On the cover: shirt and tie in black
Four hosts in black shirts, slim black ties and dark trousers stand between two sports cars. A dark, tailored look suits premium optics and outerwear brands.
Back to the cover ↑SHOT Show booth staff and trade show models for January 2027, hired in Las Vegas. Our crew handles the front of your booth, so your product experts stay with buyers. One rate of $85 an hour, no travel fees.
Sources: shotshow.org (January 19–22, 2027 dates, The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum, 2,700+ exhibits, floor hours, exhibitor FAQ); NSSF’s closing release for the 2026 show, published January 23, 2026 (53,000+ attendees from all 50 states and 126 countries, 2,744 exhibitors, 834,500+ net square feet). The $85 rate is Purple Exhibits’ own.
SHOT Show is a buying floor, and your product specialists should spend it with buyers, not at the aisle. Purple Exhibits sends SHOT Show booth staff who live in Las Vegas: aisle greeters, lead desk reps, appointment hosts, counter hosts for optics and apparel, hospitality hostesses and trade show models. Our people never handle firearms or any product in your cases; your own experts do that. Every role costs $85 per person per hour, four-hour minimum, with no travel fees. SHOT Show 2027 runs Tuesday to Friday, January 19–22, at The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum. Book five to six weeks out; rush requests work with 72 hours’ notice.
A trade buyer walks miles of aisles in four days. A crew that looks sharp and stands in the right place is the first thing they notice. These are real Purple Exhibits teams, and the standard we hold every SHOT Show crew to.
Four hosts in black shirts, slim black ties and dark trousers stand between two sports cars. A dark, tailored look suits premium optics and outerwear brands.
Back to the cover ↑Real Purple Exhibits events.
Pick one look for the whole crew or mix two by zone. You ship the branded pieces; we collect sizes and make sure everyone arrives pressed and on time. January mornings in Las Vegas are cool, so layers help on the walk in.
A branded softshell or quarter-zip over a dark shirt, dark trousers and clean boots. Warm enough for a January morning walk from the parking garage.
Best for: Outdoor apparel, hunting gearBlack button-down, slim tie and pressed trousers, like the crew on our cover. Calm and premium next to glass cases.
Best for: Optics, knives, premium brandsFitted tees and caps in your brand color for a crew that buyers can spot from the next aisle.
Best for: Accessories, launches, giveawaysA blazer or cardigan over a logo polo, with comfortable sneakers in your accent color.
Best for: Buyer tables, distributor meetingsAt SHOT Show the crew you need follows your open sides, counters and booked tables. Pick your show days too: Friday closes at 4 p.m., and the form trims that shift for you.
SHOT Show has strict product rules, and we follow a simple one of our own: our people never touch firearms or any product on display. Your experts own the product. We own the welcome, the scan and the schedule.
Eight roles we fill for SHOT Show 2027 staffing, from the aisle to the hotel suite. Each one bills the same $85 per person per hour.
Polished models stand at the open side of your booth and invite buyers in. They talk about the brand, never handle the product.
Ambassadors learn your story in a short brief, scan badges and send each buyer to the right specialist.
For a timed launch, promotional models gather the crowd, hand out line cards and keep the aisle clear.
Hostesses run your lounge or hotel suite with coffee, seating and a guest list for key accounts.
Presenters deliver a short scripted talk on apparel, optics features or brand news, then pass questions to your experts.
Check-in staff handle sign-in for dealer meetings, press previews and evening receptions.
Reps ask your approved questions on a tablet, tag the buyer type and book the next meeting.
SHOT draws buyers from well over 100 countries. Ask early for Spanish or another language and we look for Las Vegas staff who speak it.
Working other shows in town? Our Las Vegas trade show staffing team covers every major venue in the city. Apparel brands also book our MAGIC booth staff, and outdoor and golf apparel lines meet buyers with our PGA Show booth staff each January.
An example corner booth for an outerwear and optics brand. Tap a zone to read the job, or follow the numbers to the crew list. Note the product cases: no Purple position there.
Example 30×30 corner booth, not to scale. No crew member is posted at the product cases. Before the show we mark up your real floor plan the same way.
Locked cases and product walls belong to your own team. Our crew never opens a case or hands over a product. When a buyer asks for a closer look, the greeter walks them to your product specialist.
Buyers line up to compare glass. Our host keeps the line moving, scans each badge while people wait and calls your optics specialist forward for the technical questions.
A host walks buyers along the wall, names each line by season and price tier, and notes which pieces a store wants to see in the line sheet.
Retail buyers like to feel the fabric and try a boot. A host keeps sizes in order on the bench and writes down what each buyer tried.
Most big orders start at a booked table. An appointment host checks each buyer in from your calendar, brings water and tells your sales rep who has arrived.
Every visitor who wants a follow-up gets scanned here. The rep asks your two or three questions and tags the buyer as a retailer, distributor, range or agency buyer.
