Face The Event - Event Staff & Brand Ambassador Podcast

All Hallows Eve-nt - A Halloween Brand Ambassador SPECIAL!Philip Victor shares his story of breaking BADChannon Adde tells us about her interaction with KhaleesiKristina Fryk has an ALARMING experience.Larry Wyatt finds out about BLOOD and STITCHESRick Gerber in “Who Do VooDoo”?Sasha Love Higgins finds CAT PEOPLE at a tattoo showChef Anton plays BLOOD GAMESSara Konesky is DISMEMBEREDLaura Harwood is stuffed in a boxAmy Cosgrove wants to know if you are “faint of heart”Steve Multer and the TOWERING INFERNO!

Ear Prompter tips from Philip Victor, Rick Gerber, Sasha Love Higgins, Larry Wyatt, Sara Konecky, and Shannon Dade.Corporate Storytelling -Steve Multer’s first tradeshow as a presenter for Live Marketing in Chicago started as an actor on stage.LARGE theater presentations back in the 1990’s “dot com” boom.Elaine Cohen and her innovations in Live MarketingHow to succeed in FLOORING without really trying (A corporate theater presentation for a flooring tradeshow).Live! Marketing “STOMP” dancing on the tradeshow floor (the noisiest production EVER)!What to do if there are TOO many theaters on the same exhibitor aisle.Metrics, corporate spend, and quantifying an exhibit’s results.LOUD isn’t the best solution.Using brand ambassadors and crowd gatherers to seat an audience for a business theater presentation.Looking back at 2019 in contrast to 2020 and the COVID pandemic…Looking forward to 2021, what are your expectations POST-COVID?Craving REAL live tradeshows after Zoom fatigue.OMG Steve mentioned Ted Kaczynski as a metaphor!!!!! A first on Face The Event 🤣What exactly IS a “Corporate Story Teller”?Instagram - LinkedIn - Facebook @SteveMulter Web www.SteveMulter.com“Never bring a sledgehammer to a pool game” Chef Anton shares his “FacePalm” moment to close the show…NEXT WEEK - don’t miss our SPOOKY Halloween SPECIAL!!!

Q&A With Amy Cosgrove:Starting a career as a “costumed character” Getting her first “gig” in Boston, MAHow to get the NEXT gig and building her reputation in Boston and Philadelphia Working with more than one agency so that she is turning work away because she is so busy.OPTIMISM in tradeshow staffing mid/post COVID shows.Making $300-$400-$500 per day as an independent contractorAuto shows as a primary industry and host/hostessingUpdating your portfolio NOW to maximize your booking once shows pick-up later.Detroit auto show as a 16-day gig!The typical day in an auto show.Media training to speak to the media and be seen on TV!Autoshow expenses and your own private room.Working the Blackhat “hacker’s” convention. There is a tradeshow for EVERYTHING!Ear prompters and live presenting Tradeshows are a small world…Laura Harwood shares her “hair-razing” FacePalm” and her last-minute decision to “cut out” of the contract.

The most “unique” products ever worked for question team: Laura Harwood, Amy Cosgrove, Philip Victor, Rick Gerber, Channon Dade, Laura Harwood - Las Vegas showgirl.Remembering her first tradeshow in Detroit at Cobo Hall and how she got her first booking.Working in Chicago’s McCormick Place, Navy Pier and Rosemont.Costumes and characters in tradeshows? The Las Vegas Showgirl and the downsides of “full-body” makeup.The different approaches that tradeshows take in staffing in different cities and regions.What do event staffers usually wear at a tradeshow?How to find a reputable agency to work with.. Follow Laura @lau.rahar.wood on InstagramThe most “unique” products ever worked for question team: Laura Harwood, Amy Cosgrove, Philip Victor, Rick Gerber, Channon Dade, 

