Chapter 20Chapter 20

Hosts & GuestsHosts & Guests

People are entertained for a number of reasonsPeople are entertained for a number of reasons

A new launchA new launch

Making a business proposalMaking a business proposal

Entering into a business allianceEntering into a business alliance

Introducing a senior officerIntroducing a senior officer

Building a relationship with a prospective clientBuilding a relationship with a prospective client

Strengthening relationships with a clientStrengthening relationships with a client

Returning hospitalityReturning hospitality

Thanking a personThanking a person

The goal of entertaining or giving a party is The goal of entertaining or giving a party is to make others feel good and the result to make others feel good and the result sought is closer relations and the result sought is closer relations and the result sought is closer elations and more sought is closer elations and more businessbusiness

This requires planning and workThis requires planning and work

The purpose of entertaining or being The purpose of entertaining or being entertained is to meet new people, to entertained is to meet new people, to strengthen old relationships and develop strengthen old relationships and develop closer ties with the host of the partycloser ties with the host of the party

The two entities areThe two entities areThe hostThe host-- the person who initiates the partythe person who initiates the partyThe guestThe guest-- the one who is invited to the partythe one who is invited to the party

HostHost

A host is a person who entertains guests or A host is a person who entertains guests or initiates or presides over a gathering.initiates or presides over a gathering.

Preside implies a degree of control and of Preside implies a degree of control and of responsibilityresponsibility

The host must retain control over all The host must retain control over all aspects like the captain of a shipaspects like the captain of a ship

A hostA host’’s responsibility is to make his guest s responsibility is to make his guest feel at ease and as valued as possible in feel at ease and as valued as possible in an atmosphere of warmth and hospitalityan atmosphere of warmth and hospitality

This cannot be accomplished without This cannot be accomplished without human touchhuman touch

The host should be present and visible The host should be present and visible greeting guests and introducing them to greeting guests and introducing them to each other and bringing them into groupseach other and bringing them into groups

Guests must feel welcomed and cared forGuests must feel welcomed and cared for

Without the human connection even the Without the human connection even the most extravagant event will be stiff and most extravagant event will be stiff and formalformal

The company party is a business The company party is a business occasionoccasion--an event hosted for clientsan event hosted for clients

This is done to entertain them and This is done to entertain them and get to know them in a better get to know them in a better environment removed from workenvironment removed from work

As a company employee you would As a company employee you would be the host and expected to attendbe the host and expected to attend

You must ensure to be at the venue You must ensure to be at the venue a little before the party beginsa little before the party begins

You must be there to greet your You must be there to greet your guestsguests

As the host it is your responsibility to As the host it is your responsibility to greet those invited and then greet those invited and then introduce them to others in your introduce them to others in your company and to other clients. company and to other clients.

Speak to those invited, ensure that Speak to those invited, ensure that they are given a drink and served they are given a drink and served food.food.

No one expects a host to spend a lot of time with a No one expects a host to spend a lot of time with a guest as he has other guests to meet too.guest as he has other guests to meet too.

Once a guest has met some one and is in Once a guest has met some one and is in conversation, excuse yourself and move on to other conversation, excuse yourself and move on to other guests to ensure their comfortguests to ensure their comfort

If you see some one who If you see some one who ““appears lostappears lost”” you must you must go to him, introduce yourself, speak and try to go to him, introduce yourself, speak and try to introduce him to someone.introduce him to someone.

Conversation is usually general though business Conversation is usually general though business subjects may be broached. subjects may be broached.

The focus at these parties is not business but to get The focus at these parties is not business but to get to know your clients betterto know your clients better

Wives may be invited to some of the larger Wives may be invited to some of the larger partiesparties

In case your wife is invited too then she In case your wife is invited too then she becomes the hostess and will be expected becomes the hostess and will be expected to act as oneto act as one

Company parties may be at a hotel, Company parties may be at a hotel, restaurant or at a senior executiverestaurant or at a senior executive’’s s residence.residence.

Irrespective of where it is, you are the host Irrespective of where it is, you are the host and are expected to be one.and are expected to be one.

