The success of an event can be a disaster if you don’t hire the right event staff.Start Your Search Early On
It’s always best practices to have your event staff in place as early as possible. Quality and experienced staffers are in high demand and it’s inevitable that there will be some staffers who have to cancel their availability.
Event Needs
Before hiring the event staff, you want to know how many staffers you will need to attend the event depending on the size of the event, what type of staff you need to hire (e.g., male, female, age, etc.) and their level of experience.
Interview The Staff
Like any job, you want to interview the staff to determine if they are a good fit for your event. I have a phone conversation with the candidate first, ask to see a resume and headshot (if it’s a model related position) and have an in-person meeting or a Skype call to get a sense of their personality and determine if they are a good fit.
Good Match With The Team
It is important that everyone on your team gets along and can work together. I let my team meet the potential staffing team to make sure they are a good fit and their personalities are compatible. Choose the right mix of personalities.
Brand Image
One important thing I factor into the interview with the event staff is whether or not they are a good fit for the event/company brand. The event staffing team is the first thing the event attendees will come into contact with at the event. The event staff represents the event so it’s important everyone reflects the brand image. Hiring staff that represents the brand is more important than hiring according to looks.
You Get What You Pay For
You don’t want to skimp on your budget when it comes to the event staff. Saving money in your budget is very appealing but skimping on the budget for the event staff could affect the outcome of the event. Hiring a professional event staffing company is always worth the money in the end. A couple recommendations that I use are Contessa Events NYC and The Cutting Edge Elite. Always hire more staff than you need. You can never have too much help at an event.
Inform The Staff
Scheduling staffing calls are very important to inform the event staffing team of your expectation of their work as well as their responsibilities at the event. They need to be informed what time to arrive, how long they will be needed at the event, wardrobe requirements, specific behaviors at the event, direct contact, job duties, and any unforeseen negatives to look out for. Honesty is the best policy.
Conclusion
In the end, the event staff is an extension of your team and should be treated as such. We need them to help have a successful event so it’s important to treat them with respect. Keeping these tips in mind, you are sure to have a great experience with your event staffing team. Preparation is key!
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About Naif Productions:
Naif Productions is a strategic event planning, design and production firm specializing in corporate, live coaching sales events, social, non-profit, and weddings. Based in New York City, we produce events worldwide from Fortune 500 clients and coaches to families and charities. Naif Productions specializes in helping clients attain their goals, realize return on investment, and achieve the most unique, creative experiences.
About Annette Naif:
Since 1986 Annette Naif has been designing and producing custom events, helping clients create their unique style that translates into a memorable and profitable experience. Annette spent 17 years producing events in the motion picture industry where she helped coordinate numerous productions for film and episodic television programs. Since then Annette’s been running her own event production company, coaching other event planners, teaching an event operations and production course at NYU, and now is the CEO & Creative Director of Naif Productions.