Running an event and complaints

[Birdman]

OK this is a bit of a rant aimed at generally anyone who has attended a vous or any other event. Over the years I have attended more events then I can remember, and have volentered to help out n work at many of them. Seems to me that there are a ton of people that want to go to an event a have a good time n there is nothing wrong with that, BUT, when was the last time ya volentered to help out at an event that was close by or gave up a couple hours of yer time after ya showedup to help out running things. Folks ya got to remember that all the people working staff are not getting paid(not normaly anyway) and they are giving up their time to try n have a good event so everyone has fun. They have given up their vacation time n time to relax so ya'all can have a good time. These events don't run themselves by a long shot n there is a ton of work both before , during and after an event that has to be done. While yer sitting around that campfire next time consider giving a little of yerself and some of your time at an event so everyone can have a good time. A couple hours of yer time here n there from a whole slew of folks can make an event a breeze to run n gives the staff folks a bit of a rest too. Before ya complain about something think of a solution that might help out, its easy to grouse about something but harder to fix it. Remember the staff can't fix the weather or the lay of the land n don't know whats inside yer head ,idea wise, unless ya open yer mouth n tell em and just cause ya give em an idea doesn't mean its gonna happen in an instant. Be patient, volenteer some of yer time, try to find a solution to a problem rather then complaining, AND REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN thats what we are all out there for in the first place, we enjoy doing this crazy stuff, it's supposed to be fun!!! just some thoughts to ponder on ---YMHS Birdman ps. this is aimed at everyone in general and no one in particular, I love this hobby n want to see it last forever

 

[Tkendrick]

I volunteered three years in a row to help out with the NMLA's winter shoot in Phoenix. I live less than 30 minutes from the range.

I even spoke directly to one of the bigwigs at HQ on the phone.

Not once did I ever receive so much as a "no thank you".

Had a similar experience with the State's RPA. They put out a call for volunteers to man the booth at gun shows and the like. I and three other guys that I know, all volunteered. Again, we got no response from the organization.

Not sayin' thats what your problem is, but who's answering the phone for you?

Before you go off on the public, make sure your end isn't the problem.

 

[bwhoffman]

I think Birdman is coming from the angle of the participants getting bitchy because something isnt the way they had visualized. Been there ect.
I haveraised my hand in life more times than I care to admit and gotten active in a group to help and put on events in a manner of how I felt it would best please the majority.
FACT LEARNED... You will not please everyone.
Staff/organizers are always shorthanded,and |I have learned that when someone offers to help, whether I need help or not, let them do something. Anything. If that iswhat they want to do. You just got their buy in and they takea little ownership in it!
On the other hand, if a group is not receptive to your offer of assistance and/or does not want any, be a player and, (in this instance) shoot the event or trail as it is. everyone else will be on the same playing field and make the best of it.

Sometimes there are events that we remember as great and also some that we will want to never remeber or attend again!

 

[Tkendrick]

I think Birdman is coming from the angle of the participants getting bitchy because something isnt the way they had visualized.

Yeah, I wasn't reading it that way.

I've seen it from that end also. I always just politely ask them for their name and phone number and when they ask why, I say "Well we need volunteers and I know you would love to set this up and run it for us next year."

That generally shuts them up, and once in a while we actually get a new volunteer out of it.

 

You did a good thing and should have been rewarded. But - you are dealing with men who, for the most part, think they are living 200 years ago and are the reincarnation of D. Boone himself. Add in guns and that means somewhere there is an ego the size of the known universe. That ego prevents the "men" from recognizing the contributions of their fellows and somehow detracts from their "menness" if they say thanks or show a smile of gratitude. I vollunteered to help at a woodswalk a few years ago and ended up being treated like the hired help. I did every thing that I was told to do but when the clean up was over I made it known to the "man" who was in charge that he could stick his wookdswalk up his kilt.

 

[patriot59]

I have volunteered many times, run a few events myself, and I mean "run it myself". Never got thanks, which is okay cause my ego is small. You can not in any way shape or form please everyone, somewhere, someone, will be offended. Most criticisms come from those that have never run an event, and I will say in my personal experience that I have run into folks that make me wonder why they participate, B----, moan, and complain. So to all of you that pitch in to make things better, my personal thanks. I have gotten uninvolved in the past couple of years, but this next year my better half and I are running our own 'vouz, small to be sure, but it should be a good one. ( Oh my favorite type of 'skinner is the one standing with his beer and cigarettes that he just got at the corner store, forgot to get ice, and wants the booshway to personally deliver ice to his lodge). Real mountain man he is :bull:

 

[Piper]

Brother Bird and I have attended a lot of the same events over the years. I can assure you he doesn't care about a reward, beyond a handshake and a "well done". I understand his point. Most events I go to, I try to do something to "give back". Unfortunately, there's a contingent that seems to take some pleasure in griping if everything isn't set up for their personal convenience, whether it's wood, water, hooter location, or whatever. I generally see the same faces at work parties and staff meetings, over several different events.
My family and I have had a lot of fun over the years, and like Bird I want to see it continue for a long time. But it takes people to make it work. Come on in, and have a ball. If you're not sure of your footing, volunteer to help someone who's already running an event. Odds are they'll be glad of the help. If there's an event, contest, or seminar you'd like to see at a Rendezvous you attend, step up and offer to run it. It's easier and more fun than you might think. I will offer a caveat though, you're never going to please everyone. There will be one (or more) from the aforementioned contingent that will gripe about what you do. Don't let it bother you. Sins of commission are always more enjoyable than sins of ommission.
Guess I've rattled on long enough. Hope to see some of you down the road.

 

[Birdman]

Well I guess maybe what I wrote was a little confusing. Like Piper said I could give a rats patoot fer any reward for myself. What I was driving at in my crude way was to get other people to volenteer. Seems like at so many events ya hear so much gripeing but ya never see those people volenteer to help out in any way. To keep this hobby going EVERYONE needs to step up to the plate on occasion and help out. Now I know many of ya have in the past but I also know theres those that haven't. If ya haven't then maybe its time ya tried to give a little back, its actually fun to help run an event and its an eye opener to all thats needed to run a good one. Everyone there is taking vacation or time off of some sort, so its not like yer doing anything everybody else isn't doing too. Step up n volenteer n give the ol grey beards that have been doing it for a long spell some help. It will be apprecieated ,I guarentee. OK I'm off my soap box hee hee guess all this political stuff of late is rubbing off some. take care n think about helping out next event, YMHS Birdman

 

[onepaw]

i agree we newer folk need to help out more...at some point the graybeards won't be doing it anymore and no one will know how...then the events start coming to an end.

I have run the K&H competition the past five years at our club vous...and have heard some complaints because it wasn't a "standard" K&H contest...oh well...

 

Good point - kind of like no good deed going unpunished.... :rotf:

 

[flm_shooter]

I just gave up a week straight of overtime (SoCal burning, surprise) to run the scorekeeping for our rondy. I had only one complain about my slow speed posting scores. (I only posted twice a day.) When I asked him to help me out by taking the 3/4 mile walk twice a day between the score shack and main range, he suddenly didn't seem interested in complaining any more.