The open corner looks onto the busier aisle. A greeter with a scanner invites buyers in and sends each one to the right counter or table.
If you book interviews, a host keeps the media corner clear, checks names against your list and fetches your spokesperson.
Brands that have booked Purple
What each person does at the front of your booth, how many to book and when to confirm names for badges.
| Role | What they do at SHOT Show | How many | Book by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aisle greeter | Welcomes trade buyers at the open side, scans the badge and points each visitor to the right person on your team | One per open side | 5 weeks out |
| Lead desk rep | Asks your qualifying questions and tags each scan by buyer type before the visitor leaves | One or two per booth | 5 weeks out |
| Appointment host | Runs your meeting calendar, checks buyers in and keeps each table on time | One per four to six tables | 6 weeks out |
| Counter and wall host | Keeps lines moving at the optics counter or apparel wall and hands product questions to your specialists | One per counter or wall | 5 weeks out |
| Hospitality hostess | Looks after key accounts in a booth lounge or hotel suite with coffee, seating and coat check | One per lounge or suite | 4 weeks out |
| Media corner host | Checks interview names against your list and brings your spokesperson to the camera | One if you book press | 4 weeks out |
Five front-of-booth roles for outdoor, hunting and optics brands. Your own specialists keep every product in hand; our crew greets, scans, hosts and keeps buyers moving.
Presenters with a headset mic who run your scripted talk at an apparel or optics demo and hand technical questions to your specialist.
Ambassadors who scan each trade badge at the aisle and send buyers to the right counter.
Hosts at your optics or outerwear station who manage the line while your experts show the product.
Hostesses who look after key accounts in your client lounge or meeting suite during show week.
Reps with a tablet who qualify retail and distributor buyers and book the next meeting on the spot.
Send your rule sheetWhat your experts keep, what we do.
Rehearse on January 18Greetings, scans and hand-offs.
Leads tagged by buyerRetail, distributor, range, agency.
SHOT Show 2027 fills two buildings joined by the SHOT Bridge. The 2026 edition covered more than 834,500 net square feet across them, so where your booth sits changes call times and breaks.
The larger of the two venues, connected to The Venetian and The Palazzo. The exhibitor FAQ places firearm storage here in Hall G on Level 1 and Hall D on Level 2.
We send each person your level, hall and booth number with a meeting point, so nobody spends the first morning lost on the wrong floor.
A newer conference center on Koval Lane, linked to The Venetian Expo by the SHOT Bridge walkway. Caesars Forum also offered on-site registration in 2026.
Crews working here get an earlier call time and the bridge route, plus the nearest restrooms and coffee for breaks.
For loading docks, parking and hall layouts, read our Venetian Expo venue guide. Our crews arrive by rideshare or transit, so parking is not on your invoice.
The SHOT floor is trade only: retailers, ranges, distributors, commercial buyers and media. Each needs a different next step, so our reps tag every scan before the visitor walks on.
We askWhich product lines do you carry today, and how many doors?
Route toYour regional sales rep, with a meeting booked
We askWhich territory and which brands do you already move?
Route toChannel or distribution manager
We askWhich seasons are you buying for, and when do you place orders?
Route toLine sheet plus a follow-up call
We askIs there a program or bid date you are working toward?
Route toYour agency or government sales lead
We askWhich outlet, and do you have an interview slot booked?
Route toYour PR lead or spokesperson
Tick each task as you go. Your progress is saved in this browser.
Four floor days sit inside a longer week. Our Las Vegas crew covers the move-in Monday, every floor hour and the dinners after.
Example crews by booth size at $85 per person per hour. Use the order form above to match your own counters and tables.
| Booth | Typical crew per shift | People | Per day | Whole show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10×10 inline | One booth rep with a scanner, covering the aisle and the lead form | 1 | $680 | $2,720 |
| 10×20 inline | A greeter and a lead desk rep | 2 | $1,360 | $5,440 |
| 20×20 corner | Greeter, lead desk rep and an appointment host | 3 | $2,040 | $8,160 |
| 30×30 apparel and optics | Optics host, apparel host, fitting host, appointment host, lead rep and greeter | 6 | $4,080 | $16,320 |
| 50×50 island | 2 greeters, 2 lead reps, 2 appointment hosts, counter and wall hosts, a media host and a relief rotator | 10 | $6,800 | $27,200 |
| Hotel suite or meeting room | A suite hostess and a check-in host for booked buyers | 2 | $1,360 | $5,440 |
8-hour days × 4 show days × $85 per person per hour. No travel, hotel or agency markup.
