8 Event Staffing Networking Tips Every Professional Should Know

What do event staffing and networking have in common? Both center on people, which makes them inseparable. To be successful in event staffing, you should be able to build and maintain lasting professional relationships.

Event staffing networking creates opportunities for event professionals, from event managers to on-demand event staff. Through networking, agencies and managers gain access to dependable staff, while staff discover new jobs and career paths. Not to mention, networking strengthens professional growth and keeps the entire industry competitive.

In this guide, we will discuss how to network effectively in the event industry and share 8 practical event staffing networking tips you can use to boost your networking efforts.

How to Network in the Event Industry

Did you know that 80% of professionals consider networking crucial for achieving career success? Key findings in a study also highlight the significant impact of relationships in influencing the path of a business. Networking plays a vital role in many industries, and the event staffing sector is no different.

At present, there are various ways to network in the event staffing industry. Below are three of the most common ways you can network in this dynamic sector.  

1. Attend Networking Events for Event Professionals 

Networking events remain one of the most reliable ways to build connections. Everyone attending is already there with the same purpose: to meet, exchange ideas, and create opportunities, making it the best avenue to truly connect and expand your network. At present, networking events come in various formats, namely in-person, virtual, and hybrid.

According to a report, 85% of professionals believe they establish a more meaningful connection after meeting someone face-to-face. Meanwhile, respondents in a study on virtual networking events shared that these meetings were more effective for building professional connections. Whichever networking event format you choose, it is clear that each option offers its unique advantage that can help you strengthen relationships and expand your network in the event staffing industry.

There is no doubt that attending networking events can be strategic to enhance your networking results; however, it’s important to remember that not all events can help you connect with the right people. To make your networking more effective, focus on events specifically designed for event professionals. Examples of these include:

1. Industry-specific seminars
2. Event career fairs
3. Event conferences/trade shows
4. Event community service groups gatherings
5. Event workshops

2. Use Online Platforms and Social Media

With almost 64% of the world’s population using social media today, finding the event staffing pros you want to connect with has just become easier and faster. 

Networking through online platforms and social media means you can connect with the right event staffing professionals, agencies, and potential clients without location or time limitations. Through this, you can freely engage with peers, join specialized groups for event staff and managers, share insights on staffing strategies, stay updated on industry trends and hiring opportunities, and much more. Whether you’re a person searching for how to find event staffing jobs or a manager looking to expand your connections, you can easily look for the right network for you through these platforms. 

3. Leverage Existing Connections

Your existing connections could be the very people who can help you expand your network. Your current contacts, from your vendors and fellow planners to event staff, often have networks that go beyond your own, giving you access to people you might not be able to reach directly. The advantage here is that these contacts can vouch for the individuals they introduce, making your new relationships more credible and trustworthy.

Event Staffing Networking Tips

Networking in the events industry only works when you put in the effort. To help you make every connection count, we’ve put together 8 practical event staffing networking tips that will guide you toward meaningful and effective industry connections every time.

1. Prepare Before You Connect

Preparing before you connect helps you make meaningful associations, target the right people, and have a clear purpose for networking. It ensures your time is well spent and increases your chances of finding staff, clients, or career opportunities. 

Whether you are networking in person or online, you should prepare by doing the following.

1. Decide what you want or your goals from each networking opportunity (e.g., meeting potential clients, staff, or mentors).
2. Identify conferences, trade shows, workshops, or online gatherings relevant to your goals.
3. Research current events or industry news.
4. Prepare business cards or contact information.
5. Dress appropriately for the event.
6. Have a list of people you want to connect with. 
7. List thoughtful questions relevant to the people you want to talk to.
8. Confirm the correct pronunciation of names

2. Practice Your Communication Skills

Strong communication reflects your value, skills, and professionalism. That’s why having good communication is essential. According to a report, good communication helps build and maintain relationships and build effective teams. Additionally, it prevents miscommunication that could offend potential partners.

