All about me

Name: Gemma Thomas

Age: 24 (25 very soon!!!) 25 Now!

I am a MA student at the moment studying Creative and Cultural Management, part-time.

I live in the West Midlands, namely the very exotic city of Stoke-on-Trent.

I have started this blog as a means of documenting the placement I will starting on the 13th June 2008 with the production company based in Birmingham – Fierce Earth and with Creative Republic.

My Life (So Far) in Brief:

I was born and raised in Stoke-on-Trent, and stayed in education until 21 when I graduated for University of Chester with a 2:1 in Drama & Theatre Studies.

I then jumped head first into the real world and a full-time job, working in door to door sales as my first job, then not long after began work in telesales (the real post-pots industry boom in the area). Getting bored of the sales side I began to work in the sales support role of the small and growing company and soon became the manager of a team of people – doing general admin roles, sales support and compliance working with all our clients who outsourced to us.

Working for the same directors I then moved over to a online project and assisted in the management of this. In June 2007, we had to stop operations and I was left with no job, asking myself the question of what did I really want to do with my life?

So I began applying for jobs and got one, but did I want a job or a career and passion?

I enrolled in my MA and started in October, this was something that I had always hoped to do. I got in touch with my passion for live art practice and now look to develop into a successful practitioner in the sector.

This brings me to now…and my placement!

I am working part-time and embarking on my unchartered journey with a set rationale and aims, but for my blog -  I hope this will give you insight into work-based learning, how a successful creative business works, and give you the opportunity to comment, interact and become part of my experience.

Thanks!