Helping a Loved One Overcome Stress and Host a Show

[babywings76]

I have a host for the 31st and she just feels overwhelmed with her life right now. So with everything I said during host coaching, I could sense her stress levels rising. I tried to tell her that I want to help her. I already mailed her invitations for her. I offered to send out e-mail invitations for her, she could just send me her e-mail list. I told her she doesn't have to do an e-mail if it's too much, but that the best way is through talking to people. I offered to make her reminder calls for her too. She just seems so stressed. She is my sister's aunt-in-law, so I know some of the details of what's going on in her life. She also just got a job where she is gone from 4 am to 5:30 pm so she just is so tired in the evenings to think about her show.

Is there anything I should do or say to help her relax? I feel like all my offers of help overwhelmed her, even though it was intended to be a HELP! :cry:

 

[scottcooks]

If you want to keep the booking, turn it into a unique service opportunity. Volunteer to come dust/vacuum/ wipe up the bathroom an hour before the show. Bend over backwards always telling the host - I want to help you be successful. Occasionally you might slip in that you don't often get to do things like this for your hosts, you just appreciate her so much you want to help.

Maybe offer to help by changing the venue to a restaurant or a neighbor's home or maybe even your own home if you live close. Make it about HER and keeep positive.

If the booking is not too significant, offer to redate her with a twist--at your house, or at church basement, or restaurant or park with your special free appetizer or free dessert. Keep it light, keep supporting her.

Remember - you get what you want by helping others get what they want. Keep it light and be positive--that energy will come back to you.

Finally - how you treat her as a host may well be how you'd treat a person on your team. What would you want from your recruiter? Act accordingly. Good luck - let us know how it goes!

 

[vwpamperedchef]

Would you be able to host the show at your home?? That would alliviate some stress I would think (for her).

 

[babywings76]

She lives 2 hours away and her family all live out in the boonies. I'm doing another show for another family member next month, so they won't want to host it there. I'm going to try to get there earlier than I usually do for shows (I can't go a whole hour earlier though...) I'll be picking up my sister on the way because she knows where the host lives (her aunt-in-law). I'm hoping that my sister will pitch in and help if it's needed while I get set up for the show.I just sent the host an e-mail reassuring her that everything will be fine. Everyone has already received their invitation. Hopefully people will RSVP, but that I can do her reminder phone calls for her. I also told her that sending out e-mails is a great idea to boost attendance and outside orders, but they are just optional. That I can also do that for her if she provides me with the addresses. I also typed up a separate e-mail as if I was her, so that she could just forward to her people if she wanted. (I had told her earlier that I would do that, in case she thought it was just easier to send that.)So we'll see. My sister said that she tends to be a worrier and stresser and that she does suffer from depression, so that no matter how simple something is, she will take it on as a stress. I hope she is okay. I tried to be relaxed and easy going in what I said and wrote her.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I had a host this month who had just had a liver transplant not too long before her show. She wanted to host the show - she gets tired very easily, and this was a way for her to see people without a lot of work on her part. I knew that she tires very easily, so here are some of the things I did:

*I mailed the invites for her (something I do anyway)
*I did her reminder calls for her (she had to be at the hospital for testing the day before her party)
*I offered to do her grocery shopping for her - but her DH ended up doing that.
*The past host was her neighbor, so I coordinated with her to also come early and help get stuff set up, and rearrange furniture if necessary. (paid her in spices but this might be something you could do with a past host, or someone you are interested in recruiting)
*I offered a SB cookbook to anyone who helped wash dishes, clean up, stack chairs, etc.....when I left her house, it looked even better than when I arrived! (I had ordered about 100 of those past season SB when they were $2.50 for 10)

She ended up with about 20 in attendance, and we just closed her show at $1225, and 6 bookings! Although it was more work for me than normal, and I know the actual show was tiring for her....she has been thrilled with the outcome, and it's fun to hear the excitement and life in her voice when we talk!