[Food] Teams meetings in cafes and coffee shops

The Clamp · Monday at 10:38 AM

Glad to see many cafes are banning people from holding intrusive, annoying meetings in cafes.

Some still seem to embrace it though. There’s one I stopped going to as they had some guy in there most days with a Madonna mic on and he paces around the cafe hosting his meeting.

These aren’t particularly young people. Average age seems about 30yrs.

Like no headphones on public transport, it’s part of the “ME FIRST” culture I see so much of these days.

Is it WFH, the lockdowns, a general growing lack of consideration for others that makes people think they can just treat the world as their front room?

And it’s not confined to the younger generations.

What the heck is going on and why are so few people challenging it?

Chicken Run · Monday at 10:41 AM

The Clamp said:
Glad to see many cafes are banning people from holding intrusive, annoying meetings in cafes.

Some still seem to embrace it though. There’s one I stopped going to as they had some guy in there most days with a Madonna mic on and he paces around the cafe hosting his meeting.

These aren’t particularly young people. Average age seems about 30yrs.

Like no headphones on public transport, it’s part of the “ME FIRST” culture I see so much of these days.

Is it WFH, the lockdowns, a general growing lack of consideration for others that makes people think they can just treat the world as their front room?

And it’s not confined to the younger generations.

What the heck is going on and why are so few people challenging it?

I was only just thinking how much i miss life 2019 and backwards compared to 2020 an onwards!!

tedebear · Monday at 10:51 AM

Its one of the things I dislike the most about the British, they'll glower and mutter under their breath but they don't terribly often challenge poor behaviour...Until that happens, idiots like this will get away with it, more people will see it and think its ok and on it goes...

clapham_gull · Monday at 11:00 AM

The Clamp said:
Glad to see many cafes are banning people from holding intrusive, annoying meetings in cafes.

Some still seem to embrace it though. There’s one I stopped going to as they had some guy in there most days with a Madonna mic on and he paces around the cafe hosting his meeting.

These aren’t particularly young people. Average age seems about 30yrs.

Like no headphones on public transport, it’s part of the “ME FIRST” culture I see so much of these days.

Is it WFH, the lockdowns, a general growing lack of consideration for others that makes people think they can just treat the world as their front room?

And it’s not confined to the younger generations.

What the heck is going on and why are so few people challenging it?

I think in London it's mainly a bus thing, but I was having a hipster delivered craft beer last week at a hipster craft beer shop.

Should have seen the warning signs.

Complete bell-end with a Mac decides to have a meeting in the next seat. Nothing kills a pint of lager more than multiple reach outs, shares and an opportunity for a catch up later.

The Clamp · Monday at 11:02 AM

tedebear said:
Its one of the things I dislike the most about the British, they'll glower and mutter under their breath but they don't terribly often challenge poor behaviour...Until that happens, idiots like this will get away with it, more people will see it and think its ok and on it goes...

I agree.

My reservation about challenging teenagers or young people with no headphones on the bus is that I challenge them and they comply because they are young girls or boys….

… and then some massive hard nut bloke gets on, playing music with no headphones.

Then you have the whole bus looking at you thinking “go on then…”

It’s a minefield.

The Clamp · Monday at 11:05 AM

Chicken Run said:
I was only just thinking how much i miss life 2019 and backwards compared to 2020 an onwards!!

There is definitely a pre and post lockdown world.

Mellotron · Monday at 11:06 AM

In my work there have been times where I have needed to take a video meeting whilst at a cafe/hotel etc (because I needed internet or some work space, would do it in my car otherwise if necessary etc), but I always do my best to put myself in a quiet corner and try to be as inoffensive to other patrons as possible.

jimhigham · Monday at 11:07 AM

Which teams?

My first thought was a disgruntled looking Chelsea squad complaining they can't all fit into the Flour Pot Bakery.

The Clamp · Monday at 11:09 AM

Mellotron said:
In my work there have been times where I have needed to take a video meeting whilst at a cafe/hotel etc (because I needed internet or some work space, would do it in my car otherwise if necessary etc), but I always do my best to put myself in a quiet corner and try to be as inoffensive to other patrons as possible.

I see people doing it like this, with a conscious effort to be as unobtrusive as possible. I’ve no issue with that, we all have to do work stuff sometimes and we don’t always get to pick the venue .

But there is an element who clearly revel in letting the whole venue know that they are IMPORTANT and they are hosting an IMPORTANT meeting. These people need to go .

Mellotron · Monday at 11:13 AM

The Clamp said:
But there is an element who clearly revel in letting the whole venue know that they are IMPORTANT and they are hosting an IMPORTANT meeting. These people need to go .

Agreed - these people baffle me. It's like Bob Mortimer's Train Guy isn't it.

I'm quite depressed to be in the corporate world tbh - I am looking to change career over the next 2-3 years gradually to something more creative and less big business. I can't really understand people like that who relish it and think others would be impressed.

Very High Performance podcast. Blugh.

The Clamp · Monday at 11:17 AM

Mellotron said:
Agreed - these people baffle me. It's like Bob Mortimer's Train Guy isn't it.

