and she is forthright in her
views. “I never entered the
industry to do things on a digital
platform. However, I do think it will
become a necessity to become
more adept at understanding how
the platforms work.”
Sophie adds that the disparity
between platforms makes it
harder to find suitable training.
“It is hard to get training on
exactly how to manage an online
event, it seems very fragmented. I
think if there’s some sort of
training or industry qualification
that is brought in to help people
be trained in delivering those type
of events, I would definitely be on
board with that. The way I see it, it
will become more of a mix of real
life and online combined.”
Covid-19 is largely being
described as a watershed for the
industry, as now live events will
effectively have to compete with
online alternatives. Will this
encourage people to make event,
and experiences even better, I
ask Sophie. “I think in a way they
have to be, to offer even more
value to justify the expense and
concerns people have about
getting people into one room, and
the alternative options available.
“If I go into
another job with more
stability, and my priorities
change, will I look back and
think the last 10 years were
a waste? No, I would
never think that”
“There has to be more
excitement, more engagement,
the content has to be more
relevant, the networking
opportunities have to be more
exciting, not just the standard
coffee break or gala dinner, it has
to be a better use of peoples’
time than ever before.”
Sophie knows her stuff, but
during this time I ask her if she
feels anyone is actually
representing her and her skillset.
“I’m lucky to be part of an
informal freelancer network with
people I’ve worked with before,”
she says. “We are looking out for
each other and have group chats
and sending out opportunities. As
I’m quite new to this, I’ve become
more aware of a couple of things
since lockdown started, such as a
freelance group I’ve joined on
Facebook. There is more of that
now since lockdown as we
needed to be more united.
“In terms of lobbying the
Government, there is an
organisation called Excluded UK,
which is lobbying for everyone
who has slipped through the gaps
throughout the country. Especially
for freelancers. But, as far as I
know, I don’t feel looked after by
Above: Sophie
Sweetman
23
Freelancers
any one organisation.”
Is she put off by coming back to
the industry once we return to
some manner of normality, I ask
her. “It has changed my
perception after speaking to other
freelancers, whereas before in
the events world, as a freelancer,
you would think ‘I want a job that
offers exciting projects, the opportunity
to travel, to work with
clients in this industry’, you could
pick and choose.” she says.
“I’ve worked 10 years in my
career to get to the point I’m at
now, and it feels like it has been
pulled out from under me. Will it
be the same again? I don’t know.
“If I go into another job with
more stability, and my priorities
change, will I look back and think
the last 10 years were a waste?
No, I would never think that; I’ve
had amazing experiences. What
the future would look like if it
became more online and no
longer felt like the industry it once
was, by not employing the same
amount of people and so on,
would make me feel sad. I’d miss
what we used to have, if I went
into a different industry I’d always
miss it.”
With the restart date now
pencilled in for 1 October, there is
at least something to work
towards, on the assumption the
number of cases doesn’t begin to
rise dramatically once more. But
there is no denying the working
landscape is going to be
ultra-competitive. Freelancers are
going to play a vital role in the
delivery of events going forward,
but how many will want to
continue working for themselves
after this crisis remains to be
seen?
In Sophie’s case, like so many
others, it was a matter of bad
timing. But with her passion for
events and experience to match,
there must surely be good times
ahead.
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