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Advice please -Celebration dinner

Tlc

Hi

I am wondering if anyone could give me some advice for Saturday night.

I am a coordinator for some volunteers and the organisation is having a celebration dinner on Saturday (a big formal event). I have to attend.

The event will be a sit down meal, smart dress code with speakers and music (I may also be expected to speak).

There will be an expectation for me to be cheerful and social, mixing with people and selling the vision of our work to gain supporters and volunteers.

Although I love our work I am really worried I wont be able to function on the night. I am already feeling very anxious just thinking about it. 

Can anyone give me any tips please about how to stay calm in the busy/noisy strange atmosphere and any social expectations I may come across at this kind of event. Also how to start a conversation with strangers. Otherwise I am going to be stood against a wall on my own and not fullfilling what is expected of me as coordinator.

I haven't been to anything this formal before (I even missed my own graduation because I didn't know what to expect). I'm having a bit of a panic.

Thanks in advance.

T

Parents

  • If you are a quick reader, you might want to order Don Gabor's 'How to Start a Conversation and Make Friends'. You might be able to get it tomorrow if you order off Amazon now.

    Do people you work with know you have aspergers?  Is there anyone you trust who can tell you what to expect and help you on the night? Someone you can trust might be able to help by introducing you to people and prompting you with topics of conversation. If you don't want to tell them you have aspergers you could just say you are nervous in situations like that.  Or do you have a partner or friend you can take?

    I see you like art: maybe you could ask people what they think of any pictures that are on the walls?

    Maybe you could ask people what they like about your organization?

    Try and find out if you will have to speak: if so make sure you have something prepared. I think it's best to have the main points written down, not a word-for-word script. Try not to use it, but then you have something to look at if you forget what you wanted to say.

    And if it gets too much, hide in the loo for a bit! (or corridor, or outside space...)

    I'm sure you will be fine! You wouldn't be in the job and you wouldn't have been invited to the event if you didn't have reasonable social skills.

Reply

  • If you are a quick reader, you might want to order Don Gabor's 'How to Start a Conversation and Make Friends'. You might be able to get it tomorrow if you order off Amazon now.

    Do people you work with know you have aspergers?  Is there anyone you trust who can tell you what to expect and help you on the night? Someone you can trust might be able to help by introducing you to people and prompting you with topics of conversation. If you don't want to tell them you have aspergers you could just say you are nervous in situations like that.  Or do you have a partner or friend you can take?

    I see you like art: maybe you could ask people what they think of any pictures that are on the walls?

    Maybe you could ask people what they like about your organization?

    Try and find out if you will have to speak: if so make sure you have something prepared. I think it's best to have the main points written down, not a word-for-word script. Try not to use it, but then you have something to look at if you forget what you wanted to say.

    And if it gets too much, hide in the loo for a bit! (or corridor, or outside space...)

    I'm sure you will be fine! You wouldn't be in the job and you wouldn't have been invited to the event if you didn't have reasonable social skills.

Children
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