I’ve decided not to “AI-enhance” this.
Everyone else is doing that, and all you’re getting is a “Paper Unicorn” someone who looks mythical on a screen but crumbles like an old bar of soap the moment they’re actually put into a high-pressure production environment.
The “Cultural Fit” Red Flag
Let’s get the first elephant out of the room: I’m a mix between a Millennial and Gen X. In some circles, that’s a red flag. It suggests I might not fit the “young and vibrant” agency culture. However, what I actually possess is 13 years of battle-tested experience with some of the biggest names in the industry.
Neg Earth:
I’ve worked with the best in music and festivals on the lighting side.
Avolites:
I was their Tech Support and Training person. I’ve trained hundreds of people to operate the very lighting desks and media servers you likely have in your own inventory.
Colour Sound Experiment:
I spent a year designing and operating shows, where I eventually had to part ways because my obsession with rigging safety standards was higher than theirs. I don’t compromise on the lives of my crew or the public.
Turning “Death by PowerPoint” into Global Scalability
At Brompton Technology, I took a “Death by PowerPoint” training programme and rebuilt it from the ground up during the COVID shutdown. I created an online, multi-camera interactive system with custom multimedia content and global audience reach.
The result? I increased their training capacity from 12 people locally a month to 300, worldwide. When the world woke up again, I took that show on the road globally. The feedback was consistent: “The best training course I have been on, bar none.”
Windsor & Eton Pride: From Zero to 6,000
Most recently, I’ve been the driving force behind Windsor & Eton Pride. I’ve handled everything: branding, logistics, production, and securing charity status.
The Win: Our launch event saw 6,000 attendees, a guest appearance by Sir Ian McKellen, and the first Pride march ever allowed on the Crown Estate (The King’s backyard).
The Budget: We raised nearly £55,000 for a free event through sheer grit and recruitment of a volunteer army.
The “Agency Experience” Hurdle
I’ve been rejected before for “lack of agency experience.” But before the production world, I worked in IT for Covent Garden agencies like DLKW, Getty, and Photolibrary. I’ve seen how the sausage is made from the inside. Add to that 8 years running a successful D&B night in Reading where I booked Sub Focus for a train ticket and gave Andy C his demo CD that helped launch his career and you’ll see I’ve been managing live events since before it was a “career path.”
The “Fruit Salad” of Red Flags
Now for the bit most people hide. I’m disabled. I have a “fruit salad” of conditions:
Multiple Sclerosis:
It makes me a bit wobbly when I’m tired, but it hasn’t stopped me from flying across the world, running tradeshows, or completing paratriathons.
Trigeminal Neuralgia:
I’ve had the surgery, but living with what sometimes feels like a knife in your jaw teaches you a level of mental resilience most people can’t imagine.
The Neurodiversity Power-Up:
I have ADHD (diagnosed back in 2011 when it wasn’t as cool as it is today) and I’m on the Autistic spectrum waitlist.
How this helps you: I don’t do things by halves. While others are finishing dinner, I’ve usually designed the logo, registered the trademark, and finished a project plan by 2 AM, before hitting the gym at 6 AM. I don’t just “manage” production; I hyper-focus on it until it is perfect.
Why Me?
Job hunting sucks, and reading 500 identical CVs probably sucks more. I have a crazy amount of transferable skills for both the Head of Production and Account Manager roles. I’m hoping this letter gives you enough of a laugh, and enough curiosity to skip the CV, do a bit of Googling, and give me a chance to prove myself in a chat.
Thank you for getting through this wall of text.
Steve