Meet Team Creative - Lyndsay Smith

In a new feature on the Creative Taste blog we are going to introduce you to some of the team that work so hard to make it all happen.  From the kitchen to staffing, logistics to business development we will cover it all!  They will all be answering a few questions to give you an idea about them,  their Creative world and what goes on behind the scenes.  Today we start with Lyndsay Smith our Special Events Manager...

Name...   Lyndsay Smith
Job Title...   Events Manager
Venue...   Special Events
Favourite Drink...   Wine (any variety)
Favourite Meal...   Anything Italian



I started working for Creative..   
January 2008 (which makes me feel old). As a fresh faced 22 year old I joined the company during Creative’s major growth spurt. Having won 3 new major festivals for that summer (Big Chill, Cornbury and Bloodstock) I had to hit the ground running and was thrown in at the deep end. 5 years on, I have learnt a huge amount, aged somewhat, climbed the career ladder and enjoyed every step.

In a nutshell my role is...
Plan plan plan. From the initial meeting to the execution and load out. One thing you can’t plan for is the weather!

On an average day...
There is no average day which is the reason why I got into events.  Every day is different, faced with diverse projects and challenges.

My most rewarding moment...
Too many to name, each season becomes more rewarding as we take on more and grow. From completing just a handful of events 5 years ago in a season to over 65 events this summer, seeing the team do well, winning new contracts and retaining old contracts.

My most challenging moment...
A few to name, but the biggest challenge to date has to be Summer 2012 with the Olympics. There was a noticeable shortfall in a lot of equipment, meaning that prices increased due to demand. I had to negotiate with suppliers and plan even further ahead than normal – often very tricky in events! It was also logistically significantly harder operating in and out of London as we had to move our whole HQ to a new base as our existing warehouse and office was an Olympic venue! That said, it was fantastic for part of the business to have been involved in a once in a lifetime event and it being right on our doorstep.

I can't be doing with...
Inability to react to change. The events industry is forever changing and events will forever change last minute. You must be prepared to roll with it and be adaptable.

I couldn’t cope without...
Coffee, wine and hand sanitiser.

Best piece of advice...
Always have a plan B and you are only as good as the people around you, invest in them.