Why I love short contracts

For some people, the thought of going from contract to contract is a nightmare, which I completely understand. There’s the lack of financial security,  buying/renting is difficult as you never know where you will be next and you have to be the new guy all the time.

Having said this, I love short contracts, moving from event to event and seeing the world. Granted I am young and don’t have much tying me down however there is something about diving in at the last minute which I find very exciting.

I view short contracts as anything under a year, it could be 8 months or it could be 2 weeks. The shorter the contract the quicker you have to learn and I genuinely believe this is the best way to gain experience in the events industry. Often on a shorter contract you are expected to hit the ground running and become a valuable part of the team immediately. Some people may find this daunting, especially as everyone around you is so busy that you often end up having to teach yourself. I find this both exciting and challenging and I believe I do my best work under this type of pressure. You need a can do attitude and a hard work ethic but the results can be very rewarding. Short contracts tend to be very intense and you are consumed by the event from the very beginning – this however makes them invaluable learning experiences and the old saying ‘you get out of it what you put in’ has never been more accurate.

Some tips I have picked up for shorter contracts is to research as much as you can beforehand. Know the event schedule, know the venue and learn as much about the organisation as you can. Once you start, try and get to know your colleagues – you are all part of one team after all. Introduce yourself, don’t be afraid to ask questions and always go for a drink after work if you are invited!

Of course I worry about what my next job will be, or what I should do if I am unemployed for weeks and I can’t pay my rent. I know I can’t keep it up forever and I will eventually have to ‘settle down’ but for the now the thought of a permanent job in once place is terrifying! Short contracts have taught me so much more than I learned in University and I have met and worked with some amazing people. So what I'm trying to say is do it for the experience and the people, not the security!