And the beat goes on
So the event happened on Sunday. Here's the rundown.
Before I left the office on Thursday, I asked what time they wanted me to come on Sunday. Jodi said she would call me. She never did. So I just went down myself on Sunday, about 40 minutes before the start of the VIP event. And here was the first bad sign, no one from ZJS could be found. I was dumbstruck. I didn't know what to do. Vendors were setting up and everything appeared to be moving forward. Finally, at about 20 minutes until showtime, I see Tracie, who is in a panic and remained so for most of the evening. Vendors had donated sausage and cheese but no crackers and the CEO wouldn't buy crackers and I asked "Tracie, would it be worth running down to the metro mart and buying some crackers?" She thought I was a genius! So I ran and bought $40 worth of crackers (her money) and ran back as the event was starting and was proclaimed hero of the evening for having the sense to buy crackers. (See a problem, try to fix it. Do not panic.)
Attendance at the VIP venue was awful, to be expected with the short notice the invitations went out. Attendence at the block party wasn't bad. The band is a local favorite so that helped fill the crowd.
An article in the Journal Sentinel today provided a small amount of vindication, saying many downtown businesses have not been seeing the touted increase in business because of the convention. This made the ZJS crew feel a little better.
So I thought I was done with the event, but today I ended up writing a follow-up press release and thank you letters. Now, you are asking "Wasn't the event three days ago? Why are you doing this today?" Because everyone just wants to forget the whole thing. They don't even know whose name to sign on the thank you letters because no one really wants their name on this.
I suggested they put everyone's name on there.
I did get to leave early, because there was little else for me to do, which is good because I am experiencing full-blown seasonal allergies. I am ready for a nap.
Before I left the office on Thursday, I asked what time they wanted me to come on Sunday. Jodi said she would call me. She never did. So I just went down myself on Sunday, about 40 minutes before the start of the VIP event. And here was the first bad sign, no one from ZJS could be found. I was dumbstruck. I didn't know what to do. Vendors were setting up and everything appeared to be moving forward. Finally, at about 20 minutes until showtime, I see Tracie, who is in a panic and remained so for most of the evening. Vendors had donated sausage and cheese but no crackers and the CEO wouldn't buy crackers and I asked "Tracie, would it be worth running down to the metro mart and buying some crackers?" She thought I was a genius! So I ran and bought $40 worth of crackers (her money) and ran back as the event was starting and was proclaimed hero of the evening for having the sense to buy crackers. (See a problem, try to fix it. Do not panic.)
Attendance at the VIP venue was awful, to be expected with the short notice the invitations went out. Attendence at the block party wasn't bad. The band is a local favorite so that helped fill the crowd.
An article in the Journal Sentinel today provided a small amount of vindication, saying many downtown businesses have not been seeing the touted increase in business because of the convention. This made the ZJS crew feel a little better.
So I thought I was done with the event, but today I ended up writing a follow-up press release and thank you letters. Now, you are asking "Wasn't the event three days ago? Why are you doing this today?" Because everyone just wants to forget the whole thing. They don't even know whose name to sign on the thank you letters because no one really wants their name on this.
I suggested they put everyone's name on there.
I did get to leave early, because there was little else for me to do, which is good because I am experiencing full-blown seasonal allergies. I am ready for a nap.