Auto-Show Girls

• They attract customers – picked not only for their good looks but also their outgoing  personalities, these fixtures of auto-shows know how to get people over to a trade show booth or display and then keep them there. Their friendly natures paired with their experiences and countless trade shows make them valuable assets on the showroom floor.

• They create buzz – having young, interesting, and attractive brand ambassadors at a trade show booth or display can completely change the atmosphere of your event! By picking the right representatives you can specifically target the demographic your company is shooting for.

• They advocate for your brand – hiring auto-show girls is hands-down less expensive that flying your whole company out to a trade show. These reps will learn your product and sell it. They have the added experience of many trade shows under their belts so they won’t crack under the pressure of a crowded show.

Interested in getting a free quote for your next auto show? Get in touch with GC and tell us a little bit about what you’re looking for!

For the right people in the right places,

The GC Marketing Services Team

Jeff has had all sorts of promotional event experiences! No matter what the challenge is, our account managers can always rest assured that Jeff will do a great job. He prefers working on team events and has a great attitude when interacting with potential customers. Rock on, Jeff!

Jeff Balan is a team player.

1. How long have you been a registered talent with GC and how did you hear about us?

I have been with GC Marketing for over 5 years now and was recommended by a friend.

2. What was your favorite event?

My favorite promo was a Grana Padano cheese sampling. It was a lot of fun to do and everyone loved the free food. The event went really fast and we had a great time making people laugh when we explained that we would be “cutting the cheese” for them. The first time I did the cheese promotion I was cutting the wrong side of the cheese and a customer had to let me know that it would be easier if I cut the other side!

3. What advice would you give individuals who are interested in becoming Brand Ambassadors with GC Marketing?

I would tell individuals who want to become BA’s that they should always have a positive attitude. Even if people are not pleasant, wish them a nice day or weekend. Don’t take anything personally!

4. What do you like about being a Brand Ambassador?

I love interacting with people making them laugh and making sure the remember the product I am promoting.

5. Do you know a lot of other Brand Ambassadors?

I have a lot of friends that do promotions. I love working a team, it’s a lot more fun than working solo.

6. Which kinds of events are the easiest/most fun and which are the hardest?

The easiest events are demos (such as Tassimo) the machine is great and people love free coffee and hot chocolate. The hardest events are street team flyering events because a lot of people don’t want to take flyers. It’s even harder when you’re by yourself!

7. What would you like to see happen with the company/talent interaction in the future?

I think for the most part company/talent work very well together! If talent has any suggestions GC is always willing to hear input to make the events run as smoothly as possible.

Keep up the good work, Jeff! If you want to hire fantastic Brand Ambassadors like Jeff, don’t hesitate to get in touch with GC for a free quote today!

For the right people in the right places,

The GC Marketing Services Team

Last-minute event staffing

What are the easiest places to staff last-minute events? What are the hardest?

The easiest are probably New York and LA. And maybe Atlanta. The hardest are the small areas that you’ve never heard of before.

What’s the most last-minute event you’ve had to staff?

I think I got the job on Friday and the event was Saturday and Sunday. It was in New York and they only needed one girl so it wasn’t that hard to find. Heather once had to staff an event an hour or two before it started–it was in New York as well though so she got it done.

How much time do you generally need to staff an event?

It depends on the event and the city. In New York and most major cities it takes a day or two to staff an event. It also depends on what the client is looking for. For example, if the client wants really hot girls, I’ll let the posting sit for a couple of days. However, if it’s complicated like the New York Marathon event where there are multiple people and positions, it nice to have a month to get ready for an event like that.

How far in advance do you book?

I’m hesitant to staff events too far in advance because sometimes I’ll book people, and when I follow up with them a week before the event, they have completely forgotten about the event and are no longer able to work.


For the right people in the right places (on time!)

The GC Marketing Services Team

NASCAR Staff: GC Brand Ambassadors

• Attractive Staff – Given what an excellent advertising opportunities NASCAR events provide, it’s not surprising that companies are willing to pay more for great looking staff to maintain a competitive edge on market rivals. If you’re willing to pay for the quality, GC has the beautiful girls, and stunning guys you need to put the finishing touch on your NASCAR promotions.

• Enthusiasm – These events are nothing but buzz! The high-energy crowd and huge supply of free merchandise make these events very sought-after events to work.

• Sales Team – GC Brand Ambassadors have worked all sorts of promotions and they are ready for anything. They’re experienced marketers that are ready to take on the crowds and promote your brand.

Let us know what kind of promotion you’re interested in having and we’ll find you the right people for the job. Just get in touch with GC for a free quote today!

