Event Staff

Event Staff is a term used to describe employees who help with special events. They may be involved in planning, preparation, set up and/or management of events, or work in any number of customer service roles, among many other possibilities. In general, Event Staff works to ensure that events run smoothly and provide a good experience for guests/participants.

Event Staff: Job Responsibilities

The job responsibilities of Event Staff members vary widely according to the employment setting in which they work, the types of events they are involved with and the position they hold. For instance, set-up staff may be responsible for assembling bleachers and concession stands for sporting events, seating and stages for concerts or booths for trade shows, among other duties. Concessions staff or banquet staff may be responsible for selling, preparing and/or serving food and beverages. Ticket agents may be responsible for selling tickets. Ushers may collect tickets at the entrances of events and interact with guests/participants in other ways, showing them to their seats, for instance, providing them with information, or assisting them with any problems or complaints. Security staff is generally tasked with maintaining safety at events.

Other Event Staff members may be responsible for running lighting, audio and other equipment, keeping the venue clean and well-stocked, tending bar or serving in an overall event planning, coordinating, public relations/marketing or management role. Basically, Event Staff is responsible for serving the needs, either directly or indirectly, of all participants involved in the events for which they are employed.

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Common Employment Settings for Event Staff

Event Staff are employed in a huge variety of employment settings. Among the more common of these are sports venues, convention centers, entertainment venues, concert halls, hotels and banquet halls. Casinos often employ these workers, as do wedding venues, dance halls and organizations that present activities to the public, like fairs, festivals and circus shows, for instance. Colleges and universities also often hire Event Staff to plan and manage campus events. Non-profit organizations and government agencies are also common employment settings for these workers. Finally, many of these workers are self-employed, working to plan, manage or assist with various events on a freelance basis.

Career Outlook: Event Staff

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Occupational Outlook Handbook does not offer career outlook information specifically for the Event Staff category. Rather, it combines these workers under a couple of other categories, including Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners, Food Service Managers and Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers. Workers in all these categories can expect a progressive outlook in terms of job growth rates over the next several years.

In the Meeting, Convention, and Event Planners category, BLS predicts an employment growth rate of 11 percent between 2016 and 2026, which is faster than the average rate for all occupations. Job growth for that same period is expected at a rate of 9 percent for the Food Service Managers category, which is about average for all occupations. In the Food and Beverage Serving and Related Workers category, the job growth rate is expected to be 14 percent, which is much faster than the average for all occupations.

While this information can provide some idea of the career potential of certain jobs, it is important to note that job market data from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook is only intended to provide insight on occupational opportunities. It is not to be construed as a guarantee of salary or job title. Neither BLS nor Bryant & Stratton College can guarantee employment in this or any other occupational field.

What can I do with a Hospitality Assistant Diploma?

Becoming employed as an Event Staff member means getting an education related to the hospitality field. Earning a Hospitality Assistant Diploma with Bryant & Stratton College is a great place to start, giving you the knowledge, skills and credentials you need to pursue entry-level Event Staff positions.

This diploma program offers students the opportunity to learn and develop skills vital to positions within the hospitality field, including Event Staff, such as planning, accounting, marketing, human resources and operations. They will learn how to recognize and address the challenges related to the operation of restaurants, hotels and events, including social, interpersonal and ethical challenges. Students also learn management principles and become adept in using technology and other resources to meet industry standards for legal/ethical compliance and customer service.

Not only does this diploma program offer the qualifications necessary to pursue Event Staff positions, it can also offer the knowledge and skills necessary to qualify for a wide variety of other jobs within the hospitality industry. These include front-office roles, customer service positions, operational service roles, facilities management positions and many others.

Event Staff: Additional Training/Requirements

Some employers within the hospitality industry may require that Event Staff undergo criminal background checks and/or drug testing as a condition of employment. Depending upon the position involved, some employers may require certain professional certifications or give preference to job applicants who hold these certificates. Professional certifications are generally offered by industry-related professional organizations, such as the Events Industry Council or American Association of Certified Wedding Planners, for example. Candidates for certification typically earn these credentials by meeting educational and work experience standards set by these organizations, then passing an exam administered by them.

For more insights into Event Staff field or any other occupational fields that spark your interest, please visit the Career Services section on the Bryant & Stratton College blog. By spending a little time exploring the blog and our website, you will gain access to a great deal of useful information that can help you as you work to plan your best path towards a successful and satisfying career.