Skills & Experiences

Captioning / Surtitling
Setup & Operation

A recent new aspect of my work has included both the setup and operation of show captions and surtitles including use of industry standard Glypheo software.

This includes taking an existing show script / libretto, adapting it as required for use as captions / surtitles, inputting and formatting this appropriately within relevant surtitling software.

Then ensuring any changes and adaptations made through a rehearsal process are duly reflected, leading into operating the surtitles through a run of performances. My experience includes setup as well as simultaneous operation of bilingual Welsh-English surtitles too.

Do you need and experienced captions or surtitle operator to
setup and / or operate for an upcoming theatre show?

Concert Duty &
UK Domestic Touring

I have extensive knowledge and familiarity with numerous major concert halls, mainscale theatres as well as smaller regional theatres throughout Wales and England from my time with both Welsh National Opera and Opera North – for both of whom I undertook major UK domestic tours. 

I am extremely familiar with concert duty work – being the person on the ground in a touring venue taking responsibility for the needs of a touring ensemble or company; looking after conductors and guest artists, ensuring pit / platform setup is appropriate alongside stage / pit managers and platform attendants, resolving issues as they arise and being on duty throughout any given performance or concert. 

Are you looking for someone to take on the concert duty / domestic touring for your organization’s next run of performances? 

Stage / Platform / Pit Setup & Basic Stage Management

I am extremely familiar with the methods and practice of setting platforms and orchestral pits for a variety of orchestral, chorus or ensemble settings, including opera – both for rehearsal purposes and performance.

Where necessary I can both advise a crew of platform attendants, and personally practically setup your stage / platform / pit / rehearsal / performance venue accordingly – balancing the various demands of conductor’s preferences, the orchestra’s customs and practice, noise-at-work regulations, Covid-19 restrictions, general health and safety precautions and control measures, as well as ideal sonic / musical positioning for the repertoire. 

In addition, I am also experienced and familiar with basic concert stage management, including assisting and leading on stage moves mid-programme as required. 

Do you need advice or personnel to set your rehearsal /
performance spaces appropriately for an upcoming project? 

Concert / Rehearsal Venue Liaison & Bookings

I have a great deal of experience dealing with rehearsal venues and concert venues throughout the range of needs of a performing organization – including liaising with concert halls, theatres, regional venues, educational institutions, public buildings, rehearsal venues, churches, community halls and much more.

This can range from liaising with rehearsal venues to book spaces in advance; to performance venue basic availability enquiries, making specific arrangements for a public performance, coordinating on-sale dates, agreeing seat kills and stage extensions, dressing room requirements, production elements and technical support, negotiating hire costs and equipment needs. 

Do you need to arrange rehearsal venue for an upcoming project,
or confirm technical requirements with a series of venues
for your performance tour?

Artist Itineraries

I am also extremely familiar and experienced at drawing up artist itineraries. Drawing up documents which ensure all the relevant key details about flights, transport, hotel accommodation, rehearsal and performance timings, dress codes, rehearsal orders, broadcast plans and much more besides – are provided in a clear and easy to digest document for any guest conductor, artist or VIP.

Ensure your guest artist has all the information they need, and keep their artists managers happy at the same time too!

Have you booked an artist for you festival / event, but now need someone to organize the finer logistical details of their visit?

Artist Contracts & Management / Agency Liaison

Orchestra Scheduling /
Duty Sheets

A considerable period of my career has involved the production and issuing of orchestra schedules / duty sheets – for contract orchestras.

These have come in a variety of shapes, sizes and designs – but crucially all have looked to provide the relevant information for the permanent musicians of a contract orchestra in a clear and digestible way; but also in a way which complies with house-agreements and customs and practice.

Attention to detail is key, as the slightest typo can lead to expensive overtime payments or disrupted rehearsal plans. Ensure your schedule is formatted well and provides your musicians all the information they need to perform at their best!

Do you need an experienced orchestral scheduler
to draft an upcoming tour schedule?

Audition Coordination

Throughout my time working with orchestra departments I have run numerous orchestral recruitment campaigns – including for tutti / rank and file string positions; section principal, principal and sub-principal vacancies across woodwind, brass, percussion and strings; as well as general extra work auditions.

