Business Dialogues

AUDIO BUSINESSDIALOGUES ANSWERS ON PAGE 46 THE EXOTIC RESTAURANT

In this dialogue, June and Frank, two partners who own an exotic restaurant, are discussing falling sales, and ways of resolving the crisis. June has an interesting idea. Listen to the dialogue and answer these two questions.

1. Why are they in trouble? 2. What is June’s solution to the problem?

June: Things are looking bad. We’ve had a drop in the number of clients this past month, and sales are really down. Plus, our expenses are far too high. We’ve got to do something about it. Frank: It’s all my fault. I mean, paying top models to dance all night in our exotic restaurant is costing us too much. Admittedly, it does attract some extra customers… June: Yeah, a few dirty old men, who order a bowl of soup and then sit there for two hours watching our dancers. Frank: And I suppose offering all customers a complimentary glass of champagne doesn’t help with the cash flow either. June: Certainly not. We are losing a fortune with that promotional idea of yours. Frank: However, I do think we should stick with the dancing models. Perhaps we should just try to find some less expensive ones. Your mother dances, doesn’t she? June: You leave my mother out of this! Frank: I’ve got a friend who once did aerobics. She might do. June: No, seriously, I don’t think this combination of traditional British food and exotic dancing will ever catch on. The public don’t seem to understand it. We’ve got to change the overall concept. Frank: So, what have you got in mind? June: Well, I was thinking that instead of having female dancers, we could have some male dancers. Frank: Mmm… Why? June: Well, for a start we’d get rid of all those sad old men. And secondly, we’d attract lots of female customers for the male dancers. Frank: Oh, yeah. That’s a good idea. But who are you going to use? Do you know any men who can dance? June: Well, the person I had in mind is not standing a million miles from here. Frank: Who? Who are you talking about? June: YOU! You fool! Frank: But I can’t dance. June: Yes, you can. Look, it’s easy (June puts on some music). That’s it. Now move your body up and down, up and down... Frank: Hey, I think I’m getting the hang of this. It’s really good fun. June: Great! Now, just start slowly taking your clothes off… Frank: What? (music fades out)

Part II - exercise

Now listen to some extracts from the conversation again.

You will notice there are some missing words and a beeping sound. See if you can write the missing word. The answers are on page 46. 1. We’ve had a drop ______ the number of clients. 2. We’ve got to do something ______ it. 3. I do think we should stick ________ the dancing models. 4. I don’t think this idea will ever catch ________ . 5. We would get rid _________ all those sad old men. 6. I’m getting the hang _________ this.

falling sales n sales that are decreasing a drop n a fall; a decrease to be down exp if sales “are down”, they are low and have decreased a dirty old man n a word that is used to describe a man with unnatural interests in sex a complimentary glass of champagne n a free glass of champagne cash flow n movement of money in and out of a company to lose a fortune exp to lose a lot of money to stick with phr vb if you “stick with” something, you continue to use that thing she might do exp this means: “she will possibly be acceptable” to catch on phr vb if something “catches on”, it becomes popular an overall concept n the general idea what have you got in mind? exp this means: “what are thinking of?” to get rid of exp if you “get rid of” something, you throw that thing away sad adj pathetic is not standing a million miles from here exp this is a sarcastic way of saying: “is very close/near” a fool n an idiot I’m getting the hang of this exp this means: “I’m getting accustomed to this”