The best man for the job

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The best man for the job
Posted on: Jan 23, 2012

One of the best things about studying at LIPA are the work opportunities. We’re constantly receiving emails from our lecturers informing us of arts companies who are looking for interns, work experience or volunteers to aid them in their work.

Someof these opportunities last two days, others last two months, but either way the experience you get from these opportunities is priceless. By taking them up and going out and working in the industry, you are putting your face out there and (if you do a good job) gaining a reputation for being someone who is reliable and hardworking. These will, in turn, open new doors up for you as these companies might then contact you directly for work or pass on your information to other such companies.

For example, through LIPA I worked on Liverpool Sound City, an annual music festival and industry conference which takes place in music venues across the city. My role was Stage Manager, which meant that I was responsible for the entire venue, from the running of the stage, to managing the artists and liaising with their managers.As well as working as a Stage Manager, I worked alongside a Festival Director, helping them to keep an eye on all of the venues across the city. I managed to get that position based on how hard I had been working; I tried to make myself indispensable to the production team, meaning that they knew that I was someone they could rely on.


Liverpool Music Week poster

When Sound City ended, myself, a few other Stage Managers from the BA (Honours) Music, Theatre and Entertainment Management degree and some Sound Technicians studying on our BA (Honours) Sound Technology degree who were all working on the festival were promised work for the following year. However the following term we were contacted by the Festival Director for Liverpool Music Week, who was looking for people to work in artist liaison and stage management. He had our information from the production manager of Liverpool Sound City who had given us a great reference and recommended us for work.

One of the best pieces of advice I could give to someone who is currently studying on the BA (Honours) Music, Theatre and Entertainment Management degree, or thinking of coming to study at LIPA is to take up every opportunity which comes your way. A degree is all well and good, but when it comes to the world of work, good contacts are invaluable. It’s just another way in which LIPA is shaping me for a great future career in the Entertainment business.

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