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By Mark Burrage

Thank You . . .

I was sitting in my weekly staff meeting today and as the conversation floated around the room from upcoming events to ongoing projects to updates from the previous week I said to myself, “I am one lucky man.”

I am one of the fortunate people who work in this industry, an industry that has no chance of being the same day after day. I have been witness to some of the biggest names in the entertainment and sporting world and also have had the pleasure to manage a group of employees so diverse that the knowledge base I pull from is virtually unlimited.

Taking the time to count myself lucky is something I do not do on a regular basis, and I should. Most of my friends have jobs that are just jobs. Whether they are accountants or factory workers, they will probably never have the pleasure of providing thousands of people a few hours of fun and entertainment that completely exceeds their expectations all in one night.

Most of us have been in this business for some time. My experiences are most likely not much different than yours. I was given an opportunity and through hard work and persistence, I have been able to achieve success in this industry. Success, however, was not achieved all on my own. Without the help of my co-workers and peers in the industry I am sure I would not be where I am today.

I would like to say thank you to the people that gave me a chance and to those I have worked with during my short 11 years in this business. I started simply, working part-time, day to day, learning my job first and before I knew it becoming involved in all aspects of the facility.

Thank you to everyone I have spoken with as we were traveling to an IAAM function or conference event on a bus. Although the conversations may have been limited, they were always a learning experience. This is where ideas are exchanged and views are expressed about everything, from an upcoming show you are having to what kind of storage works best for an indoor football field.

Thank you for the breaks and receptions during the conference where the networking can move from subject to subject with interaction from people quickly passing by. These opportunities are just as informative and enlightening, discussing everything from a presidential visit to an outdoor festival held on the grounds of your facility.

Thank you for speaking up during round tables and sharing your stories about a show, a company, or a product that has helped influence some important decisions. These sessions have been a valuable source of information. Sometimes I wish I would have recorded them so I could remember everything, but the important stuff usually sticks.

Thank you to all of my local and national vendors that always seem to understand that I am working to get the best product at the best price and are willing to work with me to achieve that goal. They steer me in the right direction and increase my knowledge.

And then there are the promoters and their hard-working representatives that make sure everything is just right for the artists visiting the facility. They help ensure all of our events run as smooth as possible and that everyone is safe.

Thank you to the part-time staff that works so hard to make us look great. The crew building the stage the night before, the staff that ensures the dressing rooms and locker rooms are bright and clean for every artist that enters the building, the chefs that prepare food all day, the event staff who leave their full-time jobs to come to another, and the crew that cleans the facility to prepare for the next event; all are invaluable.

Thanks to all of the staff that have become friends in my years in this business. This has been a great time seeing everyone grow and families be created and people coming and going.

Finally, thank you to every guest that enters our facility, event after event with a smile on their face, understanding that they may need to be searched or they may have to wait in line, but once inside they will still be treated with respect and kindness throughout their short visit inside these walls.

And in conclusion I’ll ask that the next time you are walking through your facility and you come across someone that you work with on a regular basis or frequently see at events, instead of just saying hello, this time stop, look them in the eyes, and THANK them.

Thank you to all that I have listened to and learned from.

Mark Burrage is director of operations at The MARK of the Quad Cities in Moline, Illinois. He may be contacted at mburrage@themark.org.