Issue link: http://psai.uberflip.com/i/1162806
W EEKLY EDITION SEPTEMBER 4, 2019 An Im po rt an t Af - FAIR: Suc ceed ing wi th Sp eci a l Event s By Karleen Kos, PSAI Executive Director …continued from page 2 Executing Special Events Rule #1 Take responsibility for what you can control Troubleshooting begins by preparing for "pinch points" and problems - avoiding them wherever possible. You have the most control over things when you are preparing with your crew, readying your trucks, gathering supplies and maintaining a tool kit you develop . Once the event gets going, you have less control. So take the time to prepare with care by paying attention to the following things. CREW 1. Have enough crew to work smoothly and quickly while setting units before the event and servicing units during an event. • Don't make a single driver fight a crowd with a truck. • Don't make a single driver problem - solve alone, maybe in a crowd. 2. Small eve nts may only need oversight from a single team member, during the day. • Who is your back up? What if that reliable staff person's child gets sick or they have an accident the night before the event? Who will cover? 3. If you need temporary staff for an eve nt, how do you prepare them? • Have a plan in place for making "seasonal" or "temporary" help successful. • Provide truck orientation. • Have extra keys to units. • Provide them with t - shirts to identify them as members of your team. • Make sure paperwork is in place so that help is paid promptly after the event. 4. Make sure your crew is nourished and hydrated. • Make it clear that crew members are expected to eat and take breaks required by law. • Leaving the event site for meals is often not practical. • Rea lize that event vendors often are not prepared to give receipts to crew members who buy food on site. Be prepared to reimburse, at event prices, your staff for lunch/dinner. • Consider keeping a cooler of water or other drinks on the truck. 5 . Provide your cr ew with headlamps for early morning and late - night work. • Flashlights are impractical. Your crew needs hands - free operation and should not be holding a small light in their mouth or under their armpit while trying to carry out their duties. P AGE 12 CONTINUED ON PAGE 13