To do or NOT to do!...At the office party.

Hello there!

 

The season for Annual General Meetings and office retreats/parties is soon upon us!

It's general knowledge to exercise restraint when attending such events; so here are a few do's and don'ts to bear in mind when 'surviving' the office party to ensure that you are able to look your colleagues in the face afterwards.

 

• Do remember that although office parties are intended as social events to reward employees and raise morale, they remain strictly business events. Do act as though your behavior is being observed every minute (because it probably is).


• Don't pass up the invitation to an office party or retreat; not attending could hurt your reputation. But then again, know when to pack up and leave. Don't be worried about not having fun, a jovial mindset will pull you through; that and A FEW glasses of champagne.

• Do conduct yourself professionally at all times. Don't use the office party as an excuse to blow off steam. It's still a company function, so proper etiquette and decorum matter.


• Do enjoy yourself at the party. Employers spend the big bucks to reward their employees, so be sure to enjoy the only holiday gift you may be getting from the company.


• Don't pull the nightclub attire from your closet for the event -- and do ask whether the attire for the party is formal or casual. The party is still a business function, so conservative party clothes are a good choice. So, do remember to skip anything too revealing or too flashy. Keep your reputation for good taste intact.

 
• Do keep your hands to yourself. Don't flirt, and do avoid any other inappropriate behavior. The office party is not the time to end your career with the company by doing something inappropriate or illegal.


• Don't spend all evening talking business. You'll forever have the label as the office bore.

• Don't monopolize conversations -- and, especially, don't talk about yourself or your accomplishments all night. Do show interest in others. Do be gracious and thank coworkers and team members for all their help and hard work during the past year. And don't even think about gossiping about others.

• Do take the time to network and schmooze with people at the party who can influence your career or who you may not see regularly, such as top management, people from other departments, and employees from other locations. A holiday party is a great event to begin building or strengthening business relationships, so do introduce yourself and build your network.

• Don't feel you need to drink excessively just because it's an open bar. And don't pig-out at the food buffet either. Moderation is key. You can always eat and drink more after the party.

• Do keep one hand free during the night so that you can offer handshakes to people as they come by. And do keep your drink in your left hand, so you are not offering people a cold, wet handshake all evening.

 

• Do be sure you know exactly who is invited to the party. Spouses or significant others are not always on the guest list for office parties. And if guests are permitted, don't bring an inappropriate person as your guest. You'll never live it down!

• Don't forget to thank the person responsible for the planning and coordinating of the party (this is just me lobbying for your next office party). And do consider sending a thank-you note to top management for hosting the party.

 

Have any words of wisdom you wish you (or 'someone else') knew before that debacle at your last office party? Share in the comments section! 

3A Event Solutions provides DIY meeting services as well as full event production packages for office parties, AGMs and functions. We'd love to plan yours next!

(Credits: www.quintcareers.com)

Attending my event? Take several seats please.

Hello there!

Finding the perfect venue is often a hassle (thankfully, 3A Event Solutions offers Venue sourcing services); and when you finally do, it's important to know exactly how to seat your guests/audience to adequately pass across your message. The seating arrangement will often determine the level of interaction and organisation of your event; so be sure to discuss your options with your planner.

While a lot of the options below are linked to specific types of events, there are no hard and fast rules; so be creative!

1. Theatre (Popular for meetings, product launches)

This is the simplest style, reflecting the seating found in a theatre or cinema with chairs aligned in consecutive straight rows.

Positives:
- All of the seats are facing forwards towards the front of the function room.
- Maximum seated capacity is achieved for the function room.
Negatives:
- The audience is closed in, needing to push past other audience members to enter/exit the seating area.
- Aisles are required to ensure sufficient access to seating area.
- There is no provision for note taking or consumption of plated food and beverage.
- Audience interaction is hindered as audience members don't face each other.

2. Classroom (Popular for trainings, conferences and lectures)

This style reflects the seating found in a school or lecture theatre, with chairs and trestle tables aligned in consecutive straight rows.

Positives:
- All of the seats are facing forwards towards the front of the function room.
- Allows for note taking and consumption of plated food and beverage.
Negatives:
- Again the audience is closed in, making it difficult for audience members to enter or exit
- Aisles are required to ensure sufficient access to seating area.
- Seating capacity is reduced by the trestle tables. .
- Audience is less likely to interact as they are not facing each other.

