Everyone’s obsessed with passive income and online gigs, but there’s real money in showing up and moving chairs. Seriously. Event setup is the ultimate “work when you want” hustle that flies under the radar. Wedding planners, conference organizers, and pop-up markets are always scrambling for reliable people to haul tables, arrange floral arches, and tear down stages at 1 AM. If you can lift, listen, and show up on time, you’ve got a recession-proof skill.
1. Where the Gigs Are (And What You’ll Actually Be Doing)
This isn’t just about folding chairs. Different events mean different paydays:
- Weddings: $25–$50/hr to set up chiavari chairs, drape linens, and arrange centerpieces. Pro tip: Upsell by offering to stay for breakdown (when drunk uncles won’t help).
- Corporate Conferences: Audiovisual companies pay $30+/hr for cable running and projector setup. Wear all black—you’ll blend in with the tech crew.
- Farmers’ Markets: Vendors will Venmo you $20 to help unload their kombucha kegs at 6 AM. Bonus: Score free pastries.
- Festivals: The overnight teardown crew (after the headliner finishes) is where the real money is—$200+ for a few gritty hours.
Real-life example: Jake started by answering a Craigslist ad for a charity gala setup. Three months later, he was the guy the venue called first for last-minute gigs—netting him $3k in a summer without breaking a sweat.
2. How to Be the Person They Rehire (Without Even Trying)
The bar is comically low. Just do these things and you’ll outshine 90% of temps:
- Early = On time. Show up 20 minutes before call time with work gloves and a multitool. Instant hero status.
- Dress like a ghost. Black t-shirt, black pants, comfy shoes. No one notices you, but they remember the guy in jeans who tripped over a speaker cable.
- Master the “Yes, and…” Coordinator says “Move these 50 chairs”? Reply with “Stacked or folded?” Boom—you’re now their favorite.
- Bring a “go bag”: Gaffer tape, zip ties, Sharpie, and a portable phone charger. You’ll save someone’s ass by hour two.
Real-life example: Maria kept getting rehired by a wedding planner because she’d quietly fix busted table skirts with safety pins from her bag. By season’s end, she was training new hires.
3. Turn Grunt Work Into a Goldmine
The secret? Event work is a backdoor into better gigs. Once you’re in the Rolodex:
- Tech adjacent: Help the DJ with speakers? Next time they’ll ask you to assist with lighting rigs at $50/hr.
- Coordination gigs: Stick around after setup, and planners will toss you $100 to be the “point person” for vendor questions.
- The referral loop: Photographers always need someone to hold reflectors. Caterers need last-minute table resets. Say yes once, and your phone blows up every Friday.
Pro move: After each event, text the coordinator: *”Let me know if you need help next month—I’ve got 10/15 and 10/22 open.”* They’ll book you before posting the job.
Real-life example: After six months of hauling speakers, Derrick now gets $400/night to oversee load-ins for concert venues. His qualifications? “I showed up when others flaked.”
The Ugly Truth (And Why It’s Awesome)
This isn’t glamorous. You’ll sweat, you’ll find random glitter in your hair for days, and you’ll develop a very specific hatred for pipe-and-drape systems. But here’s the kicker:
- Zero skills required (just common sense)
- Cash payments are common (especially for last-minute gigs)
- Flexible as hell (take a month off, and the work’s still there)
The event industry runs on people who actually follow through. Be that person, and you’ll never scramble for rent money again.
“You’re not ‘just’ moving tables—you’re the reason the bride didn’t have a meltdown. Charge accordingly.”