I’m documenting my experiences as a freelancer in the gig economy for the month of November. (Click HERE for the rundown of exactly what I’m doing). Last week, I shared a story about my final gig before NYC shut down due to COVID (it’s hilarious by the way…) Now, it’s time to tell you about my first gig back! Enjoy!
The Javtiz Center is the king of all convention centers, boasting a jaw dropping 814,000 square feet of exhibit space as well as 65,000 sq. ft of registration space. Every niche imaginable cycles through the massive halls as industry experts from across the world come together to buy, sell, and network.
Hiring local talent to represent a product and brand is often cheaper (and certainly easier) than flying the big wigs to NYC for a few days. Which means jobs galore for the gig workers of NYC! My Javitz resume highlights includes a window convention, K-Conn, Comicon, The Kid’s Toy Fair, and, the best of them all, The Fancy Food Show. (Three days of epic, gourmet free samples was my paradise.)
NYC Gig Economy Tip: Javtiz Center gigs usually mean multiple days, long hours, and a solid hourly wage. BOOM. Weekly expenses covered. Plus, it’s almost always super fun!
My first day and first gig back in Gig World was Luxe Pack.
Luxe Pack a luxury packaging expo for the cosmetics industry (with candles, spirits, and diffusers thrown into the mix too!). The hall was full of eager vendors with products ranging from recycled mascara tubes to 3D printing secondary packaging solutions.
I was representing a luxury cosmetics bottle and cap manufacturer. Surlyn? Overmolding? Polypropylene Plastic? I might not be an expert in plastics and manufacturing. But I am an expert at learning on the fly. I know how to predict what questions people will ask so I can find out the answers ahead of time. I know how to listen in on conversations around me to pick up on the lingo. And I know what it takes to make a successful product pitch.
NYC Gig Economy Info: As soon as you’re on the clock, people need to think you’re an industry expert. Not some Millennial with an arts degree who just found out the company existed a week ago. The secret? You don’t need to know everything. You just need to know how to divert questions you don’t know the answer too. Here’s my go-to phrase: “That’s not my role within the company, but my colleague can help.”
My job was to give basic information about the products and collect business cards and contact information. Easy!
All types of people cycled through Luxe Pack. Older men in suits. Artistic hipsters. Fashionistas adorned in designer clothes. Big time businesspeople from major brands.
Then there was one woman at Luxe Pack who didn’t quite fit in….
She was wearing a baseball cap and jeans, wheeling a tattered carry on suitcase behind her. She zig zagged down the aisle, eagerly snapping up free pens, samples, and treats. I watched wary eyed vendors engage in conversation. They were clearly skeptical of whether or not this woman belonged despite the credentials around her neck.
My booth was next in line. She scuttled over and began asking questions about the various caps and bottles. Price seemed to be her main curiosity. I thoroughly answered, collected her information, and watched as she continued down the line.
If I’ve learned anything as a gig worker in NYC, it’s that you should never, ever form assumptions. That woman could have found those Luxe Pack credentials in a curbside trashcan. Or she could have been a highly successful businesswoman. Or she could have been hired as “mystery shopper.” (I’ve done mystery calling before. And can attest to the fact that it is in fact a real job.)
Treating every single person with professionalism and respect is essential for thriving as a gig worker. It’s also essential for being a decent human being.
What I learned about humanity:
The American Dream is still alive. A large percentage of attendees were startup business owners with heaps of passion and big dreams. Hearing them excitedly describe their product and vision was inspiring.
The lesson learned from the woman floating around: profiling and judging are very different things. Writing someone off based on appearance is never wise, nor is it right.
What I learned about myself:
I’ve still got it baby! Slipping back into gig mode was like riding a bike. As much as I enjoy the flexibility of working online, I love working with people.
1 thought on “My First Adventure Back in Gig World: Luxe Pack”
An interesting read about a subject I know nothing about. Keep going!