You're considering temporary work in Live Events. How can it pave the way for long-term career success?

Temporary work in Live Events offers a strategic pathway to long-term career success, particularly with my extensive experience in live performances since 2005. Drawing from my background in the band, which has refined my skills in live production, stage management, and real-time problem-solving (stay pro), I am well-prepared to contribute effectively in various live event roles. Key strategies for success include: practicing consistently, being punctual, acquiring new skills, diversifying musical knowledge, and don't forget to have fun! Engaging in temporary live event roles will enable me to apply and expand my expertise in new contexts, broaden my professional network, and gain valuable industry insights in my country.

After being in the industry for 23 years, I can honestly say it’s not for everyone. In fact you could say it’s not for many! Long days at times, some up to 21 plus hours. Then you’re wrecked for the following two. You eat what you can, when you can. You really need to think long term and look after yourself. You may become multi skilled or find a niche. Either is fine, but always remember this; you are a part of a team and everyone is equally important! The end game is the client being happy and paying the bill. Would I change anything about my career?! Well, if I did, I wouldn’t have my amazing wife or daughter, so simply no I wouldn’t!

I meet many volunteers on various events, some of which decide to follow a career in the industry once they discover how good it can be. A good way to see if events are for you and what it takes to get the show on the road. Be willing and attentive. Positive attitudes is always great to see and drives others around you too. Asking questions of the more experienced event personnel will only let you grow quicker.

Temporary work in live events can serve as a stepping stone to long-term career success by offering valuable hands-on experience and networking opportunities. It allows you to develop essential skills like project management, communication, and problem-solving, which can pave the way for more permanent roles and career advancement within the events industry.

Travailler sur des événements en direct permet de développer des compétences cruciales comme la gestion du stress et du temps, l’adaptation rapide et le travail en équipe. Ces compétences transversales sont précieuses dans n’importe quel secteur et ouvrent la voie à des opportunités professionnelles à long terme. Généralement, chaque mission est une nouvelle expérience, un nouveau réseau, et un pas de plus vers l’expertise et la confiance professionnelle.

From my experience, I’ve learned that the key to building a strong professional network is showing up prepared, staying reliable, and demonstrating your skills—your reputation grows with every event, and those connections can support your career for years to come.

From personal experience, not only it helps you meet many people in various positions - the connections you can make with each and every team member of the event will definitely impact your long run as the events industry is tightly knit and everyone knows everyone. Referrals, cound help you land other gigs. Each and every connection is meaningful.

Working on temporary projects allows you to connect with a wide range of professionals, from fellow engineers to production managers and event organizers. These connections can open doors to future opportunities and collaborations.

The industry is really wide and has a lot of connections in it. Also, good relationship is very important. I’ve worked with couple of people (sound engineers, light men, producers) and till today, they still call to award me contracts, because of the relationship I’ve created with them. Connection is really one of the best ways to grow in career wise.

Live Events is one of those fields where often who you know is more important than what you know. This doesn't mean that you can skimp out on skills, just that having a strong work ethic, being personable and getting your name out there with professionals in the space is more likely to land you additional full-time or contract opportunities in the future. When doing temporary work in Live Events be sure to cast a wide net when seeking out opportunities. Doing things in security, guest relations, sales, production, etc., will help you build a strong network that will help you expand your network.

Any work in the sector, ideally along with some education, trains you to be able to think under pressure, and problem solve. The more experience you have, the more you know, and the more you can go looking for the relevant things you don't know. Especially when starting out, every gig teaches you something, and develops the skills you need to build a career on.

One thing I found helpful when working in live events is learning how to remain calm and focused under pressure. Each event is different, and you never know what challenges might arise, from technical issues to last-minute changes. Being able to stay composed, quickly assess the situation, and come up with effective solutions has been a game-changer for me. It not only helps the event run smoothly but also builds confidence and trust among team members and clients.

The only way to really know if you have a passion and matching skill set for the action of a live event is to dive in. Watching event promoters, organizers, consultants and vendors in action provides a "big picture" viewpoint off all the available opportunities. One of my friends built a hotshot delivery service from the time that she apprenticed with an event promoter. All the things she fetched last minute for her former scatterbrain boss she now delivers to many bosses.

At The Ideal Home show earlier this year, we had an enormous tree in a planter to install in the main exhibition house which weighed about a tonne. We had to navigate through the front double doors and under a low hanging chandelier. I canvassed opinions from the carpenters, set builders and safety execs and came up with a strategy to wrap the branches then tilt the whole thing at 45 degrees onto a pallet truck with crew supporting, drove onto ply boards (to not dent the floor) then spun it and manoeuvred it into a featured glass surround. There were many ways this could have gone wrong but by collecting a range of experienced opinions I let my team know how we were going to get it done safely and efficiently. It looked amazing!

In my opinion, the true beauty of working in Live Events lies in the departmental flexibility of the industry. Yes, you can absolutely be selective about taking work that aligns with your expertise, but you can also take on projects in areas where you may not have much experience, but would like to learn more. No two days have to be the same in the world of Live Events. I identify as an audio specialist, but have taken work in video, lighting, and scenic departments. Being able and willing to work in different departments of Live Events, even at an entry level, opens the door to many opportunities for work, which will certainly propel long-term success.

One of the big benefits of temporary work in the live events field, is that often times it can be done in your free time. This allows folks who wish to pivot to a full time career to moonlight as an events professional without quitting their day job. This flexibility often can allow professionals to build the skills and network necessary to make a successful jump to Live Events full time. Professionals should utilize this flexibility to gain needed skills without having to worry about their financial situation.

Many temporary positions can lead to permanent roles, with the same organization or through connections made on the job. Employers often look to freelancers or temporary workers for full-time hiring, especially those who demonstrate reliability and expertise.

Quando o trabalho temporário tem a ver com seus objetivos de carreira - e com a fun??o que se almeja desempenhar -, ele pode abrir portas. Nele, você se depara com a realidade da tarefa: como é desempenhá-la de fato. Conhece pessoas da área. E, de quebra, ganha experiência.