SYLVANUS URBAN Sylvanus Urban - The Space Issue | Page 44

How To Politely
Tell People
DON’T BE A "GARY"
A dinner party is such a
nice idea, in theory. Friends and
acquaintances, spanning personal
to business, descend upon your
private space for an intimate
evening of laughter, stimulating
conversation and a nip or two
of Grand Marnier. Once you’ve
completed your hosting duties,
your guests, sated with hors
d’oeuvres and good vibes, grab
their jackets and head for the
door. A quick kiss on both cheeks
(how devilishly European) and
an expression of gratitude later,
they’re on their way, leaving you
to revel in the glowing aftermath
of another successful affair. But
wait? What’s that noise? It’s
“Gary”, and he’s helping himself to
a pint of the Don Julio 1942.
A dinner party, in actual
fact, is a complex ritual. Every
subtle nuance missed, or not
tactfully
enforced,
has
the
potential to become a party-
threatening liability, especially
when it comes to “Gary’s” - and
they are everywhere, ladies and
gentlemen. So before your party
erodes into all-night chaos, Chief
Etiquette Officer, Julie Blais
Comeau shares her tips on how
to politely encourage your guests
out the door, without blemishing
or reducing your contact list.
A GOOD PARTY, LIKE A
BAG OF MILK, HAS AN
EXPIRY DATE
There’s a very valid reason for
that best-before date printed front
and centre on dairy products: to
let people know when the good
times may become a stomach
curdling experience. Think of your
party invites in a similar fashion: if
you manage guests’ expectations
with an “until” time, you’ll be able
to avoid nausea induced by guests
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over-staying their welcome. “As a host or hostess, it’s all about prepping
and planning - and that includes your guests’ departure,” says Julie. “It’s
perfectly fine to define the limits of your hosting. Use invites and put a
timeline that you’re comfortable with. Be clear with your expectations.”
Sending an invitation doesn’t have to be a formal affair; Julie suggests
something simple like: “We’d love to invite you for dinner this Thursday;
please arrive at 5 o’clock for appetizers. Party will go on until 10 o’clock
so you might want to check ahead with your babysitter.” Or whoever is
managing your social media accounts.
YOU DON’T HAVE TO GO HOME, BUT YOU
PROBABLY SHOULD
There’s a reason shepherding is one of the world’s oldest professions -
The Space Issue
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