Adventures in Gig World: All the Treats with Just a Couple Tricks

Parades in New York are nothing short from epic. There’s live music, often from big name stars, decked out floats with wild automation, all types of street performers in elaborate costumes, and everything in between.

Parades mean fun, frivolity, crowds, and plenty of work opportunities for us giggers.

Tips for Freelancers: Working a big event is often the best way to experience it. Plus, it usually flies by, is super fun, and comes with a nice pay check.

On October 31^st, 6^th Avenue was shut down for the 48^th Annual Village Halloween Parade. Happy New Yorkers in full out costumes began staking out front row seats four hours before the parade was scheduled to begin. The costumes were next level. There was a woman was dressed up as global warming with cans dangling off her body. There was a pod of men in bright pink gorilla suits with tutus and tricycles. Inflatable costumes were all the rage; I saw plenty of dinosaurs, Mario, and a clown cowboy. From political statements to monsters and princesses, if you can dream up a costume idea, it was on the streets of lower Manhattan.

For those who weren’t too keen on sitting on concrete, there was a ticketed VIP section.

What do VIPs want to accompany live entertainment? Snacks! Which is where I came into play.

A fellow gigger and myself were tasked with the job of handing out fancy chocolate bars, protein bars, apple chips, and flavored water. There was a catch. In order to get the treats, the VIPs needed to download the app we were promoting.

Insider Scoop: The event coordinator who we had met on the spot selected us for the VIP section out of a pool of 25 giggers. Front row seats instead of being a part of the parade? Yes please! Being early, looking presentable, and professional body language pay off.  

I braced myself for an uphill battle. People usually aren’t too willing to download things onto their phones. “I don’t need another app.” “I don’t want to give my information out.” “The internet isn’t working.”

I didn’t expect what the next 3 hours would hold…

Nearly everyone downloaded the app with zero hesitations. They were friendly, agreeable, and happy to chat

I’ve done my fair share of “free giveaways” in exchange for downloading an app or answering a survey. And I’ve never seen such a willingness to engage.

Here are my speculations as to why:

1. The giveaways were awesome. Who doesn’t want a full chocolate bar on Halloween?!
2.  There was a tent and a table which made us look legitimate as oppose to strangers on the street.
3. It was a ticketed area. An event wouldn’t allow unwanted solicitors and scammers to be there.
4. My coworker and myself were fun,  engaging, and straight up All Stars.

All the product was gone 30 minutes before the parade finished, and we dismissed to go home. My phone dinged with my paycheck and a “The client was very pleased with your work. Good job!”

I didn’t see the client once for the entire parade….

The hardest part of the night was making it from the VIP section to the subway station. Streets were blocked off as thousands of people in crazy costumes filled the sidewalks. The crowds were akin to New Year’s Eve in Time Square. 30 minutes later, I was happily seated on the uptown A train next to someone dressed as Freddy Krueger.

Another day, another gig.

Click HERE for more details on the gigs I did my first week back in the NYC gig economy.