If you want the job, you have to be able to explain why you want it
What is your job?
I’m a Producer at Iris Experience.
What does your job involve?
It varies from project to project, but as Producer, I’m involved from the initial brief stage, concept development and design process, through to overseeing the on-site build and activation.
How did you get to this point in your career?
I was working in recruitment, having fallen into it when I left university. I knew I wanted to do Event Production so started gaining experience wherever I could. I was a runner at The British Soap Awards and various music festivals at weekends. I heard there was a junior position in the production team at Iris Experience, did my research, sent my CV and got the interview. I’ve been working my way up the ranks ever since.
What training did you do and where?
I studied Marketing and International Politics at the University of Aberystwyth. Specific production knowledge has been learned on the job.
Which piece of work are you most proud of?
We produced a stage for PlayStation at Glastonbury 2009. The audio-visual set up was amazing and by far the best I’ve seen at any festival. We were the first stage to open and drew huge crowds for a tent with a capacity of 2,000. It was crazy, but it was very satisfying to see. I’m excited to go back this year with a whole new creative concept.
What do you need to succeed in your industry?
The nature of what we do means you could be working to really tight deadlines or things can change at the last minute. Experiential marketing can’t push deadlines back, the event is going to happen, so it’s really important to keep a cool head and do whatever you need to do to make it work.
Who’s your work hero / heroine?
I hope he never reads this, but the Executive Producer at Iris Experience, Richard King, is constantly pushing me to be creative and get my best ideas out. Some of his ideas can be a bit out there, but they help to get us all thinking and approaching projects in new ways
What inspired you to do this type of work?
As a kid I was always fascinated with events like the Oscars or Glastonbury that I’d see on TV. Though I didn’t realise there was a role for brands in there until I was at university.
What do your family/friends think of the work you do?
My family knew this was something I really wanted to do so they were very supportive about me changing career. My Dad loves to hear what I’ve been up to. My friends know I work hard, so they like to see me doing well.
What are your tips for anyone wanting to do your job?
Know your game. If you want the job, you have to be able to explain why you want it. Keep up to date with the wider industry and don’t be afraid to have opinions - what have you seen that you like or don’t like? Obviously, the more experience you can get for yourself, the better.
If you would like advice on creative careers and courses, contact a Creative Way Careers Adviser - either Matt Ball on m.ball@uel.ac.uk / 07889 001764 or Sarah Comerford on s.comerford@uel.ac.uk / 07515 051509
Creative Inspirations
Daft Punk
I saw Daft Punk at the Wireless Festival a couple of years ago. They were incredible. It has to be one of the best live performances I’ve ever seen. The way they used lighting to bring their music to life was very simple and done so well. Essentially it’s two guys in motorcycle helmets, but for some reason it doesn’t feel gimmicky….?
The pub
Some of the best ideas come from bouncing ideas off people who don’t work in your field. It’s always good to get an input from someone with an outside perspective. It keeps you fresh and they often ask questions you hadn’t thought of.
Mad Men
I don’t watch a lot of television any more, but Mad Men is a brilliant series and I’m hooked. There’s an incredible attention to detail in the way they recreate the early 60s. My agency is nothing like the one in Mad Men, which is probably a good thing.
Steve McQueen (the artist, not the actor)
I went to an exhibition of Steve McQueen’s at the Baltic a couple of years ago. One section involved walking in to an almost pitch black room, with these awful loud noises that felt like they were coming towards you from all angles. It definitely made me think about the ability of an environment to change someone’s emotional state.
Tyneside
I’ve always been proud to be from the north east. Every time I head home to see my family, I’m amazed at how much Tyneside constantly changes. It really is committed to investing in culture and the arts. It’s very impressive when you consider how the region was crippled after the decline of local industry in the 80s and early 90s.
Gregory Crewdson
There’s something so dark and morbid about Gregory Crewdson’s photography that it’s chilling. They’re generally of suburban middle-America. You can look at a piece of his for hours and still not have seen everything going on in the picture.
Roald Dahl
As a child, getting me to sit still and read a book was never an easy task, but Roald Dahl’s books really captured my imagination. Some were rude, some dark and sinister, but they were never dull and he ultimately knew how to tell a story that would entertain and amuse a child and most adults I know.
Margaret Beavan - my mother
We lost my mum this year. It wasn’t until she was gone that I realised how much of me comes directly from her. We had a very similar sense of humour and I owe her a lot.