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marketing-promo Event help?

HellfireFarm

HellfireFarm

eXtreme
Has anyone done an event big enough that you needed to hire help?

We are going to the NC State Fair this year. The Fair's average attendance is 80-100k per day. Obviously we won't get that many going through our area but it IS going to be very busy. It's 11 days, 13 hours per day, with an hour drive each way - and need to arrive early enough to be in the booth by start time. And there are only two of us.

I'm trying to figure out how to find some part-time help during this time just to lighten the load some. Anyone face this before? How did you do it?
 
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not the answer to your original question, but I would seriously consider getting a cheap motel room near the event. Save the drive time, have time to get a bite to eat or a drink at the end of the day.


As for the help, what do you need them to do? Help for the whole 13 hours with sales? Cover for an hour so you get a break?
 
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Never had that dilemma but I’d look inward to family, neighbors and friends. None of them will be receptive to 11 days though I’d imagine. If you get any outside help such as from an agency you’ll have to be able to trust that person to be around money. Make sure you and your help have protection from the elements and are not getting sun baked. If you go to church can you get any help from there ?. Grocery store bulletin board ?.
 
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I was also thinking of church young people, but the distance might be an issue if from your local congregation. Students from the local community college food program, non- relatives will expect payment. Relatives might work for less.

One event had a "hire-a-person" service where you could schedule a person to cover. Can't remember the event but I thought it was a good idea. As the event is 11 days, I am guessing it is over 2 weekends. maybe the midweek days are slower that one person can man the booth so the other can take a rest at the motel.
 
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Thanks for the input so far - so here's the limitations and thoughts I have:
  • Not part of a church or any other social group other than my local fire department - and I am planning to ask there.
  • My daughter would not be able to handle the volume of customers, and my son is going to help what he can, but he has a 9-5.
  • I'm looking for 4-6 hours/day of help, middle of the day, to give me & my wife a break (in shifts, will keep 2 people at the table).
    2 at table is based on my experience from the Hot Sauce Festival which runs 20-25k, and we needed 2 there most of the time.
  • Doesn't have to be the same person all 11 days, just people who either know shopify or can learn it easily. Anyone with retail experience would do fine.
  • In convention towns, there are places that specialize in event help - often called "boothies". These are people who regularly man booths in conventions like this. By "convention town" I mean places like Las Vegas that do big events a lot. Unfortunately, Raleigh isn't one of those. That's probably like the "hire a person" service you mention @salsalady
  • I used to work for a temp agency which is why I'm thinking of that, but I don't know about ones that do any sort of retail.
  • Protection from elements is not a concern, our booth is indoors.
  • Bonus for "employees" - free parking and fair pass, and without working all day, time to enjoy the fair.
I may be looking at something similar for Fiery Foods, currently it looks like it may be only me at that one. But I have a while to worry about that. And thanks for the local college suggestion - I had forgotten about those.

This is the downside of stepping it up like I am :)
 
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Try QWICK. It's for hospitality and events temp staff per zip code area. Choose the Event Setup skill and sub-skills include things like Concession Worker, Event Staff, etc.
Example:
www.qwick.com

Chelsea O. | Banquet Setup, Event Staff, Host in Raleigh-Durham, NC | Qwick

Connect with this banquet server in Raleigh-Durham, NC: Hard Worker, Dedicated, and Easy Going
www.qwick.com www.qwick.com

Also
instawork.com

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Temporary and permanent staffing: hospitality, warehouse, retail, hotel, event, and food service operations. 7M workers across 400+ cities in U.S. and Canada.
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is quite popular.
 
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