Technicians also eat!
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All this comes from an event we covered and in which the AV company told us (both tired about it and accustomed to it), that nothing was planned for technicians´ lunches, who had arrived in 0700 after staying up late for setup. And we heard that countless times over the years. So we launched here a cause for reflection and awareness-raising, with a few simple tips… but give your opinion too (on #eventocausas, or by a mail to causas@eventoplus.com).
Consider them live persons co-responsible for the success of your event. So you will incorporate them in the process of planning your event, you will ask them questions rather than just give orders, you will include them in briefing sessions…
Know their names. It can be difficult with a team of 70 people but try to ask, and ideally remember the names of people working in your event. It is a simple thing but it means a lot to people; it changes them from “hands” to “human”.
Think of them when you define timings and book the venue. Yes, we know, taking the venue for more time means more cost. But beyond the good treatment of your team, the fact that your personal sleep and don´t have to setup and rehearse at 3 am greatly improves productivity, reduces risk, and can extra many costs of people working at night. So if you can afford an extra day of setup, they all will thank you. And in any case make sure they can sleep a decent number of hours.
Take some time to define the setup planning. Yes, you define a rough planning and in the end things will turn out OK. But your technicians won´t understand it if you make them come at 15.00 if they have to wait until 19:00 to work. And if you define with the greatest possible precision the setup, all will lose less time. It involves those responsible for staff, audiovisual, construction, etc. to work together to define a planning.
Where can I change? Maybe only Rihanna will need that specific brand of mineral water in her dressing room. The requirements are simpler for entertainers, MCs, hostesses, etc .: a place to change, keep their things, rest a minute or review their script, so simply define a space for them. Many animators have told us how they change in the parking lot or in the bathroom…
Eat and drink. From having bottles (many!) of water on-site to having a place where they can eat, both during setup and during the event. And details like stopping for a coffee at midmorning. They will thank you.
Security and law. You do not need to read us to know the moral and legal importance of having people declared (luckily many venues these days ask for the TC certificates); but beyond that, you have to make a safety plan and share it with the people involved in the setup and in the event. This is probably the most important thing you can do for all present in the event…
The event finishes? You can thank the staff. You are happy and you think that the success is yours? Well, success is theirs too. Stop by and greet and thank the technicians and other professionals is a detail to be appreciated.
