A Tale of Volunteering at Two Events

I was recently given comp tickets to two events in exchange for helping out. I gratefully accepted since I enjoy attending events more as a worker bee than as an attendee. As I explained to someone recently, I like to be helpful. Even without the comp ticket, I'll be figuring out ways to help.

The first event was a meet and greet with author Susan Choi. The poised author graciously read excepts from her newest novel, Flashlight, which has been shortlisted for the Booker Award. The event was held in the elegant Erdman Center at the Princeton Theological Seminary. With its high ceiling, arch between rooms, parquet floors, and enormous 18-panel windows painted in what might be Benjamin Moore historic paint colors, I felt transformed just stepping into the room. It is a sharp contrast to its modern brick exterior. 

Photo credit: Tim Sexton

The event was lovely. I wish I had asked for a guest list ahead of time so I would
have been more prepared at check in. I would have noted the names of the board members, for instance. Guests were kind and patient and it went very smoothly.

Afterwards I was sent a lovely thank you note from Debbie, the organizer, praising me for my help. She said every time she looked over at me she saw me smiling and knew I had everything under control. This allowed her to relax, not worry, and focus on the event. I am paraphrasing, but that is perhaps the best compliment I have ever received. She also gave me a copy of the book and made sure I had it autographed, and also encouraged me to have a good time. I was to also feel like a guest. 

This weekend I was asked at the last minute to step in as the second in command at the gala I used to organize. I had already been asked to sell raffle tickets at the event, but now I was being asked to run check in, check out, be the banker, and help in all ways possible. 

Of course I said yes and smiled my way through the event, even as I learned new software and procedures on the fly. Wearing high heels, stockings, and a brown dress I wore to my first board meeting with this organization I slipped into the role as comfortably as if I was wearing my usual leggings, wool& dress, and ballet slippers. Though in a new venue, I felt at home as I greeted guests I have not seen since I left the organization. I made small talk as I looked them up and navigated the many screens necessary to assign bidding paddles. As someone else said, I was the only person who could have slipped into that role at the last minute.

An hour into the event, I tidied up and slipped away from the registration table to eat dinner and listen to speeches. I recharged in the "bridal suite" while bidding took place. Then I jumped back into action as people gathered their winnings, all while smiling and making small talk. I was handed a lot of cash throughout the evening and no paperwork to balance the amounts. I put the bills in the proper banking order and zipped them into the official envelope. 

Before leaving I did a sweep of the ball room scooping up bid paddles to use next year, and the flash drive in the laptop that belongs to the venue. After I left the room, someone else did the same as a sanity check.

I limped out of there (why, oh why did I wear new shoes to this event -- oh, because they matched the dress) shaking my head all the way to my car. The next day I made notes, then followed up with someone at the non-profit. 

A few days later and there is no thank you text or email from the person in charge of the event. Considering she did not ask me to fill in, I shouldn't be surprised she has not found time to reach out to me for saving the event. She might not even realize how much I did. Others have, including people who never told me I did a great job when it was me in charge. Still good to hear years later.

I am purposely leaving the names of the organizations off so a Google search does not flag these when people are searching for information about them. While the one is glowing, the other is less than. 

I thoroughly enjoyed both experiences for different reasons. I like being the person who is solving problems behind the scenes so attendees and organizers feel the event runs smoothly. 

There is a part of me who would love to be paid to be the onsite event trouble shooter. On the other hand, I wouldn't want to do that so often it becomes stale or I become blasé. I want to continue to only wish success for the organization no matter how big a train wreck is happening. 

If you know anyone who needs this type of skill at an event, and is willing to pay me more than a comp ticket, reach out.