What are the biggest pros of your role? I decided to make the move into freelancing as a PA when I had my second daughter in order to have some control over my work- ing life. I have been able to tailor work to be around when my children have needed me. I have been front row at some fabu- lous events and been involved in some hilarious capers. I have met the most extraordinary people from dinner at the Ivy with Joan Collins OBE to dancing at a wedding with David Walliams, and had the opportunity to be treated as an insider.
And the downside of your role? Although I may not have to work full time I am on call 24/7 – and I think particularly in the entertainment industry normal working hours, weekends or bank holidays don’t always mean much. I have had a call from the alarm people at 4am and had to deal with a burst pipe on New Year’s Eve, but that is the nature of the beast. It can be lonely, I am usually in a client’s home, often they are not there, so no office chatter and sadly no IT depart- ment to fall back on.
MERRYL FUTERMAN Celebrity Personal Assistant and PA trainer
What was your big break? I had been working as a publicist in film and publishing, and wanted to take my transferable skills to work for high profile individuals. I had some leaflets designed and printed to use as a marketing tool for myself. It turned out the graphic designer who helped me was a friend of Julian Clary, and knew he needed some help. Julian became my first, and longest standing client. I still have hundreds of leaflets, and none of them ever led me to a client, but if I hadn’t had them designed and printed I would not have got started on this path.
What advice can you give PAs looking to get into the industry? Jobs like mine don’t fall into your lap and are rarely widely advertised, you have to make your own luck, use your contacts. My industry is very much word of mouth, and you never know who knows whom.
How do you think working in your industry as a PA compares to PAs employed in other industries? Over the last year or so I have had the opportunity to speak on panels at events for corporate PAs, I’m usually invited to show how different our roles are. What has amazed me is how much we have in common – and because of that I have been working on a training programme with a very experienced colleague to teach the skills we have learnt dealing with demanding per- sonalities and being self reliant (visit
www.PAAccessAllAreas.co.uk). After all, the leaders in any industry expect the same VIP treatment that celebrities do!
Jobs like mine don’t fall into your
lap and are rarely widely advertised, you have to make your own luck, use your contacts. I have found networking is really important
What’s the biggest misconcep- tion about your industry? There are several that I take great pleasure in debunking. I do not get paid a fortune or am showered with freebies. I am not close personal friends with all my clients – a friendship may grow over time but it is important to keep a professional distance.
If you could pick any other industry to work in what would it be and why?
What PA or industry-related qualifications do you have and how important do you think these are? I am educated to degree level, but I have been doing this job for 15 years. There are practical courses available now, but choose carefully and find one that really suits your needs rather than just taking expensive courses for the sake of it.
18 MAY/JUNE 2012 |
WWW.EXECUTIVEPA.COM
I have been really enjoying the training that I have been doing in the last few months. I genuinely enjoy sharing the knowledge I have gained through experience. The creative industries have always attracted me, and although I do miss the magic of the film industry, I would not like being away on location or even the crazy hours you have to put in.
How many hours are in your average working week? Define average! No such thing for me...
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