PERSONAL ADVICE etiquette Making the DOWNTON DOES IT RIGHT: Downton Abbey is the smash hit BBC TV drama of British aristocracy set approximately 100 years before today. Full of proper etiquettes, the show often teaches viewers some simple etiquette practices most of us have long since forgotten. First Impression There’s a different way to handle every interaction with new people, but you’ll steal the show each time if you’re confident and act like you’ve been there, done that NOTE OF IMPORTANCE: Introduce the most important person first. Yes, that sounds a bit snobby! But, that is how it works. The rule is: The less important person is in- troduced to the more important person. Yikes! How do you differentiate the two? Sometimes it is easy and other times it is hard to know exactly what to do. Sometimes you may forget or make a mistake. If you do, just smile and be polite. ave you ever been lost for words or choked with nerv- ousness when asked to give an introduction or toast during a social gathering? I think all of us at some point have experienced uneasiness when asked unex- pectedly to introduce ourselves to strangers or to say a few meaningful words during a special occasion in front of a group of people. There’s no need to fret, though. With these important tips that follow and some practice on your part, there’s no reason why you can’t score big at your next social gathering. H MAKING YOUR PRESENCE KNOWN Introductions are important because your first impression can make a lasting one. When you enter a party or gathering, find the host first and make your presence known by greeting with enthu- siasm. The host will introduce you to people that have arrived prior to you. If you are the first to arrive, relax and be prepared to greet the next person to arrive. As you are mingling and meeting others, don’t forget to state your first and last name. Look the person directly in the eye and speak loud enough to be heard and clear enough to be understood. How many times has someone told you their name and seconds later you couldn’t remember it? This usually happens because we are so focused on saying our name or thinking about what we want to say next that we don’t concentrate on the person’s name when they tell us. ETIQUETTE Continued on page 134 130 PAGEANTRY