A well-run event requires thoughtful planning, strategic marketing, and intentional execution. But a good event on paper does not always translate to a successful event in real life.
At the end of the day, your event can only run as well as your staff. If burned out and exhausted, employee productivity plummets along with event morale.
In the workplace, burnout is characterized as “a state of physical or emotional exhaustion that also involves a sense of reduced accomplishment.” The symptoms—which include fatigue, low motivation, and difficulty making decisions—are disastrous for events and event employees.
Below are 6 ways to stomp out burnout before it even happens.
1. Find Employees Who Are Genuinely Interested In Your Event
While you need staff for your event, avoid settling for just any competent person. Employees who will find joy and satisfaction in working at your event will sustain energy and motivation levels far longer than an employee bored by the event.
When recruiting employees, keep an eye out for people who are genuinely interested in your industry.
2. Evaluate the Length of Your Event
While some events happen in the span of a single day or evening, others are ongoing. Think of concerts with multiple showings, Christmas parades that run every weekend in December, or corn mazes open during all of fall. Whether your event runs late into the night or long into the season, take your employees into account. Hire enough staff to keep shifts manageable and energy high.
3. Create an Employee Community
According to the research, there’s a high correlation between exhaustion and loneliness; both are red flags for burnout. Finding ways to facilitate a sense of connection, trust, and respect among your employees will go a long way toward prevention
Consider hosting an employee bonding event before the big day. This might look like a BBQ, dodgeball game, or beach day. For ongoing events, you can offer special access perks such as backstage passes to the concert or employee and family-only access to the orchard.
4. Provide Clear Direction and Expectations
There’s little that zaps energy as fast as ambiguous directions and unclear expectations. Don’t wait until the hour before the event to brief your employees about their roles and your expectations. Instead, communicate with your employees early on to enhance clarity and build trust.
Each employee should bounce out of bed the morning of your event with a clear idea of their purpose—collectively and individually.
5. Take Care of Them During the Event
Regardless of initial excitement levels, very few people can feel pumped up when dehydrated, hangry, or standing statue-still for 10 hours straight.
You can help your employees stay energetic and on task by ordering sandwiches, keeping plenty of water available, and giving them a chance to take a break.
Keep your employees nourished and hydrated so they can flourish in their roles.
6. Show Your Appreciation After the Event
Appreciation is fuel, and you want to make sure your employees leave with full tanks. Send them away with thank you notes, swag, or even a thank you gift. Give them a shoutout on social media. Host an appreciation dinner. Make sure your employees feel recognized and celebrated for their efforts and success.
If you have any questions about keeping your event staff happy and energized, don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team.
We’re here to help you host your most successful event ever!
— The TicketSpice Team
