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Shmanners

Join husband Travis McElroy and wife Teresa McElroy every Friday and they'll improve your etiquette week by week! Perplexed by thank you notes? Baffled by black tie? Dismayed by dinner parties? Worry no more, Shmanners has your answers! Tune in every Friday on MaximumFun.org!
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Now displaying: Page 6
Jun 9, 2017

Hello Internet! Welcome to another in our impromptu "Summer Fun!" series! This week, ZOOS! What do you do when you see a kid tapping the glass? Can you go to a zoo as a childish adult? Should you correct a parent spreading misinformation? What do you say to your kid when the animals start doing "what comes natural"? How did zoos start anyway? Questions to these and more! Enjoy and be sure to tell a friend!

Jun 3, 2017

Hello Internet! Look but don't touch at this new episode we made for you all about MUSEUMS! Not only do we tell you their fascinating history, but we answer your questions too! How close can you stand? What does "pay what you can" really mean? Can you ask someone to move if you can't see? Is it cool to bring a baby? All those answers and more! Enjoy and be sure to tell a friend!

May 27, 2017

Hello Internet! Thanks for baring with us as we travel and recover being sick! In this episode, we answer a whole bunch of your questions! What do you do when your friend is a bad tipper? What's the best practices for asking someone to write a letter of recommendation? What do you do when passing someone in the hallway? Answers to these and more! Enjoy and be sure to tell a friend!

May 12, 2017

Hello Internet! This week, we're talking tattoos! A little bit about the history, but mostly we focus on the modern dos and donts! How to work with your artist on the design. Do you tip? How do you stop people from touching your tattoos? Do you have to explain WHY you got your tattoo to everyone who asks? Answers to these and even more of your questions! Enjoy and please share!

May 5, 2017

Hello Internet! It's time for another in our WEDDINGS series! This time: WHO PAYS FOR WHAT? From the reception, to the officiant, to the flowers, there sure are a lot of costs associated with a wedding. Traditionally, certain parties were expected to pay for certain things. What are said traditions? Where did those traditions come from? Do they still apply to the modern day? And who pays for the fog machine? All this, plus answers to your questions! Enjoy and be sure to tell a friend!

Apr 28, 2017

Hello there Internet! Thank you so much for tuning to another Shmanners! Hopefully, once you're done listening, you'll have nothing but positive things to say about the episode! If not, that's ok! You can learn a lot from constructive criticism! In fact, this episode is all about THE ART OF CRITIQUE! What do you do when a friend asks for your feedback? How do make a convincing compliment sandwich? What do you do with criticism you don't agree with? Plus, some history on the beginnings of the restaurant critic! Enjoy and be sure to share!

Apr 21, 2017

Hello Internet! Welcome to another great episode! Be sure to sign in in Hall B and pick up your badge! And be sure to grab a swag bag! This week, we're talking CONS! Primarily conventions, but there is some conference stuff in there as well! Want some tips on networking and business card exchanging? How do you ask someone for a picture? Want some very important tips on being respectful to cosplayers? What's the deal with getting things signed? All this and more! Enjoy and be sure to share!

Apr 14, 2017

Hello Internet! Welcome Friend to another episode of Shmanners made for you by Travis and Teresa! Sit right down Comrade and enjoy an hour all about NAMES AND HONORIFICS! We discuss the origins of Mr. & Mrs. and how we see them changing in the future and how non-gendered honorifics are gaining popularity in the present! We talk about changing one's name after marriage! We talk about trying to give yourself a college nickname! We also answer your questions! How to correct someone who mispronounces your name! How to ask someone for their name when they've already told you once! And a whole lot more! Exclamation point! Enjoy and be sure to share!

Apr 7, 2017

Hello Internet! Last week, we did a whole episode all about Twitter and Facebook! When it came right down to it, we just had WAY too many questions for just one episode! So we decided to follow it up with an episode jam packed with YOUR questions! When to unfriend? How to end a Facebook fight? What's the deal with spoilers? Is it ok to post political opinions? When to add someone you just met on Facebook? All these questions and MORE! Enjoy and be sure to share!

Mar 31, 2017

Hello Internet! Welcome to MaxFunDrive Week Two! We hope all is well with you! We have been dancing around this subject for awhile! It's a big one folks! We're talking SOCIAL MEDIA! Specifically, Twitter and Facebook. First, we take a look at the history of social media (including our personal history!) Then, we give you some of our best tips and hints for navigating the choppy e-waters! Finally, we answer some of your questions! However, we just had so many questions that we're turning this one in to a TWO-PARTER! So enjoy and don't forget to support the art and artists you love over at maximumfun.org/donate!

Mar 24, 2017

Hello Internet! Happy MaxFunDrive to ALL! We are so excited to bring you an episode that's been in the works for a while! In fact, we're bringing you two- TWO!- episodes in one! You get a double dose of royalty! One half QUEEN VICTORIA and one half PRINCE ALBERT! Hear about their birth and how they are connected! Hear about them falling in love! Hear about assassination attempts! Hear about A LOT OF THINGS! Enjoy a love story as amazing as it is true! Enjoy and don't forget to support the art and artists you love! maximumfun.org/donate!

