I was never the loudest, or the naughtiest but always a part of the collective.
At 15 my friends all formed a girl band, it was really awful. We used to rehearse in the music block at our school but I quickly came to realise I was neither musically talented or patient enough to learn any instruments but I knew I wanted to be involved in some way. So, with full naivety I decided if I couldn't be in the band, well then i'd put on their shows, obviously really impress everyone at school and make some well needed money for some WKD's. I wasn't at all cool at 15.
The show in a crumbling (it still is to this day) assembly hall, with red velvet curtains and those benches you have in PE lessons that always gave you splinters, was a complete success.
I then moved onto local school domination, by putting on gigs in cafes, church halls, a goth club and irish social clubs. It was great fun, the bands were all young, it kept the kids off the streets and they were getting involved in something fun, it was a community.
Things got bigger quickly, at 15 and a half I'd started working at the local Fez Club, which is part of the PoNaNa chain, but now completely stripped of most of the venues - thanks recession. Anyway, this guy Ed, believed, or wanted to believe I was 18. So I started helping out, I remember Vanilla Ice being the funniest night of my life. Prehaps being truly drunk for the first time in my life shouting "ICE ICE BABY" at the top of my lungs.
I was making loads of money and trying to get some GCSE's. One day I was sat in a science lesson and receiving a phone call, wondering who the hell it was, taking it and it being Sony asking if I would put on The Kooks, so I asked to be sent a demo. I listened to it at home. I remember thinking, this is actual pure shit.
Perhaps turning down The Kooks wasn't wise because they went on to produce a vaguely popular probably platinum selling record, but to this day I still think they're rubbish. I stick by my guns on that one.
Anyway, inevitably my boss caught me in a school uniform, in the middle of the day and it wasn't exactly like I was going to a fancy dress party at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, so that job was quickly hushed under the carpet and I was told to never come back again. These things happen, maybe for a reason, but it made me realise, I liked business, the buzz of events management and ultimately making money.
University has been fun, I worked with Brighton Dome & Festival on Chris Cunningham's show (Aphex Twin and Bjork videos) and worked on a number of productions, working with social media, being a marketing assistant and a fair bit of general promotion work.
When the opportunity arose to do a placement year at Channel 4 I jumped at the chance. There were two rounds of interviews, I got down to the final two and through some wild card chance I got the job. I'm still baffled to this day as to how and why they chose me.
Channel 4 was an eye opener in so many ways, I entered proud and completely confident, inside I was a shivering mess. I'm actually a massively shy and scared person but occasionally quite good at hiding it, when I know I absolutely must. So I smiled awkwardly a lot and it must of worked.
I've just finished a year placement there, theres so much to say about the year, but i'll leave those stories for many blog posts. (See Work section for events)
I also just had an interview for MTV for a really amazing role, unfortunately I didn't get it but the interview experience was enough for me, being 21 and still to finish my degree, it's amazing i'd even be considered for the interview.
I know that the path is going to have a number of bumps, hurdles and complications along the way but if any of my experiences so far have taught me anything, it's don't give up. If I had of I might of never been heading towards a 2.1 and a year at Channel 4 on my CV all before the grey old age of 22.
I'm excited for whats next.
