Day in the life of
Entertainment Consultant – Scott Swenson
My name is Scott Swenson and I am the Owner and Creative Director for Scott Swenson Creative Development LLC. I am an entertainment consultant who focuses on seasonal events and festivals (Theme Parks, Zoos, Museums, etc.) and high-end fundraising events. I provide concept development, direction, scripting (when needed), and art direction.
What is a “typical day”? In the events industry, you need to be prepared for changes. I truly believe that it is best to have a clear cut plan…that you can completely change when needed.
My time is usually split into four basic categories:
- Office Time
- Creative Time
- Promotional Time
- On-site Time
My Office Time includes meetings and conference calls with clients. It is essential to keep the clients up to date on all developments and to hear from them any changes on their end. The plan for any event is a living document and will develop and morph as the situation changes.
Creative Time is my personal favorite. This is when I am writing or researching the content of the events. Many people believe that this is a relaxed and unhurried time, it is not. I have found that you need to create a structure or a system to developing creative content. If I don’t have a structure, I will wander aimlessly in the world of “what if” and never get to “what will be”.
Promotional Time is essential for me as I am an independent contractor. This can include media appearances, writing articles for trade publications, teaching seminars, or attending trade shows. I need to keep my name out there and show potential clients the services I can offer.
Finally, the On-site Time is overseeing the preparation and installation of the event. For some, this may also include helping with the operation of the event. Since most of my events last several weeks or even months, I usually open them and then turn them over to an operational team. I do stop back to check on-going quality.
The task that I do most of the time is talking to people. Being a strong verbal communicator is essential. I have often said that I act as a “translator” between the corporate world and the creative world. I help both sides understand the importance of the other. I also spend a great deal of time writing narratives and/or scripts for the events so that everyone has a concrete understanding of the expectations. I do spend some time researching (and even attending) other events so that I know what is in the market. Most days, I live at my laptop…and since I work from home, I put the “casual” in “office casual” attire.
Pros
- I love what I do. Creating new moments for guests to enjoy, is very rewarding for me.
- I am never bored. I have a wide variety of clients and I am always doing/learning something different.
- I get to be both creative and corporate. I like living in both worlds.
Cons
- Lack of scheduled free time. People often think that being a freelancer means you have a great deal of free time…this has not been the case for me. It is very difficult to plan vacations because I need to work when my clients need me.
- Constant Change. I mentioned that this industry is filled with dealing with the unexpected; anything from weather challenges to power outages to cast changes to shipping delays…and you need to be able to roll with the changes and make things look perfect. This is not always easy.
