Everyone arrived early, too so we weren't very prepared! I was so stressed out and I thought it was a complete, disorganized mess, but apparently it wasn't that bad? Maybe it was all in my head. Either way, there was a lot of room for improvement for next year. I learned what could be done better and what we did well.
For instance, I really liked using Eventbrite and having people register ahead of time with their contact information and t-shirt size. This especially worked well with volunteers who registered for a specific position so I didn't have to make assignments later on. We probably didn't need as many people for set up and tear down because we had the five of us and help from friends and family, but we definitely need more help with the hair measurement and tying. When people start arriving, that gets crazy! And we need a better way to organize people flow throughout the room. A lot of people wandered around because they couldn't see the registration desk in the back of the room.
I've learned that I really need to delegate tasks because there is literally no way I can be on top of everything and teach everyone how to do everything on the event day itself. I need to have someone in charge of training and supervising the volunteers preparing hair and controlling traffic flow, I need someone else in charge of teaching the registration and check-in crew how to use the system, and I need another person in charge of the stylists' accommodations so that they have everything prepared when they arrive, and also to keep track of appointments and send people to have their hair cut.
It was such a long and hard day, and I was so busy that I forgot to enjoy it, which is a real shame because it is really a fun day. It was emotional and exhausting, and I can't wait to just sit back and relax next week in Paris with a nice cappuccino and a warm crèpe.