Placement Completion

When I first heard about this unit, in my first year, I associated this with slave labour! Who wants to work for free? Now, having completed my placement, I am surprised to state that this unit has been a highlight of my degree. Prior to my

placement, I had not considered developing an events-based career. However, upon completion of my placement, a career in events is definitely at the forefront of my options.

My placement at the City of Bunbury began at crunch time. I was thrown straight into the events team, who were severely understaffed.  And by that, I mean there was one events assistant, and a brand spanking new events officer, who had been contracted to organise an event to cater for an expected 6000 plus sized crowd.

I assisted with the three-day Kids festival, Kidsfest, which was held, in Bunbury, on October 5^th- 7th. I came in at the right time. In the lead up to the event, I had to verify, create and distribute individual volunteer rosters and information packages. I learned that the Public Relations Techniques second year unit, was actually very helpful. The events run sheets that we had all created were actually key documents useful in real life events. Never the less, I discovered I am able to create a cracking good run sheet on my own.

Throughout the event, I liaised with suppliers, entertainers and organised accommodation and transport for national acts, which were flown in from the Eastern States. A highlight of my placement, during Kidsfest, was being assigned as the Festival Theatre Manager. This entailed managing the daily schedule of performers, volunteers, dealing with lost children and a personal highlight, working with The Collective.

 Having not worked with any celebrity groups before, this was a chance to interact and learn about the Management Industry. I was able to run the ‘meet and greet’ sessions after the show, which exposed me to the associated problems, which came with this event, e.g. overbearing mothers, hormonal teenage girls, stolen tickets and performer injuries.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed liaising with security guards, drivers, agents and media to organise The Collectives travel, shows and the meet and greets. I enjoyed it so much that I am definitely, now, considering entering the Australian Management Industry. 

I learned so much about what I want to do and how the events industry works. I pulled fourteen hour days, improved my cardio fitness, lugging multiple boxes of equipment to and from the venue, but mostly, I experienced the feeling of completion.  The satisfaction which you gain, when you have helped plan, produce and pack-down an event that brought joy to so many peoples lives.