Navigate a night out with a crowd

The adage “the more the merrier” certainly applies when people head out for a night on the town. A fun energy can arise when a large group of people congregates for some nighttime revelry. However, sometimes wrangling merrymakers can be akin to herding cats, turning planning a night out into a chaotic experience. 
To keep the energy positive, it’s advisable to plan ahead. These tips can help anyone take charge of a group outing.

Follow the leader
It’s important for the group to designate a point person who will keep things organized. Remember, if everyone is in charge, no one is in charge during a night out. This leader of the pack will be the one to make the final decision on the venue and figure out a way to keep everyone in the loop. 

Choose the right spot
Group-friendly venues should be prioritized. Not all restaurants or bars are equally amenable to crowds. Activity-based spots like beer gardens, arcade bars, axe-throwing spots, and restaurants that offer family-style menus are ideal. When in doubt, check with the venue first. Sometimes larger parties require special reservations and menus.

Pick a spot to meet up
It’s important to have one spot where everyone will gather. Trying to move a large party between several venues is asking for trouble in most cases, unless a centralized form of transport is secured, such as a party van or bus. Set the meeting time around 30 minutes prior to the actual reservation, as there is always at least one person who will arrive “fashionably late.” Some venues will not seat a party until everyone is present.

Plan for payment
Nothing can put a damper on a fun night out faster than trying to do advanced trigonometry to iron out the tab. It’s best to establish the plan in advance, with the group leader explaining that the bill will be split evenly. Asking everyone to bring cash can streamline payment, or settle on one person paying the entire tab and then everyone else reimbursing that person promptly through Venmo or other means. Remember to check the bill, as certain venues build in a gratuity for large parties. But it never hurts to treat an especially stellar server with a little extra, particularly for large groups that may have lingered longer than usual for optimal table turnover.

Make backup plans
If the first place does not work, a backup plan reduces the likelihood of a party of 10 or more asking the age-old question, “What do you want to do?” Keeping nights out contained to bustling parts of town makes finding a new spot relatively easy.
Make a night out with a large group go more smoothly by taking charge and planning various elements in advance.