Guest Selection in all Entertaining
This is part of a series I've been wanting to do for a long time so I am
excited I am able to have Eugene do this for my blog. It is about
etiquette as was appropriate in the Victorian Era (1837–1901). During
that time, culturally there was a transition away from the rationalism
of the Georgian period and toward romanticism and mysticism with regard to religion, social values, and the arts. The era is popularly associated with the values of social restraint. What? Social restraint? What's that?!? So we move on....thank you for reading.
Love, George
Guest Selection in all Entertaining
Your proper selection of guests is the first essential in all entertaining. Some have a sense for it - others haven't. The first are the great hosts and hostesses; the others, unless they exert considerable effort, are at best mediocre.
Usually it's a mistake to invite great talkers to the same gathering because there could be debate or confrontation. Brilliant men and women who love to talk want listeners, not rivals. That is what should be considered when selecting your guests. If it seems advisable or necessary to invite two brilliant people, most people think they should be put together. Often they should, but with discretion. You don't want to put together people that may be nervous or temperamental by one another, you may create a situation comparable to putting two operatic sopranos in the same part and expecting them to sing together. Very silent people should be sandwiched between good conversationalists or at least voluble talkers. Silly people should never but put anywhere near learned ones, nor the dull near the clever, unless the dull is a young and pretty woman with a talent for listening, and the clever is a man that has an admiration for beauty and a love of talking.
Love, George
Guest Selection in all Entertaining
Your proper selection of guests is the first essential in all entertaining. Some have a sense for it - others haven't. The first are the great hosts and hostesses; the others, unless they exert considerable effort, are at best mediocre.
Usually it's a mistake to invite great talkers to the same gathering because there could be debate or confrontation. Brilliant men and women who love to talk want listeners, not rivals. That is what should be considered when selecting your guests. If it seems advisable or necessary to invite two brilliant people, most people think they should be put together. Often they should, but with discretion. You don't want to put together people that may be nervous or temperamental by one another, you may create a situation comparable to putting two operatic sopranos in the same part and expecting them to sing together. Very silent people should be sandwiched between good conversationalists or at least voluble talkers. Silly people should never but put anywhere near learned ones, nor the dull near the clever, unless the dull is a young and pretty woman with a talent for listening, and the clever is a man that has an admiration for beauty and a love of talking.The biggest endeavor of a host or hostess, when seating the table, is to put together those who are likely to be interesting in one another. Making a dinner list is like making a Christmas list. You put down what they will like ( you hope ), not what you like. Some people at the table might bore you to tears, others could be a delight and some might have interests in common. The host or hostess must remember that when placing your guests at the dinner table, to put your guests together who are most appropriate age, personality, and interest like.
Posted by Eugene Vodovoz at 13 October 2011, 10:17 AM 
Categories: Etiquette
Tags: guests formal dinner selection
Categories: Etiquette
Tags: guests formal dinner selection
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