Effective communication when networking begins with simple and straightforward introductions and polite greetings. During conversations, listen carefully, ask thoughtful questions, and show authentic interest in others’ experiences and expertise. Adapt your tone and language to fit the person you are speaking with, whether it is a client, manager, or peer in the industry.

If you are looking to improve communication with event staff, make sure not to miss this article.

3. Engage Proactively

If you’re serious about event staffing networking, don’t just wait in the corner for other event professionals to approach you. To be more memorable and effective, you need to be proactive. Approach people who are relevant to your career, maintain a confident posture, offer a firm handshake, and wear a welcoming smile.

When networking online, keep your messages polite, clear, and to the point to respect people’s time. Reach out only to those who are relevant to your goals to make every connection meaningful and productive. Additionally, make sure your communication channels are always open and responsive, and your profiles are up to date. 

Looking to improve engagement in your current event team? Here’s an article for you. 

4. Learn Networking Etiquette 

Learning networking etiquette is an underrated step for effective in-person and online networking. It is essential because first impressions matter, and how you interact can determine whether a connection grows into a valuable professional relationship. 

When networking in person, make sure you always arrive on time and approach with a greeting. This shows your respect for other people’s schedules and sets a professional tone from the start. If the person you want to talk to is still in an ongoing conversation, don’t interrupt. When conversing, listen attentively, limit phone use, and never discuss something while your mouth is full. Excuse yourself gracefully when it’s time to leave the conversation and ask for your potential partner’s contact details.

Just like in-person networking, there are a couple of etiquette points to note when networking online. These include starting your messages with greetings, keeping your messages polite, and including only relevant details to stay direct and avoid wasting people’s time. When following up, make sure not to follow up too early or too often.

5. Collaborate With Existing Networks

As mentioned above, your existing network can help you in making your event staffing networking successful. These connections have their own networks outside your relationship, and collaborating with them gives you access to various relevant and trustworthy people. By collaborating effectively, you not only expand your network but also build a strong reputation that encourages coordinators and other industry professionals to recommend you repeatedly.

6. Don’t Make It All About What You Want

In networking, it’s easy to focus only on your own needs, whether it’s finding a job, filling a role, or promoting your services. While it’s understandable, doing this can make the conversation one-sided and upset some people. 

Be an event professional who is respectful. Make sure you listen actively, ask thoughtful questions, share useful insights, or offer resources that can genuinely help the other person. Showing interest in their goals demonstrates that you care about more than just your own agenda. When you approach conversations this way, you build trust and respect, making people more likely to remember you and support your career or staffing efforts.

7. Discuss Your Goal After Forming Rapport

Your goals are important, but don’t start conversations by demanding what you want immediately. Building a connection should always come first. Once you’ve established trust and had a friendly conversation, clearly communicate your objective. Keep it simple and easy to understand. Frame your goal in a way that also benefits the person you’re speaking with. When they see how helping you can also be valuable to them, they are more likely to support, collaborate, or offer opportunities.

8. Ask for a Business Card and How to Follow Up

Great introduction? You built rapport and found common goals? That’s a strong start, but don’t stop there. Keep the connection going by asking for their business card or contact information, and the best way to follow up. Collecting contact details and actually following up shows professionalism and genuine interest. 

Make Your Event Staffing Smoother With StaffConnect

Don’t just be an event staffing professional who talks a good game at networking. Be an organized and effective event manager with StaffConnect. 

StaffConnect is an all-in-one event and staff management platform designed to take the stress out of event staffing. It lets you manage your team efficiently anytime, anywhere. Its key features include a centralized communications hub, secure database, GPS check-in and check-out, calendar integration, automatic reminders, built-in payroll, and easy data management. 

StaffConnect streamlines workforce coordination, improves accountability, simplifies scheduling, and ensures your team runs smoothly, so you can focus on delivering flawless events every time. Book your free demo today to learn more!