Sign spinners, human directionals, sign twirlers – no matter what you call them, they are all the same. These are trained employees or artists, who use surfboard-sized (usually arrow-shaped) signs for advertising your brand outdoors.
Sign spinning is no less than a work of art that involves tricks, dancing, and even acrobatics. This performance art has reached a level of fame such that it has also transformed into a competitive sport!
And as goofy as it may sound, sign spinners are no less than show stoppers who can capture the audience’s attention. Of course, provided that you have found a sign spinner who is worth their weight in gold!
Here are some key characteristics to look for in a sign spinner:
Someone Who is in Shape
Truth be told, sign spinning is a physically exhausting and demanding job. One day they are going to be spinning signs under canopies, and the next they are on hot asphalt trying to pull those moves. There is no knowing what the weather is going to be like on some days, and they will be on their feet for hours to no end. As such, physical fitness should be one of the primary considerations while selecting a sign spinner of choice.
Moreover, one should also consider that the typical signs and decals are generally made from plastic or vinyl and weigh anywhere between six to fifteen pounds. Accordingly, spinning the sign and doing tricks with it will be physically strenuous.
Someone Who Doesn’t Care What People Think
A lot of people are going to be uncomfortable with the thought of holding (let alone spinning!) signs in bustling streets. The sheer thought of it brings up jarring memories of the scene in the movie Joker where a bunch of teens steal Arthur’s sign and beat him up.
They should be someone who can shed this discomfort and push their limits. Someone who knows that dignity is a state of mind and is unperturbed by what people think of them. With this single-minded goal, they would excel at the task at hand and give those signs a spin like it’s nobody’s business!
Someone Who Can Stand Out in a Crowd
Just because you want someone who does not care about others’ opinions, it does not mean that you want a fly on the wall! You want someone who can put themselves out there and attract all the attention so that they can redirect it to your store!
And yes, their sign spinning skills would be critical in helping them stick out, but it is also their overall personality and presentation, which will also have some bearing on their impact. So, look for someone who can pull the crowd through various means possible.
Someone Who is Courteous and Professional
Sign spinners are not human banner stands but are rather entertainers who are set out to delight the viewers. And while doing so, they will be representing your business and brand. As such, you would want someone to display the same level of professionalism and class as you would want any other employee from your organization.
There are going to be moments when things will get heated on the streets and people will not be nice. In such situations, you want someone who maintains their cool, diffuses a tense situation, or even willingly walks away when things get hostile.
Someone Who is a People’s Person
It takes a unique personality to stand in the middle of a crowd, surrounded by people and traffic. In other words, they have to be out there, both literally and figuratively. While on the job, you want them to chat people up, induce a sense of excitement, and put on a show for the people. Such an experience will make your brand more visible.
At the end of the day, you can teach a person to dance or even to spin signs, but you cannot teach them people skills like how they can interact with people meaningfully and on a personal level. And so, even if it means a slight trade-off in the process, then so be it.
Someone Who is Eager to Learn
Speaking of teaching, even if the sign spinner is excellent in executing a trademark move, you do not want a one-trick pony. It is best to look for someone who is eager to learn and willing to hone their skills so that they can keep their show interesting.
Fortunately, there are a wealth of resources already present on the internet. And it is okay even if it means that they will be experimenting at work. However, it is their persistence that will reward them in the end with new techniques that will grab many eyeballs!
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