Lessons from the Beer Blast Door Guy

Hi, and welcome to beer blast! I’ve been saying that for three years worth of beer blasts. I will miss it, having missed only one or two a year usually due to work or a professor’s celebratory end-of-class session. The last three years have been quite the blur at times – and it’s gone unbelievably fast. And to think that more than 50 beer blasts have passed in the time that I have started working the door.


Most of you may recognize me as that guy in the Stern shirt at the front by the UC-100 door at Beer Blast telling you to finish up your drinks and directing you to the exits or bathroom as appropriate. A lucky few worked with me during cleanup after the beer blasts, and many of you at least nod as we pass in the halls and at events. Let me introduce myself again for those who don’t come that often. My name is Wuen-E Hank Chang, or Hank for short, and I’ll be graduating this year along with about half of you. I was a part of SCorp and PTLF, and yes, despite all the rumors or misunderstandings, I am a part-time Langone student that happens to work as a derivatives trader at MetLife.


Some people ask why I clean up after beer blast every week. Let me clarify – I am not paid for doing it, it’s not for power, and I do get thanks from people. But really, I do it because I do enjoy seeing and meeting everyone that walks in and out! Beer Blast is a perfect opportunity to mix and mingle with full-time, part-time, exec, alumni, prospective and administrators that stop by the beer blast.


Let me share a few other tips, hints, and lessons from beer blast over the last three years that I have learned. There some points I hope you carry with you in the future to future beer blasts and positions!

1It’s cool at the door. Seriously, 10-15° cooler. Those fans can’t cool the air, just move the hot air around. We should consider a class gift of an AC unit for the basement.


2UC-100 is a study room at heart. And it is, when it’s not being cleaned or hosting beer blast, the chairs and tables make for a quiet study area.


3Food comes at 6, 7:30, and 9p. Or thereabouts. The clubs are responsible for providing food, but you never really know when the food delivery guys will be on-time or not.


4There are bathrooms around the corner from IT. Not sure why people insist on running to the far side, particularly guys – perhaps you don’t have your NYU ID card to swipe in the doors?

5Sosnoff Connection? Yes, that stairwell brings  you right up into the Sosnoff Café for those of you who haven’t used it before. If Beer Blast gets big enough for overflow and there’s enough people to staff the doors next year, maybe they’ll open it up to beer blast, too!

6Rules about where beer/wine can go are meant to help all of us. I know people don’t like to follow it but you should consider a couple things.


7One obvious reason – if you leave something around and an undergraduate student gets it, we would lose beer blast forever (don’t want to be that person!)

8A second, less obvious reason, anyone who has heard Galloway or taken Brand Strategy knows is that your brand tends to be most influenced by the very best and very worst examples seen. When people leave cups around, visitors, alumni, professors, and prospective students see them and they will have a negative perception. Uphold Stern’s reputation and throw your trash in a trash container!

9Creativity = successful beer blasts. This is one more for the clubs. Clubs with a strong theme, fun décor, post-bar activity and other creative touches tend to get better turnout and reviews of their beer blasts. It’s an opportunity to build their brand as well as help make these blasts more fun for everyone who attends. From karaoke to Halloween to drums to dancing, there are many ways to spice up the beer blast and make yours unique. At one beer blast this year, a group of students invented a new game where they were trying to throw a beer pong ball backwards over the shoulder, off the wall, and into a cup. Endless fun and a lot of laughs came out of it.


10Human Capital is earned with every interaction. Something picked up from Power & Politics with Kabi. I’m sad that after the first couple of beer blasts for the Fall, everyone stops making an effort to meet each other. Be it the staff, the club officers, the guy at the door, alumni, prospective, or full-time and part-time students after class, you should take every opportunity to meet a new face at beer blast – you’ll see your friends all of the time, but a new connection could lead to great network effects later. My own example – knowing one of the servers at Beer Blast, was able to leverage the connection to their catering organization and get a significant discount for a friend’s wedding. Don’t be afraid to say hi to a new face at any point, and you never know who you’ll meet!

Thank your SCorp & PTLF reps. Seriously, you get to enjoy this weekly event courtesy of some very hard-working folks in the past (like Mike, Rachel, Marisa and myself) put in a lot of time and effort to help set up and clean up after each beer blast. Make sure you thank them for doing so, it really does make a difference in our days.


First World Problems. Yes, the type beer you’re drinking has always been a source of difficult planning and fun comments over the years. First, Bud Lite gets a bad rap on being “cheap” when we had it, and then when we bring in craft beers, people complain about not having Bud Lite. Humorous, yes.

We are a big bunch of social, caring, competitive A-types. Fortunately, we like to talk and mix and relax, and it’s very hard to kick people out at the end of the night! :P But we are competitive – chugging aside – but rarely mean about it, at least over beer blast. And fortunately, we do care about each other – I see friends leaning against each other as we all leave for the night.


If you ask nicely, anyone is more likely to help. You can’t be afraid to ask for help, because few people volunteer to help clean.


I want to thank everyone who helped with cleanup over the last three years. Unsung heroes all, you’ve joined me over the years to spend your time and energy to help improve the experience of students around you.


Added Value: Remember that every little incremental activity or help you give at Stern to improve someone’s experience (even yours!) or Stern itself benefits you in the long run. Impressed prospectives may become happy students, who will hopefully will become happy alumni, and lead to better rankings, better funding, and more prestige for the Stern name (and thus coming full circle - benefiting Sternies alumni and current!). Don’t be afraid to think long-term!

And so that ends this chapter of this story. As I write this, my last beer blast cleanup was tonight with the Outclass beer blast this year, and I will miss all the people I have met over the years here. I want to wish my fellow graduates of 2012 the best of luck, and I hope you keep in touch with me via my wec226@stern email!

Thank you, and good night.