Admitting your mistakes is scary, whether you’re 2+ years into the job or 20+ years. Not only do you have to remedy the situation, but, more frighteningly, you have to own up to it. So, when your CEO asks you to write an article, committing your mistakes to paper and broadcasting to the world that you’ve messed up, it can be daunting.
Embarrassment aside, without those mistakes, how else would you learn and improve? Every slip helps you find sturdier footing for your next event, and when one detail can make all the difference, it just might be worth a little embarrassment to do better next time. Here are six of the lessons I’ve learned along the way, hoping I can help others avoid their own.
1. How to Get Pickles When You're in One
It’s easy to see you have 91 unread emails and do some triage, but make sure you really give each email the attention it deserves. They may only ask for aioli in the email, but their attachment tells you how to make aioli and then asks for pickled green tomatoes. If you don’t double-check every part of the recipe (even the non-aioli sections), you might miss that they need some extra accoutrements.
If you also forget your pickled green tomatoes, Jacob’s Pickles sells them in 5-gallon buckets perfect for all your catering emergencies.
2. A Single Straw
As a caterer, ordering straws is often the least of your concerns, but when your specialty cocktail comes in a highball glass, it’s a must. You wouldn’t want to be caught empty-handed when the star of the evening requests a straw to preserve her lipstick – and if you’re concerned about the environment, our agave straws dissolve within 12 months!
3. Goodie Bag Goodbye
When your client asks for a guest takeaway, make sure you know where it goes! There may be a table in the perfect spot on the floorplan, but who knows what it’s intended for? Even if it starts as your bar, there’s no guarantee it’ll stay that way. Without a table, half your staff might be needed to get those goodies into guests’ hands.
4. Don't Be Afraid to Ask!
That famous New Yorker community spirit always comes through. Forgot coffee stirrers? The local coffee shop practically throws them at you. Cocktail napkins? That bar around the corner has tons! Did your coffee machine break? Bring your samovar to the bodega and fill-er-up at a bulk discount.
5. Size Up
If you’re wondering whether you need 8 or 9 bags of ice, order 9 – worst case scenario, you melt a bag. If you’re short, though? Get ready to carry 20-40 lbs. of ice across a few city blocks.
6. Measure Twice, Cut Once
Double check your invoice! During busy season, you’re putting in hundreds of orders, and your vendors are receiving thousands. They might have missed your request for tongs, or they may have swapped the delivery & customer addresses. You might wonder why your order is so cheap and find you never asked for the linens you need. Give yourself a day to review or get another pair of eyes to check your work.