For the right people in the right places,

The GC Marketing Services Team

Tips for Onsite Managers and Team Leads

• • Arrive Early – Give yourself plenty of time to find your way to the venue, meet the client rep, and get familiar with your surroundings before everyone else gets there. You should be comfortable and grounded when they arrive.
  • Be Organized – Have any forms, paperwork, and sign-in sheets ready before the event begins and complete any recaps in a timely manner. It’s less stressful for everyone!
  • Be Friendly and Polite – You’ll get more out of your team if they’re enjoying working with you! It will also reflect very well on you to be seen as a likable person and a congenial leader.
  • Be Flexible - Being able to think creatively about problems is invaluable. Even with the most well-planned events, there can always be surprises. Keeping an open mind will allow you to turn something unexpected into a positive. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst!
  • Work Hard – Leading by example is an excellent way to motivate your team. Just because you’re the manager, it doesn’t mean you get to sit back and relax. Help out wherever you can and you’ll set a positive mood for the whole event.
  • Take Responsibility – You’re in charge, so whether something good or bad happens, the client and your GC account managers need to be able to trust your reports. If a mistake was made, we’ll respect you a lot more (and have more time to help you fix it!) if you just let us know as soon as it happens.
  • Know Your Team – Get to know every team member’s strengths and use them to their best advantage! Give positive feedback to individuals where it has been earned and recognize each person’s contribution. If everyone feels valued, everyone will work harder.
  • Have a Great Attitude – If you’re the Team Lead or onsite manager don’t let it go to your head… and definitely don’t micro-manage! There are cases when it’s appropriate to inform team members of ways they need to change their angle or strategy, but being incredibly picky or unnecessarily demanding will just stress everyone out.
  • Be Patient – If there is a team member who could use some advice, don’t be afraid to help them out. Not everyone is perfect. However, it’s also important as a Team Lead to be aware when someone isn’t able to successfully complete their responsibilities. In these situations, call your GC account manager to discuss bringing in one of the backup reps!

(Thanks very much to suggestions from Colleen Riley, Cara Duggal, Stefan Jackowniak, Jessica Hillman, Tracie Neal, Carolyn Land, Jennifer Marie, Aine Doley, and Cal Lee!)

When only the best will do,

The GC Marketing Services Team

This week we’re answering the final two questions. If you’re reading this post, leave us a comment! If you’re from another promo staffing company let us know what YOUR answers to these questions are! If you’re talent, let us know what you think–we love hearing what you have to say!

Do you consider your company active on its Facebook page?  What type of things do you post?

GC definitely has an active Facebook page. We check it and post to it multiple times a day and love answering questions and seeing feedback on content we post. We love it even more when talent post their own interesting promo articles or photos from their events!

As for what we post, we generally post the new daily GC blog article, photos from events, tips from our account managers, articles we thing are interesting, and the occasional random video.  We also try to answer every question posed by talent.

What are you hoping talent will gain from your tweets on Twitter?

As with the blog and the Facebook page, we Tweet a lot of our new content. We also use Twitter to ask talent questions and start a discourse. We mainly hope that talent sees Twitter as a place to get news and tips and as a way to get in touch if they have any questions.


Have a great rest of the week and if you know of a company that might be interested in hiring promo staff, have them get in touch with us!

For the right people in the right places,

The GC Marketing Services Team

Anthony & Adrienne

How did you meet?

Totally by chance. Adrienne was called into work last minute one night (at a hotel/front desk) in Southern California, due to someone quitting pulling a no-show. Anthony was on tour, traveling through Cali for various events and was turned around by his account manager due to ever-changing plans. He booked a room at her hotel, she checked him in, and that’s where it all started.

Have you worked on any events together?

Yes! Tons of events. Seattle, Los Angeles & all over the USA. Here is just a few we worked together last year:

• • MLB/State Farm Tour: All over the USA
  • Lipton Lounge Tour: All over the USA
  • Dave Matthews Band Caravan (Jeep/FIAT): Washington
  • Dannon Yogurt Tour: California
  • Bob’s Red Mill Oatmeal Events: Washington

Do you have any tips for other couples working in promo staffing?

Get along, be friends, and be professional at all times. Separate work & personal life when on-site or in the field. Be all about the event/program in the field and be all about each other at home. Remember that you are always on the same team and how lucky you are to be working with one another!

What’s the biggest challenge of being in a relationship in promo staffing?

Being completely fair and not favoring one another in certain situations. Sharing the workload equally and ensuring the quality of our work while maintaining our integrity & reputation.

What’s the best part of being in a relationship in promo staffing?

This one is easy! You get to hang out and work alongside your best friend, make money, and have a blast doing it. Dual income is awesome!

Do you think promotions are a good place to make friends?

