Get yer program!
I spent a few hours yesterday morning hawking programs at the Seahawks game.  This was a fundraising event for the YMCA, who keeps all of the proceeds from sales plus a 100% match from the Paul G. Allen Foundation.

The event went off very well, I think.  We had a good turnout of volunteers and it was a lot of fun to get dressed up in a lime green shirt with several dozen other lime green-clad screamers and yell at strangers.  But...today, my voice is destroyed--reduced to a warbly barely-audible rasp.  Selling programs at a football game is one of those odd jobs with some intricacies that you don't really consider until you've actually tried it:

• The program sellers at any random sporting event almost invariably have the same delivery:  "Programs!  Getcher program!", or some very similar variant.  It is a cliche, but a very practical one.  I started out with a lengthy rant:  "Programs here!  Just three dollars!  All proceeds go to charity!  All proceeds go to kids!  Support the YMCA!  Programs, three dollars!"  And so on.  This, of course, wore my voice out very quickly.  Also, it took so long to say that most people managed to pass before they could figure out what I was hawking.  Keep it short 'n' sweet.  Everybody knows the song--"Programs!  Getcher program!"
• Comfortable shoes are a must.  I should have worn the same shoes I wore in the marathon.  You don't walk around a lot but being on your feet can be very tiring.
• Making change is easy, but fumbling around with a giant wad of cash after you've sold a dozen programs is not easy.  I started my day with my cash folded in half in my apron, and programs in both hands.  Before long, I figured out that having to put down the programs, unfold the cash, do math, etc. was not the best customer service for folks who really just wanted to get to their seats as quickly as possible.  So I switched to holding up a single program that could easily be handed to a buyer, and with my other hand, I held the unfolded cash in my apron pocket.  I've seen other sellers do this--now I understand why.
• Lemon tea, Ricola, etc. are your best friends.

Now I get to see how bad I hurt my vocal cords.  My voice is fading in and out today, but the warm drinks seem to be helping and I'm all wrapped up in a scarf.  Hopefully, I don't have to do too much speaking.