My grandmother, “Mommom” is famous (at least in Lauren’s eyes) for always stopping Ann in her tracks telling her to “never be rude to the guest.” Lauren loved herself and still quotes Mommom to this day (love it!). And last night that’s all I wanted to say to this extremely rude restaurant host at an event. I mean why are people so rude? I just don’t get it, did he not get the memo that we are his guests? If he treats us like this, how does he treat others? Yikes!
So to preface, one of the perks to being an Event Planner in the city is that you get invited to all of these fabulous events, whether it’s restaurant tastings, parties in brand new spaces you name it! Not to mention the gifts, oh how I love the gifts. So last night my co-workers and I went to an event at del posto where of course Kristan likes to tell me the story when we had our event there in March she sat next to Reese and Jake! No biggie… Anyway, so we left work early and headed downtown, ready to finally relax after dealing with all of the stress of work that day. When we enter the restaurant we eagerly go downstairs and pick up our place cards anxiously awaiting the passed canapés and cocktails galore. (I love eating and drinking for a living!!) Well to our surprise we were all at different tables. If you’ve been to del posto before you know that it’s a longgggggg meal. I think ours was 5 courses and the thought of carrying on a conversation with people you have no idea who they are for that long just doesn’t sound appealing unless you’ve had the chance to chug at least 5-6 glasses of wine first. I’m really not trying to be annoying, but this was an event for planners to sample the new fall menu and to thank us for our business for the past year, so it should be an exciting evening.
So, we of course did our investigating and found so many others that were doing the same 7th grade switcheroo so they could sit with their friends. Judy from my team was now Candice Harper – you know how it goes!! Once dinner was ready, as the ‘good girl’ I am I went directly to my assigned table #10 and a fellow planner from Lehman asked my friend Anne if they could switch tables so it worked out perfectly!! Next we had a free seat at our table so my boss and colleague came on over. We had the best table! Not only was it the 4 of us, but we met 4 new friends, event planners from The Economist and JP Morgan. It was great!! It was exactly the networking that del posto had hoped to accomplish for us. We had great conversations and shared the typical Event Planner horror stories, our fav places to go in the city and before you knew it we were all fast friends and even discovered that we were at the same tradeshow in Hawaii 3 years ago.
So to preface, one of the perks to being an Event Planner in the city is that you get invited to all of these fabulous events, whether it’s restaurant tastings, parties in brand new spaces you name it! Not to mention the gifts, oh how I love the gifts. So last night my co-workers and I went to an event at del posto where of course Kristan likes to tell me the story when we had our event there in March she sat next to Reese and Jake! No biggie… Anyway, so we left work early and headed downtown, ready to finally relax after dealing with all of the stress of work that day. When we enter the restaurant we eagerly go downstairs and pick up our place cards anxiously awaiting the passed canapés and cocktails galore. (I love eating and drinking for a living!!) Well to our surprise we were all at different tables. If you’ve been to del posto before you know that it’s a longgggggg meal. I think ours was 5 courses and the thought of carrying on a conversation with people you have no idea who they are for that long just doesn’t sound appealing unless you’ve had the chance to chug at least 5-6 glasses of wine first. I’m really not trying to be annoying, but this was an event for planners to sample the new fall menu and to thank us for our business for the past year, so it should be an exciting evening.
So, we of course did our investigating and found so many others that were doing the same 7th grade switcheroo so they could sit with their friends. Judy from my team was now Candice Harper – you know how it goes!! Once dinner was ready, as the ‘good girl’ I am I went directly to my assigned table #10 and a fellow planner from Lehman asked my friend Anne if they could switch tables so it worked out perfectly!! Next we had a free seat at our table so my boss and colleague came on over. We had the best table! Not only was it the 4 of us, but we met 4 new friends, event planners from The Economist and JP Morgan. It was great!! It was exactly the networking that del posto had hoped to accomplish for us. We had great conversations and shared the typical Event Planner horror stories, our fav places to go in the city and before you knew it we were all fast friends and even discovered that we were at the same tradeshow in Hawaii 3 years ago.
Then suddenly one of the hosts from the restaurant came over and asked why we were all sitting together… I think he said (in a very rude tone), “I don’t understand why you guys are all sitting together! The purpose was to meet others and no one should be sitting with someone they know, I don’t understand who you think you are to switch tables. Blah blah blah….” Then he went and whispered in his colleagues ear telling her everything. Can you believe that? We are your clients who give a ton of money to the restaurant. In all of the events I have ever been to, I have never been treated like that… although “secretly” I did feel like a kindergartner and wanted to wave my place card in his face and tell him, “I’m supposed to be at table #10!!! Don’t hate me Sir!!!” But why? We all had a great time, met new friends, networked and every single person at the event switched tables we were the only ones that spoke up and admitted it. So why are we to blame? Because we admitted it? Told the truth? What happened to that lame statement, 'the truth is supposed to set you free?' Something is totally wrong about this situation. Oh, and just to prove my point here those that didn’t switch left the event before the main course. Wouldn't you feel more comfortable to meet people when you are with someone else you know (sitting down for 3+ hours!!)?
So as an event suggestion for your next gig, do not separate clients from their co-workers at different tables and assign seats where your client feels uncomfortable and alone when coming to 3 hour sit down meal. These are your clients; you should treat them to a superb evening so they want to bring more business your way! The better time they have, the more business you will gain. 3 hours is way too long and just creates plain awkwardness for a client appreciation event. Not only did they lose guests, but they may lose future business.
So if you are ever in this situation just remember Mommom’s saying and “Never be rude to the guest!”
So as an event suggestion for your next gig, do not separate clients from their co-workers at different tables and assign seats where your client feels uncomfortable and alone when coming to 3 hour sit down meal. These are your clients; you should treat them to a superb evening so they want to bring more business your way! The better time they have, the more business you will gain. 3 hours is way too long and just creates plain awkwardness for a client appreciation event. Not only did they lose guests, but they may lose future business.
So if you are ever in this situation just remember Mommom’s saying and “Never be rude to the guest!”
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