You wear a few different hats, tell us a bit about you?
I’m an Event Manager, I’ve been one for over 25 years. I started working at The National Exhibition Centre in my 20s not actually knowing what the job was, I just knew that it would be better than the job I had selling industrial plastic.
I ran all types of shows, car shows, photography shows, antique shows and finally ended up working on an event called Music Live. I was given it because they knew I played guitar. I loved it and worked on it for 9 years, then the world’s economy crashed, and Music Live was no more. I got made redundant on Valentine’s Day 2010.
I discovered that when you are an event manager, you live in Birmingham, and you’ve already worked for The NEC Group there isn’t anywhere else to go.
This inevitably leads to working for yourself. After 14 years at The NEC, I couldn’t image not being an Event Manager.
My other job came about unexpectedly, I had booked an act for Music Live called This is Menace, the Bass player was Mark Clayden (also of Pitchshifter). His day job was Principal for BIMM Bristol. Mark called me and asked if I have ever lectured (I hadn’t), if I had ever thought about lecturing (I hadn’t) and would I like to meet him for lunch (I did, although disappointingly it was only a Pret sandwich in the end).
Mark asked me to lecture on BIMM’s new Event Management Degree. I was at BIMM Bristol for 6 years. Then BIMM opened BIMM Birmingham, this was 13 miles from my house and not 77 miles. I moved BIMMs.
As BIMM Birmingham grew more roles became available, I was asked to apply to be the Course Leader for the Music Business and Event Management Degree. I’ve been the CL for 3.5 years now. In last year’s National Student Survey, BIMM Birmingham was the top rated BIMM, and my course was the top-rated degree. This isn’t where I thought I would end up, but I do really enjoy it.
I now split my week 50/50 with working for myself and BIMM.
Alongside those jobs I also run the 9-42 Podcast and I’m working with the team at 2000Trees Festival. I did have a T shirt company pre-pandemic, but my suppliers aren’t around anymore, so that is my summer project.
What drove you to start The Guitar Show, and what’s your favourite thing about the event?
I couldn’t get a job, simple as that. Plus, I knew the market so well and loved working in it.
The best part of The Guitar Show is seeing the queue building from approx. 9.00AM, that is when I know my job is done.
What do you like about working with the MI industry?
It’s fun, I get to chat to really interesting people, who share an interest with me. I get to book artists that I like, no one takes it too seriously (well some do, but I don’t bother getting in touch with them)
And let’s be honest, the huge amount of gear clogging up my home and office would suggest that I really love the products too.
What are your ambitions and goals for the show in February ’23?
Back to pre-pandemic levels. I was full in 2020, you couldn’t have got another exhibitor in. I took the obvious hit this year, but I’m working back to 2020 levels. You can’t say the biggest ever when you’ve reached capacity once already, but I can squeeze in about another 400 visitors a day.
Tell us about some famous people that you’ve worked with?
I’ve been so lucky over the years, from Music Live you have; Chad Smith (RHCP), Rick Parfitt (Status Quo), Joe Bonamassa, Kerry King (Slayer), Ritch Battersby (The Wildhearts). The Guitar Show has had Duff McKagan (Guns N Roses), Bumblefoot (Guns N Roses), Phil X (Bon Jovi), Bernard Butler (Suede).
The 17-year-old me, that bought Appetite for Destruction the day it came out would never believe I was going to take Duff for a Birmingham curry night.
