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We caught up with Wendy Stenberg who is the conference and events executive at Perth Concert Hall. Her role will also include Perth Theatre when the fantastic transformation is finished.
Wendy works 9 - 5 Monday to Friday with the odd earlier start or later finish, and sometimes covers the odd duty manager shift.
From her wedding in St Lucia to the launch night for the Ryder cup we get all the juicy gossip!
1. What does a typical day at work look like for you?
A typical day, if I have a conference or event in, would be to arrive early to make sure everything is set up correctly for the client. This covers checking all the seating in the auditorium and breakout rooms to make sure it’s in place, clean etc, making sure all the AV is set up and checking the registration desk, catering stations and exhibition tables to make sure they are correctly clothed and in place. Once the client arrives I’ll be there to greet them and ensure their day runs smoothly. Each event takes months of planning and as I am a bit of a perfectionist I do take pride in things being just right on the day. There is also a fantastic team of catering, production, front of house, box office and venues staff here who all play their part to make each event a success.
Once I’m happy things are running smoothly I’ll get back to my desk, answer emails and update requirements for future events. I attend a lot of client meetings so may have someone coming in to catch up with details of their event or perhaps I’ll have a show round of the concert hall with a new or prospective client. Every day is different which I really enjoy. I also attend a lot of internal meetings and contribute to our Green team, Healthy Working Lives initiative and Health and safety meetings.
2. What signals the start of your weekend / days off?
Well not getting up any later as I’m an early bird and will still be up at the crack of dawn on a day off and even on holiday. My husband and I are very social so there usually always some plan to meet up with friends or go out somewhere on a day off or weekend.
3. What makes for a perfect night in?
I love cooking so a perfect night in would be to have family or friends over and spoil them with a nice meal. Great chat and a good laugh over a nice glass of wine and passing the tablet around to play our favourite tunes on Spotify is always fun and may even end up with a bit of a boogie!
4. What makes for a memorable day or night out?
Oh it could be anything really as long as the formula for memorable is right - a special occasion to share with family or friends, a great gig that you have waited months to attend, visiting somewhere new. I’m a fan of spontaneity too and last minute plans can be equally as memorable.
5. Tell us about the weekend you’d love to live again?
There are so many – how to pick one? Probably the weekend my husband Tobbe and I were married. We were in St Lucia, just the two of us and it was just perfect!
6. And now your best ever day at work?
One of my best ever days at work was the day of the Ryder Cup Year to Go Launch. I led the event here and it was really full on. Months and months of planning to have the two golf captains here for the official launch of the “Year to Go” before the Ryder Cup event came to Gleneagles. To see it all come together without a hitch on the day was really rewarding. 1200 people attended the event in our auditorium followed by cocktails and canapes in our transformed foyer and the place was just buzzing.
7. Any workday or weekend rituals?
Not really rituals. My workday mornings are quite similar if I’m not in early. Up at 6.15, shower and then sit in the living room watching Good Morning Britain, sipping Berocca and checking emails and Facebook on my phone and tablet. I don’t have breakfast at home during the week. My husband leaves about 7.15 and my son at 7.30 if he is working. I have a habit of sitting too long then having a mad panic to dry hair, get dressed and take the dog out before leaving to pick up my friend for 8 o’clock. Why so early? So we can have coffee before the work day really starts of course ☺
8. What’s in the perfect day off breakfast?
I’m a pretty healthy eater so don’t really go in for big breakfasts. However, if it’s a special day, maybe a birthday or Christmas day I do like eggs benedict and a glass of buck’s fizz. A warm croissant, a few strawberries and a nice latte is lovely too
9. Any words of wisdom for us?
Don’t knock it till you've tried it!
The fact that within minutes of the city you can be in beautiful countryside. With lovely walks such as Quarry Mill and Murrayshall on our doorstep, our little dog Smudge is very happy!
I think that we are spoilt for choice with the amazing array of music, comedy and events that we have on, not only here at the concert hall (plug plug) but within other venues in the area.
I think my third is that almost everyone I know and love lives in the area which is great as we get to see each other a lot.
SCBP25th September 2016
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