September 29, 2018, Prescott-
I went to an annual event, this morning, with a full intention of serving, to the best of my ability. The day started at Hope Fest with my joining the off-loading crew, that helped the vendors of various merchandise transport their wares from vehicle to booth. That part always goes fairly well, as there is a highly-motivated group, with no ego attachment to their work.
This year, I agreed to serve much of the day, as personal assistant to the headliner group, which, for propriety’s sake, I will not mention by name. The group and their manager arrived, around 4:30 pm, and after introductions, I helped them settle in to the Green Room. I took a seat, in the meeting area, but far enough apart from the artists that they had no one looking over their shoulders, whilst they were practicing and discussing ideas about their music.
When it comes to these sorts of things, I am like Las Vegas. What happens in the room, stays in the room. At this point in time, I could not and would not tell you the things that were discussed, though there was only honourable and uplifting dialogue.
For whatever reason, however, as soon as two security guards showed up, and announced themselves as the band’s detail, one of the teens who was volunteering with hospitality showed up and said the band manager, who was on the other side of the event grounds, wanted all three of us to get out of the Green Room. We went outside, but were readmitted by the band members, five minutes later. They apologized to us and said they saw no reason for us to be out of the room. I wondered, though, how did the manager think to get rid of us, at that particular moment?
The rest of the run-up to their performance went fine. I got them to select a restaurant and had them write down their selections. The manager was included, of course, via text. The performance was lovely, and I introduced a Christian friend to the band members. They seemed to hit it off well enough. I even got my friend, her sister and nephew prime seats near the stage. Then, I went and got the group’s dinners and set the table in the Green Room, waiting there with another hospitality crew member. When the band returned, I prepared to go outside, whilst they ate. That was co-opted, though, by what appeared to be a private meeting, to which I was not invited, among the crew on the sidewalk outside, followed by a loud, angry message from the manager (still elsewhere) to our crew chief: “Get that guy out of the Green Room!” Well, certainly- people are normally given privacy whilst they eat. There was no need for such anger, especially when he was not at the site. Again, I wonder, were the band members being passive-aggressive and messaging their manager, letting him be an unnecessary heavy?
Needless to say, I left the area and went to help with the breakdown of the stage and artist’s row, as I had promised the event’s founders. That was accomplished with a much larger crew than in past years.
My takeaway, from the behaviours of both the band and my fellow crew members, is simply to take part in the set-up and breakdown of the next such event, and leave the day to the small, self-contained group, which doesn’t seem to like newcomers. That is, if I am even invited to participate, next year.
Wow! What a horrible experience, but I guess managers can be, and often are, a-holes. (Very often, so are the entertainers themselves, of course.) Btw, was this a Christian group?
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Yes, it was a Christian group. I find that Christians, and any other religious group, can be as feckless as any.
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Well, that didn’t go so well… Do you know what the manager’s issue is(was)?
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He wanted the band to be in hermetically-sealed environment, “for their privacy”.
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Still a great experience, regardless of the manager’s moodiness
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On balance, yes, as it was an improvement over last year.
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There’ll always be one person who’ll do things “mean!” I am glad that the rest of the experience was good enough for you.✌️😃❤
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It was, because I would never take things to heart in a way that would hurt the organizers of the event. They are much too loving.
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Definitely a mixed bag. I hope the positive out weighed the negative… It is difficult to navigate when there are mixed messages.
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I will stick with what is appreciated, next time.
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That’s crazy!
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You think?
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Yes, I am not sure I’d want to volunteer again even if they asked me, lol.
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Some volunteering finds its way to the thankless.
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😊
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