Are you thinking of applying to become an event crew member with Gallowglass? We interviewed Crew Chief Henry Taylor to find out a little more about his day-to-day role in the company, and hear what he’s been up to since he started with us, to give you an insight into our world of events.
How long have you worked at Gallowglass?
A long time! I started working for Gallowglass in August 2010.
Describe a standard day in your role:
As a Crew Chief, it’s my duty to get to the venue a bit earlier than the rest of the crew. This is so I can have a quick chat with the client to find out what the day’s work will involve.
Then I’ll normally do a head count and give the crew a short brief on what we’ll be doing, going over certain points, such as the PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) that will be needed (job specific), things to look out for (venue-specific) and a general toolbox talk; then we get to work. Being Crew Chief, I’m the go-to person between the client and the crew, and also with most other contractors on the job.
There’s a lot of variety from one day to another; we could be setting-up an exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery or supporting an attempt to break a world record, to running around a four-mile horse racing course, putting down covers before it gets too dark and before any frost and snow settles.
How did you get into your job at Gallowglass?
A mate of mine worked for Gallowglass in Bristol and introduced me to it.
What is the stand-out event that you’ve worked on in your time at Gallowglass?
There have been a few, but, off the top of my head:
- Building the water polo venue for the London 2012 Olympics at the Olympic Park, literally from a concrete slab upwards.
- Building temporary swimming pools for Boris Johnson.
- Working on Ant and Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway cruise ship job for ITV, which took us to Corsica.
- Removing two and a half tons of rubbish from the roof of the Royal Albert Hall.
What do you love most about your job?
The variety; every day is different.
What do you do when you’re not at work?
Work even more! Or sleep.
How has your career progressed during your time at Gallowglass?
I’ve been lucky to have been enrolled on some event-specific courses, including National Rigging Certificate Level 2, IPAF, First Aid, Cherry Picker, Forklift, Scissor lift, CSCS, working at height training - and many others, for which I'm very grateful.
What are your future career plans?
I plan to keep on growing my contacts in the rigging world and get back into building houses using an environmentally-sound Portuguese building method.
What piece of advice would you give to someone looking to apply for an event crew job?
Go for it. If you’re hard working, have common sense and enjoy variety, this is the perfect job for you.
If this sounds like the ideal job for you, why not apply for one of our event crew jobs in London or elsewhere in the UK? You’ll receive a competitive rate of pay, flexible working hours, on-the-job training and, if you’re a hard worker, a fantastic career path. Plus, you’ll be able to play a part in creating some of the UK’s most spectacular events, from sporting and festivals to film and TV!
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