Last weekend, I was contracted for local services at a big computer giant in Silicon Valley. The company was honoring their employees at a special event for several hundred people with amusements and entertainment.
There’s nothing like preferential treatment for Vendor – when you receive it, you know it. Any professional knows when he or she is treated with a special touch from start to finish when providing services. The personal touch during the event coordination was remarkable.
I’d like to highlight these great touches, because all event vendors know that preferential treatment comes at will from gig to gig. Most gigs are not like this one. Happy vendors means happy attendees!
The young event coordinator greeted us energetically at the door and walked us to our exact location. She put us in her hands right away.
Our team loved the personal touch. We loved the fact that she made sure we were totally hydrated on a hot day. She visited us about every 45 minutes to see if we needed anything.
She started off the gig by giving us lunch, beverage, and dessert tickets. A map was given of the other vendors of the whole floorplan and scope of the gig. Special touch.
Since we were performing customer-facing services, she knew she was to keep us taken care of 100% in the 90 degree heat that day. She suggested staggered breaks to take a moment out if we needed.
AND THEN she hired us for an extra portion time. Always music to the ears to a vendor — extra $$$ for the job.
After servicing events for many years, it’s GREAT being treated greatly.
And then she helped us wrap up our services as requested, and THEN she wanted to give us a tchotchke . . . a very usable and compact outdoor blanket.
I believe her name was Christina.
Thank you for this insight to your experience. It is amazing that we find these actions as “out of the normal” when they should be the “normal” for all. It does not require much additional effort, but it does require an organizational philosophy that creates these experiences. I will keep and share with my students. Cheers.
Jeff, thanks so much for your comments. I agree with you precisely. As a professional, I have truly attended thousands of events personally. It’s amazing when someone treats you wonderfully – it sticks out. Thanks again.