Creative Careers Month 2025

How did you hear about the opportunity for working at Kings Place?

When I first moved to London after university, I knew I wanted to work in a venue no matter the role. I think I searched through every venue website I could find on the internet and the first one I stumbled upon that was welcoming applications for house crew members was Kings Place.

What was it like starting work in a new organisation?

It was definitely a mix of excitement and nerves at first. As in most new work environments, there were a lot of new people to meet and new things to learn and it was a little overwhelming, but the rest of the team and staff were very supportive and were there to guide me through the early stages.

How did the job compare with your expectations?

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect in the beginning, but in some ways it reminded me a bit of being part of my university’s stage crew society – only on a much bigger, more professional scale and with a lot more people focusing on specific roles.

How much did you learn in your first few weeks?

There was definitely a lot to learn during the first few weeks. I remember it took me a good amount of time to even learn the building’s layout. It seemed like a labyrinth at first! My colleagues were great at showing me the ropes though and I felt like I was learning something new on every shift.

What experience has Kings Place provided you with for a career in the arts?

This is my first job in the arts, and it has definitely given me a solid introduction to the industry and the roles within it, as well as what working in a venue is really like. I’ve learnt a lot of new skills and have gained confidence working in a professional environment.

What areas have you learned the most in?

I’ve learnt a lot about the technical side of events and how a venue operates behind the scenes. Getting trained, and going on to work as a mic dresser as well, has been something I’ve greatly enjoyed. It has taught a great deal more about everything that goes into producing a live event. I feel like I’ve also become better at working as a part of a team, a skill that’s essential in this kind of work.

How did you hear about the opportunity to work at Kings Place?

I found the role via the ArtJobs website and applied directly through the Kings Place website.

Is this your first job within the arts and creative industry?

Not quite. I’ve previously interned across various organisations, and I also freelance in music marketing. I’m also a trustee for Queenz Sounds, a Scottish music charity supporting women and LGBTQIA+ people in the music industry.

How did starting at Kings Place compare with your expectations?

I’d never worked for an arts or music venue before, but I’ve spent plenty of time in them and come from a family background deeply connected to music. Kings Place has lived up to everything I imagined: cultured, kind, and polite people working together in a creative space.

How much or how quickly did you learn in your first few weeks?

The first few weeks were super information heavy, but also the most exciting. I had to develop my own system for absorbing everything: mostly sticky notes and Outlook reminders! It was a lot to take in, but I’m still learning something new every day.

What areas have you learned the most in?

Primarily in marketing, though I’ve also learned a lot through overlaps with programming and box office. It’s been fascinating to see how all departments connect and how vital collaboration is to making everything happen.

Was Kings Place already on your radar as a potential place to work?

Yes – I grew up in London, so I knew of Kings Place and its creative approach to concert programming. When I saw the job advertised, I was keen to apply because of the great reputation the venue has in the London music scene.

What is your current role at Kings Place?

Programme Administrator: I help the Artistic Director and the rest of the programme team with planning upcoming concerts.

Is it your first job within the arts and creative industry?

It’s my first full-time role, but I’ve previously worked in part-time roles in the arts while at university. These were as a marketing assistant at a concert hall and also as the coordinator and bandleader of a weekly jazz event.

What was your experience like starting work in a new organisation?

Going from university into full-time work was definitely a big change, and it felt unusual being the youngest person in the room at first. But having a very friendly and approachable team helped me to settle in quickly. As being in an office environment was new to me, I wasn’t sure what to expect and thought it ​might be like studying in a library. It’s actually the opposite – I love working in the office because it feels very social and collaborative.

Has your time at Kings Place provided you with good experience for a career in the arts?

Because of how varied Kings Place is in the type of shows it puts on, I’ve learned so much about the creative industries already, and I’m excited to use this wide range of knowledge and experience going forward.

What areas have you learned the most in?

Kings Place has really broadened my knowledge of what goes into putting on live events. While I’m part of the programme team, my role means that I am often the person liaising between other departments in the organisation, like production and marketing. I really enjoy being able to see each department’s process and learning how things work from lots of different perspectives.

How did you hear about the opportunity for working at Kings Place?

I was looking for event-based work after recently changing career paths, and found a job opening for Kings Place.

Is it your first job within the arts and creative industry?

I’d been working freelance in events on and off before coming to Kings Place. My main career beforehand was in music and Radio, so some of those skills were transferable.

What was your experience like, starting work in a new organisation?

Kings Place felt welcoming from the beginning! I started with a fairly large new group, so a lot of us were in the same boat. Everybody that had previously worked here was welcoming and friendly, which made it easy to feel settled straight away.

How much did you learn in your first few weeks?

I learnt quite a lot in a short amount of time. It can be very fast paced at times, so you just have to throw yourself into it. I was always working with someone experienced in the first few weeks, which was very helpful as you can pick up how things get done quickly.

How has your time at Kings Place provided you with experience for a career in the arts?

Because you can progress here quite naturally, it gives a good insight into various aspects of how a venue like this works and how events and performances are put together. As crew, you get to meet pretty much everybody in the building, so get a good idea of what people do, and discover areas that you might like to specifically work in.

What areas have you learnt the most in?

Stage management. I didn’t know anything about managing a show or conference before working at Kings Place. Through being around SM’s whilst crewing and mic dressing, you start to see how they work and what is involved in the role. I then trained with the experienced SM’s and started to pick up what was needed to manage a show. Day to day experience is also really important at picking up the skills needed to SM well, so I’m constantly learning.