firdouss.com

Before I start, I would like to let you guys know that in the first place, I’m not a big fan of events when I’m positioned within the organizer’s side. Through hundreds of experience, I know events are draining, tiring, and there’s one million things that can go completely wrong, especially when you’re not expecting it. Talk about Murphy’s Law.

Anyways, I was positioned as the ‘tech support’ dude (like I always seems to be, in any events I’ve organized previously). Tell me one thing, do I have this ‘hey look, I can do tech support!’ look on my face?

Okay, maybe I do have the look after all.

Then I was told that I will be positioned at the secretariat, and the registration counter, basically to provide any geeky support to all the computers and any electronics devices on the mainland-side of the event (the actual event takes place on the ‘island’ side, which is across the bridge).

Then there was the pre-event briefing to all the volunteers. We’re split into groups according to teams. Since I’m positioned at the registration section, I’ve decided to join the registration team’s group.

Here’s most of the peeps that are in the registration team. I’m still bad in remembering who is who. I’m really bad at names.

And so, begins the first day of the event. The team give a round of applause to themselves before we brace the crazy amount of crowds who are excited and anticipating the awesomeness of the event. It’s pretty scary thinking about their expectations, really. I don’t know if we should buff them up with excitement only to let them inside a hall that they will be disappointed, or should we act lame and let them get surprised?

Experience in the front-line ‘defense’ (okay, that’s such a weird word to use, but I can’t think of anything else at the moment) throughout my life tells me, that no matter what, we should be the one, first contact, to build excitement to the event. So we did.

I was actually expecting some drama to go on during the event. To my surprise, the entire registration team is awesome. They are very focused on getting the job done as fast as possible. First day was the worst, as we’re busy delivering tickets to hordes of people, as well as packing up the goodie bags on the go, as the speed of registration (with 7 counters) depletes our goodie bags almost immediately. The goodie bags are depleted right on the first day itself.

I don’t really get to enjoy the entire festival as it is, well, maybe except for a good hot pack of keropok lekor, haha!. I guess that’s what happens when you’re on duty, and you’re positioned up front right before the gate itself.

I’m looking forward to the shopping festivals by end of this year, and Youth’11 coming up next year. Most of the volunteers in the registration team are already asking for more. There’s definitely more to come!

Even though I didn’t get to be in the festival arena and experience everything myself, I’m very happy with how the pre-entrance experience. Awesome event, and awesome team. Made my 3 days!

posted on Wednesday, June 2nd, 2010 at 01:54 in Life & Work.