all expenses associated with the reunion, including, but not limited to: venue rental fees, food costs, gratuity/service charges, the class search, printing and postage for mailed notifications, credit-card processing, phone bills, any fee for music services, decorations, website maintenance and security, and administrative and event staffing.

Attendees pay Class Act for their admission to the reunion. What remains after we pay all of the expenses is the compensation for our time and effort.

2. Finding a suitable reunion location. The choice is made mutually by the reunion committee and Class Act. The hardest part of our job - by far - is finding good venues, meaning places that will give us a good combination of privacy (so the group isn't mixed in with the general public), and affordability (so we can keep the admission price under $50). In addition, we like venues that make some "geographical sense" for the class. But that's gotten even harder nowadays since venues were hit hard business-wise by the pandemic, forcing many to shut down. Fortunately the advent of easy-to-access riding services such as Uber and Lyft has made this less of an issue. Finally, we seek out places where parking is reasonably-priced or, better yet, complimentary.

3. Having a good admission price. As we point out on the Chalk Talk (Q&A) page, the higher the admission price, the fewer people will attend. We feel we have a responsibility to the committee, the class, and even to the school, to stage an event that will appeal to as many people as possible. That means not setting an admission price that will turn them off. The advance price for a Class Act reunion is rarely over $50 per person, and often less. That's $20 to $50 lower than the cost to attend most other reunions in the Houston area - even those coordinated by classes on their own. We give reunion-goers who pay in advance the option of using a charge card or check. 

4a. Getting the word out. Besides an attractive price, the most important facet of reunion planning is publicizing the event. That's done by locating the members of the class, and communicating the details to them via print and social media. More than anything, the reunion is judged by the turnout. And the more people who know about the event, the better the turnout. For most of our groups, we locate at least 85 percent of a class, and often 90 percent, figures unmatched by other reunion planners or by classes working on their own. We also reach people who didn't graduate with the rest of the class. Maybe they moved away, transferred to another school, left high school altogether, or graduated early or late. But they appreciate being considered part of the class and often attend our reunions.

Note: For committees who want to handle their reunion on their own but would like assistance with the search for the class, or for those on the "missing list," we're happy to help. We charge $75 to set up the database, then $4.50 per person located, and $1.50 more if you want us to mail out a reunion-notification postcard to them. (There is a $2 charge for each person we're unable to find, or who we learn is deceased.) For a group we've worked with before, the fees are reduced. Just contact us for more info.

BTW: We don't need to search for classmates who are part of a Facebook group for a class. By being members of the FB site, they're already "found."

4b. Producing notification postcards and posts. Because people won't sift through long paragraphs and endless details, this is a challenge: You have to convey quite a bit of info, but do so quickly and in a limited amount of space. Class Act manages to do that, as evidenced by the fact that we receive very few phone calls or emails from people who don't understand the details of the reunion.

5. Ordering and paying for food.  We serve "light bites" (hors d'oeuvres) that are recognizable, can be eaten pretty quickly and, from our experience, have mass appeal. Sorry, no mushroom caps or jalapeno poppers! (We select the items offered, although suggestions from the reunion committee will be considered.) Since the event is a party and not a banquet, the food is available self-serve style. That means people can sit where they want, for as long as they want. Overall, the focus of the event is people, not food. Note: Our reunions often include a complimentary water and iced-tea station.

6. Arranging for music.  For venues where music can be easily heard, it will be played via a streaming service or a DJ - not a band - and reflect the period when the class was in school. So people can hear the original versions of the songs they remember, and that appeal to a variety of tastes. In addition, the volume can be modified if need be. That means people don't have to shout as they visit with each other. Note: At some venues with "harsh acoustics" and/or that don't allow client-supplied music, we would go with whatever music can be piped in.

7. Arranging for a photographer.  For 50-year groups or older, we would have a photographer there to take a class photo, and be available for shots of individuals, couples and small groups. (The cost of photos is separate from the price of admission to the reunion.) We use photographers known for high-quality work and reasonable prices and who strive to fill orders in a timely manner. For younger groups, we might have a "photog" there, depending on the size of our event space and/or the expected attendance.

8. Producing name tags. For those who pay in advance, the tags are laser-printed in large, easily-read letters. For several reasons we don't put yearbook photos on tags. For one, at least a quarter of the class didn't have a yearbook photo taken. And of those who did, many don't consider it a work of art and aren't excited about "wearing" it at the reunion. If someone wants to put a face with a name, a yearbook and class photos are almost always nearby.

9. Providing decorations. We provide balloons in the school colors. They're tasteful, not tacky. Also, we encourage the committees to display memorabilia from high school: photos, school newspapers, awards and spirit ribbons, even items such as sports, cheerleader or band uniforms. All of these things give the reunion a personal and colorful touch.

10. Staffing the event. We have staff there throughout the event, getting reunion-goers checked in and ensuring that everything goes smoothly. This enables the committee members to enjoy the reunion along with the other attendees. They don't have to stress over all the details.....like whether more ice is needed at the water station (!)

Class Act works with the committee from the time we're hired until the event is over. We're known for being flexible and open-minded. So any ideas the committee might have will be considered, and whenever possible, incorporated into the event. In addition, we keep the committee head abreast of our progress as the reunion draws closer.

Because we coordinate reunions full time, if you contact us with a question, you'll get a prompt answer. With most other companies, you might not get a reply until that night, or the next day, or who knows when?! Not so with Class Act.