Immersive event staffing means bringing performers into a live brand moment: actors in character, scare actors, costume performers, or real people cast to play themselves. It sits between casting and event staffing, and needs both.
The kinds of work
- Characters on the carpet: zombie actors at the HERD premiere at FrightFest
- Scares and challenges: costume actors inside a giant takeaway bag for Uber Eats at King’s Cross
- Casting real people: two families for a live dinner inside a HelloFresh box at Waterloo
- Performers in a crowd: footballer and referee actors for OPPO at the Champions League Final
Cast on video
Headshots show how someone looks. Video shows how they move, react and hold a character. For immersive roles we cast on video, and the client approves every performer before the day.
Safety is part of the script. At the Uber Eats Halloween activation every guest signed a waiver and a health and safety form, and no more than three went in at a time.
The performers knew the rules as well as their lines.
Plan the whole day
The moment lasts seconds, but the day lasts hours. The HERD zombies started in make-up at 10am and stayed in character for eleven hours. Make-up, costume, changing space and breaks all go in the plan.
- 11hours in character
- 3live evenings at Waterloo
- 9,000goody bags at Waterloo
The team around the performers
Performers need a crew: hosts to manage the queue, someone to look after props and costumes, and an event manager who can stop the show if they have to.
Checklist
- A casting brief: look, skills and how they move
- Video auditions or an in-person casting
- Make-up, costume and changing space planned
- Safety rules written into the script
- Breaks and cover for long days in character
Common questions
What kind of performers count as immersive staff?
Actors and characters for activations and premieres, scare actors, costume performers and real people cast for a live scene. For HelloFresh at Waterloo we cast two families for a live dinner inside a giant box.
How long can actors stay in character?
With proper breaks, a long time. The zombie actors at the HERD premiere were in character for eleven hours.
Is immersive work safe for guests?
It has to be planned that way. At the Uber Eats Halloween activation every guest signed a waiver and a health and safety form, and no more than three went in at a time.
Tell us the idea and we’ll plan the casting and the team around it.
