It’s no secret — live events suffered because of the pandemic. Businesses took big losses, and many closed their doors. A lot of people left the industry because the work just wasn’t there.

Today, live events are back in a big way. But that doesn’t mean we’re going back to the way things were before — at least, I hope not.

Many owners have started adopting a new operations model that requires more outsourcing. Which is fantastic! The tricky bit is finding the freelancers you need in a shrunken labor pool while competing with a bunch of other companies going after the same people.

Maybe the old faithfuls you used to rely on aren’t available anymore. You’re having to hire people you don’t know and who haven’t been recommended. It’s a big, scary freelance world out there.

But don’t be afraid. Have a plan.

Finding Freelancers in a Seller’s Market

In this situation, the question I’m hearing repeatedly is, “When are the good freelancers coming back?”

I’ll tell you a secret: The good freelancers are still out there. The best ones never left.

The freelancers who left the industry were the middle-of-the-road type, the ones who weren’t at the top of the game and couldn’t find enough work during the pandemic. So they did what they had to do to keep groceries on the table — as they should — and took a job at Amazon or Walmart, or stayed home to take care of the kids. There’s nothing wrong with that.

The best freelancers are still out there. Why can’t you find them? Because they’re working for the best companies. That’s the honest truth.

The best freelancers probably don’t need your work. They don’t even need the higher rates you might be willing to pay. Their reputation and job satisfaction come from working with top companies who operate professionally and who value the freelancers they hire.

“But wait,” you say. “I value freelancers! How do I get them to work for me?”

I’m glad you asked.

What Freelancers Want

First, the bad news: Most businesses, sadly, will never be in a position to get the best freelancers already in the market to pay attention to you. But that’s not the end of the story.

The challenge is to get more of the good freelancers to come back to the marketplace. And to succeed, you have to know what good freelancers are looking for.

Fortunately, it’s pretty simple. They’re looking for:

• A fair day rate
• Good information
• Ability to contribute to the job before the job starts
• Support in the field
• Not being treated differently because they’re not regular staff

As a former freelancer myself, I know the quickest way to get your number blocked from a freelancer’s phone is failing to support them in the field or treating them as a lesser talent than the people you have on full time.

When it comes to the show, everybody in the ballroom is going to prioritize the show. If they don’t, they shouldn’t be there.

Don’t assume freelancers won’t prioritize the show just because they’re not regular staff. Show them you understand they’re professionals with respect, information, inclusion, and compensation.

Top Ways to Attract Good Freelancers

To attract the good freelancers, stick to these principles:

Share Information

The first step is to get your act together on sharing information. Sometimes, all you have is incomplete information. That’s fine. You can share incomplete information and let them know more will come. If they’re good freelancers, they’ll understand.

HOWEVER, they can’t get to the first day call time without having that better information, so be sure to update them. Freelancers need as just as much information to do their job well as your full-time people do.

Get Organized

Next, up your organization game on things like travel, per diem, logistics, agendas, and planning. If you look like you’re making it up on the fly, freelancers don’t feel confident working with you.

Imagine being asked to travel across the country on an airline ticket someone else is going to buy for you, stay in a hotel someone else is going to book for you, and rely on someone else to provide food for you — if that someone can’t even respond to basic questions.

This kind of thing drives good freelancers crazy. And guess what? They talk to each other. Freelancers share information about which companies do and don’t have their acts together.

If you don’t have your act together, you’ll have a harder time finding good freelancers because the word is out that you’re not organized.

Show How Much You Care

Hiring good freelancers isn’t just another business transaction. Remember, you need freelancers more than they need you. People are more willing to go to the mat for somebody who cares about them.

So, care about them — genuinely. If you can’t, or if you find it hard to show your caring side, then find someone who can. The interface between your company and the freelancer should be someone who cares and has the power to make caring gestures.

What’s a caring gesture? Say thank you. Send a gift card. Ask about their family. There are a lot of ways to show care.

Freelancers are going out to represent your business to your client. If they go out with the full assurance that they’re an important, supported, and valued member of your team, they’ll show your company in the best light and be willing to go the extra mile.

Where to Find Good Freelancers

The best way to find new freelancers is through referrals. Good freelancers recommend better freelancers.

And good freelancers want to work with good people. Since most of your crews are now freelance, it’s in the freelancer’s best interest to recommend people they would enjoy working with and who would be a good fit for your company.

When I run into a company that doesn’t have a good freelance talent pool, there are usually two problems:

• Freelancers are booked at the last minute
• Internal processes don’t play nice with outsiders

When this is the case, you just end up with whoever’s available. And while yes, availability is very valuable right now, you don’t want to settle for just available. You want good freelancers.

Once you learn how to live up to the expectations of professional freelancers, other good freelancers will find you.