Something different for 2021 is a new series of blogs focussing on the fantastic employees that are the heart of Event Management Direct.
What a better way to start this series with our amazing Event Coordinator, Lucy Parkinson. Lucy recently celebrated her 3 year work anniversary for EMD, and she has very kindly answered some questions to give us a better insight into herself.
How long have you worked at Event Management Direct?
I started working with EMD in January 2018, so this is my third year with the company – goodness!
What do you do at Event Management Direct and in what circumstances would I come to you for something?
I started out as an Event Assistant and quickly worked up to being an Event Coordinator. I look after several clients and work alongside them to organise their conferences (virtual and face to face) and support their administration. I am responsible for all aspects of my clients’ events including stakeholder liaison, venue coordination, social event organisation and on the day management.
In the office, I am known for my attention to detail (I’m always asked to proofread my colleagues’ emails and advertisements) and I’m also really good at reconciling budgets because I can always find the missing pennies.
I am also the self-appointed social secretary of the group because I always manage to rope the team into some celebration – be it secret Santa or another random national holiday!
What’s the biggest misconception people have about working in events?
People always associate careers in events with ‘party planning’ and it has this very inaccurate reputation as a glamourous job.
Events are all about hard work, unsociable hours and doing everything from dealing with VIPs one minute to lifting and moving furniture at midnight the next. I absolutely love the variation in the job, and it is absolutely amazing to see an event come together but it takes massive determination and absolute precision to get it right.
It’s not all fancy dinners and heels!
What energizes you at work?
Easy question – it absolutely has to be positive client feedback!
I will never get tired of hearing that a client had their expectations exceeded or that they are happy with the outcome of an event. For me, hearing these comments gives me a real sense of job satisfaction and keeps me organising events with a smile on my face.
Exceeding expectations is always the goal and it is so rewarding to know that I managed that.
What would we most likely find you doing on the weekend?
I love being outdoors at the weekend and luckily, I am fortunate enough to have so many wonderful woodland walks and the Trans Pennine trail a short walk from my home so you might find me up to my knees in mud or in the pub afterwards enjoying a nice pie and pint (lockdown permitting)!
If you could snap your fingers and become an expert in something, what would it be?
Without a doubt, I would choose painting and be an artist. I have plenty of enthusiasm for art but unfortunately none of the skill and patience that it takes to be any good!
Are you a dog person or a cat person (or neither)?
Cat, usually but working from home with two in the house might have changed that…
What’s your favourite sport to watch and which team do you root for?
I love football and Liverpool is my team (following in my father’s footsteps). Unfortunately, my partner is a die-hard Manchester United fan so you can only imagine the tension that causes.
What trend do you hope makes a comeback?
I wish the idea of ‘make do and mend’ would come back around.
In my lifetime, fast fashion has always been on offer, but I feel that people would have a greater sense of pride in their revived belongings and the environment would be much better off if repair culture became the norm again.
What’s your go-to karaoke song?
Love Really Hurts Without You by Billy Ocean. I feel like this song needs no justification as to why it is my favourite karaoke song. Everyone knows it and it will always fill the dancefloor.