I recently polled a number of my connections in the entertainment venue and operations space about their biggest pain points.
I could not believe how many responses centered around staffing.

It wasn’t even close — staffing was by far the most common issue.
I heard you, my friends, and I hope the research I’ve been doing offers some new ideas you may not have tried yet.

I’m Not Here to Rehash the “Why”

We all know the reasons. Post-pandemic shifts, changing work attitudes, wage pressures — you name it.
Rather than dwell on the “why,” let’s focus on what’s working for those who’ve found creative ways to overcome the challenge.

Here are several proven strategies that stood out:

1️⃣ Tap Untapped Talent Pools

Think beyond traditional hiring channels. Many young retirees are looking for part-time work to offset cost-of-living increases. They often bring reliability, maturity, and great customer interaction skills — all things venues need right now.

2️⃣ Cross-Train Your Team

Cross-training employees helps cover emergent no-show or tardiness issues without derailing an event. It creates flexibility and builds morale, too.

3️⃣ Keep a Staffing Partner on Speed Dial

Establish a relationship with a trusted event staffing agency ahead of time. Make sure they can deploy a set number of qualified workers on short notice. When last-minute call-outs happen (and they will), this can save the day.

4️⃣ Incentivize Reliability

Offer small rewards for perfect attendance and punctuality.
It might feel strange to “bribe” people to show up on time — but in a market where attendance issues directly affect the fan experience, it’s a smart investment.

5️⃣ Use Multi-Channel Shift Confirmations (my favorite)

A simple but powerful fix: build a confirmation system that reminds staff of upcoming shifts and requires them to confirm attendance.
Those who use proactive check-ins and confirmations see far fewer surprises on event day.

Don’t Forget About AI

AI tools can make a real difference when paired with your scheduling platform.
Try prompting your favorite AI assistant with something like:

“I run operations at a large music/sports venue and have serious problems with no-shows and tardiness. It’s hurting both the fan experience and staff morale. How can I use [insert your scheduling software] plus automation to solve this?”

You’ll be surprised how many workflows or integrations can be automated with just a few smart prompts.

I can’t promise these steps will fix every staffing challenge — but they might make it a little more manageable.

Now it’s your turn:
Whether you’re in the entertainment space or not, how are you handling the staffing situation in your world?
Drop your strategies, lessons, or wins in the comments — this is your chance to do a good deed and help someone else in the same boat.