Some lawmakers say the hordes have grown larger and more insistent. State ethics rules require interest groups to charge a nominal fee if lawmakers at their events are fed and watered. It isn't uncommon for two or more groups to stage events on the same day - and evening. The tavern league and petroleum marketers hosted lawmakers the same night in the same hotel and the Legislature seemed unusually well-oiled the next day. Events commonly start during the cocktail hour and feature stand-up grazing rather than asking lawmakers to sit down and eat.
Bigger events feature bands and dancing.
These days, presentations illustrated with computer-generated charts, graphs and pictures are popular. The slickest affairs tend to be sponsored by groups employing veteran lobbyists who understand the legislative timetable and attention span. Organized portions of events are short and glitzy, with the rest of the time spent schmoozing. During the daytime, before the evening hoopla, the supplicants roam the Capitol in search of legislators whose districts or committee assignments make them especially attractive marks for the sales pitch. Some groups are less well prepared.