Shona's Blog!

I took a trip to London with Sara Domville, fellow Young Producer Kajol Lally and Rob from SomeWhereTo. We went to Live Magazine, a magazine created by and for Young People. 

They reflect innercity life in London and culture also covering a wide rage of issues. Each Young Person who works on Live Magazine is assigned a role within the magazine. I think that this is an invaluable idea to bring forward to the Blaze Magazine when and if we start creating our own.

We spent a while asking the editor questions in order to learn from Live Magazine’s experience, this was good for me as a Blogger to find out how magazines are put together which are run by Young People, showing me that it is possible to combine arts with writing in order to get people interested in the arts which I didnt believe would be that successful before visiting Live Magazine.

It was great to see Young People at the centre, taking key roles and driving the project forward, whilst learning new skills and passing on their own skills to others.  It would be great if other areas, like Lancashire and Cumbria could have their own magazine just like Live Magazine.

-Shona

Blaze Festival 2012 was a huge success! 

After months and months of dedication , planning and hard work, we finally took over Miller Park in Preston and created a two day festival which attracted many people with a huge buzz on the 8th and 9th September..

On the friday before the weekend, I made a VT (In the words of Keith Lemon… VT stands for video tape! ) with Let’s Go Global, interviewing Inspire Mark Project leaders, this got me excited and gave me the confidence I needed for the next few days.

I spent my two festival days working with Let’s Go Global, being their main presenter on their live stream in the Blaze Lounge… (It had colourful cushions!!!)  I interviewed acoustic acts, people who worked with We Play and other important guests including Jeremy Deller.

Being presenter for the live stream has given me self confidence and I really enjoyed the whole experience. I had a microphone and a live audience as well as the viewers online! It felt very professional as we were counted down on when to speak and it was live..

I was also working with the Blaze Bloggers, this was a challenge… but we got through it creating some good work thats online. 

My favorite act has to be the last three bands at the end, which were The Natives, The Colours and Kid British. They all performed on the last night of the festival and got the crowd going. I didnt get to see many performances because of the live stream but it was great to hear them from my lovely Blaze Lounge.

I’m quite sad that I dont have a microphone to interview people right now xD. I would like to do more presenting again.

I’m  also sad that the festival is over now and I’m sure I’ll miss all the Festival Producers but I’m so proud to be proud of the Blaze Festival 2012. We learned so much about how to put on a festival and had to deal with problems on the spot.. Couldnt have had a better learning experience then Blaze Festival! Roll on Blaze Festival 2013!

-Shona

Yes.

The final Ignite meeting took place yesterday. Ignite is my alternative Saturday job, where I work one day a week at the Dukes Theatre in Lancaster on Blaze Bloggers, being paid by Ignite.

I just wanted to write something about my experience working on the Ignite programme as Ignite is amazing! It has given me a chance to get experience in the area I want to work in, into the future and I have been supported by Ignite through my mentor also having other young people working on Ignite having similar experiences that I have, has been really useful to talk to each other and get advice from each other. 

I have developed in self confidence, communication , working with others and many different areas that I hope I will carry forward into the future. 

(:

-Shona