Hostesses in matching uniforms
Our cover photo shows three hostesses in matching blue and white uniforms, caps and scarves walking past a giant wheel display. One coordinated look makes a crew easy to find in a crowded hall.
See the cover photo ↑ProMat booth staff and trade show models for 2027, hired in Chicago: robot cell presenters, AMR loop hosts, lead desk reps and lounge hosts. One rate of $85 an hour, no travel fees.
Sources: the official ProMat website (promatshow.com) for the 2027 exhibit count; MHI’s ProMat 2025 post-show results for registrations and countries; April 19–21, 2027 dates at McCormick Place from MHI as reported in the Purple Exhibits ProMat guide and trade press. The $85 rate is Purple Exhibits’ own.
ProMat buyers come to watch automation work, so the people beside your robots matter as much as the robots. Purple Exhibits supplies ProMat booth staff from Chicago: product presenters for robotic picking cells, AMR loop hosts, conveyor narrators, lead desk reps, lounge hosts and trade show models. Every role is $85 per person per hour, with a four-hour minimum per shift. Our crews live in the Chicago area, so you pay no flights, hotel nights or travel fees. ProMat 2027 runs Monday to Wednesday, April 19–21, at McCormick Place. Book about six weeks ahead for the best match. We can still fill rush requests with 72 hours’ notice.
| Show | ProMat 2027, run by MHI |
|---|---|
| Dates | Mon–Wed, April 19–21, 2027 |
| Floor hours | Typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; staff badge in from 8 a.m. |
| Venue | McCormick Place, Chicago |
| Buildings | South Hall, North Hall and Lakeside Center |
| Buyers | Warehouse, DC and plant managers, supply chain leaders, system buyers, dealers, integrators |
| Rate | $85 per person per hour, 4-hour minimum |
| Lead time | 6 weeks ideal · 72 hours for rush |
A buyer walking a hall of robots decides in seconds which booth feels organized. A crew that looks put together is part of that first read. These are real Purple Exhibits teams, and the standard we set for every ProMat crew.
Our cover photo shows three hostesses in matching blue and white uniforms, caps and scarves walking past a giant wheel display. One coordinated look makes a crew easy to find in a crowded hall.
See the cover photo ↑Real Purple Exhibits events.
Pick one look for the whole crew, or mix them by zone. You send branded pieces; we collect sizes and make sure everyone arrives pressed. Anyone working near moving equipment wears closed-toe shoes.
Matching skirt or trouser sets in your brand color with a scarf or cap, like the crew in our cover photo.
Best for: Big islands, launchesBlack or navy blazers, white shirts and a scarf in your accent color for a sharp, sales-ready look.
Best for: Lead desks, meeting podsYour logo polo, dark trousers and closed-toe sneakers for crews working beside robots and belts.
Best for: Robot cells, AMR loopsA branded vest or jacket with a reflective stripe over dark clothes, on theme for a warehouse booth.
Best for: Conveyor lines, photo spotsAt ProMat, the people you need follow the equipment you run, not the size of the carpet. Enter your live demos and hall to see a crew pick list and the cost.
Eight roles we fill for ProMat 2027 staffing, from the aisle corner to the meeting pods. Every one of them costs the same $85 per person per hour.
Polished models work the aisle edge of your booth and bring operations managers in to see the cell running.
Ambassadors scan every badge, hand out the giveaway after the scan and send each visitor to the right demo.
For a launch or a timed reveal, promotional models present the new machine and keep the crowd facing it.
Hostesses run your lounge and meeting pods, greet booked guests and help at customer dinners after the show day.
Demonstrators learn one short cycle for a robot, conveyor or software screen and repeat it the same way every hour.
Check-in staff handle guest lists for dealer meetings, suites and receptions during ProMat week.
Reps ask your approved questions, tag each lead by buyer type and book the follow-up before the visitor leaves.
ProMat draws buyers from many countries. Ask early for Spanish or another language and we look for Chicago staff who speak it.
Planning freight, booth rules and move-in? Start with our ProMat 2027 exhibitor guide. Exhibiting at other Chicago shows too? Our Chicago trade show staffing team covers every hall at McCormick Place and venues across the city.
An example island with a picking cell, an AMR loop and a conveyor run. Tap a zone to read the job, or follow the numbers to the crew list.
Example 40×40 island, not to scale. Before the show we mark up your real floor plan the same way.
The robot picks from totes behind its guarding. Our presenter stands at the window, names what the arm is doing in each step of the cycle and points serious buyers to the lead desk.
Mobile robots may not leave the booth, so the loop is taped on your floor. A loop host keeps visitors off the path, answers the first questions and calls your engineer if a unit stops.
A running conveyor draws a crowd at the aisle edge. One narrator talks over the noise with a headset mic, tells people where each carton is routed and keeps hands off the line.
Your racking is the landmark buyers spot from down the aisle. No crew needed here, but we brief every person on what it holds so they can answer storage questions.
Anyone who wants more than a look gets scanned here. The rep asks your two or three questions, tags the buyer type and books the follow-up meeting.
