Unfiltered, Unscripted, Unmissable: The Case for Live Brand Experiences
You can’t filter a handshake. Or fake the energy of a crowd. That’s why, in an era of over-produced everything, live brand experiences feel more powerful than ever - because they’re unpolished, unpredictable, and rooted in real human connection.
In today’s world, where AI-generated content and highly curated feeds dominate, authenticity isn’t a buzzword - it’s a rare commodity. Consumers crave moments that feel real, not rehearsed. And those moments? They happen most often face-to-face.
Real People Create Real Impact
From immersive pop-ups to guerrilla sampling tours and dynamic city activations, the brands that succeed live and breathe authenticity by showing up with genuine human energy. It’s not just about handing out freebies or checking boxes; it’s about connecting with people on their terms, in real time.
Here are some of our recent global highlights demonstrating how we bring that authenticity to life:
Formula 1 Trackside Staffing with stichd - Since 2023
Since 2023, Elevate Global has partnered with stichd to deliver retail staffing across 20 F1 races annually, spanning 18 countries and 4 continents. So far in the 2025 season, we’ve deployed 1,187 staff over 3,253 shifts and 53 live days.
Our dedicated F1 HQ team, led by Joe Sheppard, navigates complex race logistics, language and regulatory differences, and real-time operational challenges - delivering a consistent, world-class retail experience to thousands of fans globally.
“When we treat people well and communicate effectively, they go above and beyond-and they absolutely did!” - Joe Sheppard, UK Managing Director
Pokémon Center - Since 2023
Since 2023, we’ve been proud to power the iconic Pokémon Center across the European International Championships (EUIC), North America International Championships (NAIC), and World Championships. At EUIC 2025 alone, our team delivered over 330,000 consumer engagements and achieved a 9.2/10 audience positivity score. With 150+ staff managing full-scale retail operations at each event, we’ve helped engage hundreds of thousands of consumers annually and drive multi-million-pound sales.
Cannes Lions Festival - Since 2022
Since 2022, Elevate has supplied passionate bilingual event staff supporting major activation partners at Cannes Lions, helping deliver seamless VIP guest management, product demos, and immersive consumer experiences for world-leading tech brands including Pinterest, TikTok, Salesforce, and Yahoo!
At the 2025 festival, our teams helped generate almost 5,000 meaningful consumer engagements, working alongside leading creative agencies to ensure these global brands stood out on a highly competitive, international stage.
Why Marketers Should Care
Live experiences don’t just happen - they’re created by people who understand tone, timing, and the crowd. The brands who nail authenticity hire staff who get it: those who flex energy based on the moment, improvise when needed, and most importantly, make real human connections that ripple outward.
Authenticity can’t be downloaded or auto generated. It’s earned in smiles, shared stories, and unfiltered moments that spark social buzz long after the event ends.
What This Means for You
- Hire for emotional intelligence, not just experience. Look for people who can read the room and connect.
- Give your teams the freedom to be human. Let them respond naturally instead of reading scripts.
- Measure what matters. Track engagement, not just impressions or giveaways.
If you’re at MAD//Fest London this year, come join us for our panel:
“What the F*ck Is Authenticity?”
Date: Wednesday, 2 July 2025
Time: 3:20 PM – 3:35 PM
Stage: Creator Economy + Culture Marketing
Let’s dive deep into what it really means to show up and stand out in today’s crowded marketing world.
For more on how Elevate Global helps brands create these unmissable moments, visit weareelevate.global
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