Friday, May 20, 2011

I Hate Role-Playing Unless....

One of the things that is sometimes required in my line of work is when a cosmetic company launches new products, they will send us for an intense training so we’re thoroughly knowledgeable in educating the customer.

Now, the best part of these trainings is that they’re held in either a private restaurant room or hotel conference room, where we are served either a delicious breakfast or lunch, and then receive FREE gratis from the company.

That’s the BEST part.

Now, here’s the worst part….

The actual training usually lasts about 3 hours, which entails watching audio-visuals and listening to the company trainer talk about all the features and benefits of the products; saturating our brains with new information.

During the course of the training, we are encouraged to ask questions and discuss how we can incorporate these new products into a customers daily beauty routine.

About an hour before the training is finished, nine times out of ten, the company trainer will have us do something called role-playing.

I HATE ROLE-PLAYING. I HATE IT! I HATE IT! I HATE IT!

I would almost rather have all my leg hair tweezed off with a pair of pliers.

Role-playing involves having two of us at time stand in front of the ENTIRE room, in which one of us plays the sales associate and the other one plays the customer. The sales associate is to try and SELL one of the new products to the customer; telling him or her about how fabulous it is by regurgitating everything we just learned about the product.

First of all, I have short-term memory. So for me to try and remember what I just learned, and then repeat it verbatim is next to impossible. Also, I always feel like a IDIOT standing there in front of a roomful of my peers, trying to sell how the company WANTS me to sell, when I know damn well I don’t sell that way.

I feel like a mechanical robot.

I get totally fahklumpt; acting like I don’t know my ass from my face.

I know this may sound odd coming from an actor who should be use to getting up in front of an audience and performing. However, this is different because every critical eye is on you; waiting to see if you’ll forget something. Or worse, HOPING you’ll forget something so that when THEY get up there to role-play, they’ll remember what you FORGOT; receiving an extra piece of company gratis for REMEMBERING.

I often wonder why companies do this because it’s totally bogus. I mean no one sells like that.

Once I get back to my store, I am able to review and process what I just learned, and then sell the product in the manner in which I naturally sell.

Like a REAL person.

Nope, I don’t like role-playing. Not in the slightest bit.

Not unless it involves this…..

Wishing you a tutu amusing weekend everyone!

X