Getting Into the Live Events Industry

Are you looking for a job in the Events Industry but are struggling to get your foot on that ladder? Maybe you have recently been to a concert or festival which has made you realise you're in the wrong job and your future is in the events industry. There are many specialist recruitment companies you could enlist the help from but like any job, experience is vital. So how do you get experience in a job you have never done before?

Well quite simply the best way into any industry that you have no experience in is to simply offer your services as a volunteer. You will gain a wealth of experience through volunteering at live venues. With the event industry you will be working with large groups of people, solving problems, have to be organised and motivated, all of which would be great experience and look great on your CV. If you're keen and work hard you could even get yourself a reference. Having voluntary work on your CV shows potential employers you're keen to work and serious about working in the industry.

So where to you start? There are many concert halls, conventions, clubs, sporting events around the country that you could approach. The types of jobs are very varied. Jobs such as security, catering, runners, AV (audio visual) crew, technical crew, sales, managers, directors, talent bookers, waiters, managers and directors... I could go on. You could start off as a runner, and in a few years be running the whole show!

If you're thinking of working at music festivals and the like because you think it's a great way of going to all the events without paying. Well this could be classed as one perk, but you will be working away, possibly behind the scenes and not have time to sit and watch the show. Your there to help the show go as smoothly as possible. As a volunteer you should be watching and learning from all the paid event workers, making yourself invaluable. Volunteering could be classed as a form of networking because you will working along site like-minded business people in the industry. If you show your stuff, get some contacts you will soon be well on the way to working alongside these people but being on the payroll.

Once you have experience you could approach events or recruitment companies. You could look online as most recruitment companies show all their vacancies on their websites. But it is all down to you. Like any job, you need to work hard, sell yourself well the fruits of your labour will come to harvest.