Frequently asked questions

TSM Agency is a woman-owned event staffing and talent agency, founded in 2005, that places trained, local event talent — trade show staff, promotional staff and brand ambassadors — for exhibitors and brands in 25+ U.S. markets. TSM has staffed 2,000+ events and holds a 5.0 rating on Google.

TSM stands for Trade Show Models, the company's original name. Today the agency operates as TSM Agency, a full event staffing and talent agency that covers far more than the trade show floor — promotional staffing, brand ambassadors, product demonstrators and more.

Since 2005 — 20+ years staffing trade shows, conventions and brand activations across the United States.

Yes. TSM Agency is woman-owned, co-founded in 2005 by Caryn Hanna, a former professional model who has spent two decades in event staffing.

TSM Agency is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, at 9205 W Russell Rd #3240-002, Las Vegas, NV 89148, and staffs events in 25+ markets nationwide. Talent is sourced locally in each market.

Yes. TSM Agency carries $1 million per-occurrence and $2 million aggregate general liability insurance. A certificate of insurance is available on request.

Yes — TSM Agency is a member of Meeting Professionals International (MPI), one of the largest meeting and event industry associations.

TSM Agency is rated 5.0 on Google by the clients it staffs.

Most agencies email you a roster and hope. TSM runs one connected, AI-assisted system: our AI compiles your event intelligence into a brief, your dedicated account executive builds the quote and personally curates and interviews talent for your event, and every contractor studies a Client-Intelligence Brief on your brand before the doors open. Proactive reminders protect against no-shows, and a two-way review system keeps quality improving. The result is staff who walk in already knowing your brand — not temps who showed up that morning.

Email hello@tsmagency.com, call (888) 702-7986, or request a quote at /quote/.

AI is the backbone that makes our people better — not a replacement for them. It does the research and the legwork: compiling your event intelligence, assembling each model's brief on your brand, and helping build talent profiles. That's what lets your account executive and your on-site talent show up sharper and better prepared than anyone else on the floor. People still make every decision that matters — your account executive creates the quote, interviews and selects talent, and runs your program.

Smart Quote is our AI-assisted intake. Describe your event once and our AI compiles the details and the intelligence around your show — dates, venue, the roles you need, your industry and audience — into one organized brief. From there it's people: your dedicated account executive works from that brief to build an accurate quote and to curate and interview the right talent for your event.

A person. AI compiles and organizes the information so it’s fast and complete, but your dedicated account executive builds the actual quote and stands behind it.

It’s the prep each booked model studies before your event. Our AI assembles a brief on your brand, products, talking points and audience, and your talent reviews it in their portal — so the person at your booth speaks to your product with confidence, not from a cold start.

Your account executive curates talent to your industry, audience and goals and personally interviews models for your event. You choose from a short list vetted for your booth — never a directory dump or whoever happened to be free.

Yes. Beyond the talent’s brief, you get your own event brief to review and shape — talking points, products, dress code and goals. A sharp brief is what turns a staffed booth into a selling booth, and we build it with you.

The booking portal keeps everyone in sync with proactive check-ins across the run-up to your event, plus a firm confirmation before the show. If a contractor doesn’t confirm, your coordinator is alerted with enough lead time to place a replacement — so your booth stays covered, not crossed-fingers.

Start at /quote/ or call (888) 702-7986. Describe your event once and your account executive follows up fast — often with a quote within minutes of confirming the details.

Your event name and dates, the city and venue, the roles and headcount you need, attire, and what the staff will be doing. The more you share, the faster and tighter the quote.

Fast — often within minutes once your event details are confirmed.

Four steps: tell us about your event, get a fast quote and choose your team from a curated short list, we brief and prep the team, and your staff works your booth through show close. One account executive runs it end to end.

Yes. Your account executive presents a curated short list of talent profiles — photos and experience — interviewed and matched to your event, and you choose who fits your brand.

Earlier is better for the best selection, especially around major shows when local talent books up. That said, we handle last-minute and same-day requests regularly — call us and we’ll move fast.

Often, yes. Local rosters in 25+ markets let us fill urgent and same-day requests more readily than agencies that fly talent in. Call (888) 702-7986 for the fastest turnaround.

Yes. With local talent in 25+ markets and dedicated account management, TSM staffs concurrent and multi-city programs with consistent quality.

Yes. One account executive scopes your team, presents talent profiles, and manages your program before and during the event.

Talent typically runs $50–$85 per hour depending on role, language, experience and program length. Your quote includes talent selection, a pre-event brand briefing and a dedicated account executive.

Most shifts are 8 hours, with a 4-hour minimum per booking.

Curated talent selection, the pre-event Client-Intelligence Brief, your dedicated account executive, and on-site coordination. TSM engages and pays the talent as independent contractors, so you work with one partner and one invoice.

For new clients and larger programs a deposit may apply. Your account executive confirms terms in writing before your event; see our Payment & Billing Policy for details.

TSM invoices clients and accepts standard business payment methods. Your account executive will share the specifics for your booking.

Timely notice lets us rebook talent and adjust your program. Specific windows and fees are in our Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy — your account executive will walk you through them before you confirm.

Our advance confirmation step is designed to catch this early, and your coordinator sources a replacement from the local roster so your booth stays covered.

Yes. Multi-day shows and recurring or multi-city programs can be quoted at program rates — ask your account executive.

Event staffing and talent across trade shows, conventions and brand activations — including trade show staff and models, promotional staff and models, brand ambassadors, product demonstrators, spokesmodels, and lead-retrieval specialists, plus team leads and on-site coordinators.

