“Hi, is this Rachael?”
“Yes, I’m Rachael.”
“This is Sebastian from J Events. Are you available to start work next Monday? This is about your application as a sound engineer and assistant events planner for the Jay Chou concert.”
“Yes! Yes, I am!”
“I’ll text you the address later, see you!”
I squealed and jumped for joy. After quite a job search, I couldn’t believe that I got the job to work at the professional event company that would be in charge of Jay Chou’s year-end concert.
On Sunday night, I prepared my work outfit and bag. It’s definitely going to be a learning journey, I told myself, as I climbed into bed and fell asleep.
On Monday, I jumped out of bed as soon as my alarm rang. When I reached the office, I waited at the door and buzzed the doorbell.
No answer. I tried again, and again.
Oh no, what if I was at the wrong place… I began to panic, when a voice came up behind me.
“Hey, are you Rachael?”
I turned around to see a casually dressed person that was not present at the interview.
“Yea, and you…. are?” I heaved a sigh of relief, it was the right location afterall.
“I’m Jeff, founder here at J Events! Sorry, we had a late night event this past weekend, so we’re a little late to work this morning. You’ll soon see just how dynamic working at an event company in Singapore is. Working hours are never regular!” Jeff quipped as he opened the office door with a fingerprint.
He welcomed me in, and told me to help myself to the drinks in the fridge.
“So, Rachael, tell me more about why you’re here!”
I sipped on the lemon tea, and cleared my throat. Jeff seems pretty friendly.
“I like Jay Chou’s music very much! And I learnt sound engineering in poly. I think I’ll be able to learn a lot at an event company.”
“Oh! Have you been to his concerts in the past?”
“Yea, I have!”
“What’s your favourite part of the concert?”
“Definitely the songs and the atmosphere! I’m also in awe of how smooth the whole experience is. I really can’t wait to be part of his end of year concert!”
“Yea, so you’ll be working in the sound engineering team as a junior sound engineer. But we want you on board as an assistant events planner as well. On the day of the concert itself, we want you to be with the sound engineering team. So for the planning part, you’ll work with your manager leading up to the event.”
“Cool, but that sounds like quite a bit of work though!”
“Don’t worry, Michelle who is the events manager will guide you. Jake at the sound engineering team is also there if you need help! They should be coming in any time soon…”
Jeff showed me to my desk located near some windows, and gave me an office tour. As he was about to be done, a fashionably dressed lady and a bearded guy walked through the door.
The lady placed her bag down and walked up to me, introducing herself as Michelle, head of event planning.
“We’ll need to go into a meeting this afternoon. How’s it been so far for you on your first day at a professional event company?” Michelle asked as we both walked to the pantry together.
“After you’re done with Rachael, let me know! We need her for her expertise — sound engineering! Oh yea, I’m Jake, head of the sound engineering team here!” Jake gave me a wave, and reminded Michelle.
Well, it seems like my job here is going to be bustling. Can’t wait to learn more about the ‘behind the scenes event work’!
