2018 Formula 1 Pirelli United States Grand Prix
The United States Grand Prix, formally known as American Grand Prize, is a motor race that has been held in the United States on and off since 1908. Since twenty-eighteen, the race has been held forty-eight times and has taken place in ten different locations. Since two thousand and twelve, it has been held every year at the Circuit of the Americas in Elroy, Texas. This race is just one of the series of worldwide races that takes place during a Formula One season. The main purpose of this event is to bring people from all around the world to this one racing event to cheer on one of the ten racers representing their home country, including the Netherlands, United Kingdom, Germany, Mexico, Monaco, Sweden, Belgium, New Zealand, Russian Federation, and Canada. However, this event also attracts people who are not the biggest race fans by having performers such as Brittney Spears and Bruno Mars perform the Saturday and Sunday of the three-day event.
One of the things I learned from this event was the importance of the artistic factor, customizing. Due to the fact, that the participants of the event were from all around the world, as well as of different age groups. Therefore, it was critical that the food and beverage options provided at the event included a variety of options. In fact, the Circuit of the Americas is paired with national brands and several local options in order to provide this diverse selection, such as Thai food, Turkish food, vegetarian and vegan options, American, and Mexican. Additionally, when it came to customizing for different age groups, this event offered a mini racetrack in the back for younger kids to engage with. Additionally, Circuit of the Americas provided a Kids Zone, which was located in the pit at the Austin 360 Amphitheatre for future champions to get up and close with their favorite drivers during autograph sessions. Furthermore, another aspect I learned from this experience was just how important it is to provide enough structure and rules to your event, but doing so in a way that won’t impinge on people’s perceived freedom during the event. With such a large venue as Circuit of the Americas, there had to be a significant amount of rules and regulations to ensure people move through each experience of the event smoothly. For example, prior to the event people needed to be aware of where they could buy a parking pass, where they could be shuttled to their car after the event, and what parking lots were accessible. Additionally, during the event, people needed directions to their seats, bathrooms, first aid, to the concert, to driver autograph sessions, to specific sponsored booths, as well as specific racing times.
When it came to volunteering at this event I was in charge of studying the map and understanding where people could access different aspects of the event. Therefore, when it came to the event, I had the knowledge to direct people in the right location, as well as informing people of where accessible exits and entrances were for people with disabilities. However, during my three P.M. to eight P.M. shift, I was most responsible for directing people to the Super Stage to see Bruno Mars. Additionally, with this responsibility I learned it is crucial for the event planner to debrief their volunteers as to what is to take place, what time, and at what location. Due to the fact, one of the most important technical factors of an event is the responsiveness of the cast members to the guests of the event. However, with these set rules and times of the event, there were additional opportunities for guests to engage in their own experiences. Some of the experiences guests could engage in throughout out the event included a fitness challenge, a pit stop challenge, a reaction challenge, and a news challenge, each of these experiences allowed guests to create their own experience by giving them the opportunity to see what it takes to be a racer. With this, I learned what it takes first-hand to create perceived freedom for your guests. Due to the fact, that these opportunities within the event gave guests not only options to explore and move forward in their own personal experience, but created a unique condition for a self-actualizing experience to occur through a novel experience.
