Esméralda Boursillon (Argentat 2011)" class="shutterset_singlepic1998">
Who? Esmeralda Boursillon, owner of hotel rooms in Argentat (France) and organizer of the event “Argentat en Fête”
Waiters race organized: Argentat 2011 (France)
Number of waiters race(s) organized: one (2011)
About waiters races
WR: When did you hear for the first time about waiters races?
Esmeralda Boursillon: Difficult to be precise … waiters race is for me synonymous with popular celebration and conviviality, but I never had the opportunity to attend or participate in this kind of event.
WR. Com: How came-up the idea of organizing a waiters race?
Esmeralda Boursillon: We decided with a group of friends to create the event of the year, organizing a celebration for our city Argentat, where each one could have fun and it’s naturally that the idea of a waiters race came to me.
About the organization of the waiters race
WR: How many months before the waiters race did you start organizing it?
Esmeralda Boursillon: Three months before.
WR. Com: Did you have to obtain permits from the city council?
Boursillon Esmeralda: Yes, we had to obtain permits from the city hall, in particular to establish a bylaw to prohibit traffic on the route of the race and we had no problem: the mayor was in favor of this event.
WR. Com: What are the main difficulties you encountered in the organization of the race?
Esmeralda Boursillon: I have not encountered major difficulties in the organization. I have excellent colleagues, very dedicated, responsive and available, and especially a couple of extraordinarily active volunteers!
Promotion of the race
WR. Com: What media did you use to promote your event?
Esmeralda Boursillon:
- Internet with our website www.argentatenfete.fr and our facebook page an a website that gives all the information about life in Argentat: www.argentatoptique.fr
- Communication on paper: posters and flyers
- Media: Radio France Bleu Limousin announced the event on the air several times a day, ten days before and assured the media coverage from 10am to 12.30pm with several interviews on the day of the race.
- Journalists from local newspapers also wrote articles about the waiters race.
- The tourism office also communicated about the event.
WR. Com: How did you prepare your press release?
Esmeralda Boursillon: We have two communication professionals within our team.
WR. Com: What did you expect from the media coverage of your race?
Esmeralda Boursillon: We just hoped to arouse curiosity of each federate and a desire to have fun for an audience of about 1,000 people: the objective was largely exceeded !
WR. Com: Have you invited VIPs and other officials to the race?
Esmeralda Boursillon: Except for the mayor and his first deputy, there was no VIP for the race, but don’t forget it was only our first edition!
Sponsors and production
WR. Com: Can you give us a general idea regarding the budget of such an event?
Esmeralda Boursillon: It is difficult to establish it…our sponsor (Mespoulet: trader) has prepared the materials, aprons and offered some of the lots (6 bottles of wine, a pack of water and a pack of coffee for the first three winners, and the first “child”); we bought a television for the winner, four medals with engraving, cutting and burning, which means more and less 300 €.
WR. Com: How did your sponsors and partners have received the project?
Esmeralda Boursillon: They were all very interested and actively participated in the success (material and cash donations)
Future Plans
WR: Do you intend to organize a waiters race in the future?
Boursillon Esmeralda: Yes, the date has already been set: July 7th, 2012.
WR: Was there at your race something very original, innovative that you are proud of?
Boursillon Esmeralda: Yes, there were two obstacles: a pneumatic tires floor tire and a tunnel of foam that the competitors had to cross!
Regarding the profession of waiters in Argentat
WR. Com: Is there a hotel school in Argentat?
Esmeralda Boursillon: no
How are the institutions finding their staff?
Esmeralda Boursillon: Pole-employment and professional journals.
WR. Com: How would you describe the evolution of the catering activity at Argentat during the last years?
Esmeralda Boursillon: The activity is currently experiencing a shortage of personnel.
About WaitersRace.com
WR: Were you surprised to find a waiters race community on the web?
Esmeralda Boursillon: yes!
WR: What do you think about the website itself, its design and tools?
Esmeralda Boursillon: the design is superb and the content very well! Bravo!
WR: How do you think Waitersrace.com can help you with your waiters race and what do you expect from the community?
Esmeralda Boursillon: Being “listed” by an international committee brings more credit to the waiters race and makes it official. Furthermore, it arouses participants’ interest and satisfies the competitors’ “bosses”!
I think WaitersRace.com can advise organizers on the drafting of regulations and help them in the organization of the race along with allowing or providing them with posters embedding WaitersRace.com’s logo.
WR. Com: A small word for the organizers of future waiters races…
Esmeralda Boursillon: a waiters race is an ‘’event of joy’’! The organization is exciting, enrollment reassures you and the race itself is a recap of good humor, emotion and laughter. The results are a real moment of consecration and when it’s over, acknowledgments, congratulations, happiness in the eyes and the faces of competitors and spectators make ….. you’re just tired but happy!!
Finally …
WR: According to you, what are the main components of a successful waiters race?
Esmeralda Boursillon: Good communication; do not hesitate to meet with each owner of establishment (café, restaurant, night club, fast food, …), a route accessible to the public, ” obstacles “that spice the race and a good team of volunteers!
WR: Your main advice(s) to other organisations in the world who wish to organize waiters races…
Boursillon Esmeralda: Do not panic! Allocate yourself a minimum delay in order to find sponsors and take care of the authorizations.
WR. Com: Anything to add?
Esmeralda Boursillon: Delighted to have lived this adventure, and eager to relive it in 2012!
