Event Captain Jobs on Chicago’s North Shore, $50 an Hour
Why Captains Choose That Special Event
$50 per hour
Leadership pay in writing. We’re one of the only event staffing companies anywhere in Chicagoland that publishes its rates.
You Run It All
The briefing, the timeline, the team, the client on-site. As a banquet captain at our off-site events, the room is yours from setup to hand-back.
Flexible scheduling
You submit your availability; we book you for events that match. No minimum shift quota, no penalty for busy weeks.
A 25-year Name Behind You
Family-owned, Northbrook-based, and known by venues and clients across the North Shore since 1999. When you walk in as our captain, the room already trusts you.
What the Job Looks Like
You’ll open the event with the team briefing: the room, the plan, the timeline, who’s doing what. Then you run it: directing 10 to 20 servers, bartenders, and support staff on average, managing the minute-by-minute timeline, being the client’s point of contact on-site, and solving problems before anyone notices them. On larger, more complex events, you’ll work alongside other captains. Weddings, mitzvahs, galas, and corporate events at venues and homes across the North Shore and Chicago, all off-site, all yours to run.
What Makes a That Special Event Captain
Captain experience is required, whether you earned it elsewhere or on our own roster. Here’s the rest:
Controlled ownership
The defining attribute of our captains: you take responsibility for the entire event outcome while keeping your composure, your standards, and your hospitality.
Calm authority
You lead confidently without heat, give concise instructions, delegate to each person’s strengths, and hold the same standard you expect from the team.
Operational command
Timeline, staffing, equipment, rentals, food, and service details, all tracked at once. You scan the whole room instead of getting trapped in one task, and you fix shortages before anyone sees them.
Off-site fluency
Chafers, sternos, cambros, hot boxes, temporary kitchens, load-in and load-out. You can build an efficient operation in an unfamiliar venue and account for every piece of equipment on the way out.
Service mastery
Plated, buffet, family-style, stationed, cocktail: you know them well enough to teach them, pace them, and quality-check every plate that leaves the kitchen.
Client diplomacy
You listen carefully, handle reasonable requests without derailing the event, and can say no gracefully. Every interaction protects a 25-year relationship business.
Decisive problem-solving
You make timely calls without perfect information, know when to escalate, and bring answers instead of reporting problems.
The Five Behaviors of Our Best Captains
Twenty-five years of events have taught us that the highest-value captains consistently do five things:
[ 01 ]
They know the complete event plan before directing others.
[ 02 ]
They establish assignments and expectations immediately.
[ 03 ]
They continuously inspect rather than assume.
[ 04 ]
They solve problems before the client notices them.
[ 05 ]
They leave the venue, the equipment, and the team fully accounted for.
From Application to Your First Event in 3 steps
Step 1
Apply in under two minutes
Name, contact, role, experience, availability. No resume needed to start, and you can do it from your phone right now.
Step 2
A real person calls you
Jerry’s office reaches out quickly for a short conversation about your experience and your schedule.
Step 3
Orientation, then your first event
New-team orientations are held weekly at our Northbrook office. Complete yours, and you’re on the roster and bookable for events that match your availability.
Ready to Run the Room?
$50 an hour. Two minutes to apply. Orientation Tuesday. Then the best events on the North Shore, with your name on the briefing.
Frequently asked questions
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