Home Staging Blog by Jennie Norris

New Stagers frequently email or call me asking to "shadow" me for jobs.  I get calls from interior design students as well that would like to complete hours towards their education and internship - and ask to tag along.  My policy is that I use only Stagers (not decorators or designers) - because it's too much for me to have to explain the principles behind what I do - staging is not decorating, yada yada.  But I have brought new people out many times - and it's a way for them to watch and learn and gain confidence.

Question I have is if you are one of the people that wants to shadow, how long do you do this and when is it the right time to ask to get paid?

There are people that will take advantage of "new" or "newer" stagers - and I hear about it and really get sort of upset for these new people that are being taken advantage of by an experienced Stager that is capitalizing on the abilty to get "free labor."

The goal behind shadowing is to LEARN - and watch what the more experienced Stager does, how they run a job, what they pack, how they handle the project, etc.  And after a few times out - you have learned enough to warrant earning some $$ for your time.  Do you deserve the top rate of whatever your market will pay?  No - but there is a point where you don't need to be free labor anymore.

I can't tell you the number of times I have heard from Stagers that are letting themselves be "used" by - and excuse me if I am stepping on toes here - but cheap, experienced Stagers.  If we are in this to make money, and are bidding jobs correctly, then there should be funds in the budget to pay people what they are worth.  A new person - their experience is their pay.  When they have some experience, pay them.

So - new Stagers - my advice if you do have the opportunity to shadow someone - make sure to ask these questions or consider these points:

1.  How many times do you have to go out with this experienced Stager before you get compensation? My recommendation is about 3 times.

2.  What sliding scale do they use in order to pay you?  It should start off with about 25% of what the market will pay and go up from there.

3.  At the point where you feel you are being "used" - you probably are.  It's time to ask for compensation.

4.  If the Stager balks at paying you - they are probably not looking at it past their ego - of the "privilege of having you shadow them" (which I have heard) - and you are better off working to build your own clientele or finding someone else to shadow.  No one is so great that they get free labor all the time.  That person is just cheap.

And Stagers out there that are willing to bring a new person alongside to mentor or help them gain some confidence - I applaud that effort.  You are helping to train on the job - and it can take extra time to explain the "how to" of a real job.  Just be willing to honor that new Stager with up front communication that clearly lets them know what you expect, what they can expect, and give them something to work towards besides "experience" - because I know that money is usually in the budget to pay these people once they have some experience and don't need 100% direction.

And if you are bringing out newbies on a job - at least treat them to lunch!  Make sure they have a good experience - even if things don't run perfectly. . . because you never know where the relationship will go.  That "new" person won't be new forever and will have their own sphere of clients that maybe they will share with you on jobs where you partner.  THAT is the goal too - finding those we can work with - and have fun in the process.

- Jennie