Choosing the Right Model for Your Brand

When putting on an event, you’re worried about the catering, the music, the venue, and everything in between. But the waitstaff? They probably aren’t too high on your list of concerns. As long as they get the job done, you’re all set, right?

Imagine your attendees being served by beautiful, picturesque servers with smiles on their faces and the personalities to match. They can entertain your clients, improve the overall event, and even talk up your product. All of this behavior can help promote your brand and your product. The right ambassador models agency can set you up with some stunning staff members, whether you need catering models, trade show models, bartending models, or models for something else.

Of course, it’s not enough to just choose a model at random. You need to get someone that is unique to your brand and fits your marketing needs. Consider the following aspects as you hire models for an event, so you can find the perfect fit for your company.

Demographics

You already have marketing demographics. If you’re hiring a promotional model, you can use those demographics to inform your model selections. Typically, you’ll want to select a model that fits those demographics. If your target audience is young adult men who are of the business type, you’ll probably want to hire a promo model who is male, in his 20s, and looks clean-cut and professional.

Promotional models for hire that look like your audience make it easier for the customer to see themselves using the product. They might see themselves in the model and relate to their experience, especially if it involves the product or service you’re selling.

For example, if your models have the young businessman look, a potential customer may be more likely to trust them — as opposed to someone who looks more casual and like they’ve never been in an office building a day in their life. If the young professional tells him he loves a luxury watch because of the compliments he gets from clients he’s trying to impress, the customer has more reason to believe him.

A great body of research has shown that we tend to like people more if we think we have things in common. If your customers like your brand ambassadors, they’ll create a positive, personal connection with your brand. Nailing the demographics can help your customers see themselves using the product.

An alternative approach is to get models that you know will appeal to your demographics. Young, pretty people serving at an event are always welcome, even if they don’t look like your audience. Beautiful servers can help your event look better in the eyes of your guests. They might not notice it, but it can help your event appear more professional overall.

Some factors to look for when reviewing demographics include:

Gender: Depending on the brand and target audience, gender could play a significant role. Other times, it’s less important.
Age: Zeroing in on your audience’s age can yield excellent results, especially if your product solves problems that are unique to that age group. Consider a 50-year-old man selling feminine apparel for young women — it would be strange. Alternatively, a 20-year-old woman doing the job is more relatable and makes sense.
Ethnicity: If your customers tend to be mainly of one ethnicity or another or your product solves a problem prevalent to them, use models of that ethnicity. For instance, a hair product designed for the hair of African American women would likely not go over well if advertised by a white man who doesn’t have the same hair care routine. You can also consider ethnicity when working in specific locations. Say you’re sending a street team to a neighborhood that’s predominantly one ethnicity. Your model might better reflect your targeted audience if they are of the same ethnicity.
Features: Consider other factors that could match up with your customers. Are they edgier, or do they maintain a sweet boy or girl-next-door style? What sort of tone do you want them to give off? Think about your product itself and if a specific model can better represent its features.

Personality

One of the biggest appeals of hiring models for your event is that they get to interact with customers. Promotional model work helps companies put a face to the brand. To make this interaction positive, models need to have the right personality — but that might look different between brands and events.

Some personality traits that you want all models to have are confidence, friendliness, and personability. You want your brand ambassadors to be easy to talk to and show that they can talk about the brand. They should be knowledgeable about the product, so they can speak to it confidently. Depending on the event, they might have ample opportunity to bring up the product to clients, like on a street team or at a trade show booth, for instance.

In terms of your brand’s image or your product line, you may also want someone fun, quirky, laid-back, excited, or any number of other characteristics that match what you offer. It all depends on your brand and product. Consider the tone and qualities of your brand and how those translate into personality traits.

Think about the following as you consider what kind of personality you want your event staff to have:

Brand personality: If you have developed a brand identity, now is the time to use it. Every brand elicits certain traits in its customers’ minds. It is what makes your company stand out and be memorable. Without a distinct brand personality, you risk being lost in the crowd. Promoting your brand identity with in-person events is an excellent way to make it stick with high-value clients.
Event attendance: Don’t forget to look at your goals and your event attendees. Maybe your brand appeals typically to one demographic, but the people attending your event are a little different. Let’s say your company sells luxury cars, generally to an older market of affluent people who can afford them. If you release a new line targeted to young professionals, it might be a good time to rethink your staff for the launch event. Hire catering models or model bartenders that look more like your intended customers for a little more appeal.
Activity: You’ll also want to consider the actions the staff will be doing when thinking about personality traits. If you’re hiring waiters and waitresses, you may need someone charming and talkative. For a trade show model, on the other hand, you might prioritize product knowledge and the ability to seem confident when speaking to clients. Picture your ideal interactions between your event models and guests and go from there.

