When hosting a dinner party with clients, there are a few things to remember.

Etiquette:

You don’t have to go too overboard with being formal. You should watch what you say and who you say it to, but remember that they are your clients and see you as a professional, not necessarily superior or inferior. 

Keep the conversation topics for dinner appropriate and on-topic. Try to avoid controversial issues like politics. It’s better to discuss lighter topics like the news or sports. 

Be sure that everyone is having a good time.

Take Note of Dietary Restrictions: 

If you know your clients have any dietary restrictions, keep them in mind. It’s not just about whether or not the food they eat is good for them, but also if it aligns with their personal beliefs or health issues that may have nothing to do with nutrition.

Who to Invite From Your Team: 

You don’t have to invite everyone in your office, but the people you choose to invite must be the ones who are related to your client’s business. For example, if you’re working on a project for pharmaceutical sales, it would be best to invite the project manager who works directly with them.

How to Arrange Seating: 

Try to avoid having your clients next to each other if they don’t particularly like one another. If you need to separate them, make sure there is at least one person between them that both sides would be comfortable speaking with.

But do try to keep couples together. This makes conversation a lot smoother.

Use The Tips But Be Flexible

Every dinner party with clients is different. You can likely find a solution for any problem that may arise. Just stay calm, be flexible, and everything will go well!

Start with these tips, and when you’re ready for the experts, give us a call. We’d be happy to jump in and help you plan the perfect client dinner.