A greeter at the open corner invites people in and steers them to the demo that fits their operation, so nobody wanders into the robot guarding.
Pods are for scheduled talks with your sales team. A meeting host checks people in from your calendar and keeps each slot on time.
A small lounge keeps key accounts in the booth longer. A hostess serves coffee, holds bags and tells your account manager who just sat down.
Brands that have booked Purple
ProMat booths run real equipment on the floor. MHI requires guarding on equipment and keeps mobile robots inside the booth, so each kind of demo needs its own crew plan.
A robot arm picking mixed items from totes holds a crowd for minutes. Our presenter stands at the guarding, explains each step of the cycle and hands the deep questions to your engineer.
Robots must stay inside your booth, so the loop is taped on the floor. A host keeps people off the path and explains what the fleet screen is showing.
A running line is loud. A narrator with a headset mic tells buyers where each carton goes and why, then points them to the lead desk.
Screens do not draw people by themselves. A presenter runs a short story on the big monitor that ties the software to the hardware next to it.
Running live hardware at other shows? Our ISC West booth staff handle camera and access-control demos the same way, and heavy equipment brands use our World of Concrete booth staff.
What each person does at an automation booth, how many to book and when to confirm them.
| Role | What they do at ProMat | How many | Book by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Product presenter | Learns one demo cycle for your robot cell or software screen and runs it the same way all day | One per live cell or screen | 6 weeks out |
| AMR loop host | Keeps visitors off the marked robot path, answers first questions and flags any stopped unit to your engineer | One per loop | 6 weeks out |
| Conveyor narrator | Talks buyers through the sortation run on a headset mic and keeps hands away from moving parts | One per line | 5 weeks out |
| Lead desk rep | Scans badges, asks your qualifying questions and tags each buyer by role | One or two per booth | 5 weeks out |
| Meeting and lounge host | Checks in booked meetings, serves coffee and tells your account team who has arrived | One per pod area or lounge | 4 weeks out |
| Trade show model and greeter | Welcomes people at the aisle and sends them to the right demo | One per open side | 4 weeks out |
People who can explain a robot cell, keep an AMR path clear and turn a badge scan into a booked meeting. These are the five roles we send to ProMat.
Presenters who stand at your robotic picking cell and talk buyers through each step of the cycle.
Ambassadors who scan every badge at the front of your warehouse automation booth.
Hosts who stand beside the autonomous mobile robot and keep visitors off the marked loop.
Hostesses who look after key accounts in your client lounge with coffee and seating.
Reps with a tablet who qualify logistics buyers and book the follow-up on the spot.
Send your demo listCells, loops, lines and owners.
We train on your equipmentOne run per station before doors open.
Leads labeled by buyerOps, exec, buyer, dealer.
ProMat fills the South Hall, the North Hall and the Lakeside Center. Each building changes how early your crew should arrive and which door they use. Staff can badge in from 8 a.m. on show days.
About 840,000 sq ft over two levels. The Grand Ballroom S100, home of the 8:30 a.m. keynotes and MHI Industry Night, sits in this building.
Plan a short break for staff who want to see a keynote, or keep one person back so the booth is never empty at 8:30.
About 700,000 sq ft. Booths near the back of the hall can have lower ceilings and tighter move-in rules, per the Purple guide.
We give your crew the booth number and the nearest entrance so they do not lose 20 minutes walking on day one.
About 583,000 sq ft. It sits on the east side of the campus by the lake, so the walk from transit takes longer.
We set call times a little earlier here and tell staff which door to use from the Metra or Green Line.
Our crews take the CTA Green Line to Cermak–McCormick Place or the Metra Electric line to the McCormick Place stop, so parking in Lot A is not on your bill. Hall sizes come from our ProMat 2027 exhibitor guide.
ProMat draws operations managers, executives, system buyers and channel partners. Each one needs a different next step, so our reps put a label on every scan.
We askWhat do you move today, and where does it slow down?
Ship toApplications engineer for a site talk
We askIs there a budget or a project date this year?
Ship toSenior sales lead, same day if possible
We askWhich systems are you comparing, and when do you decide?
Ship toQuote request and spec pack
We askWhich brands do you install, and in what territory?
Ship toChannel or partner manager
Tick each task as you finish it. Your progress is saved in this browser.
The show floor is three days. The work around it starts earlier and ends later, and our Chicago crews cover all of it.
Example crews by booth size at $85 per person per hour. Use the estimator above to match your own demos.
| Booth | Typical crew per shift | People | Per day | Whole show |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10×10 inline | One booth rep with a scanner and one greeter | 2 | $1,360 | $4,080 |
| 10×20 inline | A demo presenter, a lead desk rep and a greeter | 3 | $2,040 | $6,120 |
| 20×20 with one robot cell | Cell presenter, lead desk rep, greeter and a meeting host | 4 | $2,720 | $8,160 |
| 20×30 with an AMR loop | Cell presenter, loop host, conveyor narrator, 2 lead reps and a greeter | 6 | $4,080 | $12,240 |
| 40×40 island | 2 presenters, 2 loop hosts, a narrator, 2 lead reps, a meeting host, a hostess and a relief rotator | 10 | $6,800 | $20,400 |
| Meeting suite or lounge only | A hostess and a check-in host for booked guests | 2 | $1,360 | $4,080 |
8-hour days × 3 show days × $85 per person per hour. No travel, hotel or agency markup.
