NYC Dinner and a Movie *FAQs*

Welcome to the NYC Dinner and a Movie Meetup Group! Each and every day, we get lots of emails from you regarding the 30 - 40 Meetups we organize each year. In an effort to help to you to understand how this group is run, and our keys to success, we have compiled your "Greatest Hits". Read on!

Here are your Most Frequently Asked Questions:


Q: Who are the Organizers of this amazing group?

A: My name is Danielle. I am the Organizer for this group. I host mainstream movies, Indies, the occasional foreign film and whatever else catches my fancy. I have two fantastic Assistant Organizers (AOs): Alfredo and Nicole G. Alfredo hosts "Man Movies" and all-around fun movies and Nicole G. hosts horror and sci-fi. Both are extremely personable and just very good at what they do.


Q: What is the age range for this group?

A: This group is open to anyone of any age. We have members ranging in age from 21 - 61 years old and a little of everything in between.


Q: How much does it cost to be a member of this group?

A: Membership is FREE! You purchase your own movie ticket and you pay for your meal at dinner, plus tax and 20% tip. How simple is that?


Q: How many members usually show up for each movie outing?

A: Depending on the movie, the number in the group varies. Usually though, we have between 20 and 30 attendees.


Q: Why do you limit the number of people who can participate in a given event?

A: Good Question! A limit is placed on the number of people because the larger the group, the more difficult it is to secure a reservation at a restaurant following the movie. This is why it is so important for people to RSVP honestly. Change your RSVP to "NO" if you are unable to attend. When your RSVP is accurate, you do not take a space away from a person who really wants to attend.


Q: I have noticed that you plan most of your events on Sundays. My schedule only allows me to participate in events that are scheduled during the week. Why aren't more events held then?

A: Well, as organizers, we have to schedule events when it is convenient for us as well as for the membership as a whole. We have found, having done this for some time, that Sundays are most convenient for scheduling the movie (especially since we usually see the movie during opening weekend) and for dinner after.


Q: I have noticed that most of your events are in held in Manhattan. I live in Queens. Is there any chance that you will be hosting an event in Queens any time soon?

A: Unfortunately, no. All of our events are held in Manhattan because we feel that it is the most convenient location for all of our members to get to. We have members traveling from all of the five boroughs, New Jersey, Westchester and Long Island. The only way to accommodate everyone is to host the events in Manhattan.


Q: Do I have to RSVP for an event to participate? If an event is full, can't I just show up and join in?

A: NO!!! We plan our events according to the number of RSVP's we receive. If you show up and we are not expecting you, you will affect the reservation and agitate the organizer. Preferably, RSVP if there is still room or, if an event is full, just email the organizer handling the event and he/she will add you to the roster.


Q: I just want to see a movie and have people to see it with. I am not interested in dinner after. Is participating in the dinner after the movie mandatory?

A: The group is called the NYC Dinner and a Movie Meetup Group, after all. Dinner is preferred for all members and MANDATORY for first-timers. The idea is this: If you participate in the entire event, all of the fun, great conversation, wonderful food and people, you will get to know someone to go to the movies with in the future! At the end of the day, this is a social networking group. The whole idea is to get to know new people and to expand your social circle. That is best done after a good movie, over good food and great conversation.


Q: I have noticed that you don't post the location for dinner in your event postings. Why is that?

A: Thanks for asking! We do not post the restaurant location for two reasons. First, we feel that as organizers, you have to kind of trust us to choose a good restaurant for the group. We never choose any place that is not well-rated, moderately priced, with a generic menu. You will often see that we go to Italian, Spanish or Modern American/American restaurants. In all of the times we have done this, I have yet to hear one complaint about the quality of any of the restaurants that we have chosen. The second reason is that we take a great deal of time in planning these events, including making reservations. If we pre-publicize the restaurant's location, we open it up to members who want to just "drop in". That disrupts the reservation and possibly takes a seat away from a member who participated in the whole event.


Q: The location for the movie is not posted. How am I going to know where to go?

A: We post the location as soon as we know where it is playing. Fandango usually posts that information the Wednesday or Thursday before the movie is released. We let you know as soon as we know. On another note, it is very important to read the event posting carefully when you RSVP for an event. We provide detailed information re meeting time, place, etc. and it is incumbent upon you to make sure you read the posting and follow the instructions that are posted. We do our part, and we expect you to do yours.


Q: Once I know where the movie is playing, should I buy my tickets in advance?

