Photo: Dreamlenz
Sharif Baker from Bharooch Event Styling & Management has seen and experienced the live events industry from two different perspectives, as a performer and from backstage. He has been directly involved with the design and technical orchestration of many events, both local and international and has been associated with artists such as George Benson, Diana Ross and Ronan Keating.
Sharif was one of the speakers at the LETPC 2015 conference and gave his speech on production, technical and stage management.
How can production, technical and stage management elements enhance a performer?
Tremendously, as knowing how all the elements work at an event allows for a performer not to just perform but entertain as now they will be familiar with the surroundings and the goal of the event. Moreso than this, it gives them an understanding of what the technical team needs to go through to make sure that the performer is seen and heard their very best.
Having been involved in the entertainment industry as a performer, what would you recommend as the best corporate entertainment?
Most of the time a corporate event entails the audience networking and thus the music or entertainment is very much a distant second to the reason of the evening, therefore the ideal form of entertainment needs to be more subdued, perhaps with slow jazz or swing. But still by a relatively well known ensemble as this is the most accepted form of entertainment at a corporate event.
What has been your best experience doing the design and technical orchestration of so many events during your career?
Seeing it materialise is the most gratyfying as well as all departments pulling together for the end result -a great event!
What is the most important piece of knowledge you have acquired during your years in the industry?
Knowing that each day I wake up I will learn something new and that the mistakes I made yesterday will guide me to my successes tomorrow.
