The Guest Experience – 3 Moments that Really Matter

Excitement builds as the Uber door opens and you walk up to the door of an event.

The invite may have come last minute for a small but impressive guest list that you

only know through others, but it’s something you have prioritized with enthusiasm.

You are flanked by your partner-in-crime and feel wonderful as you lead the way

with a put together look that automatically inspires confidence.

The door opens and a hush falls over the already arrived guests. Awkwardness

starts to creep in as you take off your shoes and coat to leave with the others

strewn about the entrance. Your host gift sits heavily in your arms as you make eye

contact with your person. You question, ‘Is this the right address’?

The host is nowhere to be seen, and after what seems like hours but only mere

seconds, you finally spot a familiar and friendly face. You beeline past the

tablescape of appetizers and engrossed conversations and land with a sigh at what

feels like an oasis of safety.

This situation happens all too frequently in the entertaining world and can leave a lasting

impression on a guest. As host, you may not even be aware of the unease and discomfort of a

moment like this – especially with a peripheral acquaintance that won’t relay their initial

experience as an opportunity for you to soften with a conversation after the fact.

But they may tell others like a social Yelp review…

What moments really matter for a guest, and how can we simplify your planning and execution

to get connection and meaningful moments to happen effortlessly?

Glad you asked.

1. The Invite

People are bombarded with information constantly asking them to prioritize their time, so

however your guests get word of your event, you need to make it accessible and tailored with

information that sets the stage for interest to attend.

It starts with clearly communicating the why, when, and how of your plans to host them. This

may seem easy, but sometimes this opportunity to do it well slips off your plate amidst your

event planning. Don’t make it an afterthought.

We create space to elevate this moment of the guest experience within our Human Centered

Events methodology for a very good reason – it matters to the people attending! We don’t

waste their attention on anything that is not vitally meaningful for your event, and crafting a

timely, concise, and warm message is key.

2. The first 30 Seconds

The story at the beginning is from a lived experience, and even years later, I can paint the

picture of what can be lost after an important missed opportunity of connection.

The first initial feeling as someone enters your event is paramount. We utilize a simple strategy

to put your guests at ease with gratitude and a warm welcome. This approach has been taught across sales industries for decades and holds up because personal connections open the door

for all levels of understanding and exceptional service.

Your crafted experience as host takes liftoff after a guest’s entrance, and just like a perfectly

arranged table setting, this is where the possibilities of connection, celebration, and enjoyment

ignite. Time and energy spent at this pivotal moment hosting is simple but needs to be

produced and prioritized.

3. The Wind-down and Goodbye

As your guests progress through the event and hours pass, the next meaningful moment we

coach to in your event strategy will be winding down and ultimately the attendee exit. It’s the

bookend to your welcome and can be expertly crafted to feel like the perfect bow on an elevated

experience.

Transitions are moments of unease in many journeys, and giving people the space to express

their gratitude and execute their own exit strategy will make for everyone’s delight. I’ve grown up with the Minnesotan Goodbye where hosts and guests alike have a hard time

parting without an insane amount of time and knee slaps before an actual exit. The Irish (or

French) Goodbye is in stark contrast where skipping the lengthy goodbyes and awkwardness

that follows is preferable by just slipping out – but there can be a happy medium…

Our methodologies land on expectation setting in an authentic and warm delivery. Clear is

always kind and arming yourself with tools and verbiage to make even the most socially

awkward host exit their guests on a high note.

A side observation on the main event or happenings as not necessarily a meaningful

moment for a guest rests solely on the belief that you’ve set the stage for your attendees to

bring themselves to the table during the central actions (like dinner/presentation/etc.). A

host’s role as an active participant in a guest’s experience can activate again if there’s

something to triage like:

• A Glaringly Missing Element

• Obvious problems…that remain in focus

A host’s mood is contagious, so relax and enjoy as people experience your event. Focus on the

parts of the guest experience that really matter and where you have some semblance of control

over.

Happy Hosting!