...Since You Think You Know Everything Anyway...
If you want to know the habits to avoid in the promo world, this is the blog to read. Your promo reputation is your currency and some of you need to ante up. .....BLOG: What Your Favorite Staffer Wish You Knew.....
To remain on the same page, this blog is talking about your favorite staffer. Not the bad ones who send you last-minute emails about your booking and are hard to reach for clarification. This blog is only referring to your FAVORITE Staffer.
So let’s determine what a Promo Staffer is at bare bones. The main function of a Promo Staffer is to staff the needed team members for experiential marketing events. However, in some companies, the Staffer may handle other aspects in concerns to your booking.
Now that we are on the same page of what a Staffer is, you should grasp the idea that there are multiple people involved with your booking. Therefore, some of the things you think the Staffer controls, they really don’t. They are just the messenger taking the heat.
These are not placed in any kind of order either, so let’s get into it. Things your favorite Staffer wish you knew ...
#5) We Know Grandma Isn’t Dying As Much As You’re Saying She Is 👵🏼
You are the reason that companies are now asking for proof as to why you were not able to make it to your activation. Poor granny. Does she know you’re using her grave as a scapegoat?
SOLUTION:
a) If a love one did pass away. Take a picture of the funeral program or obituary, especially if your name is listed. Send it to your Staffer. When you do this, you help your Staffer remain credible for even booking you in the first place.
b) take the L. Time to take accountability. If you have already used this reason at least twice already. A third going on your fourth time is doing theeee most. Either send a true apology and the real reason why you won't be reporting to your event so you can face the consequences. But since some of y’all are frowning up your noses right now, resort to option c...
c) reach out to the appropriate personnel and let them know you’re going to be late instead of bailing on the whole day. And then when you get there, be the BEST promo in the footprint. I know sometimes when this happens, you’re self-esteem is lowered because you really didn’t mean for this to happen so you come in with your head hanging low. But I am encouraging you to shake that off. Work your shift with high energy so that when the event manager sends in your performance recap it can say that even though you were late, you did better than everybody who was on time.
#4) We End Up Finding Out That You Jumped Ship
That email you sent stating your apologies for not being able to keep your commitment gets a side-eye from time to time (even if you have a great performance record). Most of us Staffers don’t have the time to be Inspector Gadget to see if you are actually at another event but sometimes the picture you took with another promo pops up on social media, for example. Or a comment you left under an event post saying “interested” appears on the newsfeed. Or the marketing company themselves post recent pictures of a big event that they just completed and you’re in the candid shot, passing out premiums. Or the event manager saw you at another booth because they had to be given an updated sign-in sheet that didn’t have your name on it as the first sign-in sheet did. I could keep going but hopefully you are getting the point.
SOLUTION: The Staffer side of me is going to say, Don’t 👏Jump 👏Ship👏. Get better at aligning yourself with the bookings you really want. Yet, the Promo in me says, you gotta do what you gotta do when you‘re chasing the bag. Even still, the Mother Hen in me says to do the right thing.
#3) The Replacement You Referred To Take Your Booking Doesn’t Entitle Them To Your Booking
Sometimes it’s more work to let your replacement take your booking. Some companies need everyone to be interviewed first and a Staffer may not have time to do that so they reissue out an email to the market or reach out to their pool of eligible people in hopes they are available. Sometimes your replacement is actually in our database, but they are blackballed so they’re not going to be booked regardless. Sometimes your replacement didn’t respond back quick enough and the Staffer went with someone else. Sometimes the Staffer already booked an extra or a backup so your replacement isn’t needed. Sometimes your replacement is DRAMA. I could keep going on and on with this one too. My point is this, if the Staffer can use your replacement, they will because that is less work for them. So if the Staffer doesn’t, there is a GOOD reason why.
SOLUTION:
a) Keep your commitment or else you wouldn’t need a replacement, because it’s you needing a replacement. You must see it from the Staffer’s point of view at this time. When the Staffer booked you, that was a to-do list item checked-marked off their list. And you needing a replacement erased that checked-mark.
b) Always refer a replacement regardless of if you think the Staffer will use them or not. You not being able to make it to your activation just made your Staffer’s day longer. So make sure to be the liaison between the Staffer and the replacement you’re referring. For me personally, I can respect a promo who keeps checking back with me with more referrals if the first one by chance couldn’t do the activation after I spoke with them.
c) don’t take it personally. It is what it is.
#2) Double Booking Is Played Out
Although it can happen every blue moon, we live in the age of technology. You need to find yourself a system that works for you so you don’t double book. You would be highly upset if a Staffer had to remove you from an event because they overbooked an event. Just the thought of that makes you feel some kind of way right? Now imagine how the Staffer feels.
SOLUTION:
a) If you double book, send an email so you can have the conversation of what you can do to make up for it if that’s even on the table to do.
b) get better at tracking when you’re booked.
c) ask others how they keep track of their bookings.
