Re: Felicity Blake and Melanie Teychenne-King « Reply #32 on Jun 2, 2008, 1:45am »
Hey gang, yes caught up - with our phone being disconnected and thus Epic Internet Fail, and the work computers being all funky. I had written up responses so I think it only fair to put them up, seeinga s though you went to the effort of asking in the first place. Hope that's okay.
Re: Felicity Blake and Melanie Teychenne-King « Reply #34 on Jun 2, 2008, 2:25am »
1 - Do you see yourselves in event-management type roles in the long term? They seem to be pretty high energy!
I will be in events management for as long as I can be - although I am acutely aware that this may in fact not be the rest of my life, so to speak. Sheyana, no doubt in your studies you've heard these little gems: ‘You're only as good as your last event’, and the wonderful piece of advice my lecturer gave our class on the very first day: Most Event managers burn out within 10 years. This is because, as you stated, they are high energy and sustaining that for long periods of time can be quite damaging unless you properly prepare and nurture yourself - something I am still learning to do.
On the bright side, these tales of woe relate more directly to a very narrow field of event management. I work mainly in venues, where we see 100's of different events each year, so there is little stress involved from our POV - In fact I usually turn up on the day and ask 'So! Whats in here today?!' and just jump right in. I prefer not knowing what’s coming up, because working on the fly and thinking on your feet are what make the job so fun.
2 - While organising a big event, how do you keep everything straight so that things happen - I can see this harried person walking around with a huge diary but I suppose it's slightly more sophisticated than that?
For me - no, not really I'm a geek but I cant go past a pen and paper system... Although I envy those awesome PDA's/PSPs/portable pocket computers, whatever is out there these days..
My trick, or at least, method of least resistance, is Record. Everything. That harried person with a diary (that’s me and a notebook - I can't live without my note book on event days) doesn't occur until the event itself, so in the organisation stage, it's important to record everything, twice; print emails; create useful filing systems and data sheets; your electronic diary with in-built alarms is your friend, your wall planner more so, and post-it notes or to-do lists on napkins, while embarrassingly low tech, are still the tools of my trade.
Understanding sequences and timings is essential - start at the event and work backwards - when is the deadline, how much time do we have before that, and how many other things coincide, and what parts of the organisation process are dependent on information from others, or the finalization of parts of the event management process? Your actual method of undertaking those things is irrelevant, as long as you stay in constant communication with your team so they're inform of your sit-rep, and how your own work affects the progression of their tasks. There has to be cohesion and open dialogue or you, and everyone else, is wasting their time.
3 - Do you ever get sick of dealing with peoples 'whims' and think - erk why am I doing this?
Hmmm no I don’t think that thought ever crosses my mind, at least in relation to ‘whims’ – as Fel said, it can certainly be frustrating dealing with requests from high maintenance people, but we were well aware of this type of thing walking in. Event Management is a service industry – you are a slave to the client, to those who are making the event happen or those making it worthwhile.
Probably the only time a thought like that arises is when I see my empty bank account and looming bills, and wonder whether or not I should get a stable desk job just for the stability and piece of mind. But then I very quickly get over that because dude, travel, adventure – this Jedi craves ALL those things.
4 - Because of your involvement in popular culture you see the impact of technology on our leisure time. Do either of you have thoughts on 'the future of the book'.
I too am an old-school lover of the printed word, with worn, musty pages and spine creases and book stores piled high with entire universes waiting to be discovered. Cuddling up under the doona with a laptop or portable e-book device just doesn’t have the same charm. Places like Amazon are great for those ‘hard to find’ but browsing the isles of electronic ‘you might also like…’ click through’s doesn’t appeal as much as that book store with a café attached to one corner and isles of trashy romance novels crammed next to crime scene capers and books on ancient religion. Half the fun of reading is finding the right book to read. Evolution? I would hate to see us evolve out of that way of producing or selling books…
What I am loving is the idea of book ‘trailers’. Short films or digital creations made for the express purpose of selling a book – either to a publisher, or to a reader. That and I’m a total trailer junkie in general. I would love to see that progress to short films made from some of the best scenes of a book – not necessarily a trailer, but a glimpse of the book itself. Although that would probably alter the reader’s perception of the imagined universe (can you read Harry Potter again without thinking of anyone but Daniel Radcliffe as Harry?) so that may not be the most sensible way of progressing the world of literature.
No, I think the future of the book is film options. Not that it is always my choice, but in term of Popular Culture, it seems to be the flavor of the day. Until VR is perfected, or course…
5 -Are there any authors you'd love to snare for Supernova?
Ohhh.. well Neil Gaiman is always top of my list. A hugely influential writer of my current world/universe/spiritual views. So too Ben Elton but again, I don’t get that ‘accessibility’ vibe from him in any way shape or form. Stephen Fry is a winner. Oh my how that would be a dream come true. Christian Jacq makes up a significant section of my library – Fictional history is as interesting to me as fictional future. Most of my other choices are dead
6 - What are you reading/watching/getting into now that may not be getting the attention it deserves?
Robot Chicken and other independent cable creations that really were made in people’s garage. The latest wave of BritCom, although that lack of attention may only be here. Thankfully, unlike America, BCC productions don’t have to rate well in the UK for them to make their way here, so there are quite a few glints of comedy gold to be found, that aren’t widely publicised.
Internet based television is also making an impact but because of the medium, are not being taken as seriously as they should – especially when the idea of internet content and media rights is such a hot topic right now. Some a slick, well produced series such as Sanctuary, others are fan films cobbled together on YouTube, but all valid entertaining pieces.
As for other media – I’ve jumped headlong on to the ‘comics aren’t for kids’ bandwagon and cannot understand the stigma attached to them, and their readers, despite adaptations making a killing in the box office. Go figure.
Signing off - for now: Thank you again Marianne for the invite (sorry this was a day late) and thank you to everyone else for the questions. I'll see you around the boards.
Joined: Feb 2007 Gender: Female Posts: 950 Location: Brisbane
Re: Felicity Blake and Melanie Teychenne-King « Reply #35 on Jun 2, 2008, 2:42am »
Yeah. Sheyana is right Missy, the dates for us - so we don't drain the life out of our luvverly guests. Thanks for coming back to say 'bye both of you.
Joined: Sept 2004 Gender: Female Posts: 1,149 Location: England
Re: Felicity Blake and Melanie Teychenne-King « Reply #36 on Jun 2, 2008, 10:15pm »
Eeeek... really sorry I missed the rest of the Q&A, guys! I was at my dad's place this weekend, hadn't seen him since Christmas so had to go over and catch up.
Thank you so much, both of you - it's wonderful to see how these events work behind the scenes.
*jumps up and down at the mentions of Tamora Pierce and Stephen Fry* I LOVE them! </random squee>
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I'm a geek but I cant go past a pen and paper system... Although I envy those awesome PDA's/PSPs/portable pocket computers, whatever is out there these days..
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</random squee>