Wrexham University student gains professional experience at music festival
Date: Wednesday 2 August, 2023
Simon Jones, a second-year Television Production student at Wrexham University, gained valuable work experience at this year’s Neighbourhood Weekender festival in Warrington.
Over the May weekend, which normally welcomes more than 20,000 music lovers, Simon was assigned the role of Camera Assistant and Runner. This involved carrying equipment, handling camera lenses, assisting within the crowds and spotting opportunities for shots.
He was given access to the press pit in front of the stage to capture the artists in action, as well as backstage in the ‘Artist Village’ to catch all the behind-the-scenes activities.
Simon said that he chose to study at Wrexham because the course looked so hands-on. He added that “…Wrexham allowed me to have more one-to-one time with the tutors, who are still active within the industry.”
Simon explained the knowledge gained from his degree aided him greatly during his time at the festival. “You need to be able to talk the language to other industry professionals, that’s why learning the terminology and abbreviations during my studies was crucial” he said.
“Working within a professional environment has been invaluable. I now have a clear understanding of what it takes to work in this setting.
“I have learned how to manage time at events, and it has allowed me to network with others from different disciplines. It is exciting to see how the theory you have learnt can be applied to real situations.”
Glenn Hanstock, Wrexham University lecturer who has assisted with the festival numerous times previously, added that studying a Media degree at Wrexham University is “all about the students producing and expanding their portfolio ready to show a potential employer.” When Glenn isn’t lecturing, he is an active video producer, director and cinematographer.
Neighbourhood Weekend is just one of the opportunities Simon has had during his studies at Wrexham. He has also been part of creating a Podcasting Masterclass, a 4-week programme for 11-14-year-olds for the North Wales Children’s University. Simon also attended Focus Wales, an international music festival, where he covered the artists performing in the university’s studio and had hands-on time with vision mixing and floor management.
When discussing his plans after graduating, Simon said: “It’s completely open now. When I started the degree, I wanted to work as a camera operator. But, because you learn such a wide skillset and share so many ideas with peers, it’s opened so many potential different roles.”