VENUES BENEFIT FROM STUDENT EMPLOYMENT
By David Bennett UNIVERSITIES:
College students are the largest untapped resource in your area,
the country, the unemployment rate is dropping so low that venues at solutions have been constant recruiting, using more than one (and - lege students are young, eager, and usually in need of a few bucks, so in gaps in a wide variety of venue positions.
- periences with untrained, unsupported student volunteers. In every case, the students I work with have blown away energy, and professionalism. I cannot deny that I have met some students who did not have that drive, or loved parties more than they loved respon- sibility; however, the vast majority of students I have worked with are pas- sionate young professionals who can, and should be, recruited to help you make your events and venues better. A venue can use students a few dif-
Occasionally some organizations use their interns strictly for basic
meaningful projects is equally important as coaching and mentoring. is good, interns can be trusted to do a lot more than just run to Star- makes them a better candidate for future positions (potentially within your organization), and allows them to lighten your workload by con- tributing real work.
“Utilizing students is a great, budget- at your venue. It also helps you, your organization, and the overall industry to create opportunities for students and give them the support, resources, and responsibilities needed to be successful.
for a donation to either their club or their organization’s charity. Fra- ternities and sororities at most schools partner with a charity and are required, or at least strongly encouraged, to raise money for the char- ity throughout the year. Other school groups, like club sports teams or religious groups, need to raise money to fund their own events, equipment, or travel. Some of these groups are eager to send a crew of members to help for a few hours setting up for an event, cleaning through a department on campus known as student life, student af- fairs, student activities, or something similar. A quick internet search should be able to connect you with an advisor of student groups or Greek life, and usually they will be more than happy to share your information and opportunities with their organizations. - ships can be paid or unpaid, and students normally get course credit for completing the internship. Venues can partner directly with uni- - plicant. I realize internships are not a new, untapped resource, but the way we use interns can be. It is important to remember that interns are usually new to the professional workplace and need a mentor as much as they need a boss telling them what to do. Learning customer relationship management software, how to sell tickets, how to plan an event, and how to set up an arena are all important skills, but if you - munication, the quality of the intern will improve quickly.
workforce. I have worked for two programs that use student employees tickets, develop marketing plans, cre- ate event diagrams, meet with clients, set up for events, scan tickets, usher, a structure of student managers that structure, and allows students to lead their peers to fully operate venues. successful in university venues, but that is not to say it cannot be tried outside
the university setting. Some keys for success when creating and sus- taining a student work force include recruiting early, training regu- to success by getting students in the venue during their freshman or sophomore year, allowing them to learn and apply their skills for the helps the students stay engaged and gives them the tools they need to in the workplace.
increase in the quality and consistency of eager young professionals support them both personally and professionally, demonstrate how the marketable after they graduate, and have a positive, enjoyable work environment. Overall, utilizing students is a great, budget-conscious way to sup- and the overall industry to create opportunities for students and give them the support, resources, and responsibilities needed to be success- they need to hit the ground running as young professionals, and con- tinue to advance the industry we all love. FM
David Bennett, MBA, CVP, is event and facility manager of the Kennesaw State University Sports and Entertainment Park in Kennesaw, Georgia.
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