what's the fun way of saying 'knock before entering'?

January 16, 2015 9:34 AM

I generally like to leave my office door open, but sometimes I really need to focus on my writing or i'm working of a recorded dictation. I'd like to make a sign for my office door so people know a) i'm in the office b) they're free to come in if they need me. Must have personality!

so the question is, what's the funny/punny/cutesy/ridiculous alternative to 'knock before entering'?

Preferably, i could make this out of construction paper, felt, or maybe needlepoint it. Clearly, i'm hoping for something playful and fun! I've seen signs you can buy that just say 'knock before entering' or some other boring thing, but I'm not interested in that at all. bonus points if there's some sort of visual that would accompany it (like gone fishin' and a guy sleeping in a boat, but not like that at all because i'm in the office)

sock it to me, hivemind!

posted by CookieNose to Work & Money (12 answers total)

Make something that looks like this, and add some text to it that says, in a small way, please knowck.
posted by late afternoon dreaming hotel at 9:41 AM on January 16, 2015

Movie references? Peewee's Big Adventure, or "just give it a little tap-tap-taparoo" from Happy Gilmore? (The latter is not about door-knocking in the scene, but I still would smile if you told me to give your office door a little tap tap taparoo under a picture of Adam Sandler.)
posted by salvia at 9:54 AM on January 16, 2015

Best answer: A picture of Tutankhamun and the message "Toot and come in.".
Oh, and a toy trumpet.
posted by w0mbat at 9:55 AM on January 16, 2015 [4 favorites]

Best answer: Perhaps AA Milne's Owl, with his "PLES RING IF AN RNSER IS REQIRD. PLEZ CNOKE IF AN RNSR IS NOT REQID."
posted by umwhat at 10:11 AM on January 16, 2015 [6 favorites]

1. You want to sign to be effective.
2. You want your sign to say I'm a nice, fun, witty person.
3. Any adult should understand that closed door = 'Knock 1st.'

Picture of grumpy cat and/or other Internet-famous kitty and Please Knock.
Actual red light with On Air painted on it. Probably not hard to make.
Door hanger - Do Not Disturb, possibly made to look as if it came from a super-fancy, internationally interesting, made-up, or super-cheesy hotel.
Mildly amusing phrasing, i.e., Keep Calm and Knock First.
Artsy implementation, needlepont, cut out letters from magazines.

I like the On Air sign, or a doorhanger saying Please Knock. You are a nice, fun, witty person, people will figure that out. At work, be a person who is taken seriously and respected. People will then value how nice you are more. If you are nice 1st, the taken seriously part is harder, especially if you are female.
posted by theora55 at 10:35 AM on January 16, 2015 [3 favorites]

"Do not disturb ... unless you really know how." Maybe with a picture of a startled face.
posted by vickyverky at 10:55 AM on January 16, 2015 [1 favorite]

Depending on your workplace, I would hang a tie on the doorknob.
posted by furnace.heart at 11:46 AM on January 16, 2015

WIZARD, YOU SHALL NOT PASS*!!

*unless you knock
posted by dawkins_7 at 11:48 AM on January 16, 2015

I eat knocks
I am always hungry
If you haven't any knocks, don't bother visiting
posted by Namlit at 12:21 PM on January 16, 2015

A mirror with "I am the one who knocks" on the frame.
posted by sageleaf at 12:48 PM on January 16, 2015 [9 favorites]

The door will be opened to those bold enough to knock.
Please knock. World Building in Progress
Princess Charming is in. Please knock.
posted by caryatid at 4:39 PM on January 16, 2015

ONE DOES NOT SIMPLY
WALK INTO MY OFFICE
posted by mon-ma-tron at 9:04 PM on January 17, 2015 [1 favorite]