We're an event staffing agency. We have obvious bias. But we've also been in this industry for over 20 years and seen agencies come and go.
Here's what actually matters when choosing an event staffing partner - including the things agencies don't want you to know.
#The Questions You Should Ask
1. "What's your no-show rate?"
Good agencies: Under 10%, with backup plans for when it happens. Great agencies: Under 5%, with immediate replacement protocols. Red flag: Agencies that claim 0% or refuse to answer.
2. "Can I speak to three clients in my industry?"
References should be easy to provide. If an agency hesitates, ask why.
What to ask references:
- Did staff show up?
- Were they prepared?
- How did the agency handle problems?
- Would you use them again?
3. "What does your vetting process look like?"
Minimum acceptable:
- Background checks
- Reference verification
- In-person or video interview
- Relevant experience verification
Red flag: "We hire quickly to meet demand." Speed shouldn't compromise quality.
4. "What happens if someone doesn't show up?"
Every agency should have a clear backup protocol. If they don't, you're exposed.
Good answer: "We overbook by X%, have standby staff, and the account manager handles replacements personally."
Bad answer: "That rarely happens." (It happens to everyone.)
5. "What's your actual markup?"
What to understand:
- What does the staff person actually receive?
- What's included in your rate?
- Are there additional fees?
Red flag: Agencies that won't break down their pricing.
#What Actually Differentiates Agencies
Geographic Strength
Some agencies are national but shallow. Others are regional but deep.
Ask: Where are your strongest markets? If your event is in Nashville and they're strongest in LA, you might be getting B-team service.
Industry Experience
Events are not all the same. A trade show is different from a music festival is different from a product launch.
Ask: What similar events have you staffed? Can you show me photos/case studies?
Staff Relationships
The best agencies have long-term relationships with their best staff.
Ask: What percentage of your staff have worked with you for 2+ years? Staff who stick around are usually good.
Management Style
When things go wrong (they will), how does the agency respond?
Ask: Who will manage my account? What's their experience? How do they handle problems?
#Red Flags
They promise anything. No agency can guarantee perfect execution. If they claim otherwise, they're lying.
They're the cheapest option. Cheapest usually means: underpaying staff (who underperform), cutting corners on vetting, no backup plans, or hidden fees.
They can't provide insurance documentation. Legitimate agencies carry liability insurance. Ask for certificates.
Communication is slow or difficult. If they're hard to reach during sales, imagine how they'll be during your event.
High staff turnover internally. If their own employees are leaving, their service quality is probably suffering.
#The Honest Truth About Us
Our strengths:
- Deep in Denver and Western markets
- Strong in experiential, sampling, and trade shows
- 20+ years of refined processes
- Long-term staff relationships
Where we're honest about limitations:
- We're not the biggest national agency
- We don't do union labor for film/TV
- Some markets are stronger than others
We'd rather be honest and lose a job we're not right for than overpromise and fail.
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