By R.V. Baugus
The other day I got a phone call from a long-time friend who wanted to just chat. He is one of the fortunate ones still employed who has a weekday off each week on his schedule. Early in the conversation, he threw out a line that I did not know whether to receive as a question or exclamation, so upon sharing it in the next sentence I will just close it with both punctuation marks.
“Man, you must love it not having any work to do?!”
Whatcha talkin’ bout, Willis?
I assured him that I would not be able to talk long as there were blogs to write and edit and Facility Manager articles and deadlines to assign.
I think I get where he was coming from. Because our venues are not open to the types of events they were created for, the assumption is that no one has anything to do. Silly him!
You are likely using your venue in some type of capacity to help those in your community during the coronavirus pandemic, and if you are not doing that, you are still booking events for the future, dealing with events on the foreseeable calendar that may or may not be canceling, and more.
You are likely well into a plan that you will utilize to help in your reopening. You are purchasing the materials and safeguards imperative upon your reopening. You are constantly following federal, state, and local guidelines.
You are, in essence, busier than ever in so many ways.
Hey, I am too, and to latch on to the McDonald’s slogan, I’m lovin’ it! Obviously, I wish this busyness was centered around something much more desirable than a devastating pandemic, but for me the good news is I get to share what our members are doing to help in all ways possible.
An editor’s dream is to have unsolicited valuable stories sent his or her way. I am getting those every day from venues all over the place. They are very moving stories, most often of what our members are doing to be a major resource in their community. We love these and want to share them. I know that they are NOT submitted so the member or the venue can get a pat on the back or an attaboy, but to illustrate from the heart that when we all get down to the basics, we simply need each other.
Other stories are full of tips and great suggestions about working remote, while others look ahead to what we need to know upon reopening. As a matter of fact, there are two such stories in this week’s Front Row News written by IAVM Young Professional Committee members.
Please keep those stories coming, and when you send them please include high resolution pictures to help illustrate your content.
But wait, you say! Baugus, if you just have stories falling into your lap, how does that make you busy? The answer, my friends, is that we also take the initiative to find the stories out there that do not just magically appear. I have been fortunate over the past two months to talk to many people in the venue world who are on their own front lines and with stories to tell. We will continue seeking those, and if you have any leads for stories that we might consider, please share those with me as well.
Just know that we are here for you as you are always here for us. It does not go unnoticed, and I thank you for your desire to contribute and make a difference in the world.
