For our latest ‘Getting To Know’ feature, we caught up with Sarah Fletcher-Berman - a Freelance events manager with over sixteen years’ experience delivering events both in the UK and Internationally. Experience gained working in-house and agency-side, and with a real passion for live events and a love of working with clients to deliver these.
Q: In a nutshell, tell us the about your services and the some of the industries you’ve freelanced for?
A: I offer end-to-end event management services to agencies and businesses when they need additional support. My knowledge is vast, from taking the client brief right through to ROI and de-briefs, plus all the bits in between. I am experienced working solo, leading a project or being part of a team. I am happy to get involved at any stage of a project. The industries I have worked with include financial, technology, retail, telecommunications, and construction. I’ve organised events for between 15 – 5,000 delegates. These have included conferences, exhibitions, incentives, roadshows, team building, corporate hospitality, fashion shows, product launches, gala dinners, variety shows and hybrid events.
Q: How did you get started in the events industry?
A: I was working as a mortgage underwriter for a Bank when a colleague suggested I applied for an internal position in another department. Even though it was quite different, I had the skill set and right attitude so was thankfully successfully. My first morning in the role was spent flying out to Dubai for a site visit. That afternoon I was ‘snowboarding’ down sand dunes before riding a camel in traditional costume further into the desert to enjoy a Bedouin evening set up for 200 but there was just four of us. I couldn’t believe I was getting paid to do this and never wanted to do anything else! I just love working in this industry as every day is different! The rest they say is history!
Q: Most memorable moment working as a freelancer?
A: I have only recently set myself up as a freelancer. However, my most memorable moment was being involved in the Olympic Torch Tour! I worked for one of the sponsors at the time and after the torch design was launched it went on a tour of the UK. I was heavily involved in the internal tour but also some of the public events too. I became such a geek, met loads of Olympians, and helped to build the excitement of The London 2012 Olympics.
Q: Best location you’ve worked at (could be a hotel, a city or a country)
A: That’s a tricky one as I’ve worked in so many fabulous locations in the UK and Internationally. However, I think the best location must be Las Vegas! Everything is on such a huge scale; the city never sleeps and I had such fun even though I was working. Taking a helicopter and landing in the Grand Canyon and sneaking into the bath in Liberace’s bedroom at his Mansion are experiences I will never forget!
Q: If you could go back in time, what advice would you give yourself when you first started out in the events world?
A: There are two bits of advice really:
1) never be afraid to ask lots of questions, it’s the best way to learn.
2) Make friends with everyone as you never know when you will need to pull in favours to help you when there are last minute changes, if everyone needs to work longer than expected or should the unexpected happen.
Contact info:
Email: sarah@sfbeventmanagement.co.uk
Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-fletcher-berman/