Wha’s in a NAMETAG?
Most frequently, in an amateur event, this piece of paper or ID is looked upon lowly. But, for professional organizers, a simple nametag is a ticket to know the person intimately.
I came to reflect on the value of the nametag upon attending a small assembly of young people in Alaska, Mambaling, Cebu City. The event came to a point where they have to introduce the new members and attendees. It was a good start of the organization that afternoon, until the emcee’s began to say this lines, “can we ask the gentleman from the left corner to stand and introduce himself.”
What’s wrong with the line? Calling a person other than his name or nickname establishes distance and unfamiliarity. The ability to tell the persons name at a glance, on the other hand, establishes the organizers ability to pay courtesy, respect and familiarity to the participants.
There can be an excuse to this situation. The organizer might say, they don’t know the persons name so they call it by the possible adjectives we can connect to him. This may be OK for some, but if you intend to establish a long term connection with this persons, what just had happened was a big “NO, NO!”
The problem of introducing the person would be best if done in this way:
1. During registration, get the persons name and place a NAMETAG in his chest. Specially cut special papers will do for this. For those who want to save more, an ample supply of presentable 2-inches width masking paper will do.
2. As the emcee aims for the person to introduce himself, a good talk would be to initially toss the person’s vital information and preferably his nickname to the crowd before giving him a chance to talk infornt.
Small things are often left unnoticed in the preparation, like the nametags, especially when organizers tend to lax. And this inefficiency cost much: organizers lack of professional image from the view of the participants and the shortcoming of the organizers establishing close relationship with the participant.
When both requirements don’t reach each others expectation, expect an unsatisfied participant and a frustrated organizer after the event.
