March 2; What Is Worse Than Running Out of Wine At a Wedding?
MANAGEMENT BY THE BOOK:
365 Daily Bible Verse &
One-Minute Management Lessons For The Busy Faithful

2 March

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there,

and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding

When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”.

                                                                        John 2:1-3

A SAFE Event

Big events require attention to little details. Your Business Professor once attended an annual fundraiser for the Baltimore Crisis Pregnancy Center (CPC). The event was flawless (or was made to appear so, which was even more impressive).

This professional execution requires attention to detail. A SAFE execution will help you in the event organization.

When planning your next event or evaluating a get-together, consider this four-part test which every good, SAFE party has: speaker, audience, food and entertainment.

Speaker. The keynoter is key to success and to the bottom line. Jennifer O’Neill commanded the podium and was on target and on fire. Summer of ’42, Rio Lobo with John Wayne, Cover Girl. Standing O at the end.

Audience. The people attending usually will be familiar with each other. If not, provide some mixer or movement to trigger circulation. This CPC event used a silent auction where lines formed — a queue for conversation. Assertive staff made introductions — good staff introductions are micro warm-up acts.

Use a professional photographer who will create forced group shots. A snarky photographer-bully is the best. No one ever refuses a guy with a camera. Everyone smiles.

The audience was also packed in. Adjust room size to have every table filled. Rub elbows, knocking about. This is most important and difficult for outdoor events. See entertainment below.

Food. Will your event be remembered as another rubber chicken dinner? This CPC avoided this with an excellent roast beef entree and an outstanding wait staff/attendee ratio for the experience.

Expert event planners know that there are few transgressions greater than running out of food and drink. Running out of wine or any adult beverage at a wedding would not be the best send-off to a happy beginning for the happy couple. For the host it could be the ultimate humiliation.

Entertainment. The CPC event continued in its perfect execution. We live in a sight and sound generation where people expect to see movement. The Maryland Boy Choir provided the music, the motion. God Fearing Gospel struck a cord with this audience [cliché and pun combo]. The 90 young men brought the house down pleasing the packed crowd.

‘Packed’ being key. Laughter and entertainment and germs spread best in tight groups. This can be a challenge to manage in some venues where the sardine packing is not possible. For example, comedians should not perform at outdoor events because there may be gaps too large between the attendees. Empty space prevents the spread of infectious laughter and appreciation.

At your next gathering look around and see if it passes the SAFE test.

Jesus ensured a successful event with his first miracle in service to others. A get-together of friends is important and deserves a SAFE checklist.

On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.” John 2:1-3

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