Comments on: Ten Tables of Four Please – A Modest Proposal

By: Jeremy Tanner

Jeremy Tanner — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:19:53 +0000

This makes too much sense. The anonymity and chaos of a 40-60 person group makes paying for dinner hell. As far as dictating how the bill is split up at a small table, I've never had dinner at a small table with good people that didn't end in too much money on the table.

Jeremy

By: Jeremy Tanner

Jeremy Tanner — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 07:19:53 +0000

Jeremy

By: gruen

gruen — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 01:10:09 +0000

Make it an iPhone app. Have you thought about China?

By: BugFrog

BugFrog — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 23:31:37 +0000

Good idea. Some love the big group gigs, but getting to know a smaller group better would make the next large group meeting that much easier. If you are new to a group, only having to give your “I am/I do” speech once or twice would be great.

Meeting people and creating relationships can be very different things. This idea would seem to serve for creating beneficial relationships much better.

By: Larry McKeogh

Larry McKeogh — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:35:23 +0000

Good suggestion Andrew.
Defrag used an interesting process for their conference and getting people out to dinner. They called it “Birds of a Feather” They set up a conference wiki with different topics that were of interest and people signed up for what interested them. You could do something along the same lines for your 4 tops so that participants had something in common to talk about.
I like the part of gathering in the bar for apps and drinks beforehand. These two items are the most discretionary in a dinners selection. Stepping back into the bar after dinner could allow a quick clearing of the tables for a dessert / coffee round at different table so you'd get double the exposure.
Many in social medial enjoy the conversations that large crows create. Limiting the tables to 4 tops impedes this. Rotating between distinct courses brings back the social element. Just cannot do it too many times or staff will go nuts.

By: TimothyJ

TimothyJ — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 21:06:07 +0000

I also think trading seats with people post the meal can work if you're going to grab that capuccino. Order it, wait for it, take it with you and see if someone wants to swap with you for a bit. This is usually better in groups where everyone knows each other.

By: Grace Piper

Grace Piper — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:49:02 +0000

Great post.
1. I have rarely enjoyed a meal with more than 5 people at the table, especially in a crowded resto where it can be hard to hear what others are saying. Also, don't you find there is always that one person in a group who doesn't put in their fare share? Ten four tops. Hell yeah.

2. I don't know I like the random seating idea… Theoretically it's great, but I've been burned before. I don't care what you do, I care who you are. Been stuck next to boring dullards before.

3. Tip well. I'm with you Andrew. This is key. If the location is great we want to be welcomed back.

4. I'd be happy to be included in any dinner experiments.

-Grace

By: andrewhyde

andrewhyde — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:40:14 +0000

I love the random seating idea. If you are at the same conference, the chance you can learn or share something of value is there. I love dinner at tables of 4 or max 6.

By: andrewhyde

andrewhyde — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:37:50 +0000

I've seen many variations of this tried, and it never seems to work out. I wish they did, but restaurants work in sections, and very few will break up a table to two waitstaff.

Actually, some of the worst dinners I've been to this year were preorder dinners. Don't know why that is.

By: devinreams

devinreams — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:31:20 +0000

I think you have some good points. When doing the CommunityNext VIP dinners we would seat people randomly (so you'd get to meet people you otherwise wouldn't). We would have them at small tables (so you get to intimately talk to them). We would also have drinks afterwards (so you can introduce your new friends to your old friends).