5 Key Things to Consider When Booking Talent for a PR Stunt

Booking talent for a PR stunt isn’t just about hiring someone who can show up and perform — it’s about ensuring your campaign lands with impact, runs smoothly, and represents your brand to the highest standard. Whether you’re creating a flash mob, launching a new product with theatrical flair, or orchestrating a city-centre spectacle, the performers you choose can make or break the stunt.

Here are five crucial things every client should consider when hiring talent for a publicity stunt.

1. The Right Look and Presence for the Brand
When you’re planning a PR stunt, the performers essentially become the face of your campaign. They’re the first thing the public (and press) will see — so it’s essential they align with your brand image, tone, and audience expectations.

Ask yourself:

Do they visually fit the target demographic or message?

Do they carry themselves with confidence and professionalism?

Are they diverse enough to reflect your customer base?

It might seem obvious, but poor casting choices are a common pitfall. A mismatched performer can confuse or alienate your audience, diluting your message. The best agencies will take the time to understand your brand and source talent that looks, sounds and behaves in line with your goals.

2. Experience with Live, High-Pressure Environments
PR stunts are live by nature — they unfold in real time, often in unpredictable environments. Whether you’re executing a high-street takeover, working with hidden cameras, or running a brand pop-up, your performers need to be comfortable with improvisation, distractions, and reacting to the public on the fly.

Look for talent who have experience in:

Flash mobs and guerrilla marketing

Immersive theatre or street performance

Experiential events and brand activations

Working with children, animals or large crowds (if applicable)

Booking talent without this kind of experience can result in frozen performances, off-brand reactions, or missed cues — none of which help your campaign make headlines for the right reasons.

3. Clear Briefing and Rehearsal Time
Even the most talented actor performer will struggle without a clear brief. Clients often underestimate how important it is to build in proper time to brief the team, answer questions, and — crucially — rehearse.

You should provide:

A full event plan, including schedule and objectives

Scripts or talking points (if verbal interaction is required)

Behavioural guidelines (what’s in/out of bounds)

Brand tone of voice and key messages

A quality agency will help facilitate this and can even organise run-throughs or mock performances to iron out any issues beforehand. The more time you give for preparation, the less likely you are to deal with confusion or mishaps on the day.

4. Risk Management and Public Safety
Stunts, by their very nature, often involve heightened environments — public spaces, large crowds, sometimes surprise elements. As the client, you’re not just responsible for the impact of the event, but for the safety of everyone involved.

Things to consider include:

Public liability insurance and relevant permits

Health and safety risk assessments

Crowd control, if large numbers are expected

Weather contingencies for outdoor events

Your performers should be briefed on emergency procedures, contact chains, and escalation routes. Working with trained professionals who are comfortable under pressure reduces the chance of issues escalating. An experienced agency will always ensure these protocols are in place — if they don’t, that’s a red flag.

5. Post-Stunt Outcomes: Coverage, Shareability, and PR Value
Finally, remember why you’re doing this: exposure, engagement, and brand buzz. The talent you book plays a huge role in how memorable, shareable and PR-worthy your stunt becomes.

When booking talent for a PR stunt, ask:

Can they take direction for filming and photography?

Are they confident being interviewed or recorded by the press?

Do they understand the importance of staying in character throughout?

The best performers elevate your campaign from a gimmick to a newsworthy moment. They help capture content that earns media coverage, drives social shares, and keeps your brand at the centre of the conversation.

You’ll also want to make sure your agency coordinates closely with your PR, social media, and content teams so that you maximise what’s captured during the stunt.

A Performance Worth Talking About
Booking actor performers for a PR stunt isn’t just a box-ticking exercise. The right performers do more than fill a space — they become the life, voice, and image of your campaign. By considering look, experience, briefing, safety, and shareability, you give your stunt the best chance of success.

Work with an agency that understands how to match talent with brand objectives, manages logistics professionally, and sees talent not just as performers, but as ambassadors for your campaign.

If you’re planning a PR stunt and want talent that will bring your idea to life seamlessly and safely, get in touch with our team — we’d love to help make it unforgettable.