BET Awards Weekend comes with a set of demands that standard staffing agencies are often not prepared to meet. The volume of events, the level of visibility, and the types of guests involved make this one of the most complex weeks for event execution in Los Angeles. Without the right event staffing services, even the most detailed plans can start to break down.

Here are the most common and damaging mistakes we’ve seen when staffing isn’t handled correctly.

1. Last-Minute Staffing Shortages

Staffing during BET Weekend is competitive. Many agencies accept more work than they can fulfill and fail to deliver complete teams,  a trend reflected in broader industry data showing increased demand and capacity gaps in agency operations lead to clients scrambling to hire event staff at the last minute.

When this happens, key roles like usher staff, greeters, or credential handlers are either missing or filled by unprepared people. These last-minute replacements usually have no briefing, no understanding of brand expectations, and limited awareness of event timing or flow. This causes delays at entry points, slower check-ins, and visible confusion that reflects poorly on the event host.

2. Inexperienced Staff in High-Pressure Environments

Working a red carpet event or private VIP lounge is very different from working a standard conference or banquet. These roles require people who can stay calm, think clearly, and carry themselves professionally around high-profile guests.

Hospitality event staff must understand guest service at a luxury level, including tone of voice, posture, and pace. Usher staff need to manage guest flow, communicate confidently, and adapt to on-the-spot changes without needing to escalate every issue. People without this experience often freeze, miss timing cues, or become visibly overwhelmed. That lowers service quality and puts more pressure on client teams.

3. Poor Coordination Across Shifts and Locations

BET Weekend doesn’t happen in one place. It involves multiple events, often running back-to-back or overlapping across the city. If your staffing team isn’t working with a clear schedule and structure, mistakes will happen.

We’ve seen cases where two teams are sent to the same site while another venue is left uncovered. The staff arrive late, mix up roles, or miss shift changes because they weren’t properly briefed. When that happens, internal teams are pulled into problem-solving mode instead of focusing on execution.

A professional event staffing services provider solves this with clear role assignments, shift tracking, on-site leads, and mobile communication systems that keep everyone aligned throughout the day.

4. VIP Access and Security Mishandling

VIP handling is a sensitive task. There are credential levels, restricted areas, arrival timelines, and security escorts. Teams responsible for these functions must know how to follow protocol exactly.

When usher staff, credential teams, or crowd management at events personnel aren’t properly trained, guests are misrouted, security zones are breached, and entry slows down. These errors can delay run-of-show timing or create unnecessary public attention. In the worst cases, they damage relationships with sponsors, publicists, or talent reps.

Your credential staff needs to know when to act and when to escalate. They also need to understand how to communicate clearly with private security teams and internal producers without confusion or conflict.

5. Service That Undermines the Brand

Every interaction during BET Weekend is tied to brand perception. Poor staff performance doesn’t just affect operations. It affects how sponsors, influencers, and VIP guests talk about the event afterward.

Hospitality event staff and event brand ambassador teams need to be briefed, polished, and able to adjust their tone based on the space they’re working in. If the check-in process feels unorganized or if a guest is ignored at a lounge table, that moment can define the brand in that guest’s mind.

While these challenges may seem overwhelming, they are manageable with proper planning, booking, and the right preparation. With the right approach, brands and planners can reduce staffing risks, maintain service quality, and focus on delivering successful BET Awards Weekend events.