The work week before a holiday is usually productive, but at a slower pace for most. My team was very creative today and held a pot luck in the boardroom with a jeopardy game of grammar. The wall was covered with sheets of paper with questions on the back and marked with 100,200,300 etc. point values, on the front. It was Part 3 of this interactive, fun and educational series. Although we are busy serving our clients, there is always time for good food, great conversation and a little insanity.
I am joining in with the team after a trip to West Palm Beach, FL. I attended the Meeting Masters golf tournament and rendezvoused with a number of clients and friends. The program began on Wednesday evening with a reception and right off the bat I was able to register, pick up my name badge, and meet some new people. With insightful conversation and scrumptious hors d'oeuvres, the view of the three PGA golf courses seemed endless. The PGA National Resort and Spa was host to this event and sports 54 holes of challenging golf. I was eager to play even thought the foursomes were blind, and I had no idea who I would be meeting in the morning.
Our name badges were presented with a lanyard ... for the record I don't like them because people are always looking at my belly to catch my name! When playing golf, is it or is it not appropriate to wear your name badge? It certainly wasn't comfortable while golfing so, off it came and I safely tucked it in my golf bag. On my flight back to Phoenix, I was reading a note from a dear friend, and ironically it was about name badges, so I thought I would share and excerpt of his information. We all struggle with which side to pin or clip our name badge and I found his information interesting enough to share with you.
He said you could also read about this in the December issue of PCMA Magazine as he was a guest author.
...On which side should your attendees wear their name tags? If you say right, you’re wrong…except if you’re in London. Here’s why. Some years ago, a so-called “expert” started the myth that attendees should wear their name tag on their right instead of their left side. I’ve done some research, but I can’t trace the source. Apparently, the rationale that caused millions to switch their badges to their right side was that when you shook hands with someone, it was easier for someone to read your badge because their line of sight was focused on your right side.
Well, not really. Since when do you look to the right when you shake hands with a person? When I shake hands, I usually face them squarely and look them in the eye. Sadly, this “wear-it-on-the-right" myth has been perpetuated by trade-show and convention veterans, who have bought into it. As someone who has been to hundreds of meetings and conventions in my many years, I have never found the right-side rule valid.
What makes more sense is to wear your badge on the traditional left. Why? In the United States and most parts of the world, we walk down sidewalks, aisles, hallways, and staircases on the right. People walking toward us are on our left. As you approach, their left side is closer to you. Doesn’t it make sense that it’s easier for them to read oncoming people’s badges if they are wearing them on their left? Now, if you are in London, Hong Kong, Gibraltar, or anywhere else where people are driving or walking on the left, wearing your badge on your right might make more sense.
Here is another reason to wear a badge on the left, at least for men. Our shirts and suit jackets traditionally have pockets on the left side. The pockets are the most logical place for badges, especially those that clip on. So, if your meeting draws a lot of men, you already have a large group for whom common sense dictates that they put their badge on the left.
Hopefully, I have convinced you of left over right; however, But if we continue to disagree about right versus left, there is a friendly solution. Choose adjustable lanyards for your attendees, so they wear them in the center and at the correct height. It will be right, but not on the right. You know what I mean...
Well my friend, Nick Topitzes, CMP should know, he is in the name tag business and is President of pc/nametag. If you need name tags or meeting related product,check them out at http://www.pcnametag.com/. Not only are they reliable, reasonable and rational, his company,in on your side, they want the best for you and your programs.
So while on the course, or at a meeting or even at your own staff function, just have a good time, enjoy the company and find a few times to laugh out loud each day. As for the name tag ... place it right or left, but wear it, so I'll be sure to meet you at the next event!
I am joining in with the team after a trip to West Palm Beach, FL. I attended the Meeting Masters golf tournament and rendezvoused with a number of clients and friends. The program began on Wednesday evening with a reception and right off the bat I was able to register, pick up my name badge, and meet some new people. With insightful conversation and scrumptious hors d'oeuvres, the view of the three PGA golf courses seemed endless. The PGA National Resort and Spa was host to this event and sports 54 holes of challenging golf. I was eager to play even thought the foursomes were blind, and I had no idea who I would be meeting in the morning.
Our name badges were presented with a lanyard ... for the record I don't like them because people are always looking at my belly to catch my name! When playing golf, is it or is it not appropriate to wear your name badge? It certainly wasn't comfortable while golfing so, off it came and I safely tucked it in my golf bag. On my flight back to Phoenix, I was reading a note from a dear friend, and ironically it was about name badges, so I thought I would share and excerpt of his information. We all struggle with which side to pin or clip our name badge and I found his information interesting enough to share with you.
He said you could also read about this in the December issue of PCMA Magazine as he was a guest author.
...On which side should your attendees wear their name tags? If you say right, you’re wrong…except if you’re in London. Here’s why. Some years ago, a so-called “expert” started the myth that attendees should wear their name tag on their right instead of their left side. I’ve done some research, but I can’t trace the source. Apparently, the rationale that caused millions to switch their badges to their right side was that when you shook hands with someone, it was easier for someone to read your badge because their line of sight was focused on your right side.
Well, not really. Since when do you look to the right when you shake hands with a person? When I shake hands, I usually face them squarely and look them in the eye. Sadly, this “wear-it-on-the-right" myth has been perpetuated by trade-show and convention veterans, who have bought into it. As someone who has been to hundreds of meetings and conventions in my many years, I have never found the right-side rule valid.
What makes more sense is to wear your badge on the traditional left. Why? In the United States and most parts of the world, we walk down sidewalks, aisles, hallways, and staircases on the right. People walking toward us are on our left. As you approach, their left side is closer to you. Doesn’t it make sense that it’s easier for them to read oncoming people’s badges if they are wearing them on their left? Now, if you are in London, Hong Kong, Gibraltar, or anywhere else where people are driving or walking on the left, wearing your badge on your right might make more sense.
Here is another reason to wear a badge on the left, at least for men. Our shirts and suit jackets traditionally have pockets on the left side. The pockets are the most logical place for badges, especially those that clip on. So, if your meeting draws a lot of men, you already have a large group for whom common sense dictates that they put their badge on the left.
Hopefully, I have convinced you of left over right; however, But if we continue to disagree about right versus left, there is a friendly solution. Choose adjustable lanyards for your attendees, so they wear them in the center and at the correct height. It will be right, but not on the right. You know what I mean...
Well my friend, Nick Topitzes, CMP should know, he is in the name tag business and is President of pc/nametag. If you need name tags or meeting related product,check them out at http://www.pcnametag.com/. Not only are they reliable, reasonable and rational, his company,in on your side, they want the best for you and your programs.
So while on the course, or at a meeting or even at your own staff function, just have a good time, enjoy the company and find a few times to laugh out loud each day. As for the name tag ... place it right or left, but wear it, so I'll be sure to meet you at the next event!