With the right ambassador models agency, you can find models that embody the personality you need. At Runway Waiters, we can help you get the right fit for your brand.

Availability

Availability isn’t always straightforward if you have repeating or long-term projects. Our event models are all agency-signed and can have other projects lined up. If you want to hire promo models for repeat or multiple events, let us know at the start of your hiring process. Some of our models will have more open schedules than others.

Obviously, you’ll need a model whose schedule fits with your event. You may also want to see if they are open to more work later on if you like them. You could end up with an event model that perfectly captures your brand and meshes well with your clients. In this instance, repeat work from them can create a stronger brand image or association for your customers. They’re likely to remember the positive interactions with your staff and get excited about your next event.

It can be tough to find the perfect match for your business, so when you do, it’s important to hang on to them. Of course, we recommend planning your event staff far in advance, but if you’re the kind of planner that ends up with last-minute events or hiring, a model with lots of flexibility might be a great benefit. You may have fewer options than you would with advanced notice, so keep that in mind as you look for models for your events.

Event Type

Different events benefit from different models. While some brands can use the same type of model for various events, others have better results if they choose their models with a specific event in mind. A big Fourth of July bash will require a different staff vibe than a booth at a family-friendly benefit. Whether you need catering models, model bartenders, restaurant staffing models, or staff for some other event, keep the specific job in mind.

Some events that we often provide models for include:

Trade shows: Models make excellent brand ambassadors and can talk about a product at length during trade shows and booth setups. Many exude confidence and personability, making them excellent conversationalists to chat up potential clients, partners, or customers.
Dinners: Many of our models have serving or catering experience and can help run the show. Hire promo models to wait tables, and you’ll have a full staff of attractive, skilled people to give attendees an excellent impression of your brand. They’ll keep things going smoothly and can converse with diners, too.
Parties: In addition to servers, catering models, and brand ambassadors, promotional models can also work as ambiance models. That means they’ll attend the party and mingle with guests. Party models at your event can add more entertainment, talk everyone up, and help you create a specific tone. Do you want a fun and flirty party or something cooler and sophisticated? Picking the right model can help you develop the event you envisioned.
Galas: Formals, benefits, and galas can all take advantage of the skill of model bartenders. Like our serving and catering models, we have many models with bartending experience. They’ll make an entertaining experience for your guests and keep the bar running smoothly. You can also have some roam the crowd with a tray of drinks for an involved experience.

These examples are the tip of the iceberg. Our promotional models can boost your brand in a variety of events. Here are some of the staff we offer:

Bartending models
Catering models
Serving models
Brand ambassadors
Restaurant staffing models
Street teams

Remember to think about the goals of your event. Are you focusing on brand promotion, where you may want models that can talk about the product? Or are you simply looking to entertain, where you’d rather have models with the right personality? Different marketing objectives can influence the priority of your model’s qualifications.

Always remember to keep the event itself in mind when selecting a model. It can influence the type of staff you’ll need, as well as the work they can do.

Qualifications

Your brand deserves the best. Models fresh off the street won’t have the training or the know-how to behave appropriately in your professional environment. Working with agency-signed models provides you with talented staff who know the industry. They’ll be mature and professional, with a look that lends itself to high-end, luxury brands and events. They understand their position as a representative of your brand and take the job seriously.

Runway Waiters has a high-caliber staff that offers what other promotional model agencies and companies don’t. We specifically work with models with prior experience. Most of our models have experience with an array of jobs, like catering, serving, and bartending, so you can trust that they get those tasks done with the skill of someone who’s been at it for a while. Our models also have high-fashion looks, so you can embrace elegance and sophistication in a variety of settings. Of course, they can also dress down if you need a more casual look.

When your brand hires models for an event, you can’t let the job fall to first-timers or an unvetted staff. Be sure they have the proper qualifications before hiring them to represent your brand.

Partner With Runway Waiters for Skilled, High-Fashion Models

When it’s time to hire event models, businesses turn to Runway Waiters. We provide models with the skill, personality, and look to match any event and brand. Whether you need a team to hit the streets and promote a product or someone to serve drinks at a party, we can help. Our staff includes party, bartending, brand ambassador, and trade show models across New York, LA, Chicago, Miami, and more. With our models, you don’t get just a pretty face or skilled work — you get the whole package. We have a talented staff that can help bring your marketing goals to life.

In the Runway Waiters hiring process, we will gather up a selection of models that we think fit your needs the best. Then, we send you a packet of headshots and model information, where you make the final decisions. We’re always accessible during this process and can assist whenever needed. For more information on the selection process, or to create a booking, contact us today.