Scandinavian Christmas Party 2007 :: Participants' Survey

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SURVEY REPORT

ABOUT THE SURVEY
Survey period	10 - 31 December 2007
Responses	39 (SCCJ-15, DCCJ-10, FCCJ-8, NCCJ-6)
Response rate	ca 35% *
*) We estimate that the survey population was about 110 as more than 60 % of the participants were invited guests, and in case of couples, only one responded.

QUESTION 1. - General opinions about the event

Information prior to the event

Arrangements

Comments from respondents:
I understand a loot of work went in to organizing this. Well done!
Didn't receive an agenda before the party, but we were late to register.
Better information about when reception starts. e.g. recommend 18:30-19:00 glogg+registration 19:00 start
We were about 30 minutes late, so not sure when the actual lottery tickets could be purchased. Or if the "winners" were randomly selected based on attendance and payment of dinner program (Yen 17,000). We had no clue how this was being handled.
It was a wonderfull event and the organization comittee should be congratulated.
Thank you for a wonderful christmas party, great food, well organized, good dancing and a good mix of people.
Basically the whole arrangement has found its form and is nice and fair value for money. The patience/attention span of the audience and the dullness of the entertainment, however, is a bad combination, and one day we should maybe decide to get some professional English (speaking) host to run the show. Scandinavians do not understand each others humour (if that's the word) and I for my part cannnot understand why all Swedish songs must have more than 20 verses!
Good spirit and happy people made it to a nice party as usual. We appreciate all the fantastic efforts from the organizers so it does not feel good to come with negative comments but this year was a dip compared to other very successful years. I believe it relates to the service at our table and the entertainment during the dinner.
In general a lot of improvement in program, sound level, food, etc. Thank you for your efforts!
I think this style has done it. New ideas are needed.
Thank you very much for the excellent preparation.
Great party with great atmosphere.
Was very impressed with the participation of all.
For me it was first time to participate but it was really exellent Xmas party. We were very much enjoyed together with guests. They were happy and more than they have expected. Great thank you to Taiko-san, Classe and all other commitee members.
Thank you for a great evening! nothing to complain about!!

It would be a nice touch if they could add National country flags for each table, as the tables appear to be organized by nationality anyway. Or else distribute small country pins, so folks can easily identify the nationality of the participant(s). Anyway, it would be an inexpensive but nice gesture.

QUESTION 2. - The Venue

Facilities

Access

Some comments from respondents:
The Westin is quite difficult to get to, in the friday night traffic, the taxi took us almost an hour from the center.
First time for me at Westin, which is very convenient, but the venue was a bit cramped, especially the arrival and mingle area outside the ballroom.

QUESTION 3. - The Program

Lotteries

Other Program

Some comments from respondents:
The lotteries are exiting, but they take up a lot of time. I always enjoy listening to ms Henrikssen, but it would have been so much better without the "stjarngosse". I did not get it, was it suppose to be a joke? I missed the Lucia children.
Was not impressed with music entertainment (violin and piano). Did not quite understand how it related to Xmas! Hoping to have something more classical (a string quartet for instance)
Messy. Difficult to hear. Many persons on the scene with their back towards the audience. Artist performances good (male singer exception) but to long. Perhaps to serious. We were missing Lucia.
Missed the traditional Lucia procession
Lotteries should be arranged in two groups, in the beginning and in the end and between a high class, professional program leaded by one person not 5. It was impossible to hear what was talked on the stage even we sat by the closest table. What about Lucia?? It is better to skip completely if the children's Lucia is not available. All the programs too long. People have no patience to listen. They start to talk and that disturbs others who want to listen.
The Dinner Entertainment (the Jazz) should maybe have been one number shorter - otherwise very good.
The lotteries were fun, but our table did not like the performance of Carina Henriksson and her partner very much. It did not create any Christmas feelings - she should at least have song a real Christmas song like silent night or others. We all agreed that the Swedish kid's Lucia performance was always much nicer and much more special. The Jazz performance however was much appreciated at our table.
Good with fixed lottery times, and time was kept. Great jazz duo, I enjoyed their performance! the lucia train was comical initially, but then they tried a semi-serious singing performance, and the overall impression was...uhmmm.
Too much talking by the people arranging. We need more actual entertainment (like the Brazilian dancers a few years ago) and less own made. I thought the prized were not as good as in previous year. Will make sure my company supports better next year!!
Songs by professional opera singer was good. I prefer Children's Lucia. It's really Swedish Xmas. Jazz was also good, but I could not piano so much. I am sorry to say, but when four entertainers came in playing music, it reminded me of "Chindonya"on shopping street.
The Lucia performance failed, a traditional would have been better..
Please give us the childrens' lucia choir back! :-)
Can we change the band or add another mix for next year? Same band, same songs.... Can recommend Moonshots and add Mats on Sax! (But then again, we would be working instead of partying....)
The Scandinavian Christmas Party is always one of the best parties of the year and we really do appreciate to get into the Christmas spirit, to see our friends and to dance a lot! Thanks for your hard work!
The singers at the beginning were good, but 2 songs would be enough; one should be the Santa Lucia song. Anyway, the child choir would be a better choice, as a nice tradition. BUT MOST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR THE FANTASTIC JOB IN ARRANGING THIS GREAT EVENT!!!
The band is great !
Cut down amateur entertainment
The timing of the serving did not always follow the program i.e. coffee was served after the dancing was started.
Thank you very much for an enjoyable Nordic night. Thank you also for your efforts and good arrangements.

Excellent night. Hitmen- great band. Good entertainment . Great food and nice feeling through the night. Well done.

QUESTION 4. - Food & Beverage Service

Variety/volume

Quality

Some comments from respondents:
Wonderful food, especially the deer.
Run out of vodka.
Service was not good. At three times at our table dishes were missing for at least two person. We were all the time walking around the table serving drinks to ourselves or forwarding bottles in between us.
Main dish very simple and meat too thick. Volume was too small. No need to have any night food if the dinner is the right volume.
Positive comments from our invited guests to both food and beverages.
The food was really good this year, for so many people even excellent! After last year's bad food, it was a very pleasant surprise! Traditionally we always start the evening with gl?gg, but I think it would be better to offer at least some water and sparkling wine, too. Very often you feel really thirsty here in Tokyo when you arrive at the venue and not everybody really likes glögg.
Mostly tasty, but too tiny. I was still hungry when the dancing started. Plenty of wine could have made the hunger go away, but they were too slow to bring out the bottles! The bar outside only had hard liquor when I went there, no wine or beer.
Nice combination of food with the great choice of wine.
There was not that much food.
Volume was right, but the reindeer was a little "gamey" in taste. I'd recommend something more along the lines of the standard Norwegian rib roast. It is much better tasting than reindeer, and widely acceptable to a more general audience.
Much better than in previous years - Keep this concept!!

Very good event with good food (ala scandinavian) but more volume would definitely not hurt. And a great band.

QUESTION 5. - Participation fee

Comments from respondents:

With 17.000 yen you expect a nice show and excellent dinner.

QUESTION 6. - Preferred date in 2008?

Comments from respondents:

Later date enhances the Christmas spirit!

QUESTION 7. - If your schedule allows, would you particpate in the next Christmas Party?

Comments from respondents:
If my boss allows me.
If invited

Definitely