Considering the urgency in you hosting this game, you should close signups and work with what you got. Trying to get more players isn't going to help you. It'll only make things more difficult as you rush to finish the setup and get the game going. 24 players are good, you don't need to shoot for 30. I will sign up to be the 25th. That was your original number anyway. Cap it off there.
In the meantime 2 more players will be great