Becoming a Funny Things Assistant Producer
Paige with the Fantabulosa performers at Funny Things 2019
Early in 2019 we advertised a new temporary role for an Assistant Producer for Funny Things Festival. The role was built into the project from the learning of the first event alongside an understanding that you can’t be in the same place at the same time. There was a great response to the role and after a round of interviews, it was Paige that shined for the panel. Here Paige tells us about the experience…
In February 2019 I applied for the role of Assistant Producer for Funny Things Festival. Up to that point I had been producing for about two years on and off and was just about to complete a year-long professional development programme, called Southside Producers at The Beatfreeks Collective.
A lot of producers I know, often describe their journey into this role as somewhat an unconventional one and it has to be said that mine was no different. I went from training as a contemporary dancer for three years at one of the country's top conservatoires, to nannying for close to a year, I then moved on to become a front of house usher at The Royal Opera House followed by seven months of severe debilitating depression.
It is no secret that I have struggled with poor mental health since the age of sixteen, but this particular episode was transformational. I had hit my absolute rock bottom and with nothing to lose, I summoned the confidence to try out new things and meet new people (with the help of my amazing mom). Post-recovery a series of events eventually led me to my first role as an Assistant Producer.
Unbeknownst to me I already had some of the skills for this role and had been using them for years. Skills like organisation, planning, lateral thinking, problem-solving and building good relationships with people (to name a few); I had just never identified them as a particular skill set before.
By the time I came to apply for the role of Assistant Producer for Funny Things Festival, you’d think I’d be ferociously confident in my experience and abilities, but no, imposter syndrome always found a way to creep up on me (much to my surprise I later found out that this was also the case for my boss who had 20 years experience in the field!). I was beyond thrilled and undoubtedly shocked when I found out less than 24 hours later that I had gotten the role, but none-the-less excited for what was to come. This would be the first time I would work on a comedy project and a festival of this size.
To say that this role was a rewarding experience couldn’t be more of an understatement. I was struggling with several personal battles and professionally I was challenged in ways I had never been before. But without being cheesy or romanticising too much, I had a fantastic team around me championing me all the way and a boss who saw me as her equal and never missed an opportunity to tell me how great I was doing whether I believed her or not (although eventually, I started to).
That’s a Wrap - Creative Producer Jenny with Paige after the final 2019 Funny Things event
One of the great things about this role was the opportunity to be mentored and trained on the job. To have such a talented team with such a diverse skill set, and years of experience at my fingertips was second to none. I wasn’t afraid to ask questions and was often given the platform to voice my opinions and share ideas that I had on panels and at team meetings. I was listened to and heard and this meant the world to me, especially as a young person who had often been made to feel insecure about my “lack of experience” or as a threat to the status quo.
The role of Assistant can be so ambiguous these days and for me admittedly still conjures up cringy archaic stereotypes, of a pre 90’s wallflower secretary taking minutes in shorthand; does their job, knows their place, to be seen and not really to be heard. But that was certainly not the case here, I was supported and guided yes, but equally I was encouraged to take the reigns and run with them. This, with my strong work ethic and determination helped me to settle and develop quickly into the role.
The role itself allowed me to develop a plethora of skills, some of which were:
Festival programming;
Venue and Artist liaison and management;
Working with sponsors and partners cross-sector;
Marketing and Advertising;
Event management;
Budgeting and working with medium-sized budgets.
Alongside these practical skills I also learnt a few other lessons:
Be decisive. Don’t be afraid to deal with the outcomes.
Be confident with what you have to bring to the table. There’s no point in worrying about not having all the answers or the skills for the task at hand, because that’s what teams are for.
Solve problems with a cool head. Block out the chaos and trust that every single decision and action you have made in your life has got you here to this very point; it’s not going to be the end of the world (far from it).
Things go wrong all the time. Don’t get hung up on the should have could have would haves; in these situations, damage control is your best friend, use your resources wisely to lessen the impact.
Time management. Says what it is on the tin; this is a biggie and I’m still working on it.
All in all this was a fantastic and affirming experience which afforded me the opportunity to develop both personally and professionally beyond my expectations. I discovered that I love the thrill of working on big festivals and the rewards of impacting not only individuals but communities never leave you. It has become clear to me that producing is not just a job or a career but in some respects a vocation.
It’s so important to find the right people to work with, the level of mutual trust you share can make or break you, it can be the difference between you bringing your absolute best and crumbling under pressure. Working with Jenny and the wider CBC team on Funny Things has taught me all these things and much more, and for the first time I can confidently say with conviction that I AM a Creative Producer.
You can follow me and the rest of my journey on Twitter @P_S_Jack