Support Gullett by hosting a party, experience, or adventure. Families buy tickets to attend your event, and the proceeds benefit the school.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I host a Buy-In Party?
Here’s how buy-in parties work:
- Think of an event (party, experience, adventure) you would want to host at your own expense
- Pick a date for your event – sometime in the coming year – and set the maximum number of attendees you want to attend
- Set a price you want to charge for each attendee (all proceeds will go to Gullett)
- Fill out the Buy-In Party Sign-Up Form
- The description, date, and price for your party will be posted in the VIVA Gullett marketplace, and attendees can buy tickets to your event
- After VIVA Gullett takes place, the VIVA Gullett planning committee will send you a list of names and emails for the families who bought tickets to your event
- Communicate with your party attendees in advance of your party date just as you would with any party you would host
- Throw your party, socialize with Gullett families you may or may not already know, and have fun!
Who can host a Buy-In Party?
Anyone may donate a buy-in party to the VIVA Gullett fundraiser. Typically buy-in parties are put on by families with a student currently attending Gullett, as well as Gullett teachers and staff, but any person or business may donate a buy-in party if they want to. Families of Gullett alumni, grandparents, local businesses, those who live in the Allandale neighborhood – anyone is welcome to donate.
Families may team up and offer to throw a joint-sponsored buy-in party. This is especially helpful if more than one family can share the cost of throwing the party.
How much should I charge?
It is up to you to set the ticket price you want. Aim for a ticket price that is appropriate to the kind of party you are throwing, the number of tickets you are offering, and set at a price that is reasonable enough for you to sell all of your spots but high enough to generate a sizeable donation to Gullett. Ticket prices in the past have ranged from $5 per person to $100 per couple, with an average price of around $25 per person.
For example, if your buy-in party idea is for 20 kids to come to your backyard for an afternoon for an epic Nerf gun battle (with toys you already own) and you want to supply some pizza and cupcakes, a $10-15 per child ticket price may be appropriate. If you envision a fancy brunch for half a dozen adult couples with gourmet food and drinks, you may want to set a price per couple above the cost of the food and drinks you’re planning to provide (perhaps $50-100 per couple).
A general rule of thumb, too, is that you want the amount you plan to raise for Gullett (the sum of all tickets your buy-in party will sell) to be more than the cost of you throwing the party. It is a fundraiser after all. But there are other reasons for this, too: In some instances, the costs you incur in throwing the buy-in party can be tax-deductible. There are some good articles about throwing a “party with a purpose” here, here, and here if the opportunity to write-off the cost of your buy-in party is appealing to you. (Note: this website is not to be construed as legal or tax advice. Consult your tax, legal, and/or accounting advisors)
I want to host a party, but what if I don’t have a fully formed idea or a firm date yet?
People will be more willing to buy tickets to your party if they can get a good sense of what the party will be like. But if you don’t have every detail planned out in your head yet, that’s OK. Do your best to describe the event when you fill out the Buy-In Party Sign-Up Form.
At minimum, you need to have some firm details regarding:
- the price you want to charge per ticket
- whether your party is for adults-only, kids-only, or families
- the maximum number of people you can host for your party
The following details can be more vague, but the more descriptive the better:
- The name of your party
- A description of the activities, theme, and details of your party
- A date for your party – if you can narrow it to a probable month, that’s great!
What kind of Buy-In Parties can I donate?
Be creative! Throw the kind of party, experience, or adventure you want. Many of the buy-in parties for past VIVA Gullett events have looked like typical parties, often at a private home. You can host a dinner party or a brunch, a pool party, a movie or sports “watch party,” an epic water balloon or Nerf gun battle for kids in your backyard, etc.
But you can also use buy-in parties as an opportunity to share your expertise or special talent. Perhaps you have a degree in biology or geology and want to donate an afternoon adventure tour for some kids through a nature preserve. Maybe you have advanced martial arts training and want to offer a class to teach the basics of self-defense to kids or adults. Or it could be that you’re a talented artist and want to host a “sip and paint” date night for parents at your home or studio.
You can also think beyond the bounds of your own home. You could donate a buy-in party where you rent out a party at a trampoline park, go-kart track, laser tag place, or some other venue for kids. Or maybe you want to donate a luxury box or the outfield pool zone at a Round Rock Express game? (This is a big donation – consider teaming up with a few other Gullett families or with a business to cover the cost).
Buy-in parties can be adults-only, just for kids, family parties, or classes.
Truly, the opportunities are endless. Get creative and come up with the kind of party you want to throw as a way to give back to Gullett and meet other Gullett families.
Help me think of some ideas…
Here are a bunch of possible ideas you could use for a buy-in party – or think of your own:
Adult Parties
- Poker/Casino Night
- Game night
- Wine and cheese tasting
- Whiskey/Bourbon/Tequila/etc. tasting
- Drag Queen Brunch
- Stand-up Comedy Showcase
- Tacos & Tequila
- Beers & Burgers
- Beers & BBQ
- Karaoke night
- Progressive Dinners
- Sushi & Sake
- Prom Party
- Axe Throwing
- Costume Party/TV Show Theme Party
- Manicures and Mimosas
- Beer pong tournament
Kid Parties
- Ice cream social
- Minecraft party
- Pokemon or Magic cards party
- Dungeons and Dragons game
- Laser Tag
- Sports clinic/scrimmage: soccer, football, basketball, baseball
- Nerf battle
- Tea Party
- Lego Party
- Arts & Crafts Party
- Bead/Jewelry Making Party
- Harry Potter movie night
- Cookie/cake decorating
Family Parties
- Outdoor movie night
- Hike/nature walk
- Pool party
- Mom & me spa day
- Daddy Daughter Dance
- Roller skating/Ice Skating
- Dodgeball tournament
- Kickball game
- Tailgate/Football watching
Classes
- Yoga/Pilates/Fitness
- Sewing/Knitting
- Beer brewing
- Painting
- Baking/Cooking
- Floral arranging
- Cocktail mixing
- Gardening
- Pasta making
Still have questions?
Contact: Daren Brabham – daren.brabham@gmail.com
VIVAGullett 