By Simbo Olorunfemi
Beyond the jokes here and there, the play with words, which some still didn’t get, getting upset over what is not, I might have done an exposition on the Shettima, with the mind of mining lessons for those of us who play in the Political Communications and Strategy space (not media!).
But the level of discourse here is generally rather shallow, petty and emotional. People can’t see beyond two sides. You are either for or against them. Once you are not singing Hossana at the end of each the verses from their corner, you are deemed to be for the opposition, either because you are bitter or doing so on ethno-religious grounds.
It is that shallow. People are high-strung at the moment. There is hardly any room for an ‘academic’ or ‘professional’ interrogation. You set up yourself to being misunderstood, misplaced or mischaracterised.
It is what it is. So, I will proceed to take on one lesson from the many I might have engaged on the Shettima moment. For the sake of the argument here, we proceed from the promise that there was something off or below-par about the way he presented himself that day. A few things might have gone wrong that might have led to that ‘wardrobe malfunction’. But it was to the ‘Handlers’ to fix. I doubt that they worked with the best option that day.
But my focus here is not on the Suit. It is on the Chair. Again, this is for those in our space. As you know, with public events of that nature, especially in an unsure or hostile environment, you cannot take anything for granted. Everything matters. Seating arrangements. Who sits where? How long do we have to speak? Sit or Stand? Who is moderating? Are we taking questions? Sound check? Every detail. Every little thing.
I doubt that there was that much attention to details. Now, here is where paying attention to details matter. If my Client or Principal, that High-profile, was to speak at that event, I would have done a check on that chair. That Tub Chair!
I once sat on one at Landmark Centre, Lagos, as Speaker at the Social Media Week, years back.
As you would know, the Tub Chair are usually found in restaurants, hotels and waiting rooms, as they are deemed as enabling of guests to sit in comfort. Trent says that “With their low seat, soft cushioning and high, supportive arms and back, they can add a touch of relaxed luxury to any environment.”
Perhaps for these reasons, the tub chair has caught on as one to use for seminars and conferences. Well. But I did not find the one I sat on comfortable, or more appropriately, fitting. I think it had to do with my height, which itself has to do with the height of the chair. I will argue that many of those I have seen around here are not quite of the height that would enable a person of good height sit comfortably. He would have to constantly make the effort for his posture not to be awkward.
I have paid attention to quite some events where the Chair had been in use. The commissioning of the Civic Centre at Ado Ekiti. Perhaps my bias. I didn’t ‘feel’ that the Chairs were exactly posture-fitting and camera-appropriate. The Chair was quite low, pushing in the guest. For us in the Optics business, you don’t want your man appearing stuffed or dwarfed.
There was this event I managed in Benin last year. I remember pushing back on the Tub Chair, when the idea of using them was broached. Somehow, the Chairs made their way to the event. I sighted them just before they made their way onto the podium. Off-white and rather brief. I remember getting Osikela to sit in one, to have a feel. The decision to drop them for a different set made a difference for us with comfort for the high profile guests and optics, as well.
I might be wrong with the Tub Chair, as with every other thing here. Of course, that was not just about the Chair. But, as stated at the beginning, the focus here is singular – on the chair. However, the point I make is on the need to pay great attention to details, to the little things. It helps.
Otherwise, you might find yourself in a situation where one shot of an awkward posture defines a moment said to have been a brilliant one by a man who can comfortably hold his own in such settings.
Peace.
Simbo Olorunfemi, a journalist writes from Lagos.