Meet Jane Beese, Director Of Music

To celebrate International Women’s Day and Careers Week, we got in touch with members of our team for some career advice. On LinkedIn, we'll be sharing their stories and tips throughout the week, so keep on watching this space!

Jane Beese, Director Of Music

Don’t take it personally. Find allies. Build relationships. Call out bad behaviour and sexism. And make sure you know your area inside out. I look forward to the day when I walk into my venue when the band and crew have arrived to set up and I’m not the only woman in the room.

What made you want to apply for your role and what was your career journey before that?

I think it was the mix of the Festival and the incredible new venue space. I’ve worked in venues for the last twenty years – firstly at the Southbank where my role was initially Event Manager in Contemporary Music through to Head of Contemporary Music in 2007. I had the pleasure of working on Meltdown Festival for fifteen years working with artists ranging from Robert Wyatt, David Bowie, Yoko Ono, James Lavelle, Patti Smith and David Byrne. After that I moved to the Roundhouse as Head of Music, overseeing the music programme that we ran for young creatives in the Roundhouse Studios, in addition to the shows that we put on. I’ve never been there right at the opening of a new space, so the two roles combined were really exciting.

I also fancied a change of location and moving to Manchester has been a brilliant experience. It’s such a rich playground for anyone who is interested in music. There’s an incredible scene here of not only brilliant musicians but a whole industry of labels, management companies, radio stations.

Favourite part of your job? 

I really enjoy programming festivals, unique events and working with artists on unusual ideas. I’m also looking forward to working with our Skills and Training Teams on opportunities for the next generation of brilliant creatives in the music sector. Not just the artists on stage – although I love that bit as well – but all the people it takes in the background to get them there. 

The Factory Academy is an integral part of bringing this new space to life. I look forward to the day when I walk into my venue when the band and crew have arrived to set up, and I’m not the only woman in the room.

Biggest challenge in your role? 

The answer to this is always time and money. At the moment, the biggest challenge is trying to find enough time for internal planning whilst staying in contact with external conversations.

The pandemic has also had a devastating effect on the live sector, especially in terms of the number of people who have had to leave live music. We need to use this time to train and recruit a much more diverse talent pool for the future. The full impact of Brexit is now starting to unfold as well, and 2022 is going to be an ongoing challenge for touring and infrastructure to put on events.

What excites you most about The Factory? 

The possibilities and flexibility of the space. It’s been really joyous taking creatives around the site and seeing how inspired they are by the physical spaces within the building and the location alongside River Irwell.

What advice would you give to other women working in/wanting a career in the creative industries? 

Don’t take it personally. Find allies. Build relationships. Call out bad behaviour and sexism. And make sure you know your area inside out.