I've been working in the music industry for just over 7 years, starting off in live with SJM Concerts touring around the UK with various artists including Rita Ora, DJ Fresh, MC Messy, Fleur East etc. I then moved on to Festival Republic for a couple of years where I started as an Artist Liaison on site at Reading & Leeds Festival and Latitude Festival before heading into the office working under the wonderful Arts Curator, Tania Harrison where I helped with all things operational for the festival, in particular Latitude Festival which is still to date my favourite festival around for talent across the arts and atmosphere! Throughout this I was studying for a degree in Business & Management and so once that time had come to a close and the height of festival season was over I headed back up north and worked in a law firm for just over a year which, although not done purposefully, is probably the most important experience I've had to help me with my music industry career. During my time at the law firm I discovered a start up company down in the rural hills of Surrey doing exciting things for the music industry. Music Gateway were originally a marketplace designed for musicians and industry professionals all over the globe to collaborate, connect and work for hire on suited projects. The idea was to close the gap between the industry and provide a gateway for opportunities to stop people being held back by lack of funding to travel or settling for that connection down the road when there might be a better person for that project elsewhere you haven't met yet. In 2014 I headed down to join the online revolution in the hope to help raise the industries game and breakdown some doors. Over the 4 years I've grown into my current role as Chief Operations Officer & Head of Music with my main goal being to look after the infrastructure of the business and how we internally adapt as the platform grows and we introduce new products in a way that remains affordable for artists and small companies. I'm a big believer in every individual treating themselves as a business and focusing on all of the aspects of that, not just the product (music) in order to get ahead and have a career. My personal goal is to create equality across the entire industry and educate people on those other important aspects. To use my business mind to elevate the career of the creatives on a mass scale with Music Gateway is an honour. Love hearing about new opportunities to help the industry so if you're doing something in that vein and you're up for a coffee, give me a shout!