I think that people enjoy any kind of event and would love to go. These days it's harder to get people together thanks to the 9000% busier lives everyone has.
I've had events planned weeks and months in advance, paid in advance type things like paintball or fishing trips, where on the day of the event, no one shows up, or very few, or on a good day 1 to none no-show.
It's really frustrating for the organizer, and can even feel somewhat insulting, personal... but it's just really disappointing to have planned 50 people and have 3 show up. My worst event, I had 17 people signed up to form my team. Unfortunately none showed, we needed to split up the people that showed up from the other side, and those from the "other" team ended up leaving early.
Saturdays are bad for events, due to friday night:
I got called in to work (sooo common in IT, I was dispatched to Miami during the LI meet)
I got really drunk
There was this girl
My kid was / had...
My spouse's ....
My car...
My house...
My (insert body part) was acting up. (may be related to the girl in #3 above).
Saturday is generally the day to get things done.
However I would suggest that you guys that do arrange event, figure out a way for people to donate some money to the event, or charge $5 a head. It will help you from absorbing the full brunt and allow everyone to help out. I think you'll find that people are willing to part with a few bucks, even in advance. Then you'll still have no-shows and be frustrated anyway. If you've ever arranged an event, you'll know that attendance is the most important thing. Someone once told me "so what, you have their share of the $ for the field, you're not out any $". Yes, but I have that many less players, and the more people playing, the better.
Sundays are better for events, but people like to leave early since they need to go to work the next day. Sundays are great for fishing and paintball. It's a general day for lounging around. Even if you attend services, you have most of the day available to you after that, and can get to an event (depending on time and travel).
Fishing and paintball are pre-paid events running between $25 and $50. It goes to show that money isn't the issue, sometimes people commit and still don't have the courtesy to show up, feeling it's okay because they paid. For this reason, if I'm not 95% sure I can make it, I won't sign up for any event. I mean the unexpected problem or emergency is understandable, but don't come to me explaining how you needed to get some (insert other person's body part here) or get wasted, that's just rude.
Maybe I should set up a MYST paintball meet.
