Since when did the follow up call or email become standard operating procedure to determine the number of attendees for an event? Now that I have been at this for so many years, not a lot surprises me anymore. This makes me sound old. Old fashioned for sure when it comes to rsvping.
I have heard the rsvp horror stories from clients more times than I can count. I hear them because inevitably on the day the hostess is supposed to give me her count she will have to report that a ridiculous number of people have still not responded. I assure her that she is not alone, unfortunately, this has become the trend.
Recently we did an event for a client who was spending an ungodly amount of money. Save the dates and very elaborate invitations had gone out. The recipients had the option of rsvping via email or voice mail with plenty of notice, yet five days before the party a large number had still not responded. What gives? My client called and emailed those who hadn’t bothered to notify her so as not to run out of food for those who had. The number of nonchalant responses was astounding!
She got things like: “Oh yeah, sorry I didn’t get back to you, we’ll be there.” Or “We can’t make it, keep us on the list for next time.” Or in some cases affirmative responses for people who didn’t end up showing at all! So what gives? How busy, stressed out and challenged can we all really be? Have we gotten so wrapped up in the busy-ness of life that we can’t take literally 30 seconds to send an email or leave a voice mail saying we will or won’t be there?
So what’s the point of this rant? To enlighten my readers. Not rsvping is rude. Pure and simple. Get off your duff and respond in a timely manner. Don’t wait, don’t make excuses, just respond. Someone has gone to a lot of trouble to include you. The least you can do is acknowledge their trouble.
Leave a Reply