The Elephant Man London Review

As I have mentioned before I am a big theatre fan, but I don't tend to write about it much as I am in no way an expert in this area and I generally write about working in the event industry. Having said this I got a lot of positive feedback from the last review I wrote and in a way theatre is like a unique type of event - with an audience every day and a slick and organised show to put on 8 times a week, I am sure it's not as easy as it looks! I might put a little theatre review up every month or so, just as a little side project.

Yesterday I was lucky enough to see a performance of The Elephant Man at the Theatre Royal Haymarket in London. The only real reason I went to see the play is that I had heard great things about Bradley Cooper from his run on Broadway and let's face it... it's Bradley Cooper!

The play stars Cooper in the title role as The Elephant man, also known as Joseph Merrick. Now I didn't know too much about the story to begin with and I won't go into too much detail here, but what I will say is that the physically demanding aspects of the role were quite incredible, Cooper contorted and twisted his body throughout the whole play, never breaking character once - it was quite astonishing. His English accent was also very impressive, he managed to take the audience on a journey of pity, admiration, hope and ultimately pain. It is a very special performance and it's easy to see why is he an oscar nominated actor.

Whilst Bradley Cooper has top billing there are also some huge names starring alongside him. You can see Patricia Clarkson as Mrs Kendal who is both charming and compassionate bringing some much needed humour to the play without being tacky. Alessandro Nivola put on a remarkable performance as Frederick Treeves, the talented yet struggling Doctor who takes the Elephant Man under his wing. Overall the entire cast as an ensemble were extremely talented and although the play can be a bit heavy the commitment and passion every single cast member displays keeps you interested until the very end. 

The play is on a limited run and I would definitely recommend getting tickets if you can. The cast is world class and whilst not an uplifting or fast paced play it is thought provoking and and in a way inspiring, definitely a master class in this field. It does leave me wondering how the cast find the energy to play such dramatic performances every evening but again may be a reason as to why it has a such a short run, like I said it's worth seeing and has definitely given me a greater appreciation of the work that goes into putting on a performance 8 shows a week.

Event Dictionary! The language of events.

An essential part of working in events is being able to pick up the language and pick it up quickly! By language I don't mean a foreign language but an event language full of acronyms, phrases and shortened words. Every event will have it's own language specific to the organisers however I have come up with a short list of some common event terms that should help if like me, you didn't have a clue what anyone was talking about on your first day! 

Accreditation - this is pretty standard on most events and refers to the identity pass you wear, usually around your neck, which grants you access to specific areas of the venue, also known as 'accreditation zones'. An accredited person is therefore someone with a pass and an unaccredited person is someone who has not been registered for a pass. Passes vary from event to event but usually have your name, job title, organisation and photo and are essential for security purposes. Word of advice - never forget your accreditation pass, you may well be sent back home to get it!

Ingress/egress - you may hear people talking about the ingress and egress of an event. Ingress refers to people (usually spectators) entering the venue and the egress is therefore people leaving the venue. So if someone asks you to 'monitor ingress/egress' they basically want you to watch people coming in or out of the venue and check for any issues/crushes etc. These can also be referred to as spectator flows.

Some Look/Branding at Glasgow 2014 

Look and wayfinding - often there may be a 'look and way finding' department or 'look' contractors working on large events and while the two are connected they both provide different services. Look is the branding of the venue and could include flags, banners, posters and billboards with the company logo which help improve the aesthetic aspects of the event.

Wayfinding at London 2012 

Wayfinding is directional signage to assist people getting around the venue or event city and will include signs for food, toilets, exits, different areas of the venue, first aid centres and anything else people might have to find

Hanging up some last minute scrim!

Scrim - scrim is a material banner which is usually hung over temporary/existing fencing and is generally used to hide unsightly areas of the venue or VIP entry/exit etc, basically anywhere that organisers want to hide/cover up. It normally has the event name and logo and is hung simply using cable ties.

