I like to volunteer. I do it quite often and here is the kicker…I LOVE IT!
I’m a people person, and a people watcher. I enjoy seeing people out and about, excited about what they are doing. My favorite place to volunteer is for a local music venue. We just had a concert last night, and while I was there it brought several questions to mind.
1) Do these people realize that we don’t get paid?
I deal with fewer upset people than most, but I think that is because I smile a lot and it is pretty easy for me to diffuse a situation quickly. However, don’t get angry with the volunteers at the events you attend. They don’t make the rules, they most likely don’t agree with the rules either, but they still have to enforce them, so respect that.
(Side Note: Offering us money, kisses or a beer will not make you appear more adorable or be any more likely to get you what you want either. It does give us good stories to tell later though…)
2) Are you scared to ask us questions?
More often than not, I see people standing around and looking…at the seating, the drink line, the merchandise section and looking confused. Since I am who I am, I always walk up and ask, “Do you have any questions I can answer for you?” I would say 95% of the time they do, and after I answer them and tell them to enjoy the show, they reply, “Thank you so much we would have stood here forever trying to figure it out!”
We are not scary people, just because we have on a t-shirt or outfit that marks us as volunteers doesn’t mean that we are unapproachable or thinking that you are trying to pull one over on us. Just ask, we are more than happy to assist you!
Now a few things from the opposite side of things:
1) If you are grumpy or bitter or hate people…DO NOT VOLUNTEER!
I promise, your leader would rather that you call in and say, “I had the worst day ever and I cannot serve with a smile today, I have to bail on you.”, than to show up and ruin the experience for everyone (including your fellow volunteers)!
If I am attending an event and see a volunteer that looks grumpy or isn’t smiling, ,I typically engage them in conversation until I see them smile…it just makes it more pleasant for everyone.
2) Offer information freely.
Due to the fact that some people are uncomfortable asking questions, go ahead and give them information upfront! It makes you look like you know what you are doing and it also gives them confidence in the volunteers.
For example: Last night I was on ‘drink ID’s’. This is a pretty easy procedure. I say, “Hi, are you drinking tonight?” If they reply “No.”, I smile and say enjoy the concert and if you have any questions, you can ask anyone in an orange shirt that says VOLUNTEER on the back.” If they reply “Heck Yes!”, I respond, “Okay, I just need to see your ID so that I can give you a bracelet.” As they are getting out their ID’s and I am putting a bracelet on them, I explain the process of getting drinks at our venue. They are always smiling and sometimes even laughing when they leave me and continue on to enjoy the music.
So, I love volunteering…I have been able to meet a new group of people that I never would have had I not volunteered. I have made new friends and I have also been introduced to some music that I wouldn’t normally have listened to, but decided that I really liked!
If you already volunteer, good for you! If not, there are TONS of places to volunteer at, so I encourage you to find something that you like and see if volunteers are needed!