Being a room helper is an interesting experience. And there are all sorts of different levels to the job depending on what the model needs/wants from them.
On the surface one might just be responsible for the function that come with the position, the topic and banning. Both which are tasks that free up the models hands and attention so she can focus on her show. And both also require one to keep a steady focus on what is happening in chat.
But the job can expand out pretty fast. A lot of helpers are media distributors for the model, and while that means sending videos mostly, it can also be keeping a list of all the people who are pre-buying content for a show that is going to be recorded, and providing customer support to folks who have difficulty downloading or playing the clip they bought. I often need to have a short PM interaction after I send a clip to explain how VLC will play it, or help someone navigate Dropbox the first time.
Sometimes a model relies on the helper to be an auxiliary brain, to prompt her if she wishes a new count, or to post reminders of what tips for actions are during a control show (Often for the audiences benefit to know what was tipped for, but sometimes as a reminder to themselves) This can include providing feedback as to the quality of the feed, and sound, if the radio volume is too high, or if members are having some issue.
A lot of members PM with questions about the model or curiosities to my connection to her. I've made a lot of good MFC friends out of such interactions and have become close to almost all of the models regulars and thus sometimes act as a message hub for them, or a place where they can drop off information about things in their lives they might want to pass on to the room ("Could you tell the room I have an operation that will keep me away a few days? etc)
With busy room, keeping conversation flowing is not such a big part of the job, but sometimes a helper is tasked with that job, to keep the room un-dead and some activity in chat happening, to draw in conversation, start discussions and so forth.
Though I was never asked to, I've had a few icons designed and made that touch on in-jokes in the room, or for members who have been very very generous. They are small things that add to the unique 'feel' of the room, and give the models members something to play with that helps unite them as a part of the community she has built.
I am always concerned that I might be making negative impressions on members when I'm cycling banners and tend to follow the One topic or banner repost per visible page rule. One of the sad facts is that Reposting the topic often makes a real difference in video deal sales. Having it out there a lot prompts questions about the deals and makes sales. One has to get a feel for the balance needed in posting such. You often judge how the conversational flow in the room is going and pace the posts accordingly as to not break them up.
The situation that
@marchards describes above is to my eyes a very awkward one, and I have difficulty understanding why a model would do it, much in the same way as the ones that put the position up for bid, and are amused when the winner bans other room regs 'for fun' or out of some political tangle. It just seems to be a bad way to do things, but I'll concede that everyone has their own style and such may well work for them.
There are as many reasons for people to want to be helpers as there are aspects to the job. In my case, I'm not really able to afford to tip, so by helping out I'm able to feel like I'm doing something for the time I am there, and it also feeds into my personal desires to be organized and helpful. I want to see my model have as relaxing and easy nights session as possible, hopefully making her evening better and more 'fun' too. Or at least free her up to focus on things that she wants to.
I came to my roll though being a regular that was helpful with counts in the days before @remains (and still handle the counts for her manually today because she prefers to only have a portion of tips for media buys go toward the count) and answering the usual half dozen questions in the room that always came up if she was busy when they did. She chatted with me on and off and like with many of her regulars became a friend to me, and to my surprise trusted me enough to put me in the position when it was rolled out by MFC.
I'm sure every helper can list a bunch of different reasons why they are willing to give their relaxation time up for the position. It can be a very busy job some nights, more-so when an guest model might be around and video sales, special show events, and such are happening all at once. Coordinating with the other models helper, or even taking the position on oneself if she has none, becomes part of the job on such eves.
To me the most interesting thing about the helper position is that its another strong aspect of MFC's 'Community' based set of tools they give to models. Every model on MFC creates the atmosphere she wants in her room, and they become very unique and idiosyncratic. The roll the model defines for her helper is part of this, and it makes a difference in the tone of the room, as many posters noted above.
On a personal note, while the model I help has been very very clear in her appreciation for me, and always makes sure I know that, I took the job on with no expectations of any special treatment or access to her. I was able to PM and interact with her pretty freely before, and never had the illusion that what I do couldn't be easily replicated by any other number of people. I do it because it makes me feel useful.
I've enjoyed this thread, as it's given me insight into how people see the job, and where they might have problems with its execution. Helpers get very little feedback in general. When they do the job right, they are, ideally, invisible. When they mess up or annoy, people will just leave and not say anything. So being able to hear what concerns and problems people have is super handy and valuable.