Place Notes Around the Party for Guests’ Convenience
I always feel a little insecure as a guest in someone else’s house. I want to be as polite as possible, which can cause some anxiety. Can I walk through this door? Are these snacks for everyone? Where is the bathroom? Here’s a trick that can help disturb guests like me.
Several weekends ago, I was at a child’s birthday party. I hardly knew anyone there and had never been to the owner’s house before. Luckily, a few stickers around the house gave me proactive answers to all my questions.
Knock on the door or ring the bell? Oh, the party is over and I can walk right in. Take off your shoes? Oh, there is no need for that. The mesh door won’t close properly – did I break it ?! Oh, it was already like that.
Instead of pestering the host with questions that he had already answered a thousand times, I could just read the notes and we both could continue to enjoy the party. If you want guests not to enter the room, please make a note. If you want your guests to eat all the beer in your fridge that people throw up all the time, take a note. If you want guests not to worry when your toilet makes a strange noise, take a note. If you want to give something away for free, put it all together and take a note.
Obviously, this approach can be taken to unnecessary extremes, but it’s a convenient way to keep guests in the loop and relax if you don’t overdo it. Next time you have a party, take a walk around the house as if you’ve never been there before and write a few notes that will make everyone feel welcome.