A trade show model is trained booth talent who represents an exhibitor on the show floor — greeting and qualifying attendees, opening conversations, scanning leads and routing serious buyers to your team. At TSM, they’re briefed on your brand before the show and work through close.

A brand ambassador is a trained representative who carries your message consistently across a campaign, tour or multi-day program — trained more deeply on your positioning so the brand sounds the same at every touchpoint.

A promotional model is event staff who drives trial and participation at consumer-facing activations — sampling, demos, launches and festivals — gathering the right crowd and turning foot traffic into measurable engagement.

A spokesmodel is talent trained to present and speak for a brand on script — delivering product presentations, hosting at the booth or stage, and representing the brand to media and attendees.

A product demonstrator is staff trained to show a product in action — running live demos, explaining features and answering questions to move attendees toward trial and purchase.

A lead-retrieval specialist is booth staff trained to capture and qualify leads using event systems such as Cvent, Compusystems, Validar, Klik and Bartizan, so you leave the show with clean, usable lead data.

Yes. Bilingual talent is available in many markets — tell your account executive the languages your audience speaks and we’ll match accordingly.

Yes. Larger bookings include a team lead who runs shifts, breaks and coverage on-site so your booth stays staffed and on-message.

Trade shows, conventions, product launches, sampling and brand activations, festivals, retail and experiential events, and corporate functions.

No. The trade show floor is our roots, but TSM staffs promotional activations, brand tours, product launches, festivals and corporate events nationwide.

Talent are screened on professionalism, reliability, communication and presentation, and your account executive interviews and curates a short list specifically for your event. Every booked contractor agrees to our published talent guidelines and code of conduct before they represent you.

Yes. Share your requirements — languages, experience, the role and the brand image you want — and your account executive matches talent accordingly.

Yes. Every booking includes a pre-event Client-Intelligence Brief on your brand, products and talking points, which talent study before the show. Many clients also provide additional on-site training before doors open.

Talent range from polished professionals with years on convention floors to vetted newer staff, and your account executive matches experience level to your event and budget.

Published conduct standards, proactive confirmation and check-ins in the run-up to every event, and a two-way review system where strong reviews raise a contractor’s booking priority — so reliable talent gets more work.

Tell your account executive right away — on-site if possible. We address issues during the event where we can and use the post-event review to make it right going forward. Your feedback directly affects future placement.

TSM has staffed booths and activations for exhibitors representing brands such as Omega, Marvel, Kellogg's, Ferrari, Timberland and Pez.

Yes. Larger bookings include a team lead on-site, and your account executive is reachable throughout the event for anything that comes up.

Conduct standards require arrival at least 15 minutes early, and the portal sends each contractor their logistics — venue, booth, call time and on-site contact — ahead of the event. Advance confirmation locks in coverage.

Yes. Talent can wear your branded apparel or follow a specified dress code — provide details in the brief and we coordinate it.

Yes. Lead-retrieval specialists are trained on the major systems (Cvent, Compusystems, Validar, Klik, Bartizan) so your team leaves with clean lead data.

Talent contact their on-site coordinator or account executive immediately — every booking has a direct point of contact. We resolve issues quickly so your booth keeps running.

Talent can assist with light booth prep depending on the assignment, but TSM staffs the people who work your booth rather than serving as your exhibit-install contractor. Your staff works through show close — never an early walk-off.

One account executive, the same brief and conduct standards in every market, local talent everywhere you go, and a review system that travels with the program — so a multi-city campaign performs the same in every city.

25+ U.S. markets nationwide, including Las Vegas, Chicago, Orlando, New York, Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Anaheim, San Diego, Miami, Nashville, New Orleans, Denver, Phoenix, San Antonio and Indianapolis. See /locations/ for the full list.

Local. Talent is sourced in-market, so you skip airfare, hotels and per-diems, and your staff already knows the venue.

Lower true cost (no travel), people who know the venue and city, and easier scaling and last-minute coverage — without the overhead of flying a team in.

Yes — Las Vegas is one of our busiest markets, with local talent for CES, SEMA, MAGIC, World of Concrete, NAB and the full convention calendar.

TSM staffs events across the United States only.

Apply at /apply/ with a few recent photos, your city and any event experience. Upload a resume and our AI helps build your profile and bio while stripping your personal contact information.

No. We look for professionalism, reliability, strong communication and a polished presentation. Many of our best talent come from sales, hospitality, retail and marketing.

No. There’s no fee to apply, join the roster or receive bookings. TSM earns from client bookings, not from talent.

Pay varies by market, role, experience and event. Your rate is shared with every opportunity, so you always know what a booking pays before you accept it.

TSM pays talent after the event, according to the terms in your booking agreement.

An independent contractor. Before your first booking you complete a W-9 and our talent agreement; you’re paid without tax withholding and receive a 1099 at year end.

Yes. TSM is non-exclusive — work with whomever you like, as long as you honor any booking you’ve accepted with us.

25+ U.S. markets, and we’re always adding more. If your city isn’t listed yet, apply anyway.

Yes, you must be at least 18. There’s no upper age limit — we staff events that call for talent across all age ranges.

Yes. TSM staffs talent of all genders, ages and backgrounds, and books mixed teams for many events.

Each booking specifies the dress code or client-provided apparel in your brief. When in doubt, arrive groomed and in clean, professional attire.

We review every application and reach out to qualified candidates — often for a short phone or video interview — about opportunities in your market.

Keep your profile and availability current, arrive prepared and reliable, and build strong reviews. Clients submit reviews after each event, and strong reviews raise your placement priority for future bookings.