#1) Staffers Do Not Have To Give You The Booking Just Because You Are Available AND EMAILED FIRST
This is a big one. Some of you must understand that each event is a contract and you are not going to win every contract you submit for. The same thing goes for Staffers, sometimes Staffers send out an event email or notification hoping you respond but you don’t. You not responding could be because you already booked with someone, or you just don’t want to work that day or whatever. Staffers don’t feel entitled for you to work their events just because they sent you an email, they roll with the punches and keep it moving. Nonetheless, being quick to respond to event emails/notifications eliminates a Staffer not seeing you.
However, there are considerations that may have kept you from getting the booking due to your:
your skillset
your availability
the client picked who they wanted to be booked
the sizes of the uniforms remaining as the Staffer was booking isn’t your size
the Staffer is looking for new faces to book
you used to not be this much drama
your going rate is too high for this particular event’s budget
your performance history
the hours of this event
the event didn’t need a big team
and the list goes on. But this should open your eyes to the fact that it isn’t always a personal thing. It could be a circumstantial thing.
Also, also, also I want to mention that just because you were one of the firsts to respond to an event notification or email does not mean you’re the obvious pick. Bookings are not about first come, first serve. Bookings are about the best to fit the event’s need.
Now before we conclude, I have a few more insights that may shed some light on a few things. We all know that Staffers are busy people. And even though we acknowledge this fact, we still want them to find the time to explain things. I’m speaking in “we” because I started in the industry as a brand ambassador and I understand how it feels to have questions without answers. After becoming a Staffer, I truly understand a lot of the reasons why Staffers don’t have the time and some of the reasons they don’t tend to find the time.
Related Blog: What Staffers Do Besides Ignore Your Email
STAFFERS CAN’T SPEAK ON THE INNER WORKINGS OF THE COMPANY THEY WORK FOR
Some questions you have, you’re just not going to get an answer on across the board.
Some companies operate in strange ways and it’s not a good look for the employee, i.e. your Staffer, to expose to you what they wish they could do for you. Staffers didn’t set the policy, the company did, so some of the things you want to rebuttal the Staffer with is really doing too much. The email said black belt and you wore a brown belt and was sent home regardless to you being allowed to wear it the last time. The last time, the event manager probably didn’t notice or last time the client didn’t point it out or last time they couldn’t afford to send you home so they let you stay because they needed you or the last time was actually done as a favor to you. Now you’re taking advantage. I know sometimes the little stuff seem insignificant, but it matters.
Some promos don’t want to hear this (and I can hear your rebuttals now) but it’s your rebuttals that unmotivate Staffers to even find the time to explain themselves to you. It’s a drag having to rehash policy with you. It’s always good practice for anyone to be consistent with rulings, but policies change sometimes. Some events are stricter than others. Some events have more at stake than others. Some things you want to rebuttal, the Staffer is just the messenger, they didn’t make the rules. The Staffer may actually agree with you but they can’t say that due to their position with the company.
YOUR APPAREL IS ABOUT TO GET YOU REPLACED
I see your pictures on social media. So you don’t have to lie to me. And I know for the newbies, when you’re first starting out you are trying to fit in new attire into your budget. You don’t have to explain. Who I’m talking to are you repeat offenders.
Those pants you call khakis, those black bottoms that are really leggings, those multi-colored shoes that have a lot of black in them that you’re passing for black shoes, that hoodie you want to wear that has a logo displayed on it, those pants that are supposed to have belt loops in them, those dirty white shoes, that worn out belt, those baggy dress slacks, that unconservative little black dress... do I need to keep going???? Clients are cracking down on what you all look like when you show up to work THEIR event. If the email says to wear a certain thing, don’t go against it. And if you’re not sure if what you have will be acceptable, get written approval. Send the Staffer and event manager a picture requesting approval.
You keep thinking, well they didn’t send me home the last time so this should do. I wouldn’t be surprised when replacement is in the works. And when I say replacement, I’m not talking about someone taking your place at an event since you were sent home. I’m talking about someone trading places with you so the company can use you less (if at all) without missing a head count on their roster. Another part of a Staffer’s job is to find replacements for various reasons: poor performance, repeat tardiness, attire, need new faces, promos being promoted, drama queens, etc. You need to take your attire seriously. Don’t say I didn’t warn you when you’re getting booked less than you used to.
YOUR PEERS ARE SENDING IN EMAILS ABOUT YOUR POOR PERFORMANCE.
It isn’t just the event manager that is reviewing your performance. It’s your peers too. You may be in good with the event manager or even the client, or even your peers but if your peers feel that they are pulling your weight for you or that you are getting it too easy, PLEASE BELIEVE ME WHEN I SAY, Staffers are getting emails about you. And it is being looked into.
Now, no worries, it’s ok to be in good with the higher ups, but not at the expense of your work ethic. Most of you think that because the Staffer isn’t at your event that you are getting away with many things but you’re not. Experiential marketing companies are getting more and more sophisticated with tracking attendance, performance, bookings, issues, etc. making it harder for you to cover your tracks.
IN CONCLUSION:
Right now it’s easy to set yourself apart from the others. We get paid to be happy people for consumers. Look the part. Be that face that approaches the consumers. Worry about the things that matter. Like being on time, camera ready and happy. Handle the rest case by case.
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