My experience includes job advertising through relevant websites such as Musical Chairs and the Association of British Orchestras, active use of #SocialMedia; dealing with all correspondence with applicants before and after shortlisting; and subsequent coordination of auditions. Whatever the recruitment requirements of your organization, regarding anonymity / blind shortlisting / etc – I can tailor a process to fit your needs.

In line with current best practice, I can coordinate auditions with multiple rounds with blind / screened elements, with or without accompanists; and involve sight-reading, orchestral excerpts, set-works, and even chamber-music making with members of the panel.

Do you have a vacancy for a musician in your orchestra / ensemble, and need assistance recruiting and coordinating auditions?

Venue / Promoter / Festival Contracts

Alongside artist contracts, another aspect of my experience and skill set are contracts for venues, promoters, festivals and / or collaborating organizations.

Again, as with artist contracts the key purpose is to detail the parameters of what has been agreed – be it technical requirements, box office / income splits, engagement dates, load-in and load-out times, on-sale dates, programme and artist details, etc – are all joined up in a legally binding contract.

The importance of good contracts was only further highlighted during the recent pandemic – when a raft of cancellations, postponements and last minute concert adaptations were necessary far beyond the norm for the sector.

Have you secured dates and venues for your performing group’s
tour, but need to put this into a relevant contract?

International Touring (Mainscale Opera + Concerts)

During my time with WNO in particular, I was involved in several foreign tours for the company including a New Years’ Concert tour to Dubai, UAE, touring our Pelléas et Mélisande production to the Hong Kong International Arts Festival, and subsequently our From the House of the Dead production to the Janáček Brno Festival.

All of these tours involved complex coordination of visa, travel, accommodation, rehearsal, performance and freight requirements in coordination with other departments including Chorus, Technical Crew and Company Management.

Any international tour is a major undertaking, even more so post-Brexit and Covid-19; and an experienced tour manager / coordinator can be invaluable in such circumstances.

Are you undertaking an international tour, and looking for someone to coordinate travel / accommodation / visas / freight, etc?

Website Design / Creation / Content Management Systems

Outside of my working life, I also have extensive experience in website design and generally with content management systems.

Whether your organizations requires a brand new website, or just requires regular updating with new content / information – I am familiar with the majority of back-end website design systems.

I also familiar with working with bilingual websites and ensuring your Welsh language public profile does not lag behind your English language content.

Do you need a revamp to your website, or a new build from scratch? Do you need someone to help update content, including bilingually?

Social Media Content Creation / Account Supervision

Across my career, the importance and vitality of social media as a tool for organizations to reach and engage their audiences, and shape the narrative around their place in the cultural landscape locally, nationally and internationally – has grown exponentially.

Regular and high quality social media content is key to ensuring the success of this engagement and narrative-shaping. Having worked within some very large organizations, I’ve worked hard to ensure the work of my particular department has got the coverage and recognition it deserves within the wider organization’s messaging and consequently become adept at producing regular and high-quality social media content.

I can ensure your project / organization produces consistently high quality content – snappy text, fitting within character-limits, supported by high-definition dynamic photo / video media, relevant hashtags and tagging of collaborators, venues and artists – to take your engagement levels to another level – and even do so bilingually too!

Do you need someone to drive up the reach and engagement levels of your audience through high-quality social media content?

Advanced & Intermediate Artistic Planning / Scheduling

There are only 365 days in the year, but in the endless pursuit to balance the books and thrive, your organization has made commitments to 400 days’ worth of activity! Does this scenario ring any bells for you?

If so then what you’re in need of is an experienced and talented artistic planning manager like me! Someone with a brain for puzzles, for creatively working within the restrictions of venue availability, house agreement contract clauses, mediating between the demands of various departments for time / resources / focus, and ensuring as much activity takes place as possible whilst also balancing the books!

In various roles I have faced down this challenge and helped organizations thrive and deliver what often on paper did not seem possible. Can I do the same for you?

Has your organization committed to more activity than you can currently fit into an artistic year? Do you need someone to help you realize these plans in a contractually compliant way?