Social Etiquette and Good Manners/ballet

Advertisement

Expert: Suzanne Zazulak Pedro - 10/14/2009


Question
i am considering taking my lovely fiance out to the nutcracker. in the process of checking ticket prices 2 questions arose.  #1 i assume dress circle seats are the best. if not which are considered prime seats?   and   #2 how should I be dressed and how should SHE be dressed? to avoid looking like someone who showed up to a wedding in P.J.'s

Answer
Dear Mark:

Thank you for your inquiry regarding theatre etiquette.  Wow, what a nice surprise you have in store for your fiancee.  What a lucky lady!  

Although ballet is sometimes performed in different venues and there are different preferred seating in theatres depending on the age of the theatre.  The older more established like the Paris Opera house the best seating is the private boxes.

Not all contemporary venues are designed with the old world elegance.  The next would be next to the orchestra pit.  Again, it all depends on the design of the venue.  Your best bet is to ask the ticket office what do they consider "THE" best seating.  This way you cannot go wrong.

As for the dress, I am sorry to say that today certain people lack the distinction to be better dressed.  A dark suit and tie for a man and a nice cocktail dress for the ladies.  

You can always tell the people who are accustomed to attending fine cultural events for they will be dressed accordingly.  It is an occasion an event that used to be only available to the wealthy and elite. However, today anybody can purchase a ticket without being in the creme de la creme of society.  So the cultural people will still carry on the tradition of dressing in their finery.

If you really want to impress your fiancee see if you can find online-ebay or at an antique shop a pair of opera glasses so that she will not only look elegant, but she will feel elegant. (Just a suggestion!)

Well, I hope this helps because giving you an answer without knowing how the venue is designed would be a faux pas on my part.  I know you will do just fine and make it a wonderful and memorable event for your fiancee.  Oh, one other thing, it is a good idea to get your tickets early and opening night is very "it" to go or closing night as the second choice.  Matinees are not nearly as formal or elegant as with weeknights.
Take care, and go have a wonderful experience.

Best Regards,

Suzanne

Social Etiquette and Good Manners

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Suzanne Zazulak Pedro

Expertise

Main discourse in all aspects of social, corporate, international diplomacy and children's etiquette and protocol. Suzanne is certified in corporate and children's etiquette, as well as, certification in professional coaching for executive, leadership and personal achievement.

Experience

As a Behavior Shaping Specialist and Certified Protocol and Etiquette Consultant, Suzanne has pioneered the art of social finesse with valid psychological tenets to provide her clients with an unique approach to instruction in etiquette --Avant Garde Etiquette. Research data shows that 15% of employment and corporate success is due to intelligence or training,while the other 85% is dealing with people successfully. Conversley,the essence of dealing with people succssfully is through exceptional communication skills. Therefore, being adapt at non-verbal communication while practising the art of etiquette is rapid power-tool in establishing rapport and inducing compliance for success. Target Success Seminars include: The Psychology of the First Impression, Oculesics: Keep YOur Eyes on the Prize, Isopraxism: Mirroring for Love and Profit, Spatial Anchoring: The Psychology of Body Placement Disarming Your Opponent by his Handshake What Your Dining Manners Reveal about Your Partner's Personality

Organizations
ISPEP International Society of Protocol and Etiquette Professionals IAPC International Association Professional Consultants IAC International Association of Coaches NWU National Writer's Union ABA American Bar Association Associate Member

Publications
Co-author of "Executive Etiquette Power" , "Incredible Business" and "The Power of Civility." Frequently quoted media expert for etiquette and behavior shaping. Also, monthly Etiquette Columnist for several publications, as well as ezineexperauthor.com with downloads for on-line journals.

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Certified Corporate and Children's Etiquette and Protocol Certified Professional Coach (CPC) Certified Paralegal Graduate Studies in Forensics, law

Awards and Honors
Appointed as Chief Officer of Protocol for her town. Cambridge Who's Who Among Business Professionals, Experts & Entrepeneurs Lifetime Member USA Honor Society Selected in 2004, as Queen Omega XVIII for Mardi Gras.

Past/Present Clients
Since individual/corporate programs are designed for areas of deficiencies, their confidence is upheld in the stictest sense of confidentiality. She has formed a non-profit organization, BeePoised, Inc., to reach-out and teach the children and adults who are not at an advantage to learn life social skills such as dining manners and job interviewing techniques.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.