# What to say, at each step

Six moments, six short messages. Every one has an English and a Spanish version — reply in the
language they wrote in. The booking app shows an **ES** tag on the card when somebody used the
Spanish form.

Anything in **[square brackets]** is a blank to fill before sending.

The rule underneath all of it: **a date is not confirmed until the deposit has landed and the
waiver is signed.** The booking app will not let you mark a booking confirmed without the
waiver, on purpose.

---

## 1 · The same-day reply

Send this the day the enquiry arrives, even if the answer is "let me check". Speed is most of
what wins a booking against a party hall.

**Subject:** Your [26 October] date at The Weekend Yard

> Hi [Marcela],
>
> Thank you for writing — [Saturday 26 October] is free, and the [cafeteria and the small park]
> would work well for [40 guests].
>
> For four hours that is **[$800]**, which includes the space, tables and chairs, parking for
> your guests, and someone from our team on campus the whole time.
>
> To hold the date we ask for **30% ([$240]) plus a $200 damage deposit**, by Zelle. The damage
> deposit comes back to you within three days of the event if nothing is broken. The balance is
> due two weeks before.
>
> Would you like me to hold [26 October] for you? I can keep it for five days.
>
> [Ana] · The Weekend Yard
> by Shelton After School · 9455 NW 40th Street Rd, Doral
> Calls and texts 970 376 5286

**Asunto:** Tu fecha del [26 de octubre] en The Weekend Yard

> Hola [Marcela]:
>
> Gracias por escribirnos — el [sábado 26 de octubre] está libre, y [la cafetería y el parque
> pequeño] funcionarían muy bien para [40 invitados].
>
> Por cuatro horas son **[$800]**, e incluye el espacio, mesas y sillas, estacionamiento para
> tus invitados, y alguien de nuestro equipo en el campus durante todo el evento.
>
> Para apartar la fecha pedimos **30% ([$240]) más $200 de depósito de daños**, por Zelle. El
> depósito de daños se devuelve dentro de los tres días siguientes al evento si no hay nada
> roto. El saldo se paga dos semanas antes.
>
> ¿Te aparto el [26 de octubre]? Puedo sostenerla cinco días.
>
> [Ana] · The Weekend Yard
> by Shelton After School · 9455 NW 40th Street Rd, Doral
> Llamadas y mensajes 970 376 5286

---

## 2 · The date is taken

Never send this without an alternative. Most people will take the next weekend.

> Hi [Marcela],
>
> [26 October] is already booked, I'm sorry. [2 November] and [9 November] are both open, and
> the [cafeteria] is free on either.
>
> Would one of those work? I can hold whichever you prefer while you decide.

> Hola [Marcela]:
>
> El [26 de octubre] ya está reservado, lo siento. El [2 de noviembre] y el [9 de noviembre]
> están libres, y [la cafetería] está disponible en cualquiera de los dos.
>
> ¿Te sirve alguno? Te aparto el que prefieras mientras decides.

---

## 3 · Holding the date

Send this the moment they say yes. Set the booking to **held** in the app and write the hold
expiry in the notes.

**Subject:** Holding [26 October] — two things to do

> Hi [Marcela],
>
> [26 October] is on hold for you until **[31 October]**. Two things and it's yours:
>
> **1. The deposit — [$440]**
> That's 30% ([$240]) plus the $200 damage deposit.
> Zelle to **[970 376 5286 / the Zelle email]**, and please put **[Marcela] [26 Oct]** in the note.
>
> **2. The waiver**
> [waiver link]
> It takes two minutes and it covers the liability release and photo consent. There is a box to
> decline photos if you would rather we didn't take any — ticking it changes nothing else.
>
> As soon as both are in I'll send you the confirmation.
>
> [Ana]

**Asunto:** Aparté el [26 de octubre] — faltan dos cosas

> Hola [Marcela]:
>
> El [26 de octubre] queda apartado para ti hasta el **[31 de octubre]**. Con dos cosas es tuyo:
>
> **1. El depósito — [$440]**
> Es el 30% ([$240]) más los $200 de depósito de daños.
> Zelle a **[970 376 5286 / el correo de Zelle]**, y por favor pon **[Marcela] [26 oct]** en la nota.
>
> **2. La exoneración**
> [enlace de la exoneración]
> Toma dos minutos y cubre la liberación de responsabilidad y el consentimiento de fotos. Hay
> una casilla para no autorizar fotos si prefieres que no tomemos ninguna — marcarla no cambia
> nada más.
>
> Apenas tenga las dos cosas te mando la confirmación.
>
> [Ana]

---

## 4 · Confirmed

This is the one that matters. It is the message they will scroll back to the night before, so
put everything they need in it.

