Something unusual happened today. I was getting ready to lead a stress management lunch & learn.
The room began to fill from the front to the back. That never happens. The first to show almost always grab the back row.
It’s always struck me as odd that when one has to pay for a seat, the most expensive seats are up front. When they are free, the most valued ones are in back.
I’ve also found that when you try to move people from the back to the front, they aren’t going to be happy campers.
When I’m in a big room (which I was), and I want people to sit close (which I did), there are things I do to get people to sit up front.
- Limit the number of chairs, and make sure they are close.
- Put handouts only on the chairs in front.
- Serve as an “usher”, accompanying people to their seats.
I was just happy that for at least one day, the audience members made a different choice.