Handling a large number of projects simultaneously, acting as a project interface or making last-minute content adjustments on site at the event are just a handful of the tasks that a producer has to deal with. We join Elio Messerli to take a look at his day-to-day work.
During his 4-year apprenticeship as a mediamatician at Swisscom, his last year of training was in the events and sponsorship department. Elio has been fascinated by live communication ever since. After taking over as project manager, the native of Bern was given the opportunity to realise events on the customer side, where he first came into contact with Habegger. The biggest joint project at the time was the general meeting in Fribourg. After spending some time in the field of communication, he couldn’t let go of the idea of events. So, when he saw the job advert for a producer, he knew: that’s right up my street.
Facts about the job
The job title is a broad term, and the tasks vary in the media world and in the industries. At Habegger, the producers in the Creation department work as project managers for content and also act as an interface.
Good prerequisites for the job are expertise in the project management of video and image material, knowledge of Adobe programmes and a creative flair. At the same time, you need to have the timing and budget under control, be a talented organiser of a large number of projects, but also be able to deal with a wide variety of people and project needs so that everyone involved can work productively. In short: you need strong nerves and a large portion of composure.
Multitasking is essential, because a lot of things are running in parallel. I often work on 4, 5 or even more projects at the same time.
Varied working day
No two working days are the same, every event is different and that’s what makes everyday working life so varied. There’s no copy and paste. Elio works from the office most of the time, organising, coordinating and having lots of meetings to consult with the interdisciplinary team and customers. Maintaining an overview of all communication and content details is also part of his remit – from event signage, key visuals and openers to lanyards.
The producer is always on site at his events and on duty as the content manager/operator. Much can be planned in advance, but there are also short-term adjustments, such as last-minute content optimisations at the event itself. Then the content needs to be in the right place at the right time in a matter of seconds.
Project highlights and challenges
The variety of projects, the different customers ranging from SMEs to international corporations, the different languages and the teamwork are some of the things that Elio particularly enjoys about his job and give him the variety he needs to make sure it never gets boring. Habegger offers many opportunities for further development.
Elio setting up for the Krokus concert at the Hallenstadion in 2023.
I get to try out lots of new things and acquire new skills. Or get a taste of other areas that are not directly related to a job.
The majority of his projects are corporate events. This also includes getting out of his comfort zone and taking new content paths. “The best challenges are innovative projects that dare to leave gaps where you can create something new together with the customer.” In stressful situations, you have to think in a solution-orientated way to solve problems and think about strategies in advance, such as what plan B is if plan A doesn’t work.
Elio Messerli, Producer
Natascha Evers, Producer
Stefan Frick, Senior Producer
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