update: the star guest got drunk at an event I was hosting

It’s a special “where are you now?” season at Ask a Manager and I’m running updates from people who had their letters here answered in the past.

Remember the letter-writer whose star guest got drunk at an event they were hosting? Here’s the update.

I really appreciated your advice and the lovely comments – as I posted in the comments at the time, I do a lot of public speaking but that does not mean I’m not also a very anxious bunny by nature and that situation really threw me — it literally felt like an anxiety nightmare as it was happening! – but the nice comments and your response did help me breathe a bit easier.

That week, before I could do anything, I received a very nice message from a person from the PR team apologizing for putting me in “an unfortunate situation” and thanking me for my “consummate professionalism and care” and for my “graceful handling of a delicate and challenging situation.” They gave a few more details that I won’t share but their apology and thanks was very heartfelt and appreciated, and I believe Lee is fine generally and it was just a very bad night. They also sent me an invoice outline to fill out and paid me quickly which was appreciated.

Since then, I’ve bumped into a few people who were at the event who did bring it up, and they were all nice about it, laughing a bit and saying that obviously the guest was a disaster and they felt bad for me but that I handled it as well as I could. And in fact, another very high-profile event with someone I really admire was happening in town, and a friend of me recommended me to the event organizer by telling them both about my general experience but also by referencing the Lee disaster and using it as an example of me handling any and all situations like “a pro.” I got the gig, and it was the best event I’ve ever hosted in my life. I’ve received so many direct compliments about it (which is not the norm, people might say “well done” at the event but I had people emailing me a week later complimenting me which was very nice!). I also received some more jobs directly from it.

When the Lee disaster happened, a friend told me that “that was the best training you’ll ever have” and I now do think there was a lot of wisdom in that — not only do I feel more prepared to handle the unexpected, but I figure that most events have to go better than that one did which makes me feel more relaxed doing them which helps!

Thanks again to you for your advice and for all the nice comments!

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