Mar 22, 2017

Hello Internet! It's Max Fun Drive so we thought we'd give you a little extra bonus episode! So, we put together an all advice episode! Can you put your feet on the coffee table? Who gets an invite to a Grad Party? What are the different dress codes for weddings? All these answers and MORE! Enjoy and don't forget to share!

Mar 17, 2017

Hello Internet! Happy St. Patrick's Day to one and all! This week's episode is all about THE GUINNESS FAMILY! From there humble beginnings to their amazing successes, the Guinness family is fascinating! They have strange habits, strange friends and they made a strange book! But, their beer is delicious and their story is interesting, so gather round, pull yourself a pint of the black stuff and enjoy!

Mar 10, 2017

Hello Internet! A tip of the hat to you! On this episode, we throw our hats over the fence and commit to do a great episode for you! It was a challenge, but we weren't afraid to throw our hats in the ring! We're talking about HATS, did we mention that? When is it appropriate to wear one and when do you take it off? How long have we been wearing them? What's the difference between a Bowler, a Fedora, and a Homburg? All this plus answers to even more of your questions! Enjoy and don't forget to share!

Mar 3, 2017

Hello Internet! We sure do hope you're having a great day! We have a really good episode just for YOU! This week is all about FACIAL HAIR! Should you wear a beard to an interview? What's a "beard tax"? Are there different facial hair styles? Answers to those questions and MORE! Plus, a whole lot of facial history! Enjoy and don't forget to share with a friend!

Mar 1, 2017

Hello Internet! As promised, here's PART 2 of our WEDDING RECEPTION episode! If you haven't, be sure to check out PART ONE! Enjoy our answers to your questions! And special guest appearance by a VERY chatty Bebe Lee! 

Feb 25, 2017

Hello Internet! We are very excited for you to hear this episode! Well, the first half of it anyway... something went wrong and we couldn't use the 2nd half! But don't worry, we're gonna re-record it! In the mean time, enjoy PART 1! In this half, you're gonna get a lot of cool history! Including the history of OUR reception! Enjoy and be sure to share! Look for PART 2 early next week!

Feb 10, 2017

Hello Internet! Listen, I know we haven't known each other all that long, but would you do us the honor of joining us in this episode? It's all about FIRST DATES! Who pays? What do you talk about? What do you do if it's a disaster? How do you ask for a second date?! Answers to these questions and MORE! Plus, you are going to learn all about the history of dating! Don't worry, this one is on us! We insist! Enjoy and remember to share!

Feb 3, 2017

Well hello there! You know, we here at Shmanners HQ know that there has been a lot of political talk lately, so we thought it was time to do an episode about the President. Yep, that's right! We're doing it! We're talking about GEORGE WASHINGTON! What was his early life ACTUALLY like? How did he become President? More importantly, what is his connection to etiquette? All this and more! We can not tell a lie, we sure would appreciate if you'd share the episode with a friend!

Jan 27, 2017

Hey there you knave! What would a scoundrel like you know about manners? Nothing! So, listen up you rogue and learn all about INSULTS! We share with you some classical insults and a few insulting names you've probably never heard! Plus, answers to your questions. Is it ok for friends to insult each other? What do you do if you are accidentally insulted? How do you give constructive criticism? All this, and more! Enjoy and share, you scallywag!

Jan 20, 2017

Well hello there Internet! Might I say, those are some amazing shoes! No, I really mean it! They're great! Of course I'm serious! Ok, now you are just fishing! This week's episode is all about COMPLIMENTS! How do you give them? How do you receive them? Can you do it from a car? We also share some historical compliments! Be sure to tune in next week for an episode all about insults! Enjoy and be sure to share!

Jan 13, 2017

Hello friends! Pull up a stool and let's have a chat! What are you drinking? First round is on us! This week is all about BAR ETIQUETTE! What's the difference between bars, pubs, and taverns? curious about the historical importance of pubs? Plus, what do you do if you break a glass? How do you become a regular? Tipping: how does it work?! All this plus even more answers to even more questions! Special thanks to our friends Stuart Wellington and his wife Sharlene for their expert input! Enjoy and please remember to listen responsibly!

Jan 7, 2017

Hello Internet! After a brief holiday break, we're back! We hope your holidays were good and that your 2017 is going well! If you're anything like us, you probably have some goals for the new year! Some might even call them RESOLUTIONS? We'll talk a little about the history of them, but mostly we want to talk about the most common resolution: going to the GYM! How does one behave well at the gym? How did the idea of gyms come about? Plus, answers to your gym etiquette questions! Enjoy and please be sure to share!

Dec 23, 2016

Hello Internet! We have a very special episode for you! This episode all about VICTORIAN CHRISTMAS was recorded live at this year's Candlenights live show! We sure hope you enjoy it! Have a happy (AND SAFE!) holiday and we'll see you in 2017!

Dec 16, 2016

Hello there Internet! What's that behind your back? A present? FOR US?! Well, we got you something too! It's a brand new episode all about HOLIDAY GIFTS: GIVING AND RECEIVING! First, hear us discuss our own gift philosophies! Then, we discuss some famous gifts from history! We answer a whole mess of your gift questions too! What's the policy on re-gifting? Do you need to match monetary values? Who do you have to give presents to? All these and more! Enjoy the episode and feel free to share this gift with your friends!

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