Thread: When is it time to call it quits?

Tweet

Not Halloween in general. No fear from that.

However, for the last three years, I've been managing a Horror Train at a local historic railroad. My responsibilities include pretty much everything when it comes to running it, from purchasing everything, to planning, to designing the webpage, to set-up, and recruiting volunteers. It is a lot of work, which I don't mind, because when it is all said and done, it is a lot of fun, and I'm doing what I love to do.

However, here is the problem I'm having. The manager of the train gives me little to no money ($100) for decorations and costumes, however, he will complain constantly when we do not have enough set-up to cover half a mile of track. We also have a problem getting volunteers. Several of the volunteers that I had last year, refused to return, due to the train manager rubbing them the wrong way. So we basically ran a half a mile of track with 9 people. The 9 people I got were awesome in what they did, and this year was a success, and we ended our weekend run having a blast, and leaving mostly good reviews from people.

The other thing is that I'm getting more involved in another haunt. I've been working Netherworld in Atlanta on weekends since the beginning of the season, with the exception of last weekend for the Horror Train.

Several of my volunteers, who I am working with closely with planning, are also interested in moving away from the Horror Train and trying to find a charity to sponsor a haunted house that we would assist with.

To top it all off with the Horror Train, I'm a volunteer for the train. I get no pay, however, the manager, who does nothing as far as the Horror Train goes, which is the biggest fundraiser for the train, is in a paid position, and he does nothing but complains about everything we do, when he sits back and pretty much just hangs out the night's we work the Horror Train.

So the real question I pose to everyone is, is it time to get out and leave the Horror Train, and devote more time to working at Netherworld or even better attempting to find a new haunted house to help operate? Or am I blowing all of this out of proportion and just deal with it?

When you're talking about working for almost nothing or for free, the time to get out is when it stops being fun. When the stress is too much and the people involved aren't nice to work for/with and you find yourself not having fun anymore, it's time to move on to other things.

My opinion- let fun be your your guide.

Dan

If it is no longer fun nor is it of any profit to you....say goodbye to it!

My 2 cents is that when volunteering becomes a chore, its time to move on. I know you said you love doing it, but the paid manager's attitude must really be weighing on you. Since you have other irons in the fire already, you wouldn't actually be leaving behind something you love. Sometimes change is good. This is just my humble opinion and food for thought. Only you can make up your mind.

Good luck with your decision.

And adding my 2 cents...make sure you tell the manager exactly why there is not enough to cover the half mile-his stinginess, and then tell him why you are leaving-his attitude. Make it very very clear. Either he won't care, or he will have a wake up call and fix the problems.

Bye-bye Horror Train...helooooooooooo Netherworld!!!

When all someone does is complain and not appreciate what you are doing, it's time to go (that goes for paying jobs as well, I believe). This manager doesn't sound like he is a fan of All Hallows at all and while business is business, it helps to have someone who understands what you are trying to do on your side.

Go to where you feel you are making the most difference and are getting the help and assistance you need!

I have to agree with everybody else. My mom has been in a similar position with our local high school theater program. She has been volunteering as a director or stage manager for nearly 15 years now and loves it. The past few years, however, have been quite a chore; mainly because of personnel changes and a shifting attitude by administration about the necessity of fine arts programs. It stopped being fun several years ago, but she still goes back because she feels that if she doesn't do it she will disappoint the parents and students who do care about the program, even if the administration does not.

She quit volunteering at the school; mainly because she finally realized that the theater program is not her responsibility. It was not her job to see that the students have an adequate arts education; that responsibility belongs to the school. I think that your situation is similar in that its not your responsibility to raise funds for the historic railroad. If you decide to ditch the Horror Train next year and the event is a flop, it is not your fault. The management is responsible for fund raising, not the volunteers. I have been involved with a lot of non-profit groups (public TV, Habitat for Humanity, etc.) and I can tell you that it only takes one bad fundraiser for them to reevaluate how hard they lean on volunteers for support. If anything, you are helping the organization in the end because in my experience it is the groups that are the most organized and that treat their volunteers the best that can make the most out of an event.

You’re a volunteer, not the owner or manager. So just do what makes you happiest.

Originally Posted by Mr_Nobody

...To top it all off with the Horror Train, I'm a volunteer for the train. I get no pay, however, the manager, who does nothing as far as the Horror Train goes, which is the biggest fundraiser for the train, is in a paid position, and he does nothing but complains about everything we do, when he sits back and pretty much just hangs out the night's we work the Horror Train. ... So the real question I pose to everyone is, is it time to get out and leave the Horror Train, and devote more time to working at Netherworld or even better attempting to find a new haunted house to help operate? Or am I blowing all of this out of proportion and just deal with it?

Well there's your problem right there! I'd get outta there quick, sounds like you're being leeched by that guy. And you need to go to whomever owns the train and fill them in on the manager's lack of fufilling his paid duties (not working).

Originally Posted by We'en12amEternal

Well there's your problem right there! I'd get outta there quick, sounds like you're being leeched by that guy. And you need to go to whomever owns the train and fill them in on the manager's lack of fufilling his paid duties (not working).

The problem is, it's one of those situations where the owner of the train, who has more money than he knows what to do with, bought the train for the simple purpose of saying he owns a train. After that, he could care less. His only requirements is that we make enough every year to pay the taxes, which we do in spades the nights of the Horror Train. And seeing the manager and him go back a ways, he's not going to really care about complaints from me.

I think it's time to just move on...after I clean up all my stuff that is and make sure I have all of my props home, safe and sound.