The downside of party plan

Whataheart replied:

I have the opposite problem. I usually bring my own drink as there is nothing worse than wanting a drink and the hostess not being able to cater to your tastes but I get very hungry and the site of lovely food just makes it worse. I find it very frustrating when everyone jumps into the food and yet I haven't been invited to join in.  I am not sure if I should just help myself or wait to be offered.  Does anyone have a suggestion on how to handle this?

chrisandra14 replied:

I know what you mean about them looking offend when you say no so you feel obligated to take something!!  I am actually going to start taking my own bottle of water as well !! As it is starting to get really hot up here!!

Janine replied:

Hi,

I always take something to eat in the car and a drink as you just do not know what sort of hostess you have.

There are 3 types of hostesses - I) who wants you to join in for a cuppa and eats and is over pushing about it and then you have 2) hostesses you just ignore you like why should they offer you anything.But the 3) is between the two and offers you a drink once you have set up and once the customers are browsing through the range and this hostess may even bring a plate of goodies for you while her friends are ordering. I have had all 3 types of hostesses and I just love the 3rd and you will find that she is the one with the best sales or the most enjoyable party. On the other hand I have had a few hostesses who are full on with their guests, ignore you the whole way through the party and expects you to repeat everything as she was to busy talking. One hostess that comes to mind even said after all the food was gone "oh well I would offer you something to eat but there is nothing left". I did a party one night and the quests were to busy watching tv the whole way through the presentation so I gave up in the end and told them to sample the products and they finally were prepared to listed only because the needed to know what was in the products etc..

I think when it comes to being a hostess myself I might be just to nice - hubby or myself help the consultant in with her goods, get her a drink, a chair, anything she needs for her displays, make sure everyone is being quite the whole way through, I offer her first choice of food and drink. I also find that if the party is slowing down I hurry everyone up to order and get the party finalised so that she can pack up and get back home to her family. I think it is because I have and do the party plan way of life myself and this is how I would like to be treated.

I always wait to be invited to join in but you can not think that every party you will be there fore be prepared and take something you can have one the way home. I alsways take a bottle of water in with with me that way you can sneak a drink in between customers ordering.

Cheers

Janine

www.cheekychopskidsclothes.com and Saucy Fish to!!

AngelicaLyn replied:

I agree with you completely Janine although i now get a bit more forward. Half way through setting up i ask politely for a drink of water if i haven't been offered one, everyone is fine with this and usually apologetic if they haven't offered first. Then as soon as i am set up i ask for music and or tv to be turned off so that we can start assoon as all the guests arrive. i dont usually worry about something to eat, i try to have something before hand, but those chocolate cakes are my downfall. Unfortunately i dont get heartburn Marina, so i have no excuse for saying no because i am just a piggy with food.... hee hee

If the girls are too interested in talking or eating i call the hostess over and just say that the day will really drag on if we dont move along and then everyone can have a better chat afterwards while i am packing up. This isn't always easy, so i judge each party individually but mainly it works well. Most hosts want you there so it doesn't happen too often but when it does it is soooo annoying

Lyn

AngelicaLyn replied:

Oh and Marina the best thing to do when they offer you food, its to politely accept it, put it to one side and promply forget it. If the hostess says anything just say you will get to it in a while, and when your finished, if you cant be sly and leave it there, then just hand it back and say ... sorry but i'm really not that hungry..

Hope it helps a little, as i said above every party is different and it wont work every time.

Lyn

marina replied:

Hi  Angelica,

Next time I get offered sweets/ pastries, fatty foods, I will politely accept so they do not think I am rude.  I will put it aside and discreetly pop it into one of my plastic jewellery bags.

Thankyou for a simple idea.

AngelicaLyn replied:

Hi Marina,

Glad i could help, i have been doing pp for over twenty years, on and off, so i've come across many and varied situations. but always looking for new answers and ideas myself as we never stop learning.

Lyn