Don’t be nervous we have gathered our best tips for you as a Host in this short PDF and below in an extended version.
1. The food
Our best advice is to cook a simple meal/dish. It’s great with a home-cooked meal that you have put some love into. But don’t overdo it! One main course, salat and bread and a bit of chocolate is great. So don’t overdo the food. And yes! It’s ok to order some high quality take-away if that enables you to make it all work and stay focused on the facilitation.
2. Alcohol/wine?
It’s up to you. Most people expect to be offered a glass of bubbles/wine for a dinner when they are out. It can make people relax and open up. If you serve wine we recommend dry bubbles or white wine – as some guests don’t drink red-wine.
3. facilitating a great dinner
The dinner is really all about making guests feel welcome, facilitate a great sharing & discussion, while ensuring guests stay on topic during the evening. Here is a recommended format for running the dinner.
Dinnr recommended format:
1. Arrival – welcome everybody and give them some practical information and mention tonight’s theme
2. Serve a glass of bubbles / wine / water
3. Facilitate a round of sharing (turn-based or pop-corn style). You go first as the Host – followed by the Guests. Ask people to state their name, what brought them to this dinner and their reflections on the theme.
– Time people for 3 min. each for equal opportunity to speak
4. Invite people to sit down or join the table – try to facilitate that people sit mixed/gender/age and not together with one they might know already.
5. Serve food and let conversation flow.
6. Raise a toast and ofter people to start eating – and challenge people to stay on topic if the conversation drifts towards work, real estate, politics, or other safe/boring topics.
7. You might want to intervene mid-way and mix the seating of people for everyone to get a chance to meet.
8. Make a check-out 20 min before the dinner is set to end. Give each guest 1 minute to mention the most surprising thing about the night/conversation + one thing/learning they will take with them after the dinner.
9. Make everyone help fill the dishwasher and clean the table. Don’t be a hero/perfect host! Ask people to help clean up. All Guests are instructed that this is expected.
10. All Guests leave your home together at the announced end-time. No exceptions. Don’t go late – people will get frustrated missing the last part. This is to be respectful of everyone’s time and a shared closure. And also to make sure no-guest hang around if you need to get up the day after.
Questions
Please do call: +45 30220111 is you have questions around preparing for your dinner happy to chat.