Aching Feet - Sara Konecky, branding associate/crowd gathererHow Sara got into the business of crowd gathering and event staffing at tradeshows.Crowd gatherer, hostess, or associate, what do you like to call yourself.What are the duties of a crowd gatherer? Why it is important to KNOW what a product does and how the customers use it?What IS badge scanning anyhow, and why do booths need it?Why are there so many “local” gigs, and how can you get a company to pay for your travel expenses?What does a GOOD and a BAD agency look like?What jobs pay more than others?What advice would you give (with the knowledge you have today) to your younger self, just starting out?How to get on the “A-LIST” in any agency.Instagram @Sarakonecky

Season 1, Episode 13 - Tradeshow Give-Aways / Chef Anton - Trick-shot Sales EntertainerHow do variety acts work in brand activations?How to best use a professional brand ambassador to assist with crowd dynamics in a live presentationUsing a dedicated team or local talent advantages and pitfalls.Why it is so tough to use a company staff member as part of your live presentation team.What makes the perfect crowd gatherer? A virtual “want ad”.The best way to STOP attendees in the aisles and the “yes ladder”.Why is it so important to get the badges scanned and delivering a quantifiable result?How do you get hired as a booth host/hostess or badge scanner?Working as an independent contractor and the business card advantage over the typical modeling agency route.Why “suitcasing” a tradeshow is frowned upon and why you should NEVER cold-call a tradeshow you are not already working at.How does a variety act get started in brand messaging and corporate presentations?What kind of companies hire tradeshow variety acts?MASTER CLASS TIP #1 - How to keep the booths across the aisle from getting mad at you for “stealing their crowds”.Don’t be afraid to be “different” originality is the key to getting booked.MASTER CLASS TIP #2 - The build-up is more important than the “trick” and why “flow” is so important.Veronica Tevelde shares a "face palm" moment to close the show.

Question: What do you do if your client asks you to dinner?Scotty Meltzer, Tradeshow juggler - Comedy IndustriesToday’s episode is a MASTERCLASS in tradeshow presenting (period).What is a “tradeshow juggler”? Adding a commercial message to a variety act helps make a product understandable and memorable.Scrip writing and selling a product from an angle of fully understanding the industry itself.Ear prompters or fluid scripting what is the difference and why use one or the other.Traveling for the tradeshow presenter business, the good/bad and the ins/outs.Favorite destinations and not so favorite destinations for tradeshows and why Barcelona has become one of the hubs of the EU tradefair circuit.How long is a “typical” presentation?MASTERCLASS SECRET #1 - How to successfully gather a crowd to start a presentation and how tradeshows differ from street performing.How magicians and jugglers use brand ambassadors and crowd gatherers to their maximum effectiveness.MASTERCLASS SECRET #2 - How to easily write a script, even for the most complex product by telling your customer about their product after learning about it for the first time.And, Rick Gerber shares a magician's “facepalm” in the Bahamas.

In this episode, we are taking a focused look into how the brand ambassador, tradeshow staffer world has changed since March 2020.Scott Tokar announces his new companion podcast “Convention(al) Protocol” available right here where you found THIS podcast. First, we speak with Becky Jo Schwarz from CE talent in Phoenix and she share what is happening TODAY, what has changed, what she thinks shows in 2021 will look like and most importantly what you should do NOW to prepare for shows in the future.Then Sasha Higgins, from Orlando chats with us about stretching our goals for the future and what her predictions are for “virtual” events and hybrid live/Zoom tradeshows. Will the “chat window” be one of your new duties?And finally, we talk with Shannon Dade has shifted her talent into her voice over acting. Will tradeshows be back in 2021? What changes and differences will affect the crowd gatherers and “host/hostess” gigs? How LOCAL talent will be MORE important in meetings and events to limit the travel and exposure for corporate executives. Getting ready for the change by updating your promo, photos, resume, and reel. 

