I have always enjoyed planning for parties, especially given sufficient time and funds.
But there are two things I fear most when organizing such events:
(1) that the star of the party does not turn up - imagine a party for him without him!
(2) the catering was messed up, for instance the wrong date, insufficient food and the horrifying list goes on.
Today, I had the privilege to experiencing the latter, which sent me into a major panic attack five minutes before the planned event.
"No, we do not have any orders going out to your building today! That was not our confirmation email. Hold on, let me check." I felt like I was going to throw up. My heart did a flip and sank below my knees, falling lower with each passing second I was put on hold.
"I don't see your order at all!" There, it was at that point I thought I had died right there at my dirty cluttered desk.
The image flashed before my eyes: 17 hungry (and therefore angry) people seated at the conference room and not a single morsel of food!
Will my head roll and land on the chopping board, perhaps to be served as appetizers?
Well, long story short, things did work out in the end. Phew! Some 40 minutes later than intended, we were all tucking into lunch. Now that it is over, I can look back and laugh. HAHA, you lost Disaster, shoo now! I get to keep my head, thank you very much.
Have you ever experienced such near-disasters?
4 comments:
I know how you feel.... I was told to be responsible for my work place's functions several times. It was not the actual work involved that was stressful - but what could go wrong.
You look at various caterers, food choices, you count the numbers & you place the order correctly (make sure you have proof of delivery order with date/time/venue to show everyone) and pray ; p
When the caterer turns up with the food - fine. Enjoy yourself.
If the caterer does not deliver, it is HIS head that should be rolling.
That's true! At least from this I learnt another lesson, when it is the caterer's fault, don't be afraid to ask for discounts. Or who knows, may even end up with a free lunch.
Hey Suntaneye,
That was close BUT glad that the disaster didn't get its chance! You must have broke out in cold sweat with tha twisted feeling in the stomach! I hope they compensated you in one way or the other. I supposed that the party was a blast. =)
The final word is that the caterer has acknowledged that it was their fault, and has arranged for some discounts, slong with promises of more discounts for futher events - if we still trust them that is! The party was all right though a little quiet, probably everyone was simply starving.
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