Mixed zone - this is the area where the press wait to talk to an athlete/VIP/guest. It's usually quite a busy and hectic area which needs careful managing and a strong willed coordinator! Generally the venue is set up so that the guests will have to walk past or through the mixed zone to get back to their dressing rooms/exits.

Crowd barriers vs tensa barriers - they aren't glamorous, they aren't pretty but I can guarantee that with any type of event you will, at some point, have a planning meeting involving barriers! There are many types of barrier but the two most common are crowd barrier and tensa barriers. Crowd barriers are the metal type fencing which slots together and can be used inside or out. They are usually used to form queuing systems, aid crowd control and to create safe walking routes. Tensa barriers (I believe tensa is a brand but the name has stuck!) are the posts which link together with a strip/seatbelt of material (terrible description but the picture is below!). They can be used for queuing, or to corner an area off eg a mixed zone, and are usually used indoors as the material would get wet if used outside and they may blow over in the wind. 

Tensa barriers

Crowd barriers

Run sheets - sometimes referred to as call sheets these are daily schedules which map out the key timings of the event. Usually given out at the start of the day they include information like the time by which safety checks have to be completed, when gates are open to spectators, any scheduled rehearsals, event start time, pretty much anything which affects multiple client groups/departments on site. It's important to know your run sheet to ensure you are informed of the rough timings of the day and can prepare your department accordingly.





Fleet - most large events will have a fleet department and a selection of 'fleet' cars which are event vehicles than can often be booked in advance and/or used on the day of an event for last minute errands etc. The process to get a fleet car will vary from event to event but normally it involves registering as a driver with the event and signing up to book a car.




Now of course there are hundreds of words and acronyms associated with different types of event but hopefully this short list of common terms that have been used on the majority of events I have worked on will help at least some of you who aren't as familiar with the lingo to understand what is going on!

If you can think of any more please leave a comment below, an online event dictionary is something which would be an awesome tool!

Volunteering at events : A day with The Pack!

I recently spent a day at the volunteer kick off event for the 2015 Rugby World Cup, meeting over 4000 members of 'The Pack' who all gathered in Milton Keynes together for the first time. It was a fantastic day to be a part of with celebrity guests, audience interaction, the uniform reveal and even some dancing! 

I am lucky enough to be paid to work in events and have chosen it as my career, but attending the volunteer kick off really showed me how much people appreciate sport and demonstrates the passion they have to be a part of the event. Some volunteers had traveled as far as Russia and Germany just to be at the initial launch event for England 2015, which is incredible! It reminded me that events simply would not happen without the dedicated and inspiring people who give up their own time to be a part of the team and that without them, things like the Olympics and World Cups and even local events simply would not happen.

Among the special guests, Welsh legend Shane Williams
 who happily posed for photos with The Pack

Anyone can volunteer for events - old, young and from any background - you don't have to be a specialist in a specific event to be able to volunteer, there are roles for everyone. Volunteering is not only great learning wise but also gives you the chance to meet people from all over the world with all sorts of interesting stories and for some it can also be a way in to the industry. I personally volunteered at the Glasgow Film Festival whilst at University and not only did I learn a lot about the industry and meet amazing people - I also had experience which I could then talk about at interviews for future jobs. From a social point of view volunteering is a way to meet like minded people who often become friends for life.

There are veteran volunteers who have been doing it for years and thanks to the Olympics in 2012, a new generation of volunteers have been inspired to take part in events. I can't express enough the respect I have for the volunteers I work with, they truly make the event and after all we all wear the same uniform and are part of the same team!

If you are interested in volunteering there are many ways you can get involved. At a local level simply contacting sports clubs/theatres/charity events and asking if they need any extra help is a great way to get involved. On a bigger scale for national events such as Race for Life/Marathons etc positions will be advertised on their website, so keep an eye out for those. On an even larger scale, such as the Olympics or Commonwealths where thousands of volunteers are needed, the organisation will normally have a recruitment process, again on their website - for this type of event you should start checking the website early, as volunteer recruitment can start 1 sometimes 2 years prior to the event! There are lots of websites that advertise volunteer positions so just have a look online to see what is happening in your area and never be afraid just to send an email explaining that you'd like to get involved, it will be much appreciated!