Episode 10, Season 1 - Scott Tokar asks, "What do you do when you are asked to do something above and beyond your contract"?An Interview with Kristina Fryk, a brand ambassador from the Pacific Northwest.In Kristina's 3 Years as a Brand Ambassador, she has worked sporting events with the Seattle Seahawks, worked in-store sampling for liquor and foods and recently she even did a Mid-COVID in-car BA event for Blake Shelton!We talk about The difference between pre-COVID and mid-COVID activation and a why we should all have a positive outlook for post-COVID BA gigs.We explore freelance and agent gig work, W9’s or W2’s, and California’s difficult to navigate AB5 tax law.Why do you need food handling certificates and liquor license certificates in various states?Why it is tough being paid by the hour and saving for expenses and year-end taxes.We talk rates and the difficulty in raising your pay from $20 to $50 an hour and the gigs NOT to take from the unfair agencies.What is the agency's pay structure for talent, how they buy and sell or book for a straight percentage commission?Why no agency should ever ask you to be exclusive (unless you become a regional manager on the payroll).We look at COVID precautions in today's activations and liability releases. Setting boundaries for work scope and unexpected expenses and Finding work WITHOUT a complex or professional resumeThen we close with Why “action photos” and photos should be taken while on a job and why they are so important to the people that are booking talent.Our closing "Face Palm" is a HOT ONE, because it is about a fire in the new Boston convention center.

This week's episode isn’t at a loss for words, because Scott Tokar finds out how to SAVE your VOICE on an activation…Scott interviews Channon Dade who has over a decade of experience as a crowd gatherer, host, emcee, trainer, and is now talent management and a District Mgr for CE talent.Channon tells the audience how to get paid MORE by working your way into show floor management and leadership positions.If you are new in the industry, here are the top things you should know when you are on an activation.Find out what qualities make a GREAT tradeshow host or hostess? Some are looking for full-time work and supplemental money in tradeshows and events, Channon tells us the secrets to getting more gigs.Follow The Traveling Actress @ChannonDade on Instagram and FacebookAnd we close the show with a “Face Palm” From Becky Jo Schwarz.

Scott Tokar talks about scanning badges for maximum quantification on the show floor with Alexis Baize, Philip Victor, Rick Gerber, Jenifer Canale, Robin Bell, Channon Dade & Larry Wyatt.Then Scott interviews Sasha Higgins to find out how she got started in the BA and Tradeshow world. Secrets that she wishes she had known about the industry when she first started. Working with agents and for companies like; Microsoft, Automation Anywhere, Toyota, Dell. How to find an agentBadge scanning goals, what they are, and how to exceed them. How to “connect” with visitors to get them to stop. “WIIFM” What's In It For Me? And how to use a “bribe” to get people to sit for a longer presentation. Diversity in the events industry and how things may have changed for “people of color” today. How to increase your opportunities by being “who you are”. What is a “Corporate Story Teller”. How much can you expect to get paid to work in the tradeshow world?Being an independent contractor and 1099 taxes. What can you write-off as a “business expense” to reduce tax liability? Then, Sasha turns the tables on Scott and asks HIM some questions about being a Tradeshow Magician and how HE got started. 

Episode 7, Season 1 Make-up episode!Becky Jo Schwarz of CE Talent talks with us and shares the secrets of what are agents REALLY looking for in brand ambassadors and event staffers?What kind of photos should you submit to an agency and why those NSFW bathing suit photos are the wrong choice for the higher paying corporate bookings.Becky Jo shares the #1 quality agents are looking for in tradeshows, conventions and corporate meetings.Why ethnic diversity has become a major selling point in today’s market and why personal skills have become résumé musts.Why the real YOU is more marketable than the person you THINK you are, and why the “regular” you can make agents happy.The real difference between a bar activation and a tradeshow staff position is all in the talent’s professionalism.How to get BOOKED by agents and the “sweat equity” needed to be the first call in your local area.How much can you make as a lead generator or crowd gatherer at a tradeshow, is it really more than as a local brand ambassador? Why being paid by the DAY is often better than being paid by the HOUR. How to “climb the ladder” to increase your day rate by 100% with an agency or client.Your personal integrity is like your credit score…The key to more bookings is TRUST, how can you earn more trust, build a better relationship, and become a first-string hire?Making money while NOT working via a back-up “reserve” position, and how to make more money when activated from the reserve position.And we close with a funny “Victor/Victoria” Face Palm with Larry Wyatt.

