Don't ever forget to be kind :)
When you’re on location for one of your big events…
Don’t ever forget to be kind to everyone involved :)
For the first few years of my television career, I was at the bottom of the call sheet.
Being a production assistant can take many forms depending on the type of show being produced. While working for HBO Sports, it revolved around me answering phones and being a glorified go-for, as in…
Go-for a coffee run for the crew…
Go-for the talent’s lunch at the fancy spot around the corner…
Go-for a prop that they need to have on set ASAP…
Go-for the stage and sit in the chair as they adjust lighting and camera angles for 20 minutes…
You know, the unsung, out-of-sight, out-of-mind stuff that most on-camera talent doesn’t even know is going on, unless it somehow affects their day.
On one occasion, I was asked by a supervisor to handle a situation with one of the talent’s luggage at the hotel.
As many of you road-warrior speakers can relate, the airline misplaced his checked bag, and since we were on a tight shooting schedule, he headed straight to the studio and had to forgo the process of waiting at the airport to grab it. The airline rep told him that once they found it, they’d send someone to drop it off at his hotel.
And now, someone had to make sure it was there. And that someone was me.
So, I immediately hopped in a cab, headed across town, and went straight for the concierge desk.
Once I got there, the person at the desk showed me the bag and said it will be handed to him once he checks in.
Cool - so that potential disaster was averted.
Once I got back to the studio, I made a bee-line straight for him. He was talking with a group of producers huddled on the side of the set as crew members were buzzing around making adjustments.
When he asked me if everything was taken care of, I beamed with pride to let him know that the bag is safe, sound and waiting for him.
At that time in my career, little victories like this went a long way in helping me feel like I’m contributing in some shape or form.
You remember being young and hungry once, right? Well, that was me at 20 years old.
In front of a group of coworkers, he responded, “You’re the man…”
Ooooh, I like where this is going…
“…when it comes to my luggage!”
Ugh…that one stung a little bit.
At that moment, I immediately needed to get away from this exchange. I simply nodded my head, and made my exit back to the control room.
Dejected, annoyed and disappointed, that left a pretty sour taste in my mouth and I felt every bit the go-for that I was.
Why couldn’t he have simply thanked me and left it at that?
Why did he have to say something cringy like that in front of crew members and production staff, many of whom didn’t even know who I was in the first place?
C’mon man, that was unnecessary.
It was at that very moment that I made a vow to myself that when I am in a position where there is support staff reporting to me, I will never be that careless with what I say around them.
I also made a promise that when I work within any team environment, I will treat everyone with respect and courtesy, because we’re all human beings, and not just the help.
And, through the years, I’ve kept those promises because the last thing I want to do is minimize someone’s role, and by extension, minimize them personally.
I know how it feels…and it feels like shit.
I share this story with you as a reminder that when you’re about to give a keynote or facilitate a workshop, there are a lot of moving parts to the production.
A lot of hands are involved in the process of making your presentation a transformative experience for those you serve.
Regardless of their role, whether prominent or supportive, they all matter.
Be kind to those folks who are only there to help support your goal of creating a magical experience for everyone involved.
It’s not that hard, and it goes a long way to fostering a positive and productive atmosphere, despite all the hectic-ness that goes on behind the stage and in the room itself.
It’s much better than the alternative :)