My work can be split into 3 main categories- however, there is a lot of crossover/wiggle room around these depending on what is needed. I work with companies of all sizes, including solo artists.
SHOW PARENT
This job is not about creating a parent child dynamic- it started as an in-joke when I was working on the 2019 tour of Fat Blokes with Scottee & friends. We can always change the words for something that feels better. Sometimes people call it a Wellbeing Practitioner.
The show parent role is an in person support during the making & delivery of a show. This can also be adapted to online if needed.
This can include navigating issues that come up when making shows about personal/political issues, helping with time management/scheduling/company communication plans, making plans for sensory needs, accompanying people to new environments, navigating post show audience interaction & other needs that arise during the process.
PRACTICES OF CARE CONSULTANCY
I help people build projects/processes centered around the needs of the people involved, and creating less harmful/more sustainable working practices.
This work is informed by all the different roles I have had throughout my career. This includes: independent producer, project manager, technician, artist assistant, general manager, wellbeing in nightlife and access support worker.
It is important to me that all people working on projects have access to care practices, not solely focusing all resources on artists. I work in consultation with the whole team to work out what everyone needs. My practice also includes thinking around audience/participant care.
I like to get involved in projects at the very beginning, where possible. This means having conversations at the dreaming stages to gather information about who, what and how the project will come together.
INTENTIONAL PROJECT CLOSING CONSULTANCY & POST SHOW COMEDOWN SUPPORT
This strand of my practice is focused on thinking about the ending of projects at the beginning.
Oftentimes, the majority of the energy goes into getting a project off the ground and getting through it. By the time the activity is finishing, people are so exhausted that they just want the thing to end. Any issues/conflicts/things that needed to be addressed during the project get pushed aside- either because people are burnt out or they have the rose tinted glasses of ‘oh it was all worth it really’ on.
This means that promises made to address issues, opportunities for learning & growth and accountability processes often disappear into the ether once the activity has been delivered.
I think we are not used to doing intentional reflection as part of a project. The most a lot of people do is throw a few things together to put into their arts council activity report and call it a day.
This is a disservice to the people in the project and the arts sector in general because it has created an environment in which we can’t safely reflect on processes and/or hold people accountable. So let’s talk about it.
OTHER STUFF
I also work as a support worker for neurodivergent & disabled arts workers & mentor for emerging artists/producers. I do guest lecturing at universities. I like talking at events/being on panels. I would love to expand my practice into film &TV.
Drop me an email on: verybusy.veryimportant@gmail.com, if you’d like to talk about any of those things.
