Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be an excellent production manager?..
Here are On Event Production Co. we’re inspired to inspire others, with a passion that’s infectious, and we thought we’d share a little about what it’s like to be a great production manager in the live events industry… So we threw Jake under the spotlight and here’s what he had to share…
Name – Jake Moore
Job title – Production Manager
When did you join the company – February 2016
How long have you been in the events industry?
I’ve worked in the industry for almost 10 years. I started working for another local events company as a technician and worked my way up to being a production co-ordinator.
On Event Production Co. really appealed to me because I’m passionate about delivering events which inspire people and have a true impact on their audience.
I’m a creative person by nature, so the opportunity to be able to apply that creativity to every project we work on is hugely satisfying and is the reason why I love my job.
Also, the team here is a really tight-knit one – it’s like a big, extended family. That’s great, because we all understand the way each other works and thinks and the different skills we each bring to the table.
It means we can all work together to create solutions for our clients which are the best they can be, every time.
What does your job entail?
My role is really varied. One day I might be planning a large-scale event and the next, I’ll be out on-site installing something completely different. No two days are ever the same.
Also, as a production manager I often prepare pitches for new projects and clients, which gives my role a really interesting mix.
I’m passionate about inspiring people and helping our clients to think differently about the way they approach events, so they can make the biggest impact and really engage their audience.
I’m lucky enough to be involved in many parts of the business, from initial enquiries and meetings to producing quotes, booking set, crew and trucking, so I can see how the whole process links together and where we might be able to things differently and add an extra layer of creativity or imagination.
I also spend a lot of time visiting sites to oversee the installation and delivery of an event. It’s great to see everything come together right before your eyes.
What hours do you work?
There’s never a dull moment in the events industry and it’s definitely not a nine-to-five job. There’s a lot of late night and weekend work involved, but seeing the impact that what we do for clients has on their own audiences and customers makes it enjoyable and worthwhile.
The fact that we work for lots of different agencies makes the work really varied.
We travel around the UK, setting up for events for a diverse range of different companies, which I really enjoy.
On is very customer-focused and customer satisfaction is at the heart of everything we do. While it’s important that we always deliver what the clients want, it’s also about helping them to think differently about what it is that they need as well, because that’s how we can take events from being ordinary to being truly inspiring.
We achieve this by really getting to know them and developing long term relationships.
What’s the best thing about the job?
It’s got to be the people. We’re a close-knit team at On, so we all know each other really well and there’s a great vibe around the place. But we get to meet lots of friendly and interesting people at events too, which is great.
Another thing I love about the job is the fact I get to use my creative skills every day, on every project.
I believe in thinking big. Nothing’s ever too ambitious for the us.
We love pushing the boundaries and go all-out to make sure our events are original, innovative but most of all, inspiring.
What’s the most memorable project you’ve ever worked on and why?
The most exciting and memorable project I’ve ever worked on was last year’s UK press conference for Disney’s Finding Dory.
As well as getting to meet stars like Ellen De Generes, we worked with one of the main designers at Pixar, which was amazing.
Pixar takes creativity to another level and we knew the film was going to be a massive global hit, so it was more important than ever to come up with something that was truly inspirational and would really engage people to create a buzz about the film ahead of its release.
Would you recommend getting into the events industry?
Without a doubt. There’s a lot of hard work that goes into creating an event which inspires people and leaves long-lasting memories, which people don’t often get to see.
But, I get to be creative every day, I get to work with fantastic people, and I get to visit lots of interesting places.
Most importantly, I get to help create events which excite, entertain, engage and inspire people.
I can’t think of many other jobs where you get to do that every day.