A 30×30 corner with an optics counter, an apparel wall, a fitting bench and buyer tables needs six people per shift up front: two counter hosts, a fitting host, an appointment host, a lead rep and a greeter. Here is that crew hired in Las Vegas next to the same six flown in.
| SHOT Show 30×30, four floor days | Cost |
|---|---|
| Purple local staff | |
| Travel, hotel, per-diem | $0 |
| Your SHOT Show total |
| Typical fly-in agency, same team | Cost |
|---|---|
| Staff hours at $85 | |
| Round-trip flights ~$380 each | |
| Hotel Las Vegas, SHOT week · ~$260/night | |
| Per-diem ~$89/day | |
| Fly-in total |
What each option really costs and delivers at a SHOT Show show.
| Purple local crew | Fly-in staffing agency | General temp agency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price per staffer | $85 an hour in SHOT Show | Higher once travel is added | Lowest rate, highest risk |
| Flights and rooms | None. SHOT Show is home | ~$380 airfare and ~$260 a night, each | None |
| Knows SHOT Show venues | Local crew, every season | Usually first time in town | Sometimes |
| The SHOT Show edge | Greetings, scans and hand-offs. | Not local | Not specialised |
| Knows your pitch | Learns your three key points | Generic script | Not their job |
| Qualified leads | Asks your questions, tags hot or warm | Basic scanning | Badge scans at best |
| Exhibit and staff together | Design, build and staff | People only | People only |
Fly-in costs use the same typical SHOT Show rates as the budget above. Other agencies’ pricing varies.
About three minutes. No deposit to ask.
We’ll email your quote within 24 hours, usually much sooner. Need it now? Call (800) 994-8030.
Your specialists are the only people who should handle the product. Put a greeter on the aisle so they stay with serious buyers.
Each crew member needs a personal badge from your exhibitor allotment, picked up in person. Register names early.
A range owner and an agency buyer need different follow-ups. Tag each scan with the buyer type before they walk on.
The floor closes at 4 p.m. on the last day and traffic is lighter. Book a shorter shift and save the hours.
If your booth is at Caesars Forum, tell us early. The walk over the SHOT Bridge changes call times.
Call (800) 994-8030 and ask for SHOT Show booth staffing.
Every role is $85 per person per hour, with a four-hour minimum per shift. Greeters, lead reps, appointment hosts, hostesses and trade show models all bill the same rate. Our people live in Las Vegas, so you pay no travel fees.
SHOT Show 2027 runs Tuesday to Friday, January 19–22, 2027, at The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum in Las Vegas. The official schedule lists floor hours of 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Friday. The show returns to Las Vegas every January.
No. Our crew never handles firearms, ammunition or any product in your booth. Your own specialists show and explain products. We greet, scan badges, host meetings and keep lines moving.
They welcome trade buyers at the aisle, scan badges, hand out line cards and send each visitor to the right person on your team. The look is professional, and the job is hosting, not product handling.
Yes. SHOT is trade only, and every crew member needs a personal exhibitor badge from your allotment. You register names through the Exhibitor Dashboard; each person picks up their own badge. We send you the names in time.
Start with the counters and tables you run. Most booths need one greeter per open side, a lead rep, and an appointment host if you book buyer meetings. The order-form estimator on this page does the math.
Aim for five to six weeks before January 19, 2027, so names are ready for badge registration. Rush requests still work with 72 hours’ notice if you can register the badges in time.
Through us. Our SHOT crews live in Las Vegas and reach The Venetian Expo and Caesars Forum without flights or hotels on your bill. Each person bills $85 an hour, four-hour minimum.
Yes. Book one shift on your busiest day, or only for a launch. Each person has a four-hour minimum, and you can add days later if there is time to register badges.
Yes. We staff both venues. Tell us your venue and booth number early, because the walk over the SHOT Bridge changes call times.
Often, yes. Buyers come from many countries, so name the languages you need when you book. Bilingual staff bill the same $85 an hour.
We keep standby staff in Las Vegas during show week. A briefed replacement reaches your booth within two hours. If we miss that, you do not pay for that shift.
Yes. We send hostesses, check-in hosts and suite hosts for customer dinners, hotel suites and receptions around Las Vegas.
No. Exhibitors hire us directly; we are an independent company. We are not affiliated with the NSSF, which owns and produces SHOT Show.
Yes. We design, build and install exhibits for Las Vegas venues, including locking display cases and buyer meeting areas, and we staff them under one plan.
Outdoor and optics brands also meet buyers away from the floor during the week. Our Las Vegas crew covers those rooms too.
Arrival, seating and gift bags for key accounts.
We send: Hostesses, greetersPrivate buyer meetings with a guest list and timed slots.
We send: Suite hosts, check-in staffSign-in, name badges and materials for your sales reps.
We send: Registration hostsName checks against your press list and spokesperson hand-offs.
We send: Media hostsGuest lists, coat check and photo walls.
We send: Brand ambassadors, hostsStaffing by show
Las Vegas and this show
Staffing by role
Purple Exhibits is an independent exhibit and staffing company. We staff exhibitors at SHOT Show; we are not affiliated with the National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF). Show names belong to their owners.
Send your booth number and venue. A SHOT Show price within one business day.
Let’s get right on that answer for you: