I got into the event industry because the local council asked me to help select a company to run an outdoor concert. No suitable organisation was found, so I ended up helping the council run the event and eventually took over the event with my now business partner.
I have worked here since we formed the company in 2009.
I was attracted to this particular role because I love live music, so what better job is there than organising concerts? Every day is different. Each concert and event brings unique challenges. Plus I get to work with some of the world’s best live music artists.
Not many people know that I’m a descendent of the Hartley family (which makes the famous jam).
My worst experience at an event was the 2012 weather. It was the wettest summer ever and we were in the middle of a series of events. The most memorable was on the John Barrowman tour, arriving in Blackpool on the new Tower Festival Headland site at 5am on a tour bus. I was dressed in my pyjamas and wellies and had to make a call on the concert going ahead. It was blowing a gale.
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt it’s the importance of planning. As my head of operations says: "Failing to plan is preparing to fail."
The best event I’ve been involved was Lytham Proms Festival Weekend. This is my baby that I started in 2009 and its now grown into Lancashire’s largest live music event. Also, I have to mention the Tiesto: Meet tour presented by Skoda, that was pretty cool too.
If I could do it all over again I would... well, there are certain artists I wouldn’t book again, but I can’t mention any names.
One thing I can’t stand is arrogant people on our event site. I hate people that arrive at an event with an air of arrogance. I like teamwork and not people who have a superiority complex.
Outside of work I spend my time abroad… plus I tread the boards sometimes for the local am-dram.
If money were no object I’d love to stage an original musical on the West End.
The one thing I can’t do my job without is my email account and mobile phone… sad I know.
If I could switch places with anyone else in the industry it would be my friend Katie Savage at KTS Events. She’s 100mph and has the most brilliant attitude. You can absolutely see why she’s at the top of her game. I can’t wait to work with her again.
If I ruled the event industry I’d like to see some of the smaller independent promoters in music be given a better chance with the larger more established music acts as usually the larger promoters get the lion’s share.
If you'd like to be featured in a future My Event World, email Event's associate editor Rachel Bull.
For more in-depth and print-only features, showcases and interviews with world-leading brands, don't miss the next issue of Event magazine by