Financing the event. We assume all financial obligations, starting with paying the deposit to reserve the ballroom (or other space) for the reunion. At no time does Class Act require (or ask for) any funding from the committee or any other members of the class. We pay all expenses associated with the reunion, including, but not limited to: venue rental fees, food costs, gratuities and service charges, disc jockey fee, printing and postage for two mailings, credit-card processing, phone bills, decorations, 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 services.

Finding a good reunion location. The choice is made mutually by the reunion committee and Class Act. First and foremost, we look for places whose costs will enable us to keep the admission price low (see next item). Also, for the sake of convenience - and to maximize attendance - the reunion should be at a place that makes sense geographically. That's because a lot of people will be spending time with family and friends in "the old neighborhood." For instance, it makes no sense to have a reunion for a Clear Lake or Clear Creek class downtown or thereabouts (in Houston). In addition, we seek out places where parking is reasonably-priced, or, better yet, complimentary.

Having a fair 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 and the class, and even 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 price for a Class Act reunion is rarely over $45 per person, and often less. That's $15 to $30 less than what other reunion companies usually charge, not to mention less than what a committee organizing a reunion on its own would charge. We give reunion-goers who pay in advance the option of using a credit card or check. 

Searching for classmates. By far the most important - and involved - facet of reunion planning is locating the members of the class. We've learned that, more than anything, attendees base the success of the reunion on the turnout. And the turnout depends on how many people have been located. Class Act spends considerable time, and uses sophisticated research methods, to find classmates. We consistently locate at least 85 percent of a class, and usually 90 to 95 percent, figures unmatched by other area reunion planners. We also locate 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.

Promoting and publicizing the reunion. We send information and listings to the appropriate media outlets, and also to websites for schools, school districts, high school alumni and reunion postings. With our extensive experience in journalism and public relations, you can be sure the material will be clear, concise and sent to the proper people for placement. For each reunion we also get "on record" with the school. So if someone calls the school looking for reunion details, the person will be given our contact information.

Composing and mailing the invitations and reminders. Because people won't sift through long paragraphs and endless details, the invitations present a challenge: You have to convey quite a bit of info, but you can't take up much time and space doing it. Class Act manages to balance the two, as evidenced by the fact that we receive very few calls or emails from people who don't understand the details of the reunion. We also mail out reminder notices about three weeks before each reunion.

Arranging for music. At all of our reunions, music is played that reflects the years when the class was in school. The music is usually provided by a DJ. Why not use a band? Let us count the ways (besides the prohibitive cost): People want to hear the original versions of the songs they remember from high school, not a band's renditions. A band can't play to an assortment of musical tastes. Also, the volume is not as easily controlled by band. That causes people to have to shout to be heard as they visit with each other.

Having a photographer on hand. He or she will 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 mail out the pictures in a timely manner.

Producing name tags. For those who pay in advance, the tags are laser-printed in easy-to-lead letters. For several reasons, we don't put yearbook photos on tags. For one, at least a quarter of most members of a 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. In addition, photos get harder to see as the night goes on and the lights dim. Eliminating the photos allows us to use a much larger size of type for the names.

Providing decorations. We have balloon centerpieces on all the tables - in the school colors. They're tasteful, not tacky. Any additional decoration suggestions by the committee will be considered and, if at all possible, accommodated. Also, we encourage the committees to display memorabilia from high school: photos, school newspapers, awards and spirit ribbons, even items from sports, cheerleader or band uniforms. All of these things give the reunion a personal and colorful touch.

Staffing the event. We have employees on hand throughout the night, 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.

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 other companies, you might not get a reply until that night, or the next day, or who knows when?! Not so with Class Act.