6 Tips For Rocking Your First Craft Service Job

Congratulations! You’ve landed your first craft service job and you want to make a great first impression. Here’s six easy tips to help you win the hearts of cast and crew.

Tip #1 – Be On Time For Your First Craft Service Job

If you’re supposed to be on set and ready to work at 6 a.m. then you should plan to arrive at least 30 – 45 minutes early. This will give you ample time to eat breakfast and find out where the craft service table is to be set up. Not an early bird? Then set two alarms. Do whatever it takes to be on time to your craft service job.

Tip #2 – Pass Around The Snacks

Not every cast and crew member can come to the craft service table on a regular basis. They’re too busy. You can elevate yourself to hero status on your craft service job if you put some of your most delicious snacks on a tray and walk around the set offering your fare. This way those who can’t leave their posts don’t lose out on snacks.

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Tip #3 – Rotate Snacks Regularly

Your craft service job will most likely be a 12-hour workday. Rotate your snacks every three hours to keep the craft service table looking fresh and inviting. Also, check the coffee pot level every hour or so to make sure it’s not empty. Running out of coffee is no-no!

Tip #4 – Keep The Craft Service Area Clean

Cast and crew are busy people. They are constantly on the move around the set. This leads to lots of spilled drinks and dropped food on the craft service table and the ground. Once they leave the area, clean up after them. Again, you want to keep the craft service area looking fresh and inviting so that this won’t be your last craft service job!

Tip #5 – Use What You Have On Your Craft Service Job

There will be locations where you won’t be able to set up your 2 – 3 craft service tables due to space limitations and/or restrictions. When this happens, be creative. Make the most of the space you have. I’ve set up craft service on a kitchen counter, a bar, and inside of a wagon. If it works, do it.

Tip #6 – Be Mentally Prepared For Unexpected Changes

You never know what your craft service job will bring, so be prepared by developing some mental toughness. For example, you may spend the greater part of an hour erecting a pop up tent and setting up a 2 – 3 table snack spread only to be told to move the whole shebang across the street because the director wants to use your current location in the next shot. Take a deep breath, exhale, then move it!

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Follow these tips and you’re sure to leave an indelible impression on cast and crew. More importantly, you’ll endear yourself to the producer who hired you and who will likely hire you again. After all, that’s what you want to happen, isn’t it?