Event Experience Assistant

Company Description

BACA Chess is the fastest growing chess community in the UK. We run premium, beginner-friendly social chess events in London. Each night mixes chess, music, coaching and a friendly crowd of all levels.

The Role

You help run the event from start to finish: set up before doors, look after guests during the night, and pack down at the end. Your job is to make the night enjoyable for guests and easier for the lead. You get a clear brief before each event — your tasks, your timings, and who to ask — so you’re never guessing. This is a working shift, not a free night out. You’d join the small team that sets up the room, welcomes guests, and keeps the evening running, and you’d get to meet a whole host of amazing people along the way.

What You’ll Do:

• Before doors — setup: Arrive on time and put out the boards, clocks and pieces efficiently, not leisurely. Set up the check-in table and be ready before the first guest arrives.
• During the event: Warmly greet guests whilst smiling, and use the guest’s name whenever you can (visible via their name tags). Check guests in efficiently: use the provided scanning app, apply the wristband, and point them where to go. Proactively search for anyone looking awkward, out of place, or uncomfortable, and assist them accordingly: if they are looking for someone to play, kindly guide them toward a partner of a similar ability to play with. Walk the floor and bring anyone standing alone into a game/group and make the environment more inclusive. Keep boards in use and prevent areas from getting too crowded. Fix small problems fast: missing pieces, a queue at the door, a clock that won’t start, a confused guest, a health & safety hazard on the floor. Ask the lead when something is unclear or too big to fix yourself.
• After the event — pack-up: Pack away the boards, clocks and pieces, and leave the venue clean & tidy. Stay focused until pack-down is finished.

What 'great' looks like:

• Every guest got a “Hello [name], how are you?”, and was checked in within a minute or two.
• No guest was left standing alone — everyone got into a game or enjoyed themselves.
• The door never backed up, and boards stayed in use.
• Small problems were fixed before guests (or other team members) noticed.
• The lead had less to handle, and the venue was left clean.
• You reset any boards that have not been reset and nobody is at the board.

You’ll love this if:

• You say hello first and enjoy meeting new people.
• You spot someone looking lost and want to go and help them.
• You stay calm and friendly when the room is busy.
• You’re happy to lift boards and stay on your feet for most of the shift.
• You’re punctual, set up and pack-up without being prompted, and you remain committed to your duties throughout the duration of your shift.

This is probably not for you if:

• You want to be told every single step at every event.
• You’d rather not talk to new people.
• You want a free night out, or you want to play chess and talk with friends, not a working shift with setup and pack-up.
• You see messy tables, missing pieces, confused guests or queues, but wait for someone else to fix the issue.

What you get:

• £14.80/hour, plus a free +1 to every event you work.
• A clear brief before each event, so you’re never guessing.
• A behind-the-scenes spot at the UK’s fastest-growing chess community, and a fabulous, friendly team.
• Do this well and you can take on more as we continue to scale and grow.

The Commitment:

Mostly Friday evenings; some Saturday or Bank Holiday Monday events. Shifts are approx. 5:30–11:00pm (flexible), including setup and pack-down. You’ll be on your feet for much of the night and help move boards, clocks and pieces. We share dates 2–4 weeks ahead. Once you accept a date, we count on you to be there. That part is non-negotiable. We hire after one short paid trial shift.

If you have any questions, please email aranan@bacachess.com