The Different Types of Event Staff Available

Event marketing varies widely in terms of what product or service a company tries to advocate and how they go about promoting it. With so many different goals, it is not surprising that there are many different types of event staff available to fit each marketing strategy, including: brand ambassadors, samplers, tradeshow representatives, product demonstrators, street teams, costume characters, team leaders, and nightclub promoters. Some prominent promotional and event staffing companies, such as GC Marketing Services, have resources to provide all these types of staff and more for the broad range of positions requested by clients.

If your company is interested in having a live marketing event, it is important to know which type of promotional staff is most relevant to your campaign. Below is a list of popular staff resources and their definitions.

Brand Ambassador: A brand ambassador publically promotes a company’s brand by delivering the brand message and increasing brand awareness. The brand ambassador serves as the public image of the brand. Some responsibilities involve: distributing pamphlets, gathering crowds, and talking with potential customers.  Use brand ambassadors when you need an outgoing, friendly rep to interact with consumers while promoting your product.

Sampler: While samplers are similar to brand ambassadors, their primary focus is distribution of client product. They increase brand awareness by distributing samples of a company’s product in hopes that consumers will enjoy it and in turn purchase it. For example, Full Throttle Energy Drink has reps handing out samples of the drink in order to interact with the potential new customers and generate future purchase of the product. Use samplers when the focus is getting your product into consumers’ hands.

Tradeshow Representatives: A tradeshow representative has a role similar to a brand ambassador, but they spend more time communicating with potential customers and providing more specific information about the company’s product or service at a more focused location/event. Tradeshow reps typically work at a company’s display area at a convention or show.

Product Demonstrator: A product demonstrator shows consumers how to use a specific product and promotes its benefits and utilities. Potential customers can see a product first-hand, ask questions about it, and hopefully realize their want/need for it.

Street Team: A street team is a mobile marketing team who takes brand activation to the streets. They are essentially a group of brand ambassadors who directly interact with the public to raise brand awareness, distribute information about a product, and generate enthusiasm. Oftentimes, street teams exercise guerilla marketing, meaning they do not have formal permission for the promotion.

Costume Character: A promotional staffer can dress up in costume to promote a product. Hopefully the costume will catch the passerby’s eye, and they will want to know more about the product.

Team Leaders: A team lead serves as the primary point person for a group of brand ambassadors or a street team in the field. Team leads keep the team on task, bring materials required for the event, and take pictures of the team in action. A great team lead thinks quickly on his feet and is critical to a successful execution if you are not able to be on site for your event.

Nightclub and Bar Promoter: A nightclub or bar promoter’s goal is to gather crowds at lively spots and establish an exciting and entertaining atmosphere. These individuals typically promote liquor or adult beverage products and other brands that appeal to the chic set.

These are some of the most popular types of event staff positions in event marketing campaigns. Even though roles of event staff vary widely, they are similar because they all involve promoting a service or product while interacting with the public. Depending on your event marketing strategy, you will need to hire the appropriate staff and this is made possible through promotional staffing agencies that offer an assortment of event staff positions.