An ideal hostess knows who she’s working for, what her duties are and how to fulfil them, and her appearance is a bonus added value. The commandments of a perfect hostess are a collection of important qualities and habits, which we compiled for you based on our years of experience and thousands of completed projects.
This article is meant for those of you, who have already started on their event business path as hostesses or hosts. If you’re still considering whether it’s for you, check out our previous article: How to become a hostess?
To earn and maintain a good reputation, improve your skills, and get a fair promotion, you need to show passion and commitment in your work. The quality of your work will be permanently attached to your name – so make sure to do it right. The commandments below are a foundation for becoming the ideal hostess.
#1. Analyse the job offers.
Think carefully whether you can fulfil the requirements of an agency’s offer – check whether the date isn’t in conflict with your other plans (school, exams, other job, vacation). Supply all the required information – if you omit something, you might not be considered. Particularly when it comes to appearance-oriented jobs, remember to inform about your current look – including braces, tattoos, or hairstyle changes.
#2. Always be on time.
Check your commute and plan your journey. It’s better to be 15 minutes early than 5 minutes late. If you know you’re going to be late, inform the supervisor as soon as possible. Remember, that you need to appear on the earlier roll calls in order to change outfits, touch up your makeup and introduce yourself to the client. They’re an essential part of the job.
#3. Pay attention to your outfit.
The dress code of a hostess dictates a modest and elegant outfit, attention to details and restraint when it comes to accessories. Make sure your clothes for the job are clean, ironed out and with no tears or stains. The outfit should fit your figure and be appropriate for the weather. Always heed the instructions of the agency when picking clothes for the job.
#4. Take care of your hygiene.
The basic hygiene includes clean and combed hair, tidy nails, fresh breath and a pleasant, but not overwhelming scent (antiperspirant/deodorant/perfume). Ladies should also remember to shave their legs and apply subtle makeup (unless the agency instructs otherwise). Gentlemen – either shave your face smooth or maintain tidy facial hair.
#5. Don’t pout.
Leave sulking, making faces or swearing for after the job. Experienced hostesses are used to changing and unusual circumstances – they’re inevitable in the event business. If, however, something serious were to happen, don’t hesitate to contact your supervisor. A good hostess agency will always react accordingly.
#6. Don’t smoke.
It’s not a great idea to smoke or smell like cigarettes on the job. If you really do need to, make sure to do it on a break and in a discreet place, and remember to freshen up your breath afterwards (a chewing gum can do the trick, just remember not to chew it when in conversation). Electronic cigarettes solve the issue of the unpleasant smell, but they should still be smoked in a discreet location.
#7. Don’t overuse your breaks.
Prolonging your breaks, hiding somewhere in the back or in the bathroom, chatting with other hostesses or friends or otherwise stalling and avoiding work will make you seen as lazy. You’ll quickly find your job offer pool diminishing, since agencies will want to hire more dedicated hostesses in your place. Remember to spread the breaks, to which you are entitled, as evenly as possible over the duration of your assignment.
#8. Hide your phone.
Unless the phone is an essential part of your current job, limit its usage to your breaks or for contacting the agency. When you’re seen texting and scrolling Facebook or Instagram, you come off as uninteresting and lazy, not to mention that you can easily lose track of time.
#9. Don’t brag about your earnings.
Keeping your pay secret allows the agency to stay competitive and negotiate the best financial conditions. Discussing finances is not only in bad taste, but it might also get you in trouble (the agency can make you pay a contractual penalty or demand compensation for violating pay confidentiality).
#10. Protect your reputation.
Agency scouts work with hundreds of hostesses, but they have good memory. If you become notorious for being late, overusing your breaks, omitting information, sulking – that notoriety will stick. Agencies share information on unreliable hostesses and can collectively block a bad worker out of their ranks.
When working on behalf of the agency, you take on the responsibility to take all action necessary to fulfil your contract. Therefore, should there be complaints about your work on a job, you will suffer financial consequences. The agency reserves the right to lower your pay for any behaviour that could elicit a complaint and damage its reputation (and therefore, finances) – such as being late, dressed inappropriately, overusing your breaks, sulking, chewing gum, constantly using your phone, chatting with friends, swearing or falsifying collected data.