How to Effectively Staff Special Events

If you’ve already done smaller events like weddings and parties, you might feel ready for larger special events like festivals and fairs.

Special events can be both an opportunity and a challenge for portable restroom operators. The opportunity is the chance to make a lot of money in a short span of time. The challenge, however, includes finding enough staff and, crucially, finding the right staff.

So, what are the most effective ways to staff special events?

Ask Family and Friends

Many PROs reach out to friends and family when looking for special events staff. The familiarity that comes with this can be extremely helpful when you’re all putting in a tough shift over a hectic weekend, which can be more difficult with a group of people who don’t know one another.

Put the word out among your family and friends and see if anyone is willing to help out and earn a few extra bucks.

Look for Extra Staff

If you still need to recruit special events staff, look for reliable people who want to supplement their income or people seeking part-time work, such as college students. It can turn into a great summer job for someone, and you never know, you might end up introducing some people to the portable sanitation industry who end up working for you regularly on a part- or full-time basis.

Make sure you get workers who aren’t afraid of putting in a shift over a strenuous weekend. Train them properly and make sure they know how much they’re being paid and if there’s any bonuses or overtime pay.

Offer Extra Pay and Bonuses

Because this type of part-time work can be tougher than the usual, you might want to offer a higher pay rate to those willing to do it. This goes not only for staff you’re looking to recruit but can be offered to your current employees – some of them might be looking for overtime.

Create a Special Events Team

If you’re expanding into special events in the long term, it’s a good idea to think about creating a specialized events team. That way, you can keep your regular route staff on one timetable, while simultaneously employing an events team for weekends.

There can, of course, be a crossover if your regular staff wants extra work, but creating a special team is good for morale and organization. It allows your part-time workers to feel invested in and part of a team, and some might end up asking you for more regular work.

The Last Word

If you find the right people, whether they’re family, friends, acquaintances, or new hires, treat them with the same respect you would your regular staff, pay them properly and make sure they have all the training and tools they need.

That’s your job done; now see how they do during the event. If they’ve put in a good shift, try locking them down for the next one.

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