Yes! Promotions are a great place to make friends, connections, and relationships. We met each other and our best friends because of the industry. We have our friends in Seattle, LA, and all over the map. It is great when you feel like working in another market or assist in staffing when managing your own program because you can work with familiar faces. You can work with and meet some challenging people but this is also where you meet the best of the best!

What’s the most interesting or funny thing that’s happened to you during a promotion?

Part of the proposal process included tricking Adrienne into thinking she was working a high profile event in the center of the city. Anthony created an email/website & “booked” Adrienne for an “event” where she ended up getting proposed to in front of hundreds of people. The next day, we were talking to a lot of our friends who work events and they were all hoping to be booked for that event too! We explained to them what it was actually all about.

We hope everyone has a wonderful Valentine’s Day! The next time you show up to work an event, take a good look around at the people you’re working with–one of them could be your future special someone!

Fondly,

The GC Marketing Services Team

Raeanne & Jason

How did you meet?

We met online. I put up a posting on Craigslist and he responded. He proposed to me the first time we chatted! Freaked me out a bit but in the end he had great foresight. : )

Have you worked on any events together?

Through GC we worked together on Homebase, Spiralfrog, and the Rachel Ray BBQ event all in New York City.

Do you have any tips for other couples working in promo staffing?
Motivate and support each other. Working together is great and can be a lot of fun!

What’s the biggest challenge of being in a relationship in promo staffing?
Well for me the biggest challenge is when Jason is the lead on an event. It’s different having to take orders from him when we’re working. However, he’s great at delegating and doesn’t treat me differently than anyone else. Usually in those instances we have to tell people we’re married!

What’s the best part of being in a relationship in promo staffing?

Working together! We’re great at motivating each other and like a little healthy competition. For example, when we’re doing a flyer event we’ll compete to see who can hand out more flyers. When an event is especially hectic it’s great to be able to relax with one another afterwards and each know exactly how hard the day was!

Do you think promotions are a good place to make friends?

Yes! We’ve made quite a few friends. BAs tend to have great outgoing personalities and after working an event with someone–especially really big events–you tend to feel like you’ve been in the trenches with that person. You definitely bond over situations like that.

What’s the most interesting or funny thing that’s happened to you during a promotion?

The most interesting thing that has happened to me was when a fairly well known actress kept hiding out in the tent I was working to get out of the heat. I couldn’t remember her name and every time Jason came back she wasn’t there (made me look a little crazy). When we got home I pulled up her movie and then he was a little jealous. : )

Raeanne and Jason, thank you so much for sharing your story with us! We wish you all the best this Valentine’s Day and look forward to working on another event with you both soon!

Fondly,

The GC Marketing Services Team

Sharmalyn & Perryn

How did you meet?

We actually meet at a promotion, Shecky’s Girls Night Out. We instantly hit it off and went out for dinner after our last day at the event. The rest is history!

Have you worked on any events together?

Yes we have: Of course Shecky’s Girls Night Out (New York, NY), Tassimo Pro (New York, NY), the Chevy Glee Tour (New Meadowlands, NJ) and H&R Block (New York, NY).

Do you have any tips for other couples working in promo staffing?

Yes, supporting each other on the job and being able to work together can only make a positive impact at home.

What’s the best part of being in a relationship in promo staffing?

Having your best friend and your partner in life understand everything you’re saying about what happened at work–we have an unconventional job not everyone even understands what it is that we do. So it’s comforting to have someone that gets it all the time.

Do you think promotions are a good place to make friends?

Yes definitely, I’ve meet some great friends on promotions! In fact one of my friends I met on a Verizon promotion was my maid of honor. And I also meet my husband on a promotion, so you can’t beat that :-).

What’s the most interesting or funny thing that’s happened to you during a promotion?

Meeting my husband and working FanVision at the NFL games! I was never really interested in football, but now that I’ve worked this event and seen it live I’m a hard-knock fan. :-) Perryn finds that hilarious.


Thanks for all of your continued hard work and have an absolutely lovely Valentine’s Day!

Warmest regards,

The GC Marketing Services Team

A number of years ago, Heather was overseeing a charity event at the Trump Golf Course. The event involved 20 Brand Ambassadors who were serving as greeters for the event. Meanwhile, there was a very dashing Frenchman onsite who was auctioning an item as part of the charity event. He began to chat with Heather and they hit it off! A few days later he called her to see her again… and again… and now, six years later, they’re married!

It just goes to show you, event staffing is a business that is driven primarily by people. Whether you’re a client, an account manager, or a brand ambassador, you’re going to meet people during promotions so always put your best foot forward!

Warmly,

The GC Marketing Services Team