The Perks + 25,000 People

As luck would have it, I live in an area where a coat check is a necessary addition to your party/event.  And, as luck would have it, I happen to work for a very large event planning company that has a very impressive list of clients.

So there are some perks and opportunities that come along with this job.  I hate to call it a job, it's not really a job, almost every gig is an adventure or an experience of some type.  I get to work in a new tourist attraction, or in a home in an affluent area (I get to see how the other half lives), and when dignitaries visit the area, I get to be a part of their experience.

Just recently, staffing called and asked if I would work a large corporate event held on an island.  Oh, and it's for 25,000 guests.  No exclamation mark???!!  How do you check coats for 25,000 people?  Well, there will be several of us and three separate locations.  Here's what I need to know to do my best, 1. Are they coming by bus?  2. What's the majority demographic, will it be mostly male or female or a equal mix?  3. Will they be coming directly from a meeting or convention?   Here's why I need to know all of these things.  If they're coming by bus, they may not be wearing a coat and they will be coming in bunches as the buses roll in and I'm their first point of contact; if it's mostly men attending, I won't need to set up many hangers, but if we're expecting a mix, I can plan on a larger set-up; if they're arriving directly from a convention, they will undoubtedly all be carrying an identical bag given out by the host/sponsor and I have to figure out how to identify each and every bag when they come back to pick it up at the end of the evening.

And you have all along been thinking, "What's so difficult about being a coat check at a party?"  Well, it's not difficult, it just takes planning.  Are you getting the idea that I might just be a little anal about this?  Well, that's a topic for a whole new blog.

So, what about the perks? Well, last night I got to sit through a concert by Maroon 5.  Now, I didn't even know who Adam Levine was until last night.  I had heard his name on various tv shows, but I didn't really care.  Well, now I do.  He started singing and I recognized most of the songs, and some of them are my favorites!  I'm a fan!  I will be buying his latest tracks and I'll probably be watching The Voice more often.

I was stationed in a VIP section next to the stage and had a ringside seat, albeit extremely loud, it was exhilarating, and one of the perks of this job, I get paid to see this concert!

That's it!  It was a long night and it got a little chilly but it was so worth it.