Everything I’ve done in the events industry stems back to being in bands and coming from a small town. This may come as a surprise but there isn't that much to do in Ayrshire for the average 12/13 year old with a ponytail, leather jacket & bandana.
I was lucky to be surrounded by a really great group of friends, all with older brothers, sisters and parents who got us into music at a very early age, which led to us being in bands and putting on our own events in church halls and an indoor football venue called, ‘The Centre’. Music and promoting these events were my main focus until I was about 20, the band I was in by that time were signed to a management label in London and we were doing some support tours and gigs around the UK.
When I was 21, I started my first ‘Inhouse’ company with the desire to make 100 quid a week without being there, meaning that I would have an income whilst on tour. I certainly had no idea at the time that 16 years later I would be running three venues and a production company.
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I was always into music and being involved in the music scene through putting on events and working at venues seemed like the logical way to make it happen. Did I think I would be running venues and developing large scale event programmes? Not at all. I thought that I was going to be a rockstar, oh well.
I’m not even sure where to start with my day to day, it’s wildly different by the hour. I love putting on free events, and seeing in turn what that can do for the city. If the events are free, it's a big barrier removed in enabling people to attend, and therefore to socialise. I love my team, although I'm pretty sure they hate me for all the missions I drag them into. Internally, we refer to Queens Park event blocks as ‘tours’ , but not like the kind bands go on. The personal and financial sacrifices we go through to put on these big fee event programmes at Queens Park is absurd, so we must love it to do it, and we're doing it all again this year.
I want Queen’s Park Arena programme to be a highlight in the city’s summer social calendar and the envy of people visiting the city. Would love for the space to be like ‘Green Park’ in Amsterdam or ‘Central Park’ In NYC, a must see when people come to the city. Modest aspirations in the grand scheme of things I know.
I’d describe the programme as made for the local community, by the people from that community. Something for families, friends, and neighbours to hang out with each other at and meet new people.
The free programme of events returns to Queen’s Park Arena this summer. Designed by local, non-profit organisation Inhouse Event CIC, the community-led summer programme runs from June 30 to July 23 offering locals and visitors the chance to enjoy film screenings, creative art workshops, comedy sets, live music and more. For further info and to book tickets, head to: https://qpa.inhouse.scot/
