PRESENTED BY LINDA OLDHAM DIRECTOR, DENNING TECHNOLOGY & MANAGEMENT PROGRAM GEORGIA TECH Dinning Etiquette for Events

Why do we care? Who cares about etiquette? What do excellent table manners and dinning etiquette knowledge say about your department, school, college?

Planning First Step: Buy a tape measure and graph paper! Second Step: Request measurements or measure the room, tables, and chairs in the room where the event takes place.

Planning Draw a scale map of the room on graph paper. Choose the length and width of the table and insert it in the drawing. If you are using a center piece, a 42 inch wide table or a round table are the best choices. Allow enough space for people to walk around, and push back from the table. Between 36 and 44 inches is ideal. Allow 54 inches if the table needs to be handicap accessible.

Rental Equipment If you are renting tables and chairs, check the height of the table and chairs. A standards table height is 30 inches. A standard chair seat-height for a 30 inch table is 16 to 17 inches from the floor. Do you trust the rental agency measurements?

Rectangular Tables Allow at least 23” per place setting 30” per place setting is better

Using a Round Table Round tables are space savers---no sharp corners Allow at least 26”per place setting, 30” is better Calculate the distance around the table by multiplying pi ( ) by diameter of the circle. Example, 8’ table = 301 inches or 10 place settings.

Place Settings Draw a scale map of the place setting on graph paper. Allow 23 to 30 inches of space per place setting. Arrange all the tableware on the graph paper. Allow “breathing room” between items! If items touch, it leads to accidents.

Practice Makes Perfect Do not trust your measurements or drawings. Find plates, glasses, flatware, etc. and lay out 3 place settings. Include anything else you plan to use i.e., place card, program. Ask two colleagues to sit at the table and pretend to eat. Is it comfortable?

Informal vs. Formal Place Settings

Problems? Requests for additional table items? Menu? Program? Decorations? Gifts? Requests for more tables, seats, etc. than is comfortable? What can you do?

How to Serve as a Host Know your dinners. Vegetarian? Vegan? Allergies? Make discreet accommodations. Ideas? Assign greeters by the door. Assign them to people and roles. Pictures? Don’t let the guests guess when to begin eating. At the end, stand by the door and thank guests for attending.

How to Make a Toast 1.Plan your toast and rehearse! 2.Examples: “To our honor guest ……” or “Congratulations to ……..” 3.If this is a small, informal event, stay seated 4.For formal events, stand before making the toast 5.Warn the wait staff before making the toast. Everyone should have a beverage in their hand. 6.Drinks need not be alcoholic. 7.Face the person you are honoring when you toast. 8.As you complete your remarks, look at the honoree, raise your glass and say “To George.” Then take a sip. 9.If a toast is made in your honor, do not drink!

Reasons for Giving a Toast To congratulate the person(s) for an accomplishment. To offer good wishes to one or more people who about to embark on a venture or personal relationship. To express appreciation for assistance or support by the person the person toasted. To remember someone who may not be present. To give assurance of one's blessing to a person who has made an important decision

Fun! Let’s practice

QUESTIONS? What are your dinning challenges?

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THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK. MAY ALL OF YOUR DINNING EVENTS BE SUCCESSFUL Closing