Procedure

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How does a national holiday reception usually go in Berlin? What kind of program is recommended? Here are a few useful tips. In general, Berlin is relatively uncomplicated and relaxed. It is true what a Luxembourgish diplomat once said at his farewell reception: “In Berlin, you can do things that you could never do anywhere else! ”

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Standing reception

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In Berlin, standing receptions have become the norm on national holidays. No one expects a seated reception for this occasion.

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Show Performances

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Many embassies like to show what their country has to offer, apart from the buffet: tourism promotion, fashion show, concert performances and so on. But no one expects that. You don't have to compete with ITB, the International Tourism Exchange, and you don't have to present a fashion show. You can, but it shouldn't mean that the reception lasts longer than two hours.

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Language

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It goes without saying that the speeches and addresses must not be too long. A maximum of ten minutes is recommended. Anything else is torment. Language can also be torture. Some hosts speak such terrible English that they are barely understood. Not many ambassadors speak German, and even if they do, this is a problem for many international guests. The ambassador can speak in his home language and a translator. The disadvantage is that this takes a lot of time. A translation or subtitles on a screen would be better. It is best if all speeches are given in English, provided that the speakers have a clear pronunciation. In this case, translation into German is not necessary.

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Length of Speech

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As stated in the chapter “Timing,” the ambassador's speech is not necessarily the main point of reception. The main thing is communication among the guests! The shorter the speech, the more it is enjoyed. And a pragmatic argument for a shorter speech: If a drinks package has been agreed with the hotel, it can be better used. Because the longer the host talks, the less people drink. That is good for the hotel, but not in the interests of the host and the guests.

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Bar Tables

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Typically, food is eaten at bar tables at receptions. Seats are very rare. Hands-free eating, i.e. without a bar table, requires artistic skills. Guests don't notice standing at the bar table for a long time when they have something to eat and drink. Standing for a long time, on the other hand, is very noticeable when you can only listen or watch from the bar table. If the speeches last half an hour, followed by three-quarters of an hour of dance performances, there is only three quarters of an hour for the buffet. That is definitely not enough. It literally means understanding how the guests are at the center of attention. And stand. And stand...

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Noise level

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The ambassador's speech must be acoustically clear. The microphone must be positioned close to the mouth. The speakers must not squeak. If there are problems, the guests will not be able to hear anything and will start chatting.

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Dilemma

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This hurts the ears and the heart. At the front, artists are performing, usually the best that the host country has to offer; around them, a few guests listen intently and reverently. But further back, most of the guests are chatting cheerfully and unabashedly. Good manners would dictate that they hold back on their conversations for a few minutes. But at the back, good manners don't stand a chance. A dilemma.

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Discipline

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There are always attempts to diplomatically bring discipline to the crowd of guests. There is the idea of pantomimes covered in white, which sneak through the standing audience with their fingers on their lips and remind them of peace. Charming but not effective. Also not effective and certainly not charming is the idea with walking “Please rest! “signs. Incidentally, it is embarrassing when someone sends a wave of shushing through the audience, only to be caught gossiping themselves shortly afterwards.

Compromise Attempts

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A message divided the reception into two parts. The guests were invited into the rows of chairs set up. There they sat strung out like in a concert hall. They had no choice but to concentrate on looking ahead, enjoy the music, remain silent and finally applaud heavily. The applause was only possible because they didn't have to hold a champagne glass in their hands. Because applause with a champagne flute is difficult. Only then were they allowed to stand up and dedicate themselves to cuisine and communication next door. Although this provided the desired discipline, this system also has disadvantages. You need a very large event space. That amounts to a lot of room rent.

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The compromise - I've already experienced that - would be a technical break: An army of employees (cost-intensive!) Remove the chairs to quickly make room for a standing reception. In the meantime, however, the guests must wait sidelined until the space is vacant and the buffet is opened. This situation also somehow lacks charm and elegance. And another disadvantage: During the concert, appetizing buffet smells waft through the improvised concert hall from behind. That distracts a bit from enjoying music, even when the artists are really big stars.

Nerve test

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The background noise is often an obscuration for the inviting message, as artist appearances involving travel, hotel and rehearsals mean a great deal of money and time. For the model artists of the respective country, it is a test of nerve on the verge of insult. You're not used to just creating background music for guests' conversations. Witnessing that is often really embarrassing.