Shoes and standing all day on an activation.Rick Gerber - With over 40,000 on-premises bar promotions, Rick shares brand ambassador tips for working with a major beer brand around the world.Rick walks us through his 30+ year career as an in-person bar promotion expert that has allowed him to represent a major US beer brand and their many products in over 40,000 locations around the WORLD including DREAM activations at the Olympics, several Superbowls, World Cups, He shares tips that any brand ambassador will find useful as they get started in their career and amazing insights if BAs are moving up the experience ladder to become an onsite lead or manager, event organizer, or area representative for a brand. Workflow secrets from the moment you enter an establishment, how to approach a group or couple in the establishment without making them uncomfortable, and when to move on to the next bar so you always leave them wanting more.What are the qualities of a GREAT brand ambassador, what should the training look like, and how to become a knowledgable representative that is as memorable as the brand itself?How have bar and liquor promotions changed over the past 30 years, and how the quantification of a promotion’s “success” has evolved.Larry Wyatt tells us an after-hours story where he and his fellow staffers unknowingly became a museum exhibit themselves while in Barcelona on an activation.

If parking is at a premium, how should you get to an activation or event? Walk, Uber, or pay $60 to park? This week we hear from the tradeshow experts Alexis Baize, Becky Jo Schwarz, Robin Bell, Jennifer Canale, and Phillip Victor to find out!Our interview spotlight is with tradeshow actor, Larry Wyatt and he shares insights on Emceeing, Scripted presentations, and crowd gathering. How his acting career lead to presenting and corporate shows. Some song and dance and “gimmicky” presentations he has been involved in, like “Dwanes World”!We chat about the Job of a crowd gatherer In a seated presentation, how crowd gatherers can help the exhibitor the most and some secrets and tips on HOW to stop and seat that transient crowd.We finish the interview with stories about  CRAZY presentation ideas that didn’t work and the typical 3’ square “luxury dressing room” we get if we are lucky!And, today Scott Tokar shares his own personal favorite Facepalm.

What to wear, attire on the job - Alexis Baize, Becky Jo Schwarz, Veronica Tevelde, Robin Bell, Jennifer Canale, Philip Victor, Larry WyattJeniffer canale interview - Badge scanning and crowd gathering, making a long term career out of event staffing. Finding ambassador gigs on Craigslist, working for agencies, and booking direct. What is it like to work in an exhibit on the tradeshow floor? Working local and working on the road, traveling while “branded” and the difficulties of being “on” even when you are away from the booth. Facepalm - A tradeshow “family picnic” with Larry Wyatt.  Season 1, Episode 4with Host, Scott Tokar

Season 1, Episode 3: Scott Tokar discusses flirting and unwanted attention during activation with Robin Bell, Veronica Tevelde, Becky Jo Schwarz, Alexis Baize, Jennifer Canale, and Philip Victor. We bring you a “face-to-face” interview with the creator and moderator of the over 250 “Brand Ambassador of ___” FaceBook groups, Philip Victor. Then, we end with a “Face Palm” moment with Jennifer Canale who tells us about an Assault with a deadly Giraffe!

Eating and getting meals (dos and don'ts) while working a tradeshow event. Face-To-Face Interview with Robin Bell We chat about; booking via agents, booking direct, and via referrals, what you need in promotion materials, photos, videos and your own tradeshow marketing websiteRobin also tells us about Researching and scripting for her live presentations, and the difference between Demos of physical equipment or products, and powerpoint slides with an ear prompter. Face-Palm story about a brand ambassador caught in a Jacuzzi with a client!

Inaugural Podcast: Exhibitor badges and getting into a tradeshow with Robin Bell, Veronica Tevelde, Becky Jo Schwarz, Alexis Baize, Jennifer Canale. We brig you a “face-to-face” interview with tradeshow presenter, Veronica Tevelde where we discuss: how to get started as a tradeshow staffer, promoting yourself from staffer to live presenter, ear prompters and the secret of not having to memorize a script for every show, plus using your own contracts and getting paid directly by the exhibitor. Then, closing the show Robin Bell shares a real-life “face palm” moment where a selfish attendee has to do the chicken dance in an exhibitor’s theater…