SC - After feast

Tue Apr 13 07:48:02 PDT 1999

> I've been on several event planning committees (and autocratted a few
> myself) and this subject is always brought up, clucked over ("what a pity,
> the cooks shouldn't have to clean up") and the idea of a "clean-up
> committee" is always brought forth.  Inevitably, either nothing is done, or
> the people who volunteer for the committee have "other commitments" and you
> get one or two folks who sweep or wash dishes for about an hour and then
> have to go home.

Perhaps if the cooks did the same, and the event went all to blazes,
they would be more appreciated by their neighbors. (Logic dicates that
they would be, but I suspect they'd just be smeared and castigated for
irresponsibility.) Seriously, I mean that. I've never done anything
quite like that, but I have occasionally had to ask, at business
meetings, "Just how badly do you guys want this event to happen? Do you
want it badly enough to form a good cleanup crew in advance? Yes? Fine,
then I'll work my butt off for it too. If not, tell me now."

> Does anyone have any suggestions on getting such a wonderful, noble
> tradition as yours started out here?  Any suggestions would be greatly
> appreciated.

Yes. As long as you allow people to walk all over you, they will assume
it is the right thing to do. It isn't, so you shouldn't. You a) can't,
and b) shouldn't, be expected to do all that work alone. Stay and sit in
a chair with a cool drink and supervise, or collect up your own personal
tools, if you must, but don't act as if you have to offer up the pain in
your feet to the Event god or something, and don't let anyone else tell
you you should, either.

**************************************************

Hoo YAH!!
You tell 'em Adamantius!!

Basically, though, a lack of effective cleanup is the fault of the Autocrat.
As a "Feastocrat" (ugh, that word), It behooves you to get into good communication with the Autocrat, and remain in communication with the Autocrat throughout the process.
You may have to hold the Autocrat's feet to the fire, on this. 
IMHO, it is plain rude to expect the cooks to do 12-14 hours of work that day, as opposed to everyone else putting in only 3-4 tops!!
Threaten to pull out of the feast if adequate resources are not provided to allow you to do the job properly. That includes scullery personnel and kitchen cleanup. Be prepared to walk out.
As a feast cook, you are, FIRST and FOREMOST a VOLUNTEER. 
You are not paid, obligated, required or conscripted to serve.
Stick to your guns, and have confidence. 
That is not being a "primadonna". 
Many Autocrats get to the point that they think thusly: "the kitchen is the cook's area. I have a cook, so I do not have to worry about anything in there"
This is a complete and utter fallacy. 
The Autocrat IS responsible for the kitchen, except for the actual preparation and serving of the feast.
He is still responsible for the equipment and condition of the kitchen, just like he is responsible for condition and equipment for the rest of the hall. Do not let an Autocrat forget that. If a kitchen is not cleaned, the site holds the Autocrat, not the Feastocrat, responsible. That is part of what it means to BE an "Autocrat".
If they want the credit, they'll have to accept the headaches.
Don't let your Autocrats get lazy about this. 
As Autocrat, I also make it a policy to provide all clean up supplies from the event budget. It is not food, so it should not be provided from the kitchen budget.
If you liive in a small area, where such help is not immediately available, you and your Autocrat can make some calls to neighboring areas, and try to get committments from them. If that fails, a Crew sign-up sheet at troll will usually get good results.
Most people will tend not to think you need help, if you do not ask for it. They'll think you got it covered, so they do not have to volunteer.
It used to be the case that volunteers were needed all the time, so we were used to asking. The habitual thought then was "It's an event, so they'll need help, what can I do to help?"
Nowadays, many events are very well co-ordinated, so help is not needed as often, so the habitual thought now is "It's an event, so they do not need me to help, I'll go play".
There is also no harm in sending a herald around the event asking for volunteers, you know.  Also, autocrats can offer boons to volunteers in the publicity, so they'll know, in advance, know that help is needed. Many people have "field garb" that they can bring to do the clean up in, if they know in advance that they will be doing scullery.
Make the clean-up FUN!! Bring musicians or a boombox in the kitchen. Have a riotous cood time, cleaning, and people will be begging to get in the kitchen to help.
There are a lot of ways around the labor issue, folks. do not accept that you HAVE to clean the kitchen, yourself.
Dont fall victim to habits of thought. If there is a problem, try to find ways to solve it. You may be suprised how easy it is to solve them if you "think outside the box".

brandu

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jeff Gedney
Software Quality Assurance Engineer
Voice Recognition Technologies
Dictaphone, USA
Mailto:JGedney at Dictaphone.com

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