RememberRemember

You should arrive before your guests and You should arrive before your guests and be there to greet thembe there to greet them

You should not invite someone you do not You should not invite someone you do not want to invite. The purpose of inviting want to invite. The purpose of inviting someone is mutual enjoymentsomeone is mutual enjoyment

You should plan your event well. Ensure You should plan your event well. Ensure that there is enough food and drinkthat there is enough food and drink

You should under dress. Thus if a guest is You should under dress. Thus if a guest is underdressed he/she will not feel badunderdressed he/she will not feel bad

GuestsWhen you are invited to a party, socially or by business client, you are the guest

You may be invited by the host or by a letter (invitation card)

If you are invited by the invitation card, then you are expected to inform as early as possible, whether you will be able to attend or not.

The invitation will also normally specify clothes you are expected to wear and whether your spouse is invited.

If these are unclear ask your host. He will be happy to let you know

On the day of the party or a day before it is On the day of the party or a day before it is wise to check whether the party is likely to wise to check whether the party is likely to take place and confirm your attendancetake place and confirm your attendance

The invitation to the party usually specifies The invitation to the party usually specifies the timing. Assuming that the invite says the timing. Assuming that the invite says ““6 6 pm to 9pmpm to 9pm””, the best time to arrive would , the best time to arrive would be between 7.30 pm and 8 pm. If the be between 7.30 pm and 8 pm. If the dinner invite says 9.00 pm, then you can dinner invite says 9.00 pm, then you can arrive the party between 9.45 and 10 pm.arrive the party between 9.45 and 10 pm.

This is in tune with the customs in India This is in tune with the customs in India when you find that very often the host will when you find that very often the host will himself not be there on time.himself not be there on time.

On arrival, the host will be there to greet On arrival, the host will be there to greet you and make you feel comfortableyou and make you feel comfortable

If they are not there (this is rude on their If they are not there (this is rude on their part), you should attempt to find them and part), you should attempt to find them and thank them for inviting youthank them for inviting you

Often at large parties, you may be one of Often at large parties, you may be one of the many standing inline to greet the host. the many standing inline to greet the host. After you have, you should go to whom you After you have, you should go to whom you know and talkknow and talk

Incase, you do not know anyone, instead of Incase, you do not know anyone, instead of looking looking ““lostlost””, you should go up to some , you should go up to some you think you can talk to , introduce you think you can talk to , introduce yourself mentioning either your company or yourself mentioning either your company or your interest your interest –– a conversation startera conversation starter

When should you leaveWhen should you leave

If you have another engagement to attend, If you have another engagement to attend, you can excuse yourself after 15 to 30 you can excuse yourself after 15 to 30 minutesminutes

It is best to mention this as soon as your It is best to mention this as soon as your arrivearrive

The host will be appreciative that you made The host will be appreciative that you made the effort to attend and will be the effort to attend and will be understanding when you have to leaveunderstanding when you have to leave

If a meal is served, then you should leave If a meal is served, then you should leave after 15 minutes after coffee or the last after 15 minutes after coffee or the last dessert is serveddessert is served

GiftsGifts

If you are invited to a personIf you are invited to a person’’s house, a s house, a bouquet of flowers or a bottle of wine will bouquet of flowers or a bottle of wine will be appreciated and is appropriatebe appreciated and is appropriate

If you have been invited for a special If you have been invited for a special occasion such as a houseoccasion such as a house--warming, a warming, a household item will be appropriatehousehold item will be appropriate

While a gift need not be expensive, it While a gift need not be expensive, it shouldn't be cheap eithershouldn't be cheap either

It is courteous that you thank your host for It is courteous that you thank your host for inviting you when you leaveinviting you when you leave

Remember that as guestsRemember that as guests

Should respond to an invitation in a dayShould respond to an invitation in a day

Must be appropriately dressed. If in doubt Must be appropriately dressed. If in doubt overdress (but be conservative)overdress (but be conservative)

Should arrive on timeShould arrive on time

Must mingle, circulate and introduce Must mingle, circulate and introduce themselves to other gueststhemselves to other guests

Must through their Must through their behaviourbehaviour thank the host for thank the host for calling themcalling them

Should always send a thank you noteShould always send a thank you note