Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Compton

Hi Monica, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?

I started as an intern for a North American concert promoter and producer. I asked them for a job when I graduated from college and I remember my boss asking me why he should give me one. I wasn’t sure how to answer and he said he’d give me one because no matter what he asked me to do, I always smiled. Before I knew it, I was running large outdoor festivals, managing food vendors and working with local and regional bands. I learned how to run a box office and work with the production crew. They showed me what a soundboard was and how to adjust the volume, a skill I still use today for corporate events.

I then worked for a motorsports marketing firm, managing C-level meetings around the globe. This position took me from Australia to Monaco, London to Brazil. I organized hospitality at the race course and gave tours of the paddock, where the race cars were housed. My most complex event encompassed three countries — the meeting was in Nice, France, the dinner was in San Remo, Italy, and the activity was the Monaco Grande Prix.

Since then I’ve had my own business managing events and writing for magazines and corporate communications. I’ve traveled to 39 countries and six continents.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?

When you have your own business, you don’t get a set salary. You’re never sure when your next paycheck is coming. You have to be good at budgeting and saving for the future. I am fortunate that I’ve always had great referrals that have led me to the next opportunity. I’d advise anyone starting out on their own to have a comfortable savings that they can live on for six months to a year. This will allow them to build their company without worrying about day-to-day finances.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I started my career as a ballet dancer. Unfortunately, I was injured and I thought if I couldn’t be a performer, I wanted to work with performers. That’s what interested me to work in the concert business. My love of dance and the arts is carried through in the events industry. I know how to work with performers, showcase their talents, and select the best performers for the program.

Most corporate planners do not have the experience of working in an outdoor amphitheater. At a young age, I understood how to run cable under the ground, power a theater, roll in restroom trailers, manage security and stabilize crowds. I am fortunate to have a varied background that allows me to fulfill multiple rolls that other planners may not have experienced.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?

It might sound like a cliche, but working hard is everything. Many young people want to get into the events field because they think it’s glamourous or exciting. It’s a lot of long hours and you have to get your hands dirty. I empty trash cans and go back in the kitchen to fill coffee urns. If the hotel is short-staffed, I will bus tables. You do what ever it takes to make the event a success. No job should be beneath you. If you are afraid of hard work, this job is not for you.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.pinnacleprod.com