My first in-person film fest event took place about 30 minutes outside of Austin proper.
Before heading out to the event, I coached myself not to automatically hug people I knew. After all, this was my third in-person event. I had to show some maturity and restraint. I asked first if someone accepted hugs or not. Progress.
Once I found my fellow board members, we hung that blasted banner. I’d learned my lesson the first time around over a year ago when we’d first used it. Only took one failed attempt this time before we settled for hanging it lower.
From there, we walked back to the hotel, which hosted the film festival.
We mingled and sipped free drinks. Thanks to a plague lesson, the bartender had a QR code for us to tip him. I don’t know if I’ll ever use cash ever again.
Closer to our co-sponsored happy hour, we strolled back over to the restaurant.
Technically, the festival organizer had paid for catered food. Still, I like to do my part. I knew the bartender was up-selling when he dazzled us with a description of a drink that wasn’t even on the menu. His showmanship was divine, so I ordered a “mariposa.” It was as pretty as he said it would be and garnished with edible flowers.
I mingled around the filmmaker crowd.
I view all of our events as membership opportunities. Nonetheless, I was impressed how many had come from out of town. I’d mistakenly thought no one had disposable income to do something like this. That was me projecting.
Although I left at midnight, two hours before the event was scheduled to end, I counted my attendance a success. Least of all, I’d made lemonade out of lemons. Training for my lucrative full-time job was supposed to be the next morning. Due to a computer glitch, my start date had to be pushed back two weeks. That door closed, so this opportunity opened.
As I continue to navigate through the post-COVID jungles of landing lucrative employment, I now have to include working out a schedule that includes in-person social events. What a refreshing change of pace–fitting live events into my work/life/bingewatching balance.