I recently called to give an RSVP to an event that I was not going to be able to attend. Here is approximately how the conversation went: Me: "Hi, I am calling to RSVP to your party this weekend". Person on the other end: "Oh, great, we look forward to seeing you." Me: "Uhhh, unfortunately I am not going to be able to attend." Person on the other end: "Huh?"
Is it possible that after spending over 40 years on this planet that I still don’t know what RSVP means? Do I only RSVP if I plan to attend? Isn’t one of the main reasons for an RSVP to help the host determine how many guests will attend? All of a sudden a memory came back from my 8th grade French class. RSVP comes from the French sentence "répondez s'il vous plaît", which translates to "please respond". If RSVP is written on an invitation it means the person invited must tell the host whether or not they plan to attend the party. It does not mean to respond only if you're coming, and it does not mean respond only if you're not coming (the expression "regrets only" is reserved for that instance). It means the host needs a definite head count for the planned event.
From my experience as an event and party planner, getting an accurate head count is very difficult. From the event planner’s perspective, an accurate headcount is important because they may be planning handouts, meals, transportation, seating arrangements, etc. Not having an accurate headcount can be difficult both for the host and the guest if far more guests show up than what replied to the invitation. Likewise, a party with way fewer guests that anticipated can be equally awkward.
For those of you who have used RiteTrack for some time you know that event management is very central to the core of RiteTrack. Whether you are managing an office party, a group therapy session, a training class, or a public meeting, getting an accurate headcount can be very critical to the success of the event. With RiteTrack’s built in features for managing events and involved parties, you already have the perfect system for tracking attendance at your next event. With RiteTrack’s built-in notification system you can also easily send out RSVP reminders to those who procrastinate.
So why is it that it seemingly has become so difficult to get people to RSVP? Does it have to do with the increasing lack of good manners in our society or does it have to do with the fact that people truly don’t understand the meaning of RSVP? Being the eternal optimist, I am going to lean toward the latter. So the next time you are asked to RSVP, just remember to “répondez s'il vous plait”, “please respond”. We will do our best to help you track those responses in RiteTrack.