PWP EVENT - Parents Without Partners event. I volunteered to drive everyone's kids to get dinner.  They all looked at me like I had lost my mind.  Who would VOLUNTEER to watch even more children?  But I had a strategy.  As we drove to the restaurant, I addressed the group in the car by saing "Let's play a game!  Who can be the loudest?"  What followed was about 30 seconds of ear-splitting pandemonium.  It was literally painful.  But then, after I'd gotten their attentions and they knew I was serious, I then said "OK, that was just the warmup!  NOW, who can be the QUIETEST??"
The remainder of the trip was unhindered by outbreaks from the children.