I'm quite depressed to be in the corporate world tbh - I am looking to change career over the next 2-3 years gradually to something more creative and less big business. I can't really understand people like that who relish it and think others would be impressed.

Very High Performance podcast. Blugh.

What would you like to move to doing?

Iggle Piggle · Monday at 11:18 AM

My gym have got the right idea. It's also a Hotel. There is one room to relax in and another for people working in to talk Corporate BS. It splits the customers between those there because they have to be working and those who fancy a drink in peace.

I've never got on with Coffee shops in any case. If it's not the bellend hosting the meeting, it's the mum with the screaming kids and an eye watering price for an absolutely shite coffee. It's rarely relaxing. More often than not, I'm wondering why I'm there.

Anger · Monday at 11:21 AM

Makes me angry.

Mellotron · Monday at 11:25 AM

The decision is already made and the gears have started turning.

I'm moving into the world of music. Yes I am aware it's risky. Yes I know it's a hugely oversaturated market. This wasn't an impulsive decision, it's about 15 years in the making.

To clarify, it would be a combination of teaching (Bass Guitar primarily, although I may also look at teaching Guitar, Drums, Piano at a basic level) and working in Sync/Song production - mostly writing for film and TV.

I have a couple of friends/old band mates who are currently working in that world (and making a decent living in it) so I would like that to be my eventual full destination, but it's a slow burn to get into and build up income. The teaching is a more solid starting point to bringing in regular income.

Oh, and also doing function work (weddings, birthdays etc) as extra income top up, maybe 1-2 times a month.

As main breadwinner of my household I have to do this very carefully - fortunately my current work are being really supportive in terms of allowing me to leave in a staged manner - it actually suits the company, the clients and me for me to leave as slowly/gradually as possible.

Sorry, you didn't ask for my life story. But it's a huge deal to me.

The Clamp · Monday at 11:27 AM

Mellotron said:
The decision is already made and the gears have started turning.

I'm moving into the world of music. Yes I am aware it's risky. Yes I know it's a hugely oversaturated market.

To clarify, it would be a combination of teaching (Bass Guitar primarily, although I may also look at teaching Guitar, Drums, Piano at a basic level) and working in Sync/Song production - mostly writing for film and TV.

I have a couple of friends/old band mates who are currently working in that world (and making a decent living in it) so I would like that to be my eventual full destination, but it's a slow burn to get into and build up income. The teaching is a more solid starting point to bringing in regular income.

Oh, and also doing function work (weddings, birthdays etc) as extra income top up, maybe 1-2 times a month.

As main breadwinner of my household I have to do this very carefully - fortunately my current work are being really supportive in terms of allowing me to leave in a staged manner - it actually suits the company, the clients and me for me to leave as slowly/gradually as possible.

Sorry, you didn't ask for my life story. But it's a huge deal to me.

I have a friend who did similar.

Tops up income with functions. Weddings etc

He also goes over to Spain a couple of times a year and does residences in a hotel for two or three weeks. Good money and fun.

Good luck. You should try it. It’s not worth regretting it when it’s too late.

Mellotron · Monday at 11:33 AM

The Clamp said:
It’s not worth regretting it when it’s too late.

This is it. I'm still the right side of 40. I don't want to click my fingers and suddenly I'm 60 and still "not got round to it".

It might not work out, and I might come back to my current job cap in hand in a few years. But I owe it to myself to try.

albionalba · Monday at 11:37 AM

Mellotron said:
Sorry, you didn't ask for my life story. But it's a huge deal to me.

Definitely the time / age to do it. You'll open up a huge amount more serendipity taking this route than staying in the corporate world. Who knows quite what will come of it, but good for you for making that choice now and you may even look back in ten years and wish you had done it earlier. Good that you can stage it also.

Pogue Mahone · Monday at 11:46 AM

Thanks, @The Clamp . You’ve inspired me to listen to Dexys for the first time in a while.

Mellor 3 Ward 4 · Monday at 11:57 AM

The Clamp said:
Glad to see many cafes are banning people from holding intrusive, annoying meetings in cafes.

Some still seem to embrace it though. There’s one I stopped going to as they had some guy in there most days with a Madonna mic on and he paces around the cafe hosting his meeting.

These aren’t particularly young people. Average age seems about 30yrs.

Like no headphones on public transport, it’s part of the “ME FIRST” culture I see so much of these days.

Is it WFH, the lockdowns, a general growing lack of consideration for others that makes people think they can just treat the world as their front room?

And it’s not confined to the younger generations.

What the heck is going on and why are so few people challenging it?

Feet on train seats - and bags taking up a seat - challenge it

No headphones on trains / busses - challenge it

Teams meetings in pubs and cafes - tell em WFH means WFH or get back in the office.

Too any entitled people nowadays, of all ages.

Change at Barnham · Monday at 12:02 PM

The Clamp said:
Like no headphones on public transport, it’s part of the “ME FIRST” culture I see so much of these days.

What the heck is going on and why are so few people challenging it?

People don't like confrontation and are worried about things spiralling out of their control.
So they take the easy option and swerve the situation.
The older I get the more I tend to swerve confrontation, thinking to myself "is it worth it?"
I suppose it could be called cowardly or just a lack of confidence.

[Food] Teams meetings in cafes and coffee shops

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