Although there are different types of functions the basic type of catering function remains the same.
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS INGREDIENT CARDS
Ingredient 4: Function Management
Question:
What are the types of functions?
Answer:
The types of functions can be summarised as follows:
Conventions
Training seminars, lectures, large conventions for specific professional, business, trade, political, religious, or other groups, smaller training seminars for similar groups, lectures/talks by leading personalities, or a combination of all, with large audiences breaking up into smaller participating ‘discussion’ groups. Although no actual meal may be included, coffee/tea would be served during a break in the proceedings.
Promotional
Sales, public relations gatherings, large ‘promotional’ meetings for business, political, religious, or other purposes. Exhibitions/demonstrations by manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, etc to promote their products. Small public relations parties to ‘launch’ new products.
Charity Functions
Exhibitions, art shows, fashion parades, lectures, talks, etc are used to raise money for charity by ticket and/or product sales. To be involved in these types of functions it must be realised that a wide range of audio-visual equipment and specialised facilities are required if a full service is to be provided. In many instances, smaller function rooms will be available for ‘rent’ only. And the organisers will have to provide their own equipment.
Meal Functions
Held in order to gather people together over a meal for some purpose, mainly to honour some person or occasion. Function meals in themselves are normally formal ways of celebrating such occasions as an anniversary, reunion, wedding, christening, wake, etc.
They can also be less formal, used for social/promotional purposes by political, religious, business, clubs, community service, charity, or other groups, for example, Champagne breakfast, Rotary lunch, charity dinner, etc. For these occasions, a sit-down meal would normally be served.
In addition to conferences, exhibitions and meetings of various sorts, public rooms are also in demand for displays and fashion shows, industry products, demonstrations and exhibitions. The requirement of these activities vary widely and no hard and fast rules can be laid down. However, the restaurant owner/caterer will very carefully evaluate both the worth to the business of this type of trade in terms of income and also consider what effect it may have upon the business.
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