Sometimes working at events amazes me. People just don’t think about the people they hire. Now I can semi-understand it, they’re busy organising and managing the function, it’s a busy time… but have some common sense when it comes to the people you hire to put the event together.
I took photos at a family party/event a few months ago, and even though it’s stipulated in my contract that I need a seat and a meal, neither were organised for me or the band that night. So we took over the lounge area next to the food. That was the only place we could sit, and we had to scrounge around for utensils to eat with, and eventually ate dinner with teaspoons from the coffee station.
At least we actually had somewhere to sit and eat!!
The function I worked at tonight was a standing cocktail event. So I didn’t expect a chair, and didn’t need one. I got offered drinks and helped myself to food. It’s part of my contract for a reason now. I can’t operate unless I’ve eaten and had at least water to drink… I start shaking after about 2 hours, and need sugar of some sort, so if you want good photos, you give me food 😉
But the purpose of my blog post tonight, was the disturbing story that one of the hostesses told me.
This event had a few hostesses in little black dresses and very high heels, who were walking around and had to get the photos taken with the guests. All very male like. Anyhoo, after a few hours, while I was tucking into a crostini, I asked the one girl if she wanted something to eat. I saw her staring longingly at my food.
She said no, they weren’t allowed to eat normally.
She then told me that she’d nearly got fired from a previous promotional job because she’d eaten something and had something to drink.
They were petrified to get food, unless the coordinator said they could, and the function was 5 hours long without a break!!
In the end, I just went to the coordinator and asked on their behalf… sometimes the mom in me just takes over and I have to do something. The one girl had already blacked out earlier on, and those kids (yes they looked that young) looked like they needed food. It wasn’t actually a problem in this case, and the coordinator looked a little shocked that I’d even asked 🙂 They just couldn’t eat in front of the guests, which was fair enough, but at least they could eat.
But it got me thinking. How can you possibly hire someone to work for you for a long event… and not expect them to take a break or have something to eat?!! It’s just insane!! It’s not fair, really not fair.
I feel most uncomfortable when eating at an event I’ve been asked to photograph. They have hired me to work, not relax and enjoy the food & drink. I also need to eat to be able to work, but still feel most uncomfortable and guilty when I do.
Strangely I tend to stay away from food and drink while working. I’ve ended up dehydrated after every long shoot because I completely forget to drink water.
I’m still learning how to get my head far enough out of composure seeking mode to drink something.
I’m trying to get myself to at least drink lots of fluids while shooting.
Will see how it goes tonight 😛
Those poor girls. Good on you for tackling the coordinator.
Its actually really sad. Surely when you have an event you plan around feeding the “help” as it were. I am not suggesting that people hired to work an event should sit down and “party” with the guests, but surely it can be arranged that the waiters eat in shifts, or before the event starts.
See to me it shouldn’t even have to be part of a contract, it should just be an unspoken rule.
Maybe I am old fashioned. But if I were hosting I wouldn’t be able to have a good time if I knew there were people not eating!
I don’t think 5 hours is a long time to go without eating, having something to drink yeah that is necessary but you can easily not eat for 5 hours and do your job.
What’s that thing they say? (don’t ask me who they are – I read it somewhere so they must be saying it). You can tell a lot about someone’s character from the way they treat people who they think are beneath them on the food chain.
Good on you and the mommy in you. What I find really tiring are these 4 hour long meetings with just coffee and tea and the men just continue – I need ot eat a little something every 2 hours or so.
It really is disgusting. I can never understand why hosts/waiters are not allowed to eat or drink on the job or in front of clients. They’re human, they need to eat. Especially if it’s just for a quick 5 minute ‘swallow now, chew later’ session. What’s the harm?
5 hours may not seem such a long time, but it feels very long when you are on your feet the whole time, running up and down ect.
Using up your energy and not replacing it, WILL make you feel like crap!
I don’t mean to play devil’s advocate here, but what often happens is the hired staff don’t always read their contracts properly- especially the younger hostesses who are new to the business. Like the girls at the cocktail event for example. They are most likely allowed to take a short break (staggered, so they don’t all disappear at once)- just not in front of the guests. Often the person who did the hiring takes it for granted the hired staff will ask or will know and won’t think to provide details.
But you’re very right, they are often forgotten.
Personally, I always make sure the contractors are on the seating list for food, or I remind my brides to do so.