We sat down with Production Crew Co-ordinator Caz Caddick to find out more about her role at White Light…
What does your role at White Light entail?
I am the Production Crew Co-ordinator at White Light which is pretty much what it says on the tin. Rather than supply the equipment for a job, I supply the people instead! I work within the Production Department and, as a team, we deliver the technical solutions to corporate events all across the country. We have a range of freelancers on book and, over the years, have assembled a group of people who we know have individual expertise and skills which can enhance our clients’ events. Prior to my role as Crew Co-ordinator, I was a Site Technician so I have a first-hand knowledge of where people’s skills lie; something which has proved beneficial on jobs with very specific briefs. Ultimately, by assembling the right team, I am able to make the job happen and the client happy.
What does a typical day look like for you?
There is a simple answer to this: busy! What normally happens is that a job comes in that we are asked to work on. Once the job is assigned an Account Manager, they will make a site visit and decide what equipment is required for the event. From this, we will be able to deduce what type of crew is needed to make such an event happen – which is where I come in. I’ll pick out the individuals who I know will be able to deliver the different disciplines required and inquire about their availability. From this, I will be able to assemble a team and send them off to work on an event. While it is the Project Manager who works on the actual event itself, I am always more or less a point of reference throughout. There is one aspect of every single working day that remains consistent – I seem to spend virtually all of my time on the phone! Whether it’s confirming crew, speaking to venues or contacting an on-site team, my ear always seems to be resting against a headset of some sort!
How long have you worked for White Light?
I’ve worked for WL for around three and a half years now. I originally wanted to be a stage manager but, after working on a few productions, I quickly realised that my passion was with lighting. My first role at WL was in Late Shift Returns. I then moved around slightly, working in Dispatch, Event Stores and then as a Site Technician. It was actually a really great experience working in such a range of departments as it allowed me to understand how all the different aspects of the company worked; something which is particularly useful as Production Crew Co-ordinator which quite often encompasses working with all of them!
What are some of the biggest jobs you’ve worked on at White Light?
As we are approved suppliers at the Historic Royal Palaces, Unique Venues of London, Tate, Saatchi and Southbank to name but a few, I find myself working on big jobs week in, week out. Some that stand out in particular though are my first ever job at WL where I was part of the crew for an event at Banqueting House (which was slightly daunting!). I worked on the Evening Standard Progress 1000 Awards at the then unopened Canary Wharf Crossrail which was still, essentially, a building site. We installed over 1,000 LED spheres and completely transformed the space. I also used to really enjoy working on-site at London Fashion Week as you worked at some beautiful venues all across the capital. It’s somewhat ironic then that, for this year’s showcase, I’m organising the crew for it!