A: For sure! We always recommend advance purchase. As we usually see movies in the first 10 days of release, demand is high! Buying your ticket in advance cuts down on the wait time in the theater and guarantees you a seat on the day of the event.


Q: I am not single, but love movies! Can I still participate in your events?

A: Absolutely! And we encourage you to bring your significant other along. Meeting people is hard enough anyway, so this group is a great way for singles to meet one another. However, if you are in a relationship, you are totally welcome to join us!


Q: Do I have to rate the event after the outing?

A: We would like for you to. Your feedback is important to us, especially if it is constructive and complimentary. ;-) No, really. We would love for you to rate the events. REMEMBER: YOU ARE RATING YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH THE GROUP, NOT THE MOVIE!!! We are confident in the job that we do and your positive comments will only help us to make the group that much bigger and better! Keep the ratings and the feedback coming!


Q: I am having a birthday party at a HUGE club this weekend. Can I post it on the message board?

A: Sorry, but no. It is really easy for the message board to become inundated with a great deal of frivolity. The message board policy is as follows: 1) If you wish to post on the Message Board you will have to have attended at least two events for each posting you wish to submit. And you can't post anything until AFTER you have attended both events.; 2) All submissions must be related to the theme of the group. So, if you have a movie related item, i.e. a film festival, film screening, free movie tickets, great! Anything else is a no-no; and 3) Any and all submissions to the message board will remain at the discretion of the Organizer. The Organizer (and AOs) reserve the right to delete postings at will and without notice. FYI: If you're feeling frisky, and wish to post despite being informed of the above, your posting will be removed and you may follow right behind. You've been warned [insert ominous music here]!!! Besides, there is an easier way to let people know about what you and the city have going on: Email me and if I think it is something the membership will be interested in, I will definitely let them know! Thanks!


Q: You have such a large group. Do you ever do anything besides go to the movies and dinner?

A: I am happy you asked! Actually, if you keep an eye on the calendar, you will see that we are adding more and more social outings to give members an opportunity to get together in more varied types of environments.


Q: Hey! I was just kicked out of the group! What's up with that?

A: We don't remove people from the group lightly. So, if you were removed, one of three things happened: 1) You were a big, fat jerk at a Meetup and had to be removed because your overwhelming jerkiness ruined the event for the other members. Jerky behavior includes, but is not limited to: Fighting, communicating threats towards anyone, displaying excessive rudeness or failing to pay for dinner; 2) You violated our Dinner and a Movie Policies and/or 3) You sent an Organizer or another member an inappropriate, rude or unsolicited email (these types of emails are unwelcome under any and all circumstances!). Please know that we welcome your feedback. Legitimate complaints and/or constructive suggestions are not considered rude or inappropriate, but are encouraged in our quest to make this the best Meetup group possible.


Q: How much do the organizers get paid to host these events? You guys must be making a bundle!

A: We wish! I actually pay Meetup.com to have this group. I and my AOs host these outings because we want to and because, like you, we love movies, good food and wonderful conversation! We take our own time, resources and money to make these events happen. We do this because we want to, not because we are paid to. I started this because I thought it would be a great way for people to connect, maybe a way to make New York City a little bit smaller. So far, so good!


Q: This group looks like fun and the Organizers look like they have a great time doing what they do. How can I become an Organizer?

A: If you are interested in becoming an organizer, great! Each organizer schedules events according to their own schedule. The only thing I ask is that you schedule at least one per month in your particular genre. You are responsible for posting your event, arranging dinner at a nearby restaurant and communicating with members regarding event details. If you are interested, contact me! No one is made an AO right away. I encourage you to attend a couple of events to see what we do and to see if we are a good fit for you. I am always looking for personable people to host events. If you are interested, contact me: organizing_diva@yahoo.com. I will be happy to answer any questions you have.


Q: Can I contact you if I have a question that is not covered here?

A: Of course! Though I think I have covered everything, you are always welcome to email me. Thanks to the wonders of BlackBerry science I am very, very reachable. Feel free to email me with your questions, comments and suggestions. I can be reached at organizing_diva@yahoo.com. If you have a question about a particular event, please email the organizer hosting the event. One of us will respond as soon as we can. Please keep this in mind before you email: The tone you use in an email will directly correlate with the tone of the response you get back. We all put a great deal of time, research and energy into all of these events and we do it to show you a really great time. Please be as considerate of us as you would expect us to be of you.