Dear Gala Guru,
Every year, I volunteer to plan our Paradise community’s annual party, “Summer Serenade. ” It is a black-tie dinner and dance. We are all retired and over the age of 70. I am responsible for selling the tickets, collecting and sending the meal choices to the catering team, and paying for the band. Typically, we have anywhere from 125 to 150 people, so this event takes a lot of work. Dinner is always from 7 pm-8:30 pm; the president says a few words while catering clears the tables, and then the band starts at 9 pm. Well, I have one man who is a problem child. He is always late to turn in his reservation and his money. I have to keep calling him, and he waits until the deadline, which drives me crazy. Then he will show up to the event at 8:25 pm, five minutes before dinner is over, and demand his dinner, putting catering off their time. Last year, he showed up without his reservation and sat down to eat someone else’s dinner. Everyone complains about him. How should I handle this? Can we ban him from the event?
Frustrated in Paradise
Dear Frustrated,
Well, I would be frustrated as well. I feel you should get out in front of this. You don’t need to ban this man from the event. However, if this person is over 70, he has had enough trips around the sun to know better than to play musical chairs with dinner reservations.
First off, stop calling him about his reservation. Treat him like the grown-up he is – after all, he’s old enough to remember when phones were actually attached to walls.
Set a deadline carved in stone or at least very firm gelatin. If he snoozes, he loses. No reservation, no chance to show off his foxtrot. Who knows? He might forget altogether and solve your problem faster than you can say “cha-cha-cha.”
That should go for everyone. If they want to attend the dance, they will make a reservation by the deadline. If not, it’s not your problem. Your job is to ensure the invitations and flyers reach everyone and turn in the meal choices to catering.
Second, if your reservation renegade shows up without warning, he should be turned away. You may have to channel your inner bouncer. Station a few volunteers at the door who can handle impromptu guests gracefully but firmly. If he’s not on the list, well, he’s NOT on the list!
Don’t let this man’s freestyle approach to reservations make your job harder. Set the rules and the deadline. Stand firm, and maybe next year, everyone will be dancing to the same tune.
Remember, there’s always a reason to celebrate!
The Gala Guru
#DearGalaGuru #grownup #notonthelist #RSVP #dinnerreservations #deadlines
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