Staffing the Oasis Concert

As an agency partner to many Large Scale Events, our work begins months in advance, sometimes up to six
months before the event day. We recently staffed 80 staff for the Oasis concert at Murrayfield
Stadium, and we wanted to give you a behind-the-scenes look at that process.

What does staffing a large-scale event look like?

As soon as an event is confirmed, our operations are set in motion. The date goes on the calendar,
logistics are reviewed, and key touchpoints, such as entry times, check-in roles, and site access,
are mapped out in detail. With extensive experience in live event staffing, we’re adept at working
backwards from gate times or kick-off to pinpoint exactly when our teams need to be on the
ground.

We need to then consider: do we need to scale up for this event? No problem. We assess crew
requirements early, making sure the right volume and mix of event personnel. Thanks to our
experience and long-standing relationships with most of our clients, we usually know the answers
before we even ask; it’s simply a matter of fine-tuning details.
While awaiting staff confirmations, we begin building the leadership layer. Securing experienced
supervisors and event managers is priority one; availability can be limited, so we lock the best
people in early.

Next, we look at who’s worked this site or event before. Are they available? Can they return to the
same role? We keep detailed records from previous events so we can place people where they’ve
already built experience. It’s a win-win: staff feel confident in familiar surroundings, and clients
benefit from a team that knows exactly what they’re doing.

At the end of the day, Hospitality is all about service and the more settled and experienced our
team is, the better the experience they’ll deliver to the customers.

Navigating Curveballs and Last-Minute Challenges

Lastly, we fill in the gaps, and this is where things get interesting. We might have all the
experienced staff slotted into their usual areas, but what happens when one section is short on
experience? Now it becomes a puzzle. We start shifting the pieces, balancing old hands with new
faces, checking who will work well together, and who has the right skill set for the role. It sounds
simple, but this part can be the trickiest of all.

Just when you think the puzzle is complete, two people call off. Back to the board. Who can we
move? Will it still work? These little curveballs keep coming, sometimes right up until doors open.
Even on the day itself, life happens. Someone gets sick, someone gets stuck in traffic, and we’re
already onto Plans B, C, and D before the gates have even opened. The planning truly never ends.

The Main Event

3:00 PM, Friday 8th August, Murrayfield Stadium. The first of three nights of the highly anticipated
Oasis concerts, and the only dates in Scotland!

Check-in is set up and ready. For us, that means staff lists printed in alphabetical order—always
by first name, because when there are 80 staff in front of you, there’s no time to wait for the
surname. Highlighters are at the ready; for any staffing professional, these are a prerequisite of
the job.

The emergency kit bag is stocked up: spare shirts, ties, hair bobbles, nail polish remover,
deodorant, alongside a box of chocolates on the table (A little sweet treat always goes down
well!). A few early arrivals have already been checked off, security-banded, issued their uniform,
and sent to their allocated areas.

Finally—finally—everyone’s in. Walk-rounds are done, the staff are smiling, the client has their
updated allocations, and we can leave the site with a deep breath and a quiet sense of
satisfaction. But wait… It’s not over yet. Cue the late-night calls: someone’s lost their phone, left
their bag, forgot to sign out. Even when we’re not on site, we’re still very much on call. And still, the
job isn’t complete. Timesheets roll in (eventually), we check and double-check, and pay is
processed

Behind Every Great Event Is a Great Team

We couldn’t be prouder of the team that brought this event to life. Every individual played a crucial
role in delivering a smooth and successful experience. Their professionalism, adaptability, and
commitment—often under pressure—remind us why we do what we do.

An event is never just one day. It’s months of planning, days of delivery, and weeks of follow-up. It
might look like a single shift on the outside, but to us, it often feels like an eternity, and we wouldn’t
have it any other way.

Need Experienced Staff for your major event?

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