Joy of Organising Events
Saturday, May 21, 2005
Everyone should have a hand in organising something! Start with a simple lunch, dinner or a maybe even a night out at the movies with friends you have not seen in a long while and probably never will again if this is your last semester in a foreign land.
Before you can book those movie tickets, you have to know how many people can make it. Therefore, people have to first be notified of the upcoming event. The more people there are to invite the earlier the invitations should be sent to maximise attendance. If it is a casual meet up, emails usually suffice since in this scenario, you are confident that everyone in my group checks their emails at least once a day.
And now the RSVP process. Since it is a large group and you are also busy with your own school work, you do hope that people will reply their emails with either a simple yes or no. Days passed and you received only two replies out off 15, confirming that most people need to feel important enough for you to personally contact them before they respond. You can either choose to wait a little longer or proceed to make further contact with the remainders. This depends on the urgency of the matter at hand, if the movie is Star Wars Episode III on a Friday night for instance, you should know better than to wait till the last moment.
If you are a stingy/broke student, you will try your best to avoid giving telecom companies more reasons to exploit the common users just for a couple of measly phone calls you wished you didn't have to make in the first place. This is where technology comes through. MSN messenger. You can station yourself online for as long as you want while you pounce on those invitees one by one. When that process is complete. You proceed to shell out your grocery money for the tickets.
Finally the day arrived and you eagerly looked forward to seeing the fruits of your labour, no matter how simple it may look, set in motion. Due to forces beyond your control, and stupid group politics that can put reality shows to shame, one person pulled out at the last minute, the group is one car down, the reservation at a restaurant had to be cancelled, and the majorities are late.
Against all odds, you're relieved that there was time for a quick dinner before joining the queue into the free seating cinema, but you kind of hope that there was more opportunities for interactions.
Here is an advice for all perfectionists, it is natural to feel disappointed with the hiccups that happened during what could otherwise have been a perfect evening. However, as long as the event did happen, you caught up with friends and everyone enjoyed themselves, why should you hold any grudges? Also, hearing a handful of 'thank you's after the event is reassuring.
As for me, I look forward to organising the upcoming annual New Years Eve party. Bring it on! Hiccups and all. |