**Subject:** Confirmed — [26 October], The Weekend Yard

> Hi [Marcela],
>
> You're confirmed. Here it is in one place:
>
> **[Saturday 26 October], [11:00 am to 3:00 pm]**
> [Cafeteria 2 and the small park] · [40 guests]
> The Weekend Yard, 9455 NW 40th Street Rd, Doral FL 33178
>
> **Paid:** [$440] ([$240] deposit + $200 damage deposit)
> **Balance due [12 October]:** [$560], same Zelle
>
> **What's included:** tables and chairs, trash bags and bins, restrooms, free parking on
> campus, and someone from our team on site the whole time.
>
> **What to know**
> · You can come in **30 minutes before** to set up, and you have **30 minutes after** to clear.
> · Bringing a caterer, bounce house or DJ? Send me their name and their certificate of
>   insurance at least a week ahead — the campus requires it and I can't let them in without it.
> · No open flame, no confetti cannons, no glitter, no piñatas with hard filler.
> · Anything you bring in, you take out the same day.
>
> If anything changes, call or text me on 970 376 5286 — day or night is fine.
>
> See you on the [26th].
>
> [Ana] · The Weekend Yard
> by Shelton After School

**Asunto:** Confirmado — [26 de octubre], The Weekend Yard

> Hola [Marcela]:
>
> Quedaste confirmada. Todo en un solo lugar:
>
> **[Sábado 26 de octubre], [11:00 am a 3:00 pm]**
> [Cafetería 2 y el parque pequeño] · [40 invitados]
> The Weekend Yard, 9455 NW 40th Street Rd, Doral FL 33178
>
> **Pagado:** [$440] ([$240] de depósito + $200 de depósito de daños)
> **Saldo, vence el [12 de octubre]:** [$560], al mismo Zelle
>
> **Qué incluye:** mesas y sillas, bolsas y latas de basura, baños, estacionamiento gratis en el
> campus, y alguien de nuestro equipo en el sitio durante todo el evento.
>
> **Qué debes saber**
> · Puedes entrar **30 minutos antes** para montar, y tienes **30 minutos después** para recoger.
> · ¿Traes catering, brincolín o DJ? Mándame su nombre y su certificado de seguro con al menos
>   una semana de anticipación — el campus lo exige y sin eso no los puedo dejar entrar.
> · Nada de fuego abierto, cañones de confeti, escarcha, ni piñatas con relleno duro.
> · Todo lo que entres, lo sacas el mismo día.
>
> Si algo cambia, llámame o escríbeme al 970 376 5286 — a cualquier hora.
>
> Nos vemos el [26].
>
> [Ana] · The Weekend Yard
> by Shelton After School

---

## 5 · Two weeks out — the balance

Short. This is a nudge, not a letter.

> Hi [Marcela] — [26 October] is two weeks away. The balance of **[$560]** is due this week,
> same Zelle as before.
>
> And if you're bringing a caterer or a bounce house, this is the week to send me their
> insurance certificate.
>
> [Ana]

> Hola [Marcela] — faltan dos semanas para el [26 de octubre]. El saldo de **[$560]** vence esta
> semana, al mismo Zelle de antes.
>
> Y si traes catering o brincolín, esta es la semana de mandarme su certificado de seguro.
>
> [Ana]

---

## 6 · After — the thank you

Send it the Monday after. This is where repeat bookings and word of mouth come from, and it
costs you two minutes.

> Hi [Marcela],
>
> Thank you for having your [party] with us — [Ignacio's] friends looked like they had a very
> good time on that field.
>
> Your $200 damage deposit is on its way back to you.
>
> If you took photos you're happy for us to share, we would love them — and if you have a minute
> for a line about how it went, it genuinely helps a new place like ours.
>
> You're welcome back any weekend.
>
> [Ana] · The Weekend Yard
> instagram.com/theweekendyarddoral

> Hola [Marcela]:
>
> Gracias por hacer [la fiesta] con nosotros — los amigos de [Ignacio] se veían felices en esa
> cancha.
>
> Tus $200 de depósito de daños ya van de vuelta.
>
> Si tomaste fotos que nos permitas compartir, nos encantaría tenerlas — y si tienes un minuto
> para escribir dos líneas sobre cómo estuvo, de verdad ayuda mucho a un lugar nuevo como el
> nuestro.
>
> Estás invitada de vuelta cualquier fin de semana.
>
> [Ana] · The Weekend Yard
> instagram.com/theweekendyarddoral

---

## Before you send, every time

- **Reply in their language.** The app tags Spanish enquiries with **ES**.
- **Never confirm without the waiver.** The app blocks it; don't work around it.
- **Never let a vendor on campus without a certificate of insurance.** No exceptions, however
  nice the caterer sounds.
- **Put the price in writing in the first reply.** People who are quoted a price on the phone
  and nowhere else are the ones who argue about it later.
- **Log the payment in the app the day it lands**, not at the end of the month.