Gateshead, Newcastle and happy birthday to me

Notes from the battlefield

Nothing compares to you! No no this is not right! Nothing compares to going on another business trip! Business sounds pompous so let s call a spade a space. It is an assignment, going on a job …to build a stand for a client who takes part in a conference,

That sounds better!

Months and months of preparations, briefs, client calls, working with the CAD designer, graphics designers, logistics companies, venues, production team, a myriad of suppliers for that sweet moment when you step into the car, with your plans, folders, hit the road and pray that all paperwork is with you, crew lined up and happy, that there is nothing missing on the truck and that the build will go just fine!

Well and nothing compares to hitting the road on your birthday! I have to admit it was great! Stopped a few times, bought chocolates, felt the joy of being with people I respect and treasure!

Trust me this is Rara Avis nowadays!

Moving on swiftly … great 8 hours in the car, exciting meal in nice company and of course the build the next day!

Venues have personality, they reflect the people who work there, the energy, the history.

The Glasshouse is a home for live music lovers - a great statement telling many stories!

The Gateshead music centre is a well deserved addition to 2 towns separate by river Tyne. Build 20 years ago mainly thanks to the Lottery Fund the centre is actually a combination of 3 stages under the same umbrella.

I was particularly impressed to hear that there are also music rooms dedicated to learning instruments! Who knows … the youngster who steps timidly with a violin under his arms might be one day the guest performer on the main stage!

A big thank you to Paul who took me on a tour and shared his knowledge and passion for such an iconic place.

Located right by the river, the space offers memorable views of the historical bridges and also the town pulsating with history!

It was a privilege working with The Glasshouse International Centre for Music. Nothing was too much for their team, generous and professional, one couldn’t ask for more! If you think about a venue for conferences think about The Glasshouse!

This is the place where the Royal Northern Sinfonia performs regularly, where music of all genre finds a welcoming home.

Most of the time, while on a job one has a few hours to spare and explore the town one finds oneself in so this is as also the case during this particular trip. What I will take from this trip …

The food! 🌝

If in Newcastle here are a few restaurants I recommend.

Malmaison - a cosy restaurant, part of a hotel - a great reminder of the times when I worked as a tourist guide with Russian tourists and stayed in great hotels with exceptionally run restaurants!

Red Meze - authentic Turkish cuisine, the right atmosphere and of course Turkish music taking me back in time when visiting Turkey was so easy!

Indian street food in the old market - two young owners offering authentic food and making me admire their courage and free spirit! Another reminder of Turkey with their small but fantastic street food joints.

Zizzi - I don t think one can go wrong with this chain of restaurants.

My team - making memories is part of our soul mission on planet Earth! This is what I think! This trip is one that I will treasure thanks to the bond we have, the banter, trust in each other, quirky conversations, the laughter - oh Lord we all need to laugh more - smooth build day and derig, everybody working in sync without any drama or tamper tantrums.

Our client - over the years I ve been on both sides of the barricade .. the client, the agency, supplier and so on.I understand exactly how it feels to be in each role. I have seen rude clients, dismissive ones, dictatorial and pompous. It speaks a lot about their character as human beings. Power is a powerful drug … it can go to ones’s head very quickly!

Well these particular clients are a dream to work with! Why? Because they understand the power of partnership! They understand and enjoy the togetherness, that work can be enjoyable, value our input and allow us to do our job and in doing so … make them shine!

Add a great sense of humour to the mix and you will understand why I am so in awe with this team!

One more thing I value is their creativity and adventurous ways of promoting the brand.

For example, for one night, one of the bridges in Newcastle was lit in the colours of the brand … yellow!

The town - mostly the impressive architecture … nope not the new one although the Sage musical Center has a lot of charm. The old buildings impress me more and make me wonder where did it go so wrong in the end .. the transition between refinement and almost completely lacK Of taste.

Do visit Newcastle if you have the chance!

Five days later it is time to head back to base with lots of great memories!