Event Pros - Hire Right The First time

If you are paying event staff as 1099 contractors, there's a good chance the IRS sees it differently. Here's the test they actually use. It's not about the job title, it's about control. If you tell your staff where to be, when to be there, what to wear, and how to set up, that is a W2 employee almost always. The exception most event pros miss if you are bringing in another company to cover an event, a separate photo booth business, a DJ, a bartending service with their own LLC. Before you pay any outside vendor, request a W9. It tells you exactly what reporting is required on your end. Getting this wrong is expensive. Back taxes, penalties, and a mess that could have been avoided with a payroll service that costs less than the weekend gig. Now, this is general information, not legal advice. So, make sure to talk to an accountant in your state. Comment staff for the full playbook on how to hire staff.