Fresh avenues rise in Wanaka
FIVE years ago, Wanaka’s Lindsey Schofield embarked on her third career – one which she never expected. ‘‘This role was advertised in the local newspaper in 2007 and I just knew that it was for me. However, I was rather apprehensive as I hadn’t had a job interview in 14 years. I’d had a baby, been selfemployed, and was inmyprevious job for nine years. I was pretty nervous but I prepared for the interview by doing role play with a friend and went into the interview as confident as I could – and got it.
‘‘I organise and promote the Southern Lakes Festival of Colour, a biennial arts festival. I amthe on-theground representative, involved in everything from budgeting, sponsorship, marketing, booking travel and accommodation for all of our performers, ticketing, accounts, managing technical staff and all admin – it’s quite a mixed bag.
‘‘It means I can have an incredibly fulfilling job that givesmeflexibility to fit in withmyfamily as well as being stimulating and good fun. Plus I amworking with some of our top arts practitioners including pianist Michael Houstoun and playwright
General manager, Festival of Colour, Wanaka.
Advertising sales, The Wanaka
Sun.
Self-employed owner/operator Mountain Range Boutique Lodge, Wanaka.
Account and board director of KLP Euro RSCG, London Education:
BA (Hons) Communication (Media) Studies
To carry on being part of this incredible festival, and to become more involved with the programming side and perhaps ultimately be the festival director. Dave Armstrong.
‘‘I also work with our tireless bunch of 50 enthusiastic unpaid lovers of the arts – our volunteers.
‘‘At the moment I amworking on getting sponsors signed up for the April 2013 festival. In a few weeks, the festival is bringing Sir Ian Mckellen to perform in Wanaka, which is very exciting.
‘‘There are plenty of challenges as the job is all-encompassing, but it never feels overwhelming, although festival week and the immediate run up are very intense. Weget some pretty interesting requests – one time wehad 12 Latin dancers who were incredibly energetic and a bit chaotic (which was all part of the charm) and they wanted a dozen large pizzas at 10.30 at night – not a problem in a big city but not so easy in Wanaka. Luckily, the local pizza restaurant kept their kitchen open for us.
Then there was the time I had to find carrots of a very particular length and size for Australian performer Linsey Pollak, who makes instruments from household objects and creates a clarinet on stage by drilling holes in a carrot.
‘‘I didn’t plan a career in the arts or events. Before emigrating from the Ukin 2002, I was on the board of KLP, an agency that is part of the Eurorscggroup, the world’s fifth largest communications organisation. Operating a successful business in Wanaka then gavemea