A 20×30 booth with a picking cell, an AMR loop and a conveyor needs six people per shift: a presenter, a loop host, a narrator, two lead reps and a greeter. Here is that crew hired in Chicago next to the same six flown in.
| ProMat 20×30, three show days | Cost |
|---|---|
| Purple local staff | |
| Travel, hotel, per-diem | $0 |
| Your Chicago total |
| Typical fly-in agency, same team | Cost |
|---|---|
| Staff hours at $85 | |
| Round-trip flights ~$420 each | |
| Hotel Chicago, ProMat week · ~$340/night | |
| Per-diem ~$92/day | |
| Fly-in total |
Compared on what actually changes your results and your invoice in ProMat.
| Purple local crew | Fly-in staffing agency | General temp agency | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you pay per hour | One flat $85, models to reps | Day rate plus travel costs | Cheap, but not booth-trained |
| Travel and hotel | $0. The team lives in Chicago | About $420 flight plus $340/night per person | $0 |
| Local knowledge | Halls, transit and shortcuts | Arrives with a map | Depends on the person |
| The Chicago edge | One run per station before doors open. | Not local | Not specialised |
| Trained on your product | Briefing call and cheat sheet | Sometimes, for a fee | No |
| Lead capture | Qualifies and tags every scan | Varies | Not part of the job |
| Booth build too | One company, one plan | Staff only | Staff only |
Fly-in costs use the same typical Chicago 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.
A robot cell and a conveyor need different stories. Write a short cycle for each station, not one booth speech.
Visitors step onto the tape to take photos. A loop host prevents near misses and keeps the demo running.
A plant manager and an integrator need different follow-ups. Tag each scan before the person walks away.
McCormick Place is huge. Send the hall and booth number early, or your crew spends the first hour finding you.
Traffic is heaviest mid-morning and after lunch. Use four-hour shifts to add people at the peaks only.
Call (800) 994-8030 and ask for ProMat booth staffing.
Every role is $85 per person per hour, with a four-hour minimum per shift. Product presenters, AMR loop hosts, lead desk reps, hostesses and trade show models all bill the same rate. Our staff live in the Chicago area, so there are no travel fees.
ProMat 2027 runs Monday to Wednesday, April 19–21, 2027, at McCormick Place in Chicago. MHI Industry Night is on Tuesday, April 20. Floor hours are typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; check your exhibitor manual for the final times.
Yes, as presenters. Send a short script and give us time with your engineer on the last move-in day. Your team runs and controls the equipment; our people explain it and handle the crowd.
Yes. Mobile robots must stay inside your booth, so we place a host beside the marked loop. The host keeps visitors off the path and calls your engineer if a unit stops.
They scan each badge and ask two or three questions you approve. Then they tag the lead as operations, executive, system buyer, dealer or integrator, so your sales team knows who to call first.
Count your live demos first. Most booths need one person per robot cell, loop or conveyor, plus a lead desk rep and a greeter. The pick-list estimator on this page does the math.
Aim for six weeks before April 19, 2027, so we can match people to your demos and train them. Rush requests still work with 72 hours’ notice, but early booking gives you more choice.
That depends on your booth. ProMat uses the South Hall, the North Hall and the Lakeside Center. Send us your booth number and we plan call times and the best entrance for that building.
Through us. Our ProMat crews live in Chicago and reach McCormick Place by the Green Line, Metra or car, with no flights or hotels on your bill. They bill $85 an hour each, four-hour minimum.
Yes. Book one shift on your busiest day, or only for a launch or Industry Night. Each person has a four-hour minimum, and you can add days later if there is time to brief them.
We can often find them. ProMat draws buyers from many countries, so tell us which languages you need when you book. Bilingual staff bill the same $85 an hour.
We keep standby staff in Chicago during the show. A briefed replacement reaches McCormick Place 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 dinners, hotel suites and receptions around Chicago during the week.
No. We are an independent company that exhibitors hire directly. We are not affiliated with MHI, which produces ProMat.
Yes. We design, build and install exhibits at McCormick Place, including demo areas with guarding and floor tape for robot loops, and we staff them under one plan.
Automation brands also host customers off the show floor during the week. We staff those rooms and events with the same Chicago crew.
Arrival, seating and gift bags for key accounts.
We send: Hostesses, greetersPrivate demos and partner meetings with a guest list.
We send: Suite hosts, check-in staffCheck-in, materials and timekeeping for partner sessions.
We send: Registration hostsName checks and guest handling before the reveal.
We send: Door hosts, product presentersGuest lists, coat check and photo walls.
We send: Brand ambassadors, hostsStaffing by show
Chicago and this show
Purple Exhibits is an independent exhibit and staffing company. We staff exhibitors at ProMat; we are not affiliated with MHI. Show names belong to their owners.
Send your demos and booth number. A ProMat price within one business day.
Let’s get right on that answer for you: