RO meeting: meeting the management!

December 1. Zoom. Management team.


Today was a very significant day, where my work has begun proper. I was introduced to everyone again, as an English Lit student with particular skills in marketing (especially Instagram), and how I'm looking forward to getting involved across the board, with the aim of gaining insights should I start my own company too. This time I made sure I kept the focus on the business and industry insights I wanted to gain, with my musical and theatrical experience supplementing that and coming second, so that I could really engage on the business level that I wanted. Recently I have been pitching quite a lot, and it is reminiscent of the sessions with Sascha! His tips are coming in handy here; particularly in engaging a virtual audience.

I got to meet everyone in their business capacities today (where previously I have mostly met them informally or artistically). It was much clearer today that Claire Webster Saaremets (creative director and boss) was running the show, and I was thankful that I have so far been able to cultivate a positive relationship with her. I also got to talk to Cristina Armstrong, the creative producer, who also heads up much of the marketing and financial elements. It was good to start processing some of my marketing thoughts, particularly as the new Marketing and Comms director they had recently chosen to employ, had taken up a different position elsewhere.

It was useful to be taken through the budget and financial status ahead of the next project too, which Cristina headed. (I won't go into more detail online!)

We then went on to discuss the main project. Everyone shared ideas of how we could go from concept to creation with the 'Who Holds The Torch' theme that we had chosen for Holocaust Memorial Day's 'Light in the Darkness' campaign. Building on people's ideas of engaging the community and encouraging a personal connection, I offered my recent experiences as an NHS Volunteer Responder. Part of this commitment involves me regularly phoning isolating individuals for 'Check in and chat' sessions. This directly works in tandem with Skimstone's avowed aim of helping those 'at risk of social isolation', and I offered some insights into the stories that I had heard in conversations I have had. Many of the people I talk to have their own 'lights' in the darkness, and there are very personal connections to the good things that are happening, or have happened, for them.

The group seemed attentive to my contribution and indeed Claire suggested I take on some creative aspects too, which I would quite like to do!

Moving on to practicalities though, we considered how best to share the campaign virtually over the internet. On the idea of virtual 'books', Cristina suggested isuu, and it was decided I was best placed to further research this.

Claire went on to set out the inclusive aspects of her audience-grabbing aims. We were all then further tasked with the action: "Everyone to think what we would like to have at the festival? What we/audiences would like to see? How interactive the workshops will be?"

I will further research and develop ideas for this, as well as joining the creative meeting when they meet later.

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