WAHM Forums

Ugh! Party plan pet-peeve of mine:


Hecklers, smart-a$$es, people who interupt with non-helpful comments.


I had a party last night--my first live party for my new biz, and was using the companies newly revised presentation flash-cards.I was incorporating my presentation with a game &some guest interaction. Everytime I brought up a new point orplanted a booking orrecruiting seed...this one gal had to interupt with something off-handed & rude.I tried to keep my presentation going and not get ruffled or side-tracked. I wanted my presentation to be short & sweet---but her interuptions made it drag on.


Kids were running amock...the husbands who stuck around were supposed to be watching them, but weren't. I'm used to those kind ofinteruptions...I've had them before and know it's what happens sometimes.


But I've been in direct sales for7 years, and I just detest rude people. No matter how many parties I do, how often I encounter the occassional heckler, I just can't stand it, especially when I'm trying to do something new.


Oh, well. Maybe when I feel more comfortable with my presentation and can deliver it more smoothly,it won't bother me so much...and I'll bebetter able to deal withsuch interuptions.


BTW...she did buy, and she did seem to like the products. Some people, though! smileys/smiley5.gif

Hi Kasi,


I don't do many parties myself, but a tip from what I've heard from others with the same problem, a way to solve the problem with those "hecklers", when you are trying to do your presentation, and they are disturbing you, that's when it's time to play a game. Maybe a Q&A game about your products,where if they were listening and paying attention they would be able to answer, and you couldgive maybe a certificate for a percentage off or a small gift of some kind. Or call that person out to assist in your presentation, when passing a item around, hand it to them first. Ask them a question or their opinion. There are quite a few ways to distract the disturbing person/s so you can keep the flow of your presentation.


Those kind of people is why I don't do to many "presentation type"parties, my patience and tolerance isverrrry short, and I know Iwould lose itsmileys/smiley7.gif.I'm glad you kept your composure


Hope that helps and I'm wishing you luck.

I have those, too. Unfortunately, 2 of them are my best friend and my MIL. They think they're being cute, but they're killing my sales. I teased the first couple times, threatening to send them to time out, butwhat can you do?! Grrrrr..... When we broke for a snack, I took my BF aside and told her to hush. She just doesn't get it...smileys/smiley5.gif

Hi Kasi! Yes, I know the people you are tlking about, and yes, it is SO RUDE! Good for you for keeping your cool! BTW, what is your new company? You can pm me if you want! THinking of you and hope you are well!

I think we've all been there and it is so annoying!


Can I ask what kinds of comments she was saying?


Ihave encountered a lot of the "know it alls" and when I hear them say something to that effect, I invite them up to offer an education to everyone in the room! Or I might begin a statement and then look to them to complete my sentence for me. Heck, if they love to be center of attention, I'll give them the lime-light! I will also be certain to put on my biggest and brightest smile as I look around the room to everyone and say, "Wouldn't so-and-so be fabulous doing what I do?!" If I can get feed their ego and get them busy, then I have regained control of the party without them knowing it.

Like Mellonie, when someone is the "know it all" at my shows I always
say "Wow, you sure know a lot about skin care and cosmetics I'd love to
talk to you after the pamper session about becoming a consultant with
Jafra! Jafra is looking for good consultants in our area!"



That statement usually produces two outcomes. It quiets the heckler
right away or it gets the others saying things like, " Yes,____ you
would be a great consultant, I would buy from you!" It also gets the
others thinking about the business. After that, I can finish my
presentation! And I always follow up at the end and ask the
heckler if they'd like to know more a Jafra Business!

I agree with Cheryl and Mellonie! I LOVE a good heckler. Come up with
some comments or comebacks before you even DO your next show and be
ready and CHEERFUL with them. If they are saying NEGATIVE things look
them in the eye and VERY sincerely (and I mean SINCERELY) ask them 'Is
there something about our company or product that you don't like
Susan?" (Get her name...people who HATE the attention will be mortified
you called her by name and if she's an egotist, you'll become her
friend). And, if you know your products and your company well, you can
then REMOVE those doubts in front of everyone else who MIGHT be
thinking the same thing.



If they are just butting in to be "funny" or obnoxious, then pull them
into your demonstration in some way. Make them an "assistant", get
everyone to agree that they would be a GREAT consultant, etc. When I
was selling Pampered Chef and kids were running around, I would stop
the demonstration and say something like 'I'm so sorry, but as a mom
who loves kids, I just would hate it if one of these sweet children got
injured because they are too close to the table" etc and remind them
ALL to remove their kids. If there are MEN standing around NOT watching
kids, follow that up with "Would you gentlemen in the back help us out
by taking the kids to another room or holding them on your laps until I
finish?" Just be nice and calm but don't tolerate anyone wasting YOUR
time and your CUSTOMERS time. You may have potential consultants in
that room and when you handle things with style and penache, they know
THEY can do your job too!



LeAnn

Kasi-


I had a party recently like that. And the person was a friend! She was asking questions to try and be helpful as she put it but in reality she was being a pain and kinda rude.


Some people just think they are being cute. All you can do is SMILE your way through it--show them your serious about your work and eventually it will go away. That's what I found anyway.





-Chloeespa


~pamper yourself today!~


http://www.chloeespa.com

One of my first parties was very big. I was very nervous. And two older extended family members made rude comments the whole time! When I tried to involve them with chances to win small prizes(company products) they said. Oh, we dont want that anyway. Luckily, my sales were high, in spite of their behavior, so it wasnt a wasted night. But I thought it was very rude