ALUMNI STORIES: INTERVIEW WITH OLLIE
Over the next few months, we will be speaking to our key employees, whom we fondly refer to as 'alumni', to share their experiences of living and working for a busy production company. Read their stories as they offer insights, discuss challenges, and highlight milestones during their time at King Sound through a series of interviews.
Whether you are considering a job application with us or contemplating a career in this profession, these stories are filled with valuable advice. We hope you take advantage of this guidance and enjoy reading!
Our latest interviewee is Oliver Davies, our Operations Manager, who has been with us for over a year. He initially started by managing the Live Events side of the business, but has since progressed into a more senior production role, overseeing the entire process of planning and executing shows. Ollie has become an integral part of our team, successfully managing some of our biggest and most challenging gigs, expanding our professional portfolio, and fostering new business relationships. A strong team player, hard worker, and always eager to learn, Ollie enjoys managing the operational side of the business. As he puts it, "Having all the elements under my control."
1. WHAT'S YOUR BACKGROUND AND WHERE DID YOUR INTEREST IN SOUND COME FROM?
The first thing you most want to do as a child is make things as loud as possible, and I have always been extremely fortunate that my family has (for some reason) always been encouraging of this! I started off playing brass in orchestras, then moved onto gigging with bands, where I first discovered sound equipment and, with all of my savings from my first waitering job, I bought my little first PA system and the rest is history! I have always had a need to learn as much as I could about sound, and I was lucky enough to have nurturing mentors in my local community who encouraged me to have a go on the bigger gigs which gave me the confidence and drive to go out and do more challenging shows myself. I studied Production Arts in college, alongside working in the industry freelance and with a local production company, which all helped to build the strong foundations of the skillset and experience that I have today - from theatre, to corporate events, to festivals and everything in between!
2. WHAT MADE YOU PICK KING SOUND REINFORCEMENT FOR TRAINING / JOB?
While working on festivals, I had come across King and always admired the professionalism and skill that they brought to the jobs; they always seemed to be a strong team that took real pride in the work that they produced, and I felt that this was an ethos that I really aligned myself with.
3. WHAT DID BRISTOL OFFER YOU AS A YOUNG TRAINEE / EMPLOYEE?
Bristol offers a thriving music and arts scene alongside a strong events production community that pulls together to create some really fantastic events in the many great venues in and around the city. This was really exciting for me to get involved in, as it offered the ever-evolving, challenging environment that I was craving.
4. HOW DID YOU WORK EVOLVE HERE AT KSR?
I’ve found that my knowledge has greatly expanded since starting at KSR; the work we do as a company is so varied, it is important to be knowledgeable about many things, so that you can apply yourself to the best of your ability to whatever may be needed at that particular point in time.
5. WHAT IS YOUR FONDEST / HARDEST / FUNNIEST MEMORY OF WHEN YOU TRAINED / WORKED AT KSR?
My fondest memory of working at KSR so far has been doing sound at a gig with 17 jazz musicians onstage at once — it was challenging at first due to the amount that needed to be organised within a short timeframe, but to hear the immense noise that came out of them and the audience’s reaction — it was incredible! It is so unbelievably rewarding to see your hard work pay off in realtime.
6. WHAT HAVE YOU GONE TO ACHIEVE SINCE TRAINING / WORKING WITH KSR?
Since working at KSR, I have created valuable relationships with clients and other professionals and I’ve been responsible for bigger gigs and more state-of-the-art equipment than ever before. The training that I’ve completed whilst being employed by KSR has also really expanded my skillset, including my IPAF qualification, which has enabled me to drive more specialised plant machinery to aide us in our operations.
7. WHAT ARE YOU WORKING ON AT THE MOMENT?
I’m currently working on looking at the future of the company and how we can grow to become market leaders in an ever-evolving live events industry by creating new business relationships and expanding our array of kit to serve a wider sector of clients.
8. WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE YOUR CAREER TO BE HEADING?
I envision a long future with the company, and am looking forward to being a key part of its ongoing success and growth. I want to continue to learn the inner-workings of the company and the industry we live in, and expand my understanding of our client-base and grow my skills. This really is job that you could never possibly get bored of because there is really never a dull moment!
9. WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO TRAINEES THINKING ABOUT TRAINING / WORKING AT KSR?
Be prepared to work hard but the seeing the results make it all worth it!
Don’t be afraid to not know everything because the learning never stops — everyday I am working on developing myself and my knowledge, and looking to try different approaches so I can keep everything fresh as this is pivotal in a profession that is constantly changing.
It is also important to always be a team player and support those around you as working together well is the only way the job gets done to the ‘King standard’.