if you have less then 12 plants you will not want to have anyone help you. if you harvest less then a pound, just do it yourself. i wouldn't pay anyone shit to help me. im hella anal, i wouldn't want my friends grummy hands all over my shit. i seen how my friends treat there own weed, i wouldn't want them touching mine!! it boils down to you pay for what you get, and throwing a bbq and buying beers all adds up!! i am hella picky and i think i have had enough practice though, trimming a pound is nothing to me. i play Tetris with my buds/stems/leafs, and i have fun with it, i make sure that shit is done!! if i have to look over someones shoulder and keep telling them how to do shit, its just not worth it. guess in your situation, it depends on your patience, your yield, and your friends and how good you yourself can trim. if you have multipul pounds/plants, get a machine!!!!