FIRST SEATING HOUSE RULES

Effective September 15, 2026

First Seating is built around the quality of the room: the people in it, the chefs who open their worlds to us, and the trust that makes those relationships possible.

These House Rules apply to every member and any guest they bring.

1. THE ROOM

Rooms are intentionally small. Every seat matters.

Treat members, guests, chefs, restaurant teams, hosts, and staff with respect, during the gathering and after it.

Come curious. Participate. Make room for other people.

First Seating is not a place for aggressive networking, pitching, recruiting, fundraising, or selling.

Business may grow naturally from relationships formed here. It should never be the price of being in the room.

2. PRIVACY

What someone shares personally in a First Seating setting should be treated with discretion.

Do not share another member’s personal information, private conversations, business information, contact information, or anything clearly shared in confidence without their permission.

The same applies to chefs. You may sometimes hear about restaurants, concepts, partnerships, fundraising, openings, personnel changes, or other plans before they are public. Treat non-public information accordingly.

This does not prohibit someone from sharing information that is already public, independently known to them, or required to be disclosed by law.

When in doubt, ask before sharing.

3. INTRODUCTIONS

First Seating may make introductions when we believe two people should know each other.

Introductions are generally made with both sides’ permission.

An introduction is just that: an introduction. First Seating does not promise that a business relationship, investment, partnership, reservation, opportunity, or other outcome will result.

Please do not treat access to another member or chef as permission to repeatedly solicit them.

4. INVESTMENTS

Members may independently decide to invest in restaurants, chefs, companies, or other opportunities they encounter through relationships around First Seating.

Those decisions are entirely separate from membership.

First Seating does not broker investments, recommend securities, negotiate investment terms, take transaction-based compensation, or guarantee the merits or outcome of an investment.

Membership should never be understood as purchasing access to investment opportunities.

If an investment conversation develops, the people involved should conduct their own diligence and use their own legal, tax, and financial advisers.

5. GATHERINGS

Core First Seating programming is included in membership as described in your Membership Agreement.

Some gatherings may have a disclosed seat-confirmation fee. If so, the amount and cancellation deadline will be shared before you confirm your seat.

A seat-confirmation fee may be forfeited for a late cancellation or no-show.

Certain special experiences may be separately priced. You will always know the cost before choosing to participate.

Plans occasionally change. Chefs, venues, dates, formats, or other details may need to be substituted or rescheduled.

We will communicate material changes as soon as reasonably possible.

6. YOUR SEAT

Membership and invitations are personal and non-transferable.

Please do not forward an invitation or give your seat to someone else unless First Seating approves it.

If you can no longer attend, tell us as early as you can. In a six- or eight-person room, an empty chair materially changes the evening.

Repeated late cancellations or no-shows may affect future invitations.

7. GUESTS

Some gatherings may allow guests. Others will be members only.

Please ask before bringing someone.

An approved guest is expected to follow these House Rules while participating in First Seating.

As the inviting member, you are responsible for making sure your guest understands the nature of the room and these expectations.

Guest access does not create membership or an ongoing right to attend future gatherings.

8. FOOD, ALCOHOL + EXPERIENCES

First Seating gatherings may involve restaurants, private homes, alcohol, unfamiliar foods, kitchens, travel, cultural activities, or experiences operated by third parties.

Tell us about serious allergies or dietary restrictions when requested, and before attending any experience where they may be relevant.

We will make reasonable efforts to communicate those needs to the chef or venue, but we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment.

Members and guests are responsible for deciding whether they can safely participate in an experience and for drinking responsibly.

Do not drive if you have been drinking.

9. PHOTOS

We want people to be present rather than documenting the room.

Please be thoughtful about photographing or recording other people.

Do not post identifiable photographs, private conversations, non-public chef information, or another person’s attendance without appropriate permission.

First Seating may occasionally photograph a gathering for its own editorial or brand use. When we intend to do so in a meaningful way, we will make that clear.

If you do not want to appear in First Seating photography, tell us.

10. RESPECTING THE ROOM

First Seating is designed for people from different industries, backgrounds, perspectives, and stages of life.

Harassment, discrimination, intimidation, threats, unwanted sexual conduct, repeated unwanted solicitation, or behavior that materially compromises another person’s safety or dignity has no place here.

You do not have to agree with everyone in the room.

You do have to treat them like they belong there.

11. CHEFS + HOSTS

Chefs and hosts are not service providers to the membership.

They are collaborators and participants in the room.

Respect their teams, their homes, their restaurants, their intellectual property, and the boundaries they set.

Do not assume that meeting a chef through First Seating gives you special reservation access, investment access, consulting access, or permission to contact their team repeatedly.

12. WHEN SOMETHING FEELS OFF

If an interaction involving First Seating makes you uncomfortable, or you believe someone has crossed one of these lines, tell us.

We may speak privately with the people involved, restrict participation in a particular gathering, or take other reasonable steps to protect the room.

For serious or repeated conduct, First Seating may suspend invitations or end a membership in accordance with the Membership Agreement.

13. CHANGES TO THESE RULES

The room will evolve.

First Seating may update these House Rules from time to time as the membership and programming develop.

If a change materially affects a member’s rights or obligations, we will communicate it before it takes effect.

Changes to these House Rules will not retroactively change membership price, payment obligations, term, refund rights, or other material commercial terms in your Membership Agreement unless you separately agree to them.

The simplest version:

Be generous.

Use discretion.

Respect the chef.

Respect the room.

Don’t make it transactional.

That’s what makes First Seating work.