Leeds Beckett University - City Campus,
Woodhouse Lane,
LS1 3HE
Students score festival experience with Slam Dunk this bank holiday
Taking place on Saturday 28 May, Slam Dunk is this year hosting more than 50 acts, including headliners Panic! At the Disco and New Found Glory, over eight stages including Millennium Square, Leeds Beckett University and the O2 Academy.
Thirty-four Leeds Beckett students are set to be involved in: artist liaison, stage management, press and public relations, event production as well as assisting in artist and production car parking throughout the all-day event.
Adam Jones, a BSc (Hons) Music Technology student graduating this summer, said: “The role I’m undertaking at the festival this weekend is as an Artist Liaison. That involves tasks and responsibilities such as, taking an artist to press for interviews, taking them to stage, showing them around the venue or simply going and fetching water so they can do their vocal warm ups! Having just finishing a BSc (Hons) Music Technology course, I know how crucial it is to get industry interaction and volunteering for an incredible opportunity like this can help gain knowledge on how to speak to successful artists, as well as various tiers of management and hopefully, I’ll gain a few contacts for future reference throughout the day!”
Matt Goodband, second year BA (Hons) Filmmaking student, added: “Working in artist liaison will require me to know how the event operates as well as time manage effectively and coordinate with the talent. Working in this position will also give myself the chance to network with an array of people at the festival which relays into my Filmmaking course, which is all about meeting new people and undertaking new opportunities.”
Simon Bell, Senior Lecturer in Events Management at Leeds Beckett, said: “Opportunities in live music events are always very popular with our students and we have many graduates working in this area of events. So it has been fantastic to expand our involvement with Slam Dunk this year beyond the wristband exchange to opportunities in press, event production and artist liaison.
“Slam Dunk is a national event this weekend, with over 40,000 people attending across its home of Leeds on Saturday, Birmingham NEC on Sunday and Hatfield for London on Bank Holiday Monday. Ben Ray, its founder, started off booking bands in our Students’ Union as Social Secretary and is now providing opportunities and inspiration for our students, which is great to see!”
Carl Flattery, Principal Lecturer in Music, added: “We are really pleased to be working with Slam Dunk festival. Leeds Beckett has partnered with the Live at Leeds festival for 10 years and this is a natural progression for us. We are always looking for new opportunities for our students to gain valuable work experience alongside their course and this is a great addition to our portfolio of festival experiences. We will have students working on all aspects of the production side, supporting the crew, looking after artists and making great contacts.”
Ben Ray, Director of Slam Dunk Limited, commented: “As a lot of the event takes place at Leeds Beckett University, it was only right to give something back to the university and giving students some valuable work experience seemed the best way to do this. They will be a valuable part of the team, aiding the successful running of the festival.”
Photo: You Me at Six performing at Slam Dunk 2015, by Giles Smith