Who ? Alessandro Sorbello, executive producer of the Italian Week in Brisbane
Waiters race organized: Italian Week Waiters Race (Brisbane)
Number of waiters races organized: 3 (2009, 2010, 2011)
Please introduce yourself and the Italian Week.
My name is Alessandro Sorbello and I am the executive producer of Italian Week which is celebrating its 5th year and enjoying continued growth through strategic partnership. The Italian Week offers an insight into the modern Italy. The primary objective of Italian Week is the promotion of Italian culture and lifestyle and its prominent influence on the Australian lifestyle. Italy is a vibrant country with cutting edge technologies in fashion, the arts, manufacturing and “la bella vita”. Italian Week is designed to showcase and celebrate all things Italian with a view of promoting its integration across cultures. It is with the support of organizations like the Brisbane City Council, Queensland Government, Treasury Casino, Commonwealth Bank and Elio Moda that Italian Week has been able to grow across the State. Our loyal friends from Di Bella Coffee, Angelo’s Fresh Pasta and ItaliQuore form the foundation pillars for Italian Week. Brisbane News and Qantas enable us to get our message out to the world.
About waiters races
WR: When did you hear for the first time about waiters races?
Alessandro Sorbello: Three years ago we discussed the idea of doing a waiters race during Italian week and to feature it in the city heart. It was a way to encourage and involve Italian restaurants to participate in Italian week and also a way of developing interesting and entertaining aspects for Italian week.
WR: How did it evolve over the years?
Alessandro Sorbello: Every year we had around 10 waiters participating, not a lot but we did the race in the City Centre in the Queen Street Mall in Brisbane and people loved it!
About the organisation of the race
WR: How many months before the race did you start organizing it?
Alessandro Sorbello: We start to organise the Waiter Race 3 months before the race.
WR: What kind of media, support did you use to promote your waiters race? Please detail…
Alessandro Sorbello: The Waiters Race is one of the event organised during the Italian Week and it is supported by newspaper, internet, facebook, newsletter and radio.
WR: Could you please give us an idea about the cost of the waiters race for your organisation?
Alessandro Sorbello: $ 1000 (media, prizes, marketing)
WR: How did your sponsors received your project in general?
Alessandro Sorbello: Restaurants don’t seem to understand the potential of this event for promoting themselves and attract more media. The wine merchants have embraced the idea and are collaborating actively.
About results and plans for the future
WR: Did you face any difficulty during the event itself this year?
Alessandro Sorbello: No
WR: Were the other people involved in the waiters race (participants, sponsors etc…) satisfied with the waiters race?
Alessandro Sorbello: All the people involved were happy and satisfied. Participants enjoyed the race and our sponsor presented and gave the prizes to the winners.
WR: Were there any VIP/Special guests at the waiters race?
Alessandro Sorbello: we had dignitaries from the city of Brisbane present at the event
WR: Do you intend to organize a waiters race in the future?
Alessandro Sorbello: Yes, I will. Next May during Italian Week in Brisbane. Not sure about the location because we would like to make this event bigger.
WR: Was there at your race something very original, innovative that you are proud of?
Alessandro Sorbello: We were able to partially monopolise the Queen Street Maule (city heart) for a short period of time with the Italian waiters race. This achievement brings a high level of visibility both through the media and through the city’s official channels.
About Waitersrace.com
WR: Were you surprised to find a waiters race community on the web?
Alessandro Sorbello: It is something that I didn’t expected to find on the web but I am glad that it exists because it is a good initiative.
WR: What do you think about the website itself, its design and tools?
Alessandro Sorbello: The website is easy to navigate.
WR: How do you think Waitersrace.com can help you with your waiters race and what do you expect from the community?
Alessandro Sorbello: Waitersrace.com can help the organizer with a sort of merchandising and some prizes or suggesting some sponsors.
And to finish with…
WR: According to you, what are the main components of a successful waiters race?
Alessandro Sorbello: safety for the participants, good number of participants, a lot of smiles, good media coverage.
WR: Your main advice(s) to other organisations in the world that wish to organize waiters races…
Alessandro Sorbello: Join the waiters race community because it’s fun!
