What does a studio manager do?
A studio manager is the go-to person in the studio for ordering things, organising, planning and booking socials. I also take the lead on health and safety issues, arranging travel and training, and booking freelancers as well.
How did you get your first role?
I started off in events. I worked at a temp agency and I was going around lots of different venues, running events in various spaces. And from there I figured out I was quite organised and good at planning and running events.
So I moved into office management — which involves making sure an office is running smoothly, planning everything, running events. From there, it was a smooth direction into studio management. It’s sort of all-encompassing — events, organisation, running of a space. It all came together quite nicely for this role.
What sort of qualifications did you have when you left school or uni?
I finished school with GCSEs and A Levels, going on to do a one-year foundation course in acting. Then I went to drama school and graduated with a Level 6 Diploma in acting, which is equivalent to a degree but more vocational.
Did these qualifications help you land your first job? If not, what did?
The acting diploma wasn’t that relevant to my first role. But I will say that as a graduate fresh out of drama school, I had the confidence to fully throw myself into new situations and meet people who could open up potential opportunities for me.
From trialling different jobs while temping at venues and talking to other workers, I learned what sorts of roles were out there. I loved working and interacting with people in a range of spaces, so that definitely helped me progress.
What’s the most rewarding thing about working as a studio manager?
I think the most rewarding thing in the current climate, with hybrid working now being a thing, is actually making the office a nice, creative space that people want to come to. Obviously people have the option to work at home, but the fact they want to come in and want to be here is rewarding. And I get to bring my dog in, which is nice!
What do you wish that you’d known about this career, back when you were starting out?
I wish I’d known that this sort of role is really autonomous. You’re responsible for a lot of decisions that you can make on your own.
It's just really important to listen to people around you, listen to yourself, and then ultimately you’ll make the right choices. At the beginning, I was quite scared of making wrong decisions. But as long as you're listening to your colleagues, your peers, and doing what's right for the space and the company, you can't really go wrong.
What advice would you give someone who wants to be a studio manager?
I would honestly say you don't need to stress about qualifications. The role is so much more about understanding the industry you want to work in and where you can see yourself, and your skills fitting into that.
If you have compassion, organisation, good communication skills and an interest in scheduling, budget-handling and managing day-to-day operations, then these are great skills to have. To run an office or studio, working in events venues or as a personal/executive assistant are great places to start, as you’ll use a lot of these skills. Then, going into office management is a great lead to working in studios and more creative spaces, where you can hone your skills and be the sole lead in that environment.
