This is How I Make a Living

Most days I enjoy my current position as a catering administrative assistant/event coordinator at a hotel/convention center, but I do not feel like it is the best fit for me long-term. I like more of the “behind the scenes: work of researching and collecting information that we will need, entering details into our computer system, and organizing everything.

I don’t like a lot of the clients I work with. They are literally driving me to drink. They can be so particular and demanding (aka crazy). I don’t know what is going on but there is so much disconnect between what the client wants and what they think that they are getting, even when we have an order printed out for them. I am always stuck in the role of the “middle man” – don’t I shoot the messenger – and I’m the one who gets to deal with the miscommunications between our departments – be the “fixer.”

After the past three weeks of working Saturdays without my boss I’ve learned to make sure than every detail possible is in writing. Yesterday a bride was upset about how her room/table décor looked. She wanted to know where the rest of the seat covers were for their head table and where the pink up lights for the walls were. Since they were $1,000 over budget she told my boss to take off anything that was not vital in order to cut back on costs. But of course the bride wasn’t pleased about this – If you want something specific to be left and/or taken away you must let your coordinators know – we aren’t mind readers! According to her, she told my boss that she was having a friend bring in the chair covers but there was a miscommunication between the “regular” guest chairs and the chairs for the head table. So crazy, pissed bride complains to our assistant general manager. In order to please her, my AGM caved in and told me to find whatever kind of chair covers and sashes and also table cloths we could. We aren’t charging her because it was “our error” which is completely ridiculous on so many levels. I am personally picking up the linens then going to work 2 hours early to set everything up. All of the tables (the head table is the one I am more concerned about since it is elaborately clad) need to be completely swapped out – centerpieces, small crystals surrounding the vases, table cloths, and flat wear. Yup, it’s going to be a fun morning.

Then yesterday my old boss asked me to set up a backdrop for a quinceanera we have going on that afternoon. She is not able to do it herself since we have a graduation going on in the same room that morning and it won’t be available until 3 pm. 1) No matter what my ex-boss says, I HAVE NO IDEA how to set up the backdrop and head table décor like she wants. Backdrops require ladders and more than one person. Yeah, we get busy, but when you fire your employee because you can’t pay her because you suddenly become too busy to set up your own shit (and still make her do it without compensation) you need to step back and examine your business plan and conscience to say the least.

And the mother in charge of her bratty, spoiled 15 year olds is another crazy one. I’m just prepping myself for when I have to tell her that Chef wasn’t able to find strawberry lemonade yesterday so they will have to accept the pink lemonade we do have in stock. “Why didn’t you place an order sooner? Why are you just now telling me this? You know how important this day is, why wasn’t this planned ahead” and yada yada yada – I’ve already braced myself. I’m just going to tell her as soon as I see her to get that mess out-of-the-way. Such an exciting day I have a head of me

I am hoping that I’ll at least feel better once I redo the wedding décor (hopefully take 2 hours tops) then let the bride know that NO FURTHER CHANGES CAN BE MADE. Then I’ll probably just try to figure out the back drop décor and have as much ready as I possibly can until I am allowed to set up.

So lesson learned: When clients come in to sign their contract make sure that the banquet even order is reviewed and signed (that’s what lists the details regarding food, set up, and A/V) and any additional changes to the BEO are signed off so people can’t say they had this or that and will fight to get their money back. People will dispute anything and everything in order to get their money back. It creates so much added stress on the day of, especially when I have other events and tasks that need my attention.

People tend to take advantage of me because I am “sweet, petite, and shy.” I am a nice person, but there comes a limit to my politeness. Nothing enrages me more when someone else things that they unrightfully have power over me. I WILL NOT let anyone treat me without the respect that I deserve! No ma’am or sir!

Oh, one would think that there are so many more important things in life than whether or not your table is present with tea or lemonade, the shade of black table skirts (that you are getting complimentary) aren’t “dark enough,” and where the DJ table is located on the wall…

 Shopping Time

Map Collages Make Great Grad Gifts!