Calling Contractors
Capital Pride seeks independent help with logistics for 2010
Some people know how to rally a crowd, recruit volunteers or throw a fundraiser. A select few may have less obvious talents, including those rarely celebrated “numbers people” or similar sorts of organizational minds — those who might not be shaking their money-makers while they throw beads to a crowd, but who ensure that the parade begins on schedule and the city has cleared the route. Actually, it’s not numbers per se — it’s everything.
And Capital Pride has put out the call.
The group that inherited authority from Whitman-Walker Clinic at the beginning of this year for the annual celebration of the LGBT community, among the largest in the nation’s capital, is looking for help with this massive logistical undertaking.
“You would need to have some event experience — worked with Pride, volunteered with Pride or another festival in D.C. is a plus,” says Dyana Mason, executive director of Capital Pride and the person charged with securing logistical support. “Primarily, it’s follow-through and being able to manage a pretty complex event. We’re looking for the best individual or team.”
Complex is right. The independent contractor Mason chooses will have a hand in “execution of all logistics tasks through fulfillment, ensuring Capital Pride has obtained all necessary licenses, permits, and paid all applicable fees for the 2010 street festival, parade and any other events.” For starters.
The individual or entity who fills the bill will also assist with vendor contracts, have a hand in event budgets, participate in planning meetings, and quite a few other tasks. And the successful applicant, who must apply by 11 a.m., Jan. 8, will need to hit the ground running. Planning for the 35th annual week of Capital Pride events — beginning June 4, 2010, and capped by the Pride Parade Saturday evening, June 12, and the Festival, June 13, and attracting roughly a quarter of a million people — is already well underway.
“It’s really a year-round endeavor,” Mason points out. “We’ve already met with the Mayor’s Special Events Task Force, for example. We’ve been staffing up our committees. Various chairs have been successful in recruiting new volunteers.”
Mason adds that registration for the Capital Pride Parade recently opened and that there are substantial discounts for those contingents that register before Jan. 1.
For a full description of the independent logistics manager position, or to register for the Capital Pride Parade, visit capitalpride.org.
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