This is a continuation of last week’s blog post. The German word “Schadenfreude” has worked its way into the English language along with angst, uber and kindergarten. Psychologists are not of a unanimous opinion about why many people seem to instinctively laugh when someone slips on a banana peel. Is it a genuine joy in the misfortunes of others or a nervous, perhaps embarrassed response mixed with relief that it didn’t happen to them.
Here are two more situations in which I experienced misfortunes during my work.
5. Not Even Saints Can March Through Locked Doors
As Director of Education for an association of bright, energetic, successful people engaged in the manufacture, sale and distribution of promotional products – everything from pens and tee shirts to caps and calendars – it was my task to put on a highly motivational and educational day-long program for the 1,800 registered members. We chose the grand ballroom of Chicago’s largest hotel at the time – The Hilton on South Michigan Avenue.
To get everyone’s attention at the start of the program (and awake those who might have been out on the town later the night before) I engaged an award-winning local high school marching band and their cheerleading crew of acrobatic motivators. I planned that on cue at 9:00 am the band would burst through the rear door of the ballroom playing a rousing march, proceed up the center aisle and onto the stage where they would be joined by the cheerleaders who would do some cheers rewritten to include our organization’s name, build pyramids and then start throwing small Nerf footballs into the crowd which are imprinted with the day’s motto.
Since we could neither get our performers or the use of the ballroom the day before, we conducted a run-through at 7:30 am after which everyone could get a quick breakfast, get into uniform and be ready at 9:00 am when I gave the cue.
The rehearsal went spectacularly. The band caused the room to literally vibrate with excitement and the cheerleaders were a perfect complement.
At 8:50 everyone was in place as the room was filling up. I had a staff member in the passageway behind the ballroom ready to throw open the door for the band. 9:00 am came, I gave the cue and the door did not open. On headset I urgently asked my door person what happened and he told me that apparently someone had locked the door between rehearsal and performance times while everyone was on break. I wasn’t aware that the next ballroom was hosting a meeting of a much more somber character that was already underway when we held our rehearsal and our band in the rear hallway interrupted the other group’s meeting.
A change of plans was needed. The band began playing (they were muted but audible through the wall). My guy led them through a corridor next to the ballroom and then opened the front door for the band to enter. It was not quite as exciting as marching down the center aisle but by the time they were onstage and joined by the cheerleaders, I was satisfied that we had saved the day.
A goof-up like that requires a careful investigation. We learned from the hotel that the ballroom which had opposing rear doors was already occupied at 7:30 and the 1,000 union delegates in a meeting didn’t appreciate how loud our band was that blocked out their proceedings until our kids were all inside our ballroom and the door was closed.
Hotel staff hadn’t seen our rehearsal, so they had no idea about our choreography. They saw locking the door simply as insurance that our sound would be contained. My door guy was taking a break when a hotel staff came along and locked the door which was never checked again by our staff member when he returned to his post shortly before 9:00 am.
What might we have done if we knew the problem? I would have asked for the door to be unlocked but promised that the band make a silent entrance (maybe snare drums?) and only begin playing after everyone was inside the room and the door was closed. A disaster? No. But I sure liked seeing and hearing the band marching down the long center aisle in rehearsal.
6. I Wasn’t Laughing
At Rotary World Congresses I typically had audiences of 18,000 persons filling an indoor sports arena for our general sessions. On the first evening the local Rotarians (the hosts) would put on an entertainment program. With people in attendance from more than 100 countries, programs of music and dance tended to be the most successful as they transcended cultural barriers.
At the very first congress for which I had responsibility the local club decided to give one of their members who was a stand-up comedian a shot at international fame and fortune. It was policy to pretty much let the locals do what they wanted on “their” evening.
For reasons I will never understand, the comedian decided to do an off-color program, using inappropriate language and even telling jokes besmirching the sitting Pope. The 22 member international Board of Directors were sitting in the front row and I immediately saw many of them squirming in their seats. It was not only their own sensibilities that were being impacted, but the very image of Rotary in front of the assembled crowd.
The host club took no steps to intervene, so I decided that the best things I could do would be to help the Board distance themselves from this tasteless performance. I knelt before the president and told him that if he or any members of the board wished to return early to their hotel, I had a bus waiting and they could follow me. The result was a unanimous very visible exodus. I don’t know what happened after I guided the Board out because I decided to stay with them on the ride back to the hotel and make sure they knew that I had nothing to do with approving the content of the comedian’s performance.
I am told that later that evening a delegation from the host club appeared at the President’s suite and expressed their profound apology. Their mistake had been to not vet the content of their program.
For me the lesson was that no part of a program can be delegated to others. If you are in charge, know what is planned and insist on a veto right.
Final words: I have decided that you do the best you can but recognize that perfection is not possible. However, when something happens, quick, decisive action to mitigate the situation is essential. And take it all with a grain of salt.
Herb