Here at Mash Staffing, we believe that finding the right promotional staff for any campaign is a bit of an art form – one that requires thought, clear processes, and the right balance between work and fun. After all, there’s no reason festival work shouldn’t be both – but it’s important to plan ahead, and make sure you’ve got exactly the right type of staff on board for this kind of event.
While festival work can attract people who are there for the party atmosphere, working at a festival is no easy task. It can be physically demanding, with long hours and no real home comforts – which can mean untrained staff find themselves there for very much the wrong reasons.
Profile Staff for the Role
It’s absolutely essential to profile your promotional staff before the event, and to ensure a clear, detailed briefing process is in place in the lead-up to it. Managing expectations, and making sure there aren’t any surprises (except, perhaps, the weather) means it’s easier to keep Brand Ambassadors upbeat, and focused on the job – rather than feeling like they’re missing out.
When you’re profiling, it’s important to consider things like experience, suitability, and previous work – as well as their love for the type of festival you’re sending them to. Over the summer, both staff and festival work are equally in demand, so in theory, it’s easy to find people to fill your shifts – but finding the right people is a little more of a skill, and requires attention to detail when profiling.
How Do You Choose an Event Manager?
It’s also hard to underestimate the importance of having great Event Managers in place. These guys can be make or break at a festival, helping to make sure your staff stay motivated, focused, and happy throughout the event – especially if weather conditions aren’t working in your favour.
The best Event Managers at festivals know when it’s time to work, and when to let their staff let off a little steam. We’ve all heard of ‘all work and no play’ – and it’s always easy to spot those staff who love what they do, because they’re able to have fun during their shift, and act responsibly outside of it to make the most of the experience.
Deliver Great Briefings
For any type of promotional work, it’s not enough to simply book staff and expect them to get on with it. The magic happens when staff are fully briefed, and ready to go. The delivery usually comes direct from the Event Managers on the day – but the more information you can provide in advance, the easier it is to guarantee a positive experience both for your consumers, and your staff.
With great briefings, it’s about attention to detail. While it’s never possible to cover every eventuality, there are essential things staff need to know – especially when working at festivals. Accommodation, toilets, food and breaks are all important to cover in advance, because these will determine what your staff need to prepare for. And if your campaign is likely to change depending on the weather, it’s worth letting your team know about contingency plans before they arrive, so that they can be ready for action the moment any clouds appear.
Great festival staff will know how to deliver a great, on-brand consumer experience, whatever the weather, while remaining focused on the task in hand. They’re hard-working, lively personalities – with a great attitude, and experience to boot – and by working with the best in the business, it’s easy to guarantee an amazing event for every one of your visitors.
Author: Mash Staffing is a company dedicated to providing the best and brightest individuals to suit your staffing needs; whether it’s a launch event or an experiential marketing stunt, they have a variety of skilled staff on hand.