Reflection written by using Gibbs' Reflective Cycle

For this assignment I had the chance to create a podcast on the topic of “connecting students to the live music and dance events industry.” We were fortunate to have Freke Reimer the owner of Nextstage and director of Solid as our guest. Freke has over 20 years of experience in the event sector. My responsibilities included reaching out to Freke, booking the recording room (HUB), Time management, and preparing the interview questions.I was initially excited about the assignment as I enjoy working on projects involving event professionals. However, I also felt a bit stressed when trying to coordinate the recording session with Freke and our team, because it was quite difficult to find a date and time that worked for everyone.  Once everything was in motion I felt very confident in our deliverables.

Overall, in my eyes the project was a success. The communication within the group was amazing and professional, each team member executed their role effectively. Kate and Anouke did an outstanding job with the interview, and Liana’s editing work made the podcast sound perfect! However, there was one small issue. Freke didn’t know that the interview would be conducted in English. Although this was clarified, it could have been communicated better in the beginning and maybe mentioned more frequently. The best aspect was the valuable insights we gained from Freke. She offered a perspective on the industry, which gave me more excitement about entering the event sector.

Reflecting on Freke's advice, one big takeaway was her emphasis on networking and being proactive in the industry. It really struck me that students shouldn’t wait for opportunities to come to them but should actively seek them out. This is something I am doing but I can improve on making sure I’m more proactive in connecting with people and learning from every experience. Another key point was how every job, even if unpaid or small, contributes to your growth in the sector and making connections. Freke highlighted that there are always learning moments in every job and this will help guide your future career.

Additionally, Freke’s thoughts on CV building were really valuable. She explained that a CV shouldn't be just a list of jobs, but a way to tell your experience. It should reflect who you are, what drives you, and how your personality aligns with the job. She also mentioned tailoring the CV to the specific role or company and including any relevant unpaid experiences, such as volunteering or school projects.

In conclusion, this assignment was an excellent learning experience for me. Not only did I gain insight into the live events industry from Freke, but I also learned how to manage time, communicate better within a team, and make logistical decisions. Freke’s advice on networking and building a CV will stay with me as I continue to develop myself on a professional level.The biggest lesson learned was the importance of being proactive and taking action myself. Whether through networking, preparing for interviews, or even creating a strong CV.

In the future, I will focus on being even more proactive in building my network and making connections in the industry. I will also work on tailoring my CV to specific jobs and ensuring it reflects my skills, values, and experiences, rather than just listing jobs. Additionally, I’ll start planning group projects and interviews as early as possible to avoid stress and having enough time to work. Clear communication will be essential to avoid misunderstandings like the one we had with the language of the interview. Overall, I feel confident that the lessons I learned during this podcast project will help me grow both professionally and personally in the event sector and think we created an awesome podcast!