I truly believe that everyone should try volunteering at least once, it's an experience you will never forget. Even working in the industry I am still always looking for events that I can volunteer at because I love meeting great people and learning more from every role I take.

Laura Wright leads a sing-a-long!

There were many exhibitions throughout the day, from the event organisers and the sponsors 

Working in events - Top 10 packing essentials!

Now if you're like me, you will do a lot of very short event contracts, maybe 1
or 2 weeks at a time and chances are you will be staying in a hotel either abroad or in your own country.

I have learned that for these short events, or even for events where the venue is different to your normal office, life is typically very fast paced and very very busy therefore you spend all day onsite and barely any time in your hotel, pretty much only to sleep if you are lucky enough to even get time for that! For that reason I have put together a list of top 10 essential items that I always pack when working away on an event which make life just that little bit easier:

1. Emergency phone charger.

This has become a staple item when working on events and comes in very handy. Event days are so long and we use our phones for so much - calls, texts, photos, flashlight, so it's always good to have an emergency charger in your pocket meaning you don't have to leave your phone plugged in to a wall socket.
You can get them everywhere, some you connect by charger others you can use as a case - either way you're going to want one of these.
I can't remember where I got mine but it has about 2 chargers worth of juice before needing to actually charge the charger! They are actually pretty cheap and save a lot of time on a busy event day.

2. Old phone

I always find it useful to have an old/cheap mobile phone with me for events. It means if you are in a foreign country you can just pop in a local sim card for work calls to local phones, whilst still being able to use your own number. It also means that you don't have to give your personal number to everyone working the event, which is handy as normally you have to give your number to staff, volunteers, contractors.. basically anyone who may need to get hold of you! Another good thing I find with the old style mobile phones is that you can go for days without charging them and they are pretty much indestructible, which is usually handy on events, especially in the build phase! You can get a basic handset in most mobile phone shops and are usually less that £20 in the UK, in fact I have seen them for as little as £5!

3. Adapters/extension cord

Now if you are going abroad, a plug adapter is something you can't do without. In fact I always take at least 3! The reason for this is the same the reason I take extension cords to events in the UK - you get so little time in your hotel that you end up having to charge everything at once! Charging your phone(s), cameras, iPads, whilst at the same time drying your hair require a lot of sockets, therefore I always make sure I have plenty of opportunities to get everything ready.

4. Travel wash

Again, a simple and small item but one that comes in very handy! Travel wash is great for quickly washing socks, underwear, even tshirts in your hotel sink. Now you may have a laundry service in your hotel but the chances are you will be so busy that you never get the opportunity to drop laundry off or pick it up and this is when travel wash is a god send! The one I use is only £1 from Poundland in the UK and is the perfect size to travel with, it does the job and has saved me on more than one occasion.

5. Rain coat

No matter where you are going be sure to pack a rain coat with you, even a little fold up one in a bag - you never know when a rain storm will hit and event build up waits for no one! I have been caught in way too many down pours, even in sunny Barbados so it's always good to have an emergency poncho or raincoat up your sleeve just to keep you that bit drier!

6. Suncream and sunglasses

In the same way a rain coat is essential so is suncream and sunglasses - you need to be prepared for every kind of weather! Even if you are working in winter, you may be asked to drive a car in the snow, or there is a brief morning of sunshine when you will be glad that you have a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes. Any outdoor event, especially outdoor events in summer months, require you to wear suncream, you can't afford to get sun burn or even worse sun stroke in the middle of an event and it's just common sense to protect your skin!

