This week, Ammonite’s Co-Director Rob explains why their company first needed a VA and how our role in their business has grown over time...
A valued client of The Arts VA for almost three years now, Ammonite Studios Ltd specialise in the technical development and support of a diverse range of live entertainment.
Directors Rob Casey and Jonathon Lyle formed the company in 2018, combining their experience as associate lighting and video designers to work across theatre, large events and the exhibition sectors. In our second client case study, Rob explains how a VA has helped their business and why it works well for everyone.
Can you start by telling us a bit about Ammonite Studios Ltd?
The company was started by me and Jonathon Lyle, in a bar in New York! It was after both being away from home for three months working on Frozen, Meangirls and Angels in America that we realised that 80% of the work of an associate is the detailed planning that occurs prior to being in a theatre. We look after multiple large-scale theatre shows, exhibitions and live events, supporting the production from paper to stage in the specialisms of lighting and video.
How did you come to work with The Arts VA?
We had both met Charlie when she worked for Cameron Mackintosh. The fact we knew that she had a knowledge of the industry, terminology, producers, other freelancers, etc, was one of the main factors for us working with Charlie.
What kind of tasks were you struggling with? Have these changed over time?
Initially we thought we needed general admin help as well as contract negotiation. Charlie now looks after a huge scope of the company, she manages our expenses, invoicing clients, managing new employees and our freelancers, and their invoicing. She also inputs and manages all the various shows schedules, reads show reports, logs our time tracking, as well as contract negotiation.
Do you have set hours each month or ad-hoc? Why does this work for your business?
We work with a set amount of hours. Few of our tasks are day or hour specific so the flexibility to allow Charlie to work around her own childcare needs and other clients of The Arts VA means we utilise between 20-30 hours a month at times that are mutually convenient!
What difference has working with a VA made to your company?
It’s taken so much off our plate. It means we can take on more jobs because we know a huge portion of the workload is taken care of.
What do you like about having a VA?
Being able to forward emails to Charlie to deal with, knowing that it can be filed in my inbox and it will be sorted.
Would you recommend The Arts VA?
100%
The Arts News
Freedom Day is almost here! We’re thrilled that theatres will be able reopen at full capacity from Monday, with enhanced cleaning and sanitation stations in place and face masks strongly encouraged.
Job alert! Chichester Festival Theatre are looking for an experienced lighting technician to start immediately. Applications end July 19th, read more here.
We’d Love to Hear From You!
If you have any questions or would like to know more about how you could work with The Arts VA, you can contact Charlie here. At The Arts VA, we work with a range of different clients, you can read all about some of them in these blogs:
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