You know the routine, you see a posting you're interested in, you submit your interest and you wait ... and wait ... and wait. Eventually, it becomes apparent that you're not being selected for the event. In the meanwhile, you've applied to other events, of course, but it would have been easier to make decisions had you known where you stand with the other events you submitted for. So why don't staffers just tell you if you weren't selected? Here are some reasons to consider and hopefully it helps to have context.
Too Many Events To Staff, No Time To Circle Back For Updates
We know theoretically that staffers are extremely busy individuals, and not being able to circle back to inform people that they weren't selected for an event is a part of that. Staffers are booking people for future events while taking care of the current events due to activate in the present, simultaneously. Juggling that alone is a major task and being able to circle back to those who didn't get picked hits very low on the list of priorities. It sucks on both sides, but that comes with the territory most times. Every once in a while, you'll see companies give updates, but that is a slow trend. If you find yourself always needing to know if you were selected or not, my suggestion to you is to cast a bigger net. You need more baskets to place your eggs.
Yes, you could send an email asking for an update, but it's a toss-up if the staffer is able to get back to you. But harassing a staffer or getting salty because you see a staffer on Facebook having free time is not it. Staffers shouldn't be expected to work around the clock to plug every hole created by the industry. I know it can be frustrating especially if it's an event you really want, but the weight of updates doesn't belong to staffers. Staffers are doing the job they were given and if consistent follow up-s are not a standard for the promo company, that's the deciding factor.
MANY DON'T KNOW HOW TO TAKE A NO
Too often are staffers hit with the backlash of people feeling entitled to the gig. So much so that when a staffer informs them that they didn't get selected, they get furious. The emails started coming and now the staffer is stuck having to be a wordsmith in their responses to de-escalate the matter so it doesn't become a series of screenshots in someone's Facebook group. And many of the times, it wasn't the staffer who didn't select you. Who wants to deal with that? It's unneeded stress and lessens your chances, even more, to be booked if by chance a spot opened up. When you apply for an event, no matter how quickly and thoroughly you submitted, that doesn't means it's yours to have. Unfortunately, people like this have messed it up for everybody ... so no one gets an update and you have to catch the hint. On a side note: This is actually a pro to companies making everyone have a login for their events. The login creates a barrier.
IT BENEFITS THE PROMO COMPANY TO NOT SAY ANYTHING
Before you jump to conclusions and conspiracy theories, there are times when a staffer has buttoned up
their events and the staff is all booked, then here comes the client wanting to add more promos to their activation. Had the staffer told you that you weren't selected after they booked out the event, the first time, the likelihood of you not being available still would go down if the staffer (for whatever reason) would need to circle back to you. So it's better to not have said anything. Another reason to not say anything is simply because it saves time. Sometimes circling back to tell a promo that they didn't get selected leads some promos to start up a whole new conversation that has nothing to do with the topic at hand, now the staffer is "trapped" trying to wrap up this impromptu conversation so they can get back to work.
CONCLUSION:
There isn't a one solution that fits all. That's a tough cookie, but that's what it is for now.
TIPS
Always try to be one of the first to submit.
Now note, being first doesn't mean you'll get booked automatically, but staffers know what they're looking for and tend to want to book out their event quickly if they can. It's not required that every submission be considered
Always take the earliest interview you can take if you can.
Make sure your photos are on point.
If you follow up on an event, be nice. I promise you that leaves a deeper impression on the staffer. I've had plenty of events I didn't get and the staffer circled back around to m to see if I was still available because room became available.
Establish a rule of thumb. For instance, some promos don't wait any longer than a week before they book elsewhere.
Comments