7. Scissors, cable ties, sharpie

Now these may seem strange items to carry with you but trust me, there will be some point during an event where you or one of your colleagues will need one of the above! Don't ask me what for, I have used cable ties for everything from securing fences in the wind, to hanging up signs, to holding boxes together. These are just useful items that I seem to use time and time again and I guarantee you will need at least one of the above at some point during your event.

8. Paracetamol and blister plasters

Almost self explanatory but headaches, sore feet, legs and arms are all a part of working in events! Especially during the lead up where you are constantly walking round the venue and checking different areas.. blisters are unfortunately part of the job! So the more prepared you are the better and something I have learned is never, where possible, wear brand new shoes to an event. Take the time to break them in first otherwise you are just asking for trouble.

9. Dry shampoo

Maybe one for the girls but dry shampoo has become an essential item for me during event time. It's unfortunate but true that sometimes you just don't have the time to wash and dry your hair so dry shampoo becomes your best friend. My personal favourite is batiste which you can get in most supermarkets and boots/superdrug etc but there are many brands available in all different sizes, so you should be able to find one which works best for you.

10. Evening wear

It's always good to have at least one outfit in your bag that can be worn for an evening out. You may be invited out by clients, or there is a last minute end of staff party or dinner and you don't want to be wearing the same events clothes you've been wearing all week! For me I usually just take a simple black dress that is suitable for both dressing up for for a more casual evening. Even if you don't use it, it's always good to have in your bag just in case the opportunity arises.



Any way I hope this list helps you with your event packing and if there's anything I've missed that makes event and hotel life a bit easier please let me know!

New direction for my blog - Working in Events.

I've been very lucky in that I have been working in events pretty much full time since graduating University in 2012. It's not something I ever thought of doing but has very quickly became a passion of mine and an industry I hope I can build a career in. In addition to this I also enjoy attending all sorts of events, sometimes to learn more about the industry and sometimes just for fun!

The first large event I was involved in was the 2014 Commonwealth Games in my home town of Glasgow and ever since then working in events, particularly sport, has been my life. I have been lucky enough to work on motorsport events in Barbados, national and international cycling events and now for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. I've worked in a variety of departments including Venue Management, Volunteer Management, Accommodation and Accreditation, but ultimately when it comes down to it you get involved wherever you are required, taking on whatever job necessary.

It's in no way a stable career, going from short contract to short contract but what it does give you is the chance to meet people from all over the world and if you're lucky the chance to travel to some amazing places. I currently have former colleagues in Baku Azerbaijan, Australia, Switzerland, Doha and Dubai to name a few!


It's a career that will see you being involved in everything, from the glamour of opening ceremony's to the less glamorous clear up after the event and the tedious, draining planning meetings months before it begins. I don't think a lot of people realise  the amount of hard work and dedication that goes into putting on a large event, I have literally witnessed blood sweat and tears to make sure an event goes ahead. It can be a tough job - long days, stressful situations and very little thanks. Having said that, I find working on an event the most thrilling experience and the pride you feel when it finally goes ahead is something that can't be described.

Stunt driver Terry Grant's 2014 World Record Attempt

I guess I am writing this blog for anyone who is thinking of going into events of any kind, even if it's only one - you won't regret it. Sure it's a big risk, especially if it's a short contract (which they usually are) but the experience you'll have, the people you'll meet and the memories you will make are worth more than any boring 9-5! Volunteering is also another amazing way to get involved for a shorter period of time, which means you can still experience working on an event without having to give up your current job/studies. There are many different departments in most large events - from Venue Management to Logistics to Marketing to Security and many many more. Events tend to advertise positions on their websites so keep an eye out for any openings and of course follow them on social media.

After a lot of thought about the direction of my blog I have decided to write more about my experiences on events as this is where I have the most experience and hope to continue my journey - so if you have any questions or anything you'd like to hear please let me know and I'll try my best to cover it. Thanks for reading and hopefully I will have some exciting updates very soon.