Who better to speak to the art of entertaining than the charismatic attorney-at-law, philanthropist and facilitator Paula Kerr-Jarrett, who has not only attended numerous events, but is a well-regarded hostess herself who gains a lot of satisfaction from it. This, however, would prove a morethan-modest remark as she got further into her address at the Jamaica Observer Foodie Seminar themed “Get Up, Get Driven, Get Creative! The possibilities are endless” at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel. “No matter what kind of event you’re staging, be it celebratory, a fund-raiser, baby shower or dinner party, the formula for ensuring its success, for the most part, remains the same,” Kerr-Jarrett continued, as various food industry professionals paid rapt attention, “and I’m going to share my seven secrets today.” Thursday Food shares her most cherished entertaining tips.

Strategise

• Work with a team that you enjoy being with, despite the venture. Having a team with whom you have a synergy makes a big difference to the outcome of the event, and you want to enjoy the process as well as the outcome.

• Never take things for granted. Always plan carefully, taking into consideration your venue, number of people, etc. Be careful not to overplan your event as it may end up being boring; don’t give too much away; always save some of the excitement for the actual time of the event.

• Give advance notice, but not too far in advance that your guests forget and make other plans.

• Know your event — people don’t go to a cocktail reception to hear laborious speeches.

Add A Personal Touch

• Send out invitations and call to follow up so your guests know that you are looking forward to their company. Paperless invites are wonderful but a hard copy invitation is as better option, as it becomes a visual reminder of the event. “Remember, if you don’t have people coming, you don’t have an event.”

• Whenever possible, leave a small gift for your guests to take home –– it doesn’t have to be expensive. People like to feel special, and having a tangible reminder that you took the time and interest to do that always makes them want to come back around.

Ambience

When people arrive at an event, they instantly get a sense of what you want to achieve and this affects the outcome of your event. It is therefore important to pay attention to details, as everything makes an impression on your guests and how they perceive your event. For instance, too-loud music does not encourage people to interact in an intimate setting. If you have someone addressing your audience, it is always best to turn off the music.

Seating

• Comfort is key for every successful event, and place cards and seating charts make all the difference; everyone remembers an event where there are more people than chairs. When there is a mad dash to get seating, it detracts from the actual event. If your guests arrive knowing that there is a confirmed space for them, it takes away much of the initial trepidation. This is especially true for persons who are shy, or do not know yet know anyone at the event.

• Ensure that the people seated beside each other will get along, and not everyone who is invited has to fit in –– make sure there are people from various circles to spice things up and get the conversation flowing. People like to feel that their time was worthwhile and they got to know someone interesting.

Spacing

Even if you have invited a large group, it is best not to get a space that is too big, or use separate spaces. Too-big areas discourage interaction, while smaller spaces are more intimate. People are more compelled to interact when they are sharing the same space, so it is important to ensure that it is neither too tiny nor too large.

Delegating & Teamwork

Your guests want to spend time with the person who invited them, not just to show up and eat your food. It is pointless to invite people to your function if you will have no time to interact with them. As an event planner/host, you first need to realise that you cannot do everything yourself, which is why it is important to plan in advance. Get your friends and family involved to make things less stressful for you, the host. Plus, everyone likes to feel as if they are a part of something, so working as a team means a better chance of having a successful event.

• Get your children involved — eg, showing people where to park, serving drinks, hanging jackets etc. This helps them learn how to entertain at a tender age.

• Prepare meals that are easy and fun to eat, like kebabs, fries, etc, depending on the event, so that persons can serve themselves. This gives you more time to spend with your guests.