A Recent Official Event
The other day I attended an official luncheon of one of the many organizations in New York City. As I had done many of these events, it is only natural that I noticed the mistakes the organizers had made. The head table and the other “good” tables were not up to protocol. During the luncheon, I could see that the guests did not talk to each other. Most of them busied themselves with their smart phones- which is a very bad sign, and others just stared into space.
I looked at the regular tables. I cringed and wondered what had the organizers been thinking?
Of course, I expected people to get up and just leave, which of course they did not do. People are too polite to do that or was it all in my mind? I was doubtful, and the whole affair was like a cold shower for me.
The other day I attended an official luncheon of one of the many organizations in New York City. As I had done many of these events, it is only natural that I noticed the mistakes the organizers had made. The head table and the other “good” tables were not up to protocol. During the luncheon, I could see that the guests did not talk to each other. Most of them busied themselves with their smart phones- which is a very bad sign, and others just stared into space.
I looked at the regular tables. I cringed and wondered what had the organizers been thinking?
Of course, I expected people to get up and just leave, which of course they did not do. People are too polite to do that or was it all in my mind? I was doubtful, and the whole affair was like a cold shower for me.
But when I got back, my phone rang for several days with guests complaining to me. Most of the guests- as well as the organizers, I have known for years and had attended events that I had organized. Some of them were insulted and were thinking of doing something about it. They felt slighted and unconsidered as to their importance to the group or as paying members! Of course, these feelings might wear off, but you don’t want to be the one responsible for disregarding important guests. One person told me that it was the last time he would attend an event with the aforementioned organization.
I am still convinced that the damage caused by wrong seating is more serious than people think. If you make a mistake over and over, you come to a point when the door will close and not open again. And this wasn’t the first time the events had been shoddily arranged. The fact that guests would call me to vent their anger was not so much a reflection of my needing to know (I am not involved with the organization), but more a serious measure of how insulted they felt. Since they all knew that I had close ties to the group, they seemed to be making one last attempt to be treated more respectfully next time, thinking that I might whisper in the president’s ear to make sure it did not happen again!
I am still convinced that the damage caused by wrong seating is more serious than people think. If you make a mistake over and over, you come to a point when the door will close and not open again. And this wasn’t the first time the events had been shoddily arranged. The fact that guests would call me to vent their anger was not so much a reflection of my needing to know (I am not involved with the organization), but more a serious measure of how insulted they felt. Since they all knew that I had close ties to the group, they seemed to be making one last attempt to be treated more respectfully next time, thinking that I might whisper in the president’s ear to make sure it did not happen again!
The unseen consequence of haphazard events seating are lost members, lost business, lost revenue and in a political forum, possibly disastrous relations.