3. Herringbone (Popular for trainings, conferences and lectures)

This style is very similar to Classroom, however each consecutive row of chairs and tables are angled inwards.
Positives:
- All of the seats are angled inward towards the podium.
- All of the seats are facing forwards towards the front of the function room.
- Allows for note taking and consumption of plated food and beverage.
Negatives:
- Again the audience is closed in, making it difficult for audience members to enter or exit
- Aisles are required to ensure sufficient access to seating area.
- Seating capacity is reduced by the trestle tables.
- Audience is less likely to interact as they are not facing each other.
 

4. U-Shape (Popular for trainings, conferences, workshops, meetings)

As the name suggests this style is in the shape of the letter U, with the tables & chairs arranged in an open ended configuration with the audience facing inwards.
Positives:
- The open end allows for a focal point or presentation area.
- Allows presenter to approach and engage with each audience members.
- Audience interaction is enhanced, with audience members facing each other.
Negatives:
- Inefficient use of floor space, with seating capacity reduced..
- A large proportion of the audience are seated side-on to the presentation area.

5. Horse Shoe (Popular for large meetings, presentations, team briefings)

This style is very similar to U Shape, however there are no tables, only chairs arranged in an open ended configuration with the audience facing inwards.

Positives:
- The open end provides a focal point and allows for a presentation area.
- Allows presenter to approach and engage with each audience member.
Negatives:
- Inefficient use of floor space, with seating capacity reduced.
- Aisles are required to ensure sufficient access and egress to seating area.
- There is no provision for note taking or consumption of plated food and beverage.

6. Hollow Square (Popular for discussions)

This style is similar to U Shape, however there are four sides and no open end, with the audience all facing inwards.
Positives:
- Audience interaction fully enhanced, with audience members all facing each other
- Allows audience to consume plated food and beverage easily
Negatives:
- Seating capacity is reduced
- Does not allow for a main presentation area or focal point.

7. Boardroom (Popular for small meetings, one on one interviews, small presentations, team briefings.)

This style is a smaller version of the Hollow Square or U Shape, however there is a large elongated table, with the audience all facing inwards.
Positives:
- Encourages audience interaction as they all face inwards
Negatives:
- Restricts the position of a presentation area or focal point, typically to the end of the table

8. Banquet (Popular for breakfast, lunch or dinner events.)

This style is similar to a round dinner table, with the audience seated around the circumference facing inwards.
Positives:
- Audience interaction fully enhanced, with audience members all facing each other
Negatives:
- The audience is closed in, needing to push past other audience members to enter/exit the seating area

9. Cabaret (Popular with training sessions, working lunch or team workshops.)

This style is similar to Banquet style, however there is an open end, with the audience seated in an arc facing forwards.
Positives:
- The open end allows for a focal point or presentation area.
Negatives:
- Inefficient use of floor space, with seating capacity reduced.

10. Cocktail (Popular for parties, social events.)

This style is unlike any others with no chairs or tables. It is literally standing space. These days, however, cocktail tables are set up to allow for plated food and beverage placement.
Positives:
- Most efficient use of floor space, with maximum room capacity available.
- Audience interaction greatly enhanced, with audience members able to freely mingle and roam.
Negatives:
- Audience is standing with no opportunity to sit and rest.
- Does not allow for note taking or consumption of plated food and beverage except if cocktail table is provided for.




(Credit: www.stagingconnections.com)

Wedding Trends: The Big Proposal!

It's the age of the big flashy 'in-your-face', 'i-bet-you-didnt-see-that-coming', 'your-friends-will-hate-you-so-much-after-this' proposals! Yup!

We absolutely LOVE love and all things sweet, so here are four of our favorite wedding proposals; a few flash mobs, lots of mush and tears.

And for those looking for inspiration for that special proposal, we hope these help all you hopeless romantics. If not, feel free to drop a comment and we'll be in touch.

Have any links to some must-see proposals? Do share!

 

 

 

Lori and Charles: A dash of Purple...

...and a hint of turquoise. Coordination by yours truly.

Lori and Charles are not your average couple; the maturity and companionship they ooze just makes you long for a 'rock'... *sigh* I don't know if that came out the way I planned but I hope you get what I mean.

I apologize for this brief post, but enjoy anyways.