Passion is a MUST in the Events Industry

I am currently completing my professional placement at an Event company and we are contracted to run the an international sporting event held in Perth during April 2010. The role I am fulfilling is the National Front of House Coordinator, just one component of this role is the control of public areas around both the Perth and South Perth foreshore. On events these areas will hold an estimated 400,000 people over a two day period.

I started my placement working 2 days a week during January. During February one of my colleagues resigned and I was asked to take on his role as well as my own. This has taken me to a a full time workload where all members of the company are required to work a 12 hour day 5 days a week. This will increase to 7 days a week on 24 hour call from April 1st (one month from event). To be honest these hours were definitely daunting and extremely tiring to start with. It took me 2-3 weeks before I was used to both the workload and the idea of it. I always understood that the events industry was a lot of work, however I definitely underestimated the reality of it. Did anyone else underestimate or perhaps overestimate their placement?

Regardless of the workload or the hours; I am learning so much and gaining invaluable experience every day. I am thoroughly enjoying my placement and the work that I am doing within it. My placement is definitely showing me the truth to the event industry and to myself.