“I’ve always been passionate about music and the arts, but finding a way into the festival industry without relevant experience or a degree took years of grafting, making connections and getting hands-on wherever I could. After moving to Bristol to pursue creative opportunities, I spent several years building experience in hospitality and live music, while independently promoting club nights and soundsystem events across Bristol and London. I was developing my skills in marketing and content creation through these projects, but breaking into the industry still felt like a huge challenge.

In 2021, I started working in a café inside Bristol Beacon, which led to casual roles across Front of House, the Box Office and stewarding. These experiences gave me valuable insight into the operational and leadership side of live music, but I wanted to explore something more creative.

Earlier this year, I applied for the Muti x Big Team Festival Bootcamp because I wanted to take the next step in my career and find a way into the festival world. The industry had always felt quite closed off, with so much seemingly coming down to who you know. Meeting Big Team and being introduced to people at Team Love helped break down those barriers and showed me that there were opportunities out there for people like me.

My first festival filming experience was at Love Saves the Day, and that summer completely changed my perspective on what my future in the industry could look like. Through Big Team, I’ve been introduced to so many incredible opportunities across content creation, marketing and communications, and I’ve built a network of creatives and industry professionals who inspire me and support my development.

Since joining Big Team’s network in May, I’ve worked across multiple projects, including creating content for Festival Pathways and freelancing as Marketing Assistant for Big Team’s artist development programme, Open Mic Sessions. I also work regularly as Content & Comms Assistant for Bristol Festivals Network, have created content for St George’s Bowls & Social Club with Team Love, and worked as an Interactive Assistant at The Information: Interactive at FORWARDS festival. Each opportunity has helped me develop new skills, build confidence and discover more about the kind of creative career I want to pursue.

But what makes Big Team so special to me goes far beyond the work opportunities. The first word that comes to mind when I think of Big Team is family. Their approach to mentoring is incredibly supportive and non-hierarchical, giving you the freedom to make your own choices, develop your own voice and grow in a way that feels right for you. Working with them feels like having older siblings who you can rely on for guidance, rather than navigating an intimidating industry alone.

As a neurodivergent person, I’d worried that the festival industry might not be somewhere I could thrive. Festivals could feel intimidating and overstimulating, and I honestly never thought I’d be able to work in that environment. Being part of Big Team has completely shifted that perspective. I’ve found a community where I feel genuinely supported, where people can show up as themselves without feeling the need to mask or fit into a particular mould.

Through Big Team, I’ve also discovered an incredible creative community. Meeting the Film Forwards cohort and media team at Love Saves the Day was a real highlight. Seeing them in action sparked my curiosity about filmmaking and helped me realise that photography and filmmaking at live events could be a realistic career path for someone with a background like mine.

One of the biggest changes has been the way I see myself within the festival industry. I used to feel like an outsider looking in, but now I approach events and opportunities with much more confidence. I’m building my own network, approaching people independently and recognising friendly faces wherever I go. Working at Team Love festivals has also shown me how successful events can be run with ethical and sustainable practices while supporting inclusive and diverse employment. Being surrounded by people who genuinely enjoy what they do has made me realise that I can feel that way about my own work, too.

What stands out most about Big Team is the care and belief they invest in people. They recognise talented creatives with untapped potential and create the conditions for that potential to flourish. Their commitment to inclusion feels genuine because it’s reflected in how they work every day: through shared experiences, meaningful relationships, openness to feedback and a willingness to keep learning. As someone from a working-class background who has faced barriers to accessing creative opportunities, that kind of support means so much to me.

Working on Open Mic Sessions has also shown me how much I value contributing to projects that support and develop other creatives — opportunities I wish I’d had access to when I was younger. I want to continue working on programmes that help people grow, while developing my own creative practice and moving towards a career in professional filmmaking. I’m particularly passionate about telling stories from underrepresented voices and creating work that helps others feel seen and represented.

I’m excited about what comes next. Big Team has helped me move from feeling like the festival industry was out of reach to feeling like I have a genuine place within it. They’ve given me the confidence, connections and support to explore what I’m capable of, while reminding me that I don’t need to change who I am to succeed.”