The glamour of the gala: Amy's experiences

Since 1974 Chickenshed, a theatre company that aims to bring “people together of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to produce outstanding theatre that inspires, challenges, entertains and educates both audiences and participants alike” (Chickenshed, 2013), has been able to run on the help of 100s of volunteers. The charity also relies on volunteers to deliver their Annual Gala fundraising event, which will be held at The Guildhall in November this year.

On Monday I had the pleasure of meeting Amy Dunbar, a very loyal and long term volunteer at Chickenshed Theatre, who has also volunteered at every Chickenshed Annual Gala since the first in 1988. Now retired from her own catering business, Amy also spends her time exam invigilating and socialising with other volunteers at Chickenshed.

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HM: First of all Amy, in your own words tell me about Chickenshed - what does the theatre company mean to you?

AD: The company is very personal to me, because my son joined when he was 7 and he’s now 34 and when your children join Chickenshed, your family joins Chickenshed… you all become involved, it’s a theatrical family, your children, and your husband, becomes involved in the bigger picture.

HM: How long have you volunteered at Chickenshed?  

AD: I’ve been a volunteer since the very beginning. In the first place I was a chaperone which is sitting backstage with the children, looking after them, and I’ve helped backstage on shows, such as dressing, ironing, helping with costumes…then I became involved with box office and then onto front of house. Years ago in this theatre everyone did everything here and as it grew… it wasn’t as departmentalised [as] it is now. I went from box office to front of house to duty manager and onto helping with the running of shows from a front of house point of view.

HM: I think you’ve answered this next question for me! - What are you involved with, what activities do you participate in?

AD: I am primarily involved in shows, for example every Friday there’s a baby show called Tales from the Shed, apart from that I’m pretty much a ‘show-gun’, I do shows or events only, when there’s [no] volunteers [in] I come in as well as without volunteers there’s no Chickenshed.

HM: Now in specific relation to Chickenshed’s Annual Galas…what happens at these? What kind of tasks do you undergo?

AD: For me personally I have been lucky enough to do site visits beforehand, usually at a beautiful venue…hopefully at the Guildhall [this year] which is rather special!... [they are] hosted by Lady Rayne who is our main fundraiser…they are usually extremely well attended by well-known people and stars in frocks… the dinners are fantastic… there’s a raffle and tombola…I organise a tree of life with other co-workers…and they are sometimes attended by Royalty… [the galas are] well stylised with many people coming and giving donations to Chickenshed to help run it as we get very little financial help from elsewhere.

HM: How have your experiences at Chickenshed’s Annual Galas compared to your-day-to-day experiences here at Chickenshed?

AD: They are different. As [only around] 10% of the people who [come to] the galas come to Cockfosters* to see other shows, we have a very active marketing team who put on a lot of shows at Chickenshed which are more localised… most who go to gala’s are mostly [around] Central London…the galas are special.

*Where Chickenshed Theatre is based

HM: Still thinking of volunteering at the Chickenshed galas specifically, what spurs you on the most? What motivates you? Why do you volunteer at the galas?

AD: Personally, I think when people come to the galas they are expecting to see a children’s show… they are really moved by the calibre of work and become lifelong friends, so I like that. I like the glamour, and not many people get to go to galas so I like the privilege, and I feel special in being able to take part and help out at the event.

HM: Do you volunteer anywhere else?

AD: No, I see myself as a Chickenshed volunteer and I would only give up my time for Chickenshed… or for fundraising walks for the North London Hospice etc, but that’s it.

HM: Would you volunteer at any other charity gala?

AD: Yes I think I would if I was asked, because I like the glamour!

HM: Why do you think so many people volunteer at Chickenshed’s Annual Galas?

AD: For the glamour, because [they are held] at some wonderful places such as The Guildhall…[usually] I would never get into places such as the Dorchester, the Savoy Hotel, the Guildhall or some other places I’ve been lucky to go to such as the Blue Peter studios, if I wasn’t a volunteer at Chickenshed.  

HM: Any tips or advice you’d give to charities or companies looking for volunteers to work at fast-paced, perhaps business-orientated events?

I think, I mean I am lucky in Chickenshed letting me go on all [of] these adventures, as I call them! Sometimes it’s nice for volunteers to work [at events]… and sometimes they put the work in, sometimes they don’t and some people’s passion are evident the second they walk through the door… the one’s with the passion and the heart… I’d give them the jobs.

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While Amy’s comments suggest that the help of passionate and dedicated volunteers is vital for a successful fundraising gala event (Wendroff, 2004, p.34), these volunteers are not always easy to find and hold on to (Haski-Leventhal et al, 2011). It could be said that Chickenshed is a ‘special case’ in how well a charity recruits and values volunteers (McKee, 2012; Chickenshed, 2013c), and sticks by their cause and message whilst raising funds at annual gala events (Allen, 2007, p.100). Nevertheless, Amy’s experiences at the galas have been ones full of glamour, excitement, and social enjoyment - while “the line between proper business behaviour and pursuit of personal pleasure” cannot become blurred for employees at corporate events (Allen, 2007, p.223), there is nothing stopping event managers offering these kinds of incentives to volunteers, even if your event is in fact ‘for-profit’ and is therefore without the ‘cause’.

Find out more about Chickenshed here

References:

Allen, J. (2007) The Executive’s Guide to Corporate Events and Business Entertaining. Ontario: John Wiley and Sons.

Chickenshed Theatre (2013a) Our Aim: Theatre that celebrates diversity to inspire positive change. [Online]. Available at: http://chickenshed.org.uk/155/our-aims/our-aim-theatre-that-celebrates-diversity-to-inspire-positive-change.html (Accessed: 20^th April 2013).

Chickenshed Theatre (2013b) 2012…what a year! [Online]. Available at:  http://www.chickenshed.org.uk/2277/news/2012-what-a-year.html (Accessed: 20^th April 2013).

Chickenshed Theatre (2013c) Volunteers – the cornerstone of our company. [Online]. Available at: http://www.chickenshed.org.uk/2324/news/volunteers-the-cornerstone-of-our-company.html (Accessed: 20^th April 2013)

Haski-Leventhal, D., Hustinx, L. and Handy, F. (2011) What money cannot buy: the distinctive and multidimensional impact of volunteers, Journal of Community Practice, 19 (2), pp.138-158.

McKee, R. (2012) Theatre’s volunteers are truly part of foundations, North London Today, 18^th June [Online]. Available at: http://www.northlondon-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=21447 (Accessed: 20^th April 2013).

Wendroff, A. L. (2004) Special Events: Proven Strategies for Nonprofit Fundraising. (2^nd Ed.) New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.