If you know me, you’ll know I used to be a catering manager at the best smokehouse in Orlando, 4Rivers Smokehouse. While the catering and PR industry don’t have much in common, they do have one major similarity: stress. According to a 2017 CareerCast report which identified the most stressful jobs, public relations executive is #8 and event coordinator is #5. So you could say I’ve been around stress on more than one occasion. Though my recipe for catering success may not completely apply to my current position, I was able to incorporate a few important life lessons.
Teamwork makes the dream work.
Catering is all about teamwork. And the dream is a big fat tip. In the catering world, anyone helps out and everyone pitches in. The response “that’s not my job” simply won’t fly. When I worked as a catering team member, I’d jump in and help the kitchen staff (until I managed to drop flour all over my black outfit… then I no longer helped the kitchen crew). Or when I was promoted and worked in the office, I’d help the catering staff. And I was always available to help out the 4Rivers Sweet Shop, though that was mostly “quality testing”. 😉
You can solve any problem with food.
Get an order wrong? Running late for a delivery? Catering event having an issue? Solution: more food. You know I’m not kidding. How many times has your life problems been solved with dessert? Told ya’ so.
What stress?
When you’re working an event, you’re not supposed to let the client see how unbelievably stressed out you are. You could hide in the back room and have a mini panic attack because there’s not enough bacon wrapped jalapenos. But once you’re in front of guests you hold your head up high, smack that smile right back on your face and get to work. I guess you can say we’ve mastered the poker face.
