Let’s say you have three people in an order of precedence. For an example: President, Vice-President, Secretary of State. At a formal event, it is your intention to have the SoS speak first, VP second, Prez third. I was told that that was disrespectful to the Prez as they are introduced last. They claim proper etiquette is to introduce all the dignitaries at the beginning in precedence order (Prez, VP, SoS). Is that correct etiquette or just one person’s idea?
Assuming there is a factual answer to this, I put it here. If it is more of a debate, mods feel free to move it.
I would assume “gig” rules apply, your headliner goes last, with the less prestigious bands going first in reverse order of prestige, as warm up acts.
But when you announce the gig it’s: Big Famous Band with special guests Local Band You’ve Never Heard Of.
Soooooo … in the program list them in order of precedence? That would work
Introductions and speaking order are different things. For a big formal affair, protocol would assume a program be printed. The front would give the affair’s name, and then special guests President, VP and SoS. But the inside page would have the order of speakers, starting with Introductions and then listing the SOS, VP, and President.
Even if there was no program, the MC of the affair could at the top introduce the guests in order of rank and then give a longer introduction to the speakers when it’s their turn.
Appearances are a third thing. I believe it’s the norm for the President not to appear until everyone else is seated. I may be thinking of kings, not that there’s a difference these days.
Departments of protocol exist in the White House and the State Department, IIRC. They can answer every possible question, except maybe where tech billionaires rank if their aren’t ambassadors.
Heads of state outrank deputy heads of state or heads of government who in turn outrank foreign ministers. Presumably any event that had people in all these categories attending would be the kind of event where diplomatic protocol matters.
Isn’t “he gets introduced first” pretty much what the order of precedence means?
No, since there will be an order of precedence even among people who are not being introduced at all.
It will determine who is listed first, if a definitive list of those attending a particular function is prepared, but such a list is not always prepared. It will determine the order in which they are seated at the table, if the function involves sitting at a table.