Serve, Don't Socialize

• Remember that while many banquets are lively with music, dancing, celebration and open bars, servers are there to staff the event, not to attend as guests. Never accept offers of food or drink from your patrons, and always remain polite and professional.
  
  

Serve Key Guests First

• Generally, the guest of honor should be served first, followed by the women and then the men, to the host's right. Alternatively, guests can be served by order of influence and seniority with the least important individual receiving their meal last. In many modern banquet settings, servers will not have this information, or there may not be a host or guest of honor present. In this is the case and there are no specific instructions, serve women first.
  
  

Know Left From Right

• Servers should approach each guest from the left side for presentation of platters of food and side dishes and for removing these items when guests have finished. Approach from the right to present and pour wine, and to serve and later clear pre-plated main courses.
  
  

Never Interrupt

• Stay peripheral to guests' interactions. Part of the art of quality banquet serving is the servers' abilities to gracefully navigate any situation, from running children to distracted dancers, without drawing attention to themselves. Frequently a server will find that a table with lively conversation makes it difficult to communicate with guests. Be patient, and wait until you are sure you will not be a distraction when you refill a glass of water or remove a dirty plate.
  
  

Clean Carefully

• Resist the temptation to remove dirty plates and glasses until you are sure the guest is completely finished. You will not only save yourself the hassle of answering to a confused or frustrated guest, but you will also save the time and energy it takes to replace the missing item. Proper etiquette dictates that plates should be removed from the entire table at the same time. This rule may vary according to the establishment or event at which you are serving.
  
  

Serve with a Smile

• Though banquet serving can be challenging, it is ultimately one of the easiest and most enjoyable jobs in the hospitality industry. Enjoy what you do, take pride in your work, and demonstrate it with enthusiasm and a friendly demeanor. This will make the service experience most pleasant for you and for guests.