The unsung heroes shaping roadshow success

comment from EMS MD Keith Austin

Bobby Moore, George Best, Kevin Keegan... they are all part of the football heroes line-up for the latest set of Royal Mail stamps. Keith Austin, managing director at Event Marketing Solutions (EMS) reflects on how the role of the hero isn’t just reserved for the rich and famous and how heroism is alive and well in the roadshow business.

Having just seen the line up of stars set to adorn our stamps it made me wonder how many people really count these as their heroes and if we were to compile our own list, who would we choose.

My guess is that many would consider those much closer to home and this got me thinking about the roadshow business, how we work at EMS and the exceptional role Unit Managers play out on the frontline. 

Our Unit Managers are the face of our business, critical to roadshow success and the real heroes behind the business. They are the people who work out in the field, the first to greet our clients on-site, responsible for delivering, setting up and managing the exhibition vehicles – and without a doubt they leave the longest lasting impression.

When I look back at their job specifications I wonder how we ever found such passionate people to fill these vital roles...full HGV licence,  great communicator, technically savvy, mechanically minded, multilingual, EMEA experience, problem solver, and happy to work away for long periods, over weekends and Christmas!  It’s these important ‘extras’ that make the difference to a tour’s success – they truly are the ‘games makers’ of the roadshow business.

We are fortunate to have recruited and inspired more than 15 of these trusty, committed professionals who work happily around the clock, leaving no stone unturned to ensure the delivery of some of the most engaging, inspiring and technically demanding experiences on behalf of our clients.

I am constantly bowled over by their ‘can do’ attitude 100% of the time - the show must go on and they are always ready and willing to jump on a plane at the drop of a hat or stay on the road to cover other tours.

The task of a Unit Manager is huge and requires wide-ranging skills, yet they execute it expertly. They are a critical part of the event-goers experience and the thanks and appreciation they receive from global audiences reconfirms that human contact can leave the most valuable long-lasting impression.