6 Ways to Make Using Temps Less Stressful
Photo Credit: Temps are often the face of an event. Pexels / Mikhail Niklov
Skift Take
Temps can make or break an event, yet recruiting and training gig workers is often an afterthought.
The first person most attendees come in contact with isn’t the event planner, but the person working behind the registration desk making $20/hour.
The use of temp staff has become increasingly popular for many roles, everything from setup and breakdown to waiters and bar staff. But if not properly vetted and trained, temp workers can cause issues: If the people holding signs directing attendees to the evening reception give out the wrong information, your entire group will end up walking around in circles.
While some planners rely on their DMCs to staff temporary positions, others choose to skip the middleman and rely on their network, or seek out an app or agency that specializes in placing temporary event talent.
“Gone are the days of hiring a warm body to fill a position — or at least they should be,” said Todd Taranto, president of Cadre, an online marketplace for event industry freelancers. “If you define your needs correctly, work with a platform that gives you full access to all of their candidates, and select your own service providers, instead of leaving that decision to an agency, you will have more control over the process and better results.”
Here are 6 things you can do to make hiring temp event staff less painful.
1. Determine qualifications for the role
Just like a full-time role, set the scope needed for the position, including things like years of experience, language skills, and customer service skills. There should be a detailed job description, so that the individuals clearly understand their responsibilities. Be transparent about any challenges, so they know exactly what they are getting into.
2. Research event staffing apps and agencies
Apps such as Instawork, which has a national reach, or shiftNOW, which focuses on South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee, can be used to recruit everything from servers to customer service assistants. Event temp agencies range from city-based or regional firms to global companies like Elevate, which is currently posting thousands of jobs for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
3. Tap your network
Some firms, like Boston’s Event Temps, include client testimonials right on their web sites, or you can ask your fellow planners about the agencies you are considering. Online communities like Club Ichi and the Senior Planners Industry Network (SPIN)’s Facebook group are a great place for both references and referrals.
4. Don’t skimp on training
It’s worth the extra investment to plan at least one training session before the event to ensure that everything goes smoothly. Build that into your staffing budget.
5. Think in terms of teams, not single workers
Gig work has advanced to the point where organizations are using teams for recurring events; for example, the same crew will set up and break down a show or pop up each time. People get used to working together and look forward to your events.
6. Offer incentives
Consider offering a bonus or some other kind of perk to motivate your gig workers. It can be as simple as a Starbucks gift card, but the gesture is so rare that it will be a novelty for most temps — and they’ll be happy to work for you again.
