Last Man Standing

Thanks for coming… Have a great night… I’m glad you enjoyed the event…We’re getting ready to close this area…I’m going to have to ask you to leave the building now… Seriously people, go home! Lingerers. Talkers. People who are blindly unaware that you’ve been executing your event for the last 317 hours today and it’s time to take a shower and put your feet up. I’m certain I’m not the only event planner who has had to ask someone to vacate the area so you can shut it down and go home.

I love watching an event unfold. Often I’ve been working on an event for months, even years. This is payday. Observing guests as they arrive with anticipation, their friends and family members in tow, everyone excited about what’s to come. Depending on the event, guests are checking-in at the registration counter, having tickets scanned at the door, buying popcorn, pretzels, and pop, or getting their hand stamped. It’s fun to watch a line of people form waiting to enter the event space, chatting with others around them who they may have only just met.

When the main event is over and people are milling about, buying merchandise, visiting the on-site store, standing in line for the restroom, chatting with sponsors, and deciding where they want to go to dinner, for me, satisfaction sets in. Mission accomplished bumps, bruises, changes and all. Clean-up begins.

Most venues account for post-event teardown, clean-up, and load-out time in the schedule. Audio/visual equipment needs to be torn down, packed up, and carried to the trucks. Once sales end, merchandise needs to be inventoried, boxed, and shipped to its next destination. Concession stands need to be cleaned, food put away, and trash taken out. This should offer plenty of time for people to exchange pleasantries, determine what’s for dinner, where they’ll meet up, or when they’ll see each other again.

Not for some.

There always seems to be a select few who are so engrossed in their conversation that they can’t read the room. I could probably turn out the lights and they wouldn’t notice. They’re happy to stand in the lobby and talk and talk and talk as long as they have breath in their lungs. I try to do everything that needs to be done so people can spend time together. Who knows if these are dear friends who have finally reunited after 25 years, a group of college students all back from their respective campuses for the first time since high school graduation, or just a couple on a first date. I’m delighted to see people enjoying each others’ company and having a good time.

Until it’s time to go.

All the things have been done; all of the garbage has been taken out, rooms reset, toilet paper dispensers all refilled, everything we can think of to do has been completed. We’ve even vacuumed around you and now…. you gotta go. The events team has been on-site since before the sun came up, we can’t make one more decision, and before we turn into pumpkins, we need to drive home. May I recommend heading to Dunkin Donuts. They’re usually open 24 hours. I’m sure they’d be happy to have your business while you finish your conversation.

Have you had to shew someone out at the end of and event? How did you handle it?
Share it here or send me an email.

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