You’ve created a hefty budget for a spokesperson—maybe with heavy negotiation. With that, you want to make sure you’re hiring a celebrity chef for endorsements that meets and exceeds your team’s expectations.
At Celebrity Chef Network, we have a database of thousands of celebrity chefs for hire to help take your event, product, or service to a new level. Simply search the type of specialty chef you want, or call a brainstorming meeting of the minds to browse each list on our site. However, we suggest taking a deep look at your complete campaign well before you do so. We’ve learned throughout the years that a valuable partnership is not only about notoriety and industry expertise. It’s also about a seamless partnership that runs smoothly, both externally and internally.
So what makes your celebrity chef partnership a success? It’s the one thing that is too often overlooked: setting clearly defined expectations. Here are eight things you should expect—and vocalize—when you hire a celebrity chef spokesperson.
#1. Expect a pro at absorbing new information:
Hiring a celebrity chef for endorsements can be a game changer for any company; however, without preparation, it becomes a complete disaster. Consumers are quickly put off by celebrity talents who mispronounce companies’ names or stumble over websites and calls-to-action. Think of your celebrity chef as an extension of your company. Someone who is able to answer any question thrown at him, or who can at least eloquently direct consumers to a resource that offers the information they can’t.
Expect your celebrity chef to be good at retaining and relaying new information in a short amount of time, but remember that having a celebrity chef spokesperson works best when the brand and talent have dedicated enough time for the talent to learn and practice talking points. In preparing to book celebrity talent, consider how much time you are allotting for them to learn the way you’d like him or her to address your event, product, service or brand. They should be able to recite an elevator pitch at a moment’s notice!
#2. Expect a genuine interest in learning about your brand:
If your celebrity chef talent is only in it for the money, then that will definitely show in their spokesperson role, regardless of how good they talk up your brand. You should expect your celebrity chef to be interested in how your product/brand works and what it adds to the market. With that, be prepared to answer their questions and provide clear, concise resources to do so. For example, your celebrity chef might not have time to read an entire manual explaining the mechanics that went into making the blades on your amazing new knife collection; but, they should be excited to learn and explain things to others such as how the product has elevated the art of chopping vegetables for consumers and other chefs alike.
#3. Expect a professional, positive attitude:
From photo shoots and press tours to events and live cooking demos, in the cuisine world things hardly ever go according to plan. There will likely be unexpected shifts in agendas, extended workdays or other unexpected hurdles. You should expect a spokesperson that can roll with the punches and maintain a positive attitude toward your staff, stakeholders, consumers and any other touch points. Likewise, make sure that you are ready to provide a coffee or their favorite snack should you see their energy levels going south!
When hiring a celebrity chef for endorsements you must remember the celebrity chef you choose will be a representative of your brand. Celebrity Chef Network has a database of elite professionals who are masters under pressure, as well as in the kitchen!
#4. Expect a schedule that can fulfill the contract:
Whether it’s spotlighting their own TV show or rattling pans in their own kitchen, you can imagine that a worthwhile celebrity chef is busy keeping folks fed. Make sure to set an expectation about the time commitment of your partnership. Should they clear their schedule for a one-day shoot for a commercial, or a week-long press tour commitment?
Moreover, set an expectation that your celebrity chef is on time. Missed live hits for interviews or delayed start times for events are rocky ways to introduce a new aspect of your brand. Of course, some things are out of your control, but your celebrity chef should understand you expect them to be punctual.
#5. Expect an awe-inspiring story of their own:
Your celebrity chef spokesperson is an influencer because people aspire to be like them. When hiring a celebrity chef for endorsements, seek to partner with a celebrity chef that has a personal story that aligns with the mission of your brand. That is what adds the personal touch of credibility to anything they say.
Consider, Evan Goldstein, one of the nation’s top food and wine connoisseurs, for example. He was once one of the youngest to accomplish the task of passing the Master Sommeliers test in 1987. He is able to speak on the triumphs of being a pioneer in his field—something you would want people to relate to your brand!
#6. Expect a respected voice for your product:
Celebrity Chef Robert Irvine has more than 25 years of cooking experience behind him. He knows what people expect from a good meal and has spent his career trying to make the industry better. People are likely to trust what he says when it comes to food or food-industry products. Expect an impact like Irvine’s! That requires you to book someone who goes beyond expertise to innovate. This type of spokesperson can address your consumers, connect with them, draw emotion from them, and swiftly lead them to excitedly carry out your call to action.
Expect that when your celebrity chef endorses something, the audiences will be convinced it’s a brand they should believe in. This requires you to think outside of press engagements or commercials you’ve set up and look at how the chef is incorporating your product into their own promotional channels, such as social media, television shows and even in their restaurants. This requires you to know more about the following they have generated and create a plan for how they are sharing your brand with them.
#7. Expect to have a buying following:
What good would speaking on behalf of your product be if their audience isn’t willing to buy your products afterward? Too often, celebrities have the power to get your name out there, but that’s it. Expect your celebrity chef to introduce your brand to an audience that not only sees your products, but is energetically willing to learn more about it and invest in it.
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is a great example. He is a garden-to-table chef extraordinaire that has published seventeen cookbooks, along with being a TV celebrity in more than 40 countries. His book, “Super Food Family Classics” is one of the bestselling cookbooks in the industry. So, you know that he’s got a following that’s ready to purchase his advice, tips, and tricks.
Jamie Deen, for instance, the son of Paula Deen, is another strong example. He and his families’ sandwich delivery service was one of the most successful restaurant launches in America. Still, you shouldn’t book Jamie Deen expecting to get his mother’s following. Although they are related, they have two different brands. For example, his food has a slightly healthier focus.
#8. Expect a booking agency that cares:
Wouldn’t it be great to have a company that can give you insight on all of these expectations? When you hire a famous celebrity chef through Celebrity Chef Network, we do the legwork for you! We commit to making your booking process seamless, convenient, and cost-effective for you. Email us at booking@celebritychefnetwork.com or call (212) 335-1377 to speak with a Celebrity Chef Network representative about booking celebrity chefs for your upcoming events.