IT’S CHINESE NEW YEAR! WHAT JOBS BRING IT TO LIFE?

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2025 marks the Year of the Snake, what goes into making public events like Chinese New Year happen?

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Chinese New Year in Liverpool is always a spectacular celebration, attracting large crowds from across the region. Already, the city has begun decorating Europe’s oldest Chinese community with thousands of red lanterns. Liverpool Town Hall and St George’s Hall will be lit in red to celebrate the lunar new year. 

2025 marks the Year of the Snake, with Chinatown’s main event happening on Sunday, February 2nd. A parade, firecracker displays, street theatre, orchestras, Tai Chi demonstrations, workshops, and the dancing dragons will entertain over the day.

But what goes into making public events like Chinese New Year happen?

Delivering any large-scale public event requires exemplary planning backed by a team of skilled professionals. This article explores three key roles in event delivery and offers tips for getting started in these exciting careers.

The health and safety team oversee all aspects of keeping crowds, performers, and staff safe at public events. Managers identify potential risks, manage compliance with legal standards, and develop detailed safety plans. Their responsibilities span crowd control, fire safety, and arranging first aid support. Success depends on collaborating with organisations like St John Ambulance, local police, and highway departments. 

Their goal is simple but critical—preventing accidents and minimising risks. Strong communication skills and resilience are essential to thrive in this role, which requires enforcing policies and ensuring all safety standards are met. 

Where to start: Search for entry-level roles at organisations like The Health and Safety Executive or the Fire Brigade. Volunteering or interning at local events offers hands-on insight.  Keep an eye out for jobs that enrol you on a level 3 apprenticeship to qualify as a safety, health and environment technician.

Get experience: Volunteer at Park Run events every week across the Liverpool City Region. Their volunteer programme offers hands-on public event experience, with opportunities to progress to being a Run Director, heading up event safety.

Technical directors make creative visions come to life! They orchestrate key aspects, including sound systems, visual effects, and equipment use. Working with an internal team, freelancers, or suppliers, the technical director ensures smooth execution by aligning the spectacle with safety regulations, legal standards, and industry benchmarks. 

Typically, technical directors are involved from the early planning stages to assess an event’s viability. They combine leadership, technical knowledge, and creativity to deliver the event, often working alongside a creative director. 

Where to start: Degrees in live events management or sound technology like those provided by LIPA provide a strong foundation and a formal qualification. Gaining real-world experience at venues, theatres, or AV companies is invaluable. To be a technical director, you are expected to have in-depth knowledge of the many different aspects of production. Working at director level is something to aim for once you have spent a few years in the industry and gathered experience and responsibility.

Get experience: Offer to support a local amateur dramatics society with stage management tasks – an introductory experience  like this will help you figure out if you’re suited to a technical role. And keep an eye out for opportunities arising via LCVS that you can filter for ‘event planning/management’.

Site supervisors play a crucial role in the behind-the-scenes operations of public events, including during the setup and breakdown. They oversee vendors on site, ensure stages and equipment are correctly positioned, set up crowd barriers, and manage suppliers like portable toilet hire services! After the event, the site supervisor oversees the site breakdown and the departure of suppliers in a timely and efficient manner, ensuring any other post-event housekeeping is carried out to an acceptable standard.

The role demands long hours, working in all weather conditions, physical stamina, and the ability to multitask. Site supervisors must solve problems on the go whilst overseeing all aspects to ensure smooth running. 

Where to start: Explore a route into the industry through casual work in security and stewarding at events like music festivals, The Grand National and Everton or Liverpool football clubs. Once you gain experience, the opportunity for supervisory roles and eventually management positions can open up.

Get experience: Search for staffing agencies and event companies recruiting across the Liverpool City Region. These positions provide valuable exposure to event logistics.

Working in live events immerses you in the heart of celebrations like Chinese New Year. From sporting tournaments to cultural festivities, no two days are ever the same.

The Chinese dragon symbolises intelligence, ambition, and charisma—all traits the events industry thrives on. If you’re eager to pursue a career in this field, focus on building experience through entry-level roles. Your initiative and passion will help you progress in the industry.