Entertainment Matters

This week I’m joined by Claire Owen-Jones, an accountant who works with freelancers in the creative industries.

We talk about Making Tax Digital, getting organised, and why your relationship with your accountant might matter more than you think.

Along the way we discuss:

Making Tax Digital and what is actually changing.

Why HMRC wants people doing more regular bookkeeping.

The benefits of streamlining your finances and separating business and personal spending.

Software options for freelancers and creative businesses.

What “being organised” really means in practice.

Why communication with your accountant matters more than most people think.

How to think about finances as a story rather than just a list of numbers.

And why accountants probably hear more fear, shame and avoidance than most people realise.

Find out more about Claire:
www.loudandclearaccounting.co.uk

With thanks to Pete Faint for the Entertainment Matters theme tune.
@petefaint_
petefaint.com

Stay up to date with Entertainment Matters and receive the Cue Sheet:
john-blackburn.com/pod

In this Notes episode, John reflects on compliments, and why people in live entertainment often struggle to receive them.

Part of that seems to come from how seriously people take their craft, and how much of their attention is placed on technical detail. That can lead to quietly judging whether a compliment is “correct” before accepting it.

What gets lost in that process is what the compliment is really about. Most people aren’t scoring technique. They’re describing the effect something had on them. And that effect is, ultimately, the point of the work.

That same distinction shows up in criticism as well. Not all feedback carries the same weight, and timing, source, and context all matter. But separating the message from the messenger can make both compliments and criticism easier to handle, and sometimes more useful.

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If you would like to hear when new Entertainment Matters episodes are released, please sign up to the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet: 

https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod

And thanks, as always, for whatever you do to make live entertainment happen.

Notes inspired by Jillian George Lewis

In this Notes episode, John reflects on something Jillian said early in their interview: “I just got a sense for what the right show in the right venue means.” He looks at what that “sense” might actually be.

The idea isn’t mystical. It’s repeated exposure, noticing what happens, and adjusting. There’s a tension in that process: ignore feedback and your instincts don’t sharpen; ignore your instincts and you never act.

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If you would like to hear when new Entertainment Matters episodes are released, please sign up to the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet:
https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod

And thanks, as always, for whatever you do to make live entertainment happen.

With Jillian George Lewis

“I had to go and meet Channing.”

In this episode, John Blackburn chats with Jillian George-Lewis, Director of Creative Programming at the Hippodrome Casino in London where she played a central role in reshaping its theatre offer and bringing Magic Mike Live to London. Jillian is also an in demand performer working across cabaret, hosting, and live events.

Amongst other insightful topics, Jillian discusses the realities of running a build inside a 24-hour casino, the negotiations behind a major international production, and the less glamorous work of getting departments to operate as one system.

... and if you’re watching the video version, stay tuned to the very end.

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Connect with Jillian

Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/delores_deluxe

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If you’d like to stay up to date with future episodes of Entertainment Matters, you can sign up for the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet:
https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod

And thanks, as always, for whatever you do to make live entertainment happen.

Notes inspired by Luke Wade

In this Notes episode, John reflects on three things Luke said that apply well beyond video production.

Beginning with Luke's reference to leaving no stone unturned and exploring different ways of making an idea like that fit you, then moving to talking about the importance of a clear core concept for shows and projects.

John then wraps up by talking through and riffing on some of Luke's excellent points about relationships, trust and collaboration.

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If you would like to hear when new Entertainment Matters episodes are released, please sign up to the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet:
https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod

And thanks, as always, for whatever you do to make live entertainment happen.

With Luke Wade

"... if we were just in theatre, we'd be rich and all of our problems would be solved..."

In this episode, John Blackburn chats with Luke Wade – founder of LiveWorks, creating video, branding and visual assets for live entertainment producers and promoters who want to raise the standard of how their shows look - on stage and online.

Luke talks about some of the important aspects of visual design for theatre and shows, the importance of collaboration and communication and much more.

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Connect with Luke Wade

Website:
https://www.theliveworks.com

LinkedIn:
Luke Wade

Instagram:
@mr_luke_wade

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If you’d like to stay up to date with future episodes of Entertainment Matters, you can sign up for the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet:
https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod

And thanks, as always, for whatever you do to make live entertainment happen.

Notes inspired by Jayne Curry

In this Notes episode, John Blackburn reflects on a moment from his conversation with Jayne Curry, where she says, “50% of what you do on a cruise ship happens off stage.”

John explores what it means to see the real conditions that create success in an environment, rather than simply following the handed-down version of the job description. Using Jayne’s example of visibility, feedback, and rebooking, he considers the difference between playing the advertised game and noticing how things actually work.

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If you would like to hear when new Entertainment Matters episodes are released, please sign up to the

Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet:
https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod

With Jayne Curry

"50% of what you do on a cruise ship happens off stage..."

In this episode, John Blackburn chats with Jayne Curry – Head of Talent Development for Don Casino in the US, co-owner of Black Box Booking in South Florida, and a professional guest entertainer with 23 years at sea.

Jayne talks candidly about feedback, brand positioning, and the difference between the job description and the job as it actually functions. She shares how visibility, humility, and understanding the wider organisation can influence rebooking as much as performance itself.

The conversation also touches on evolving with the industry, mentoring experienced acts, and what the future may hold for guest entertainers as cruise entertainment continues to shift.

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Connect with Jayne Curry

Website:
https://www.jaynecurry.co.uk

YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@jaynecurry4919

Don Casino Entertainment Agency:
https://www.dcptalent.com

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If you’d like to stay up to date with future episodes of Entertainment Matters, you can sign up for the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet:
https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod

And thanks, as always, for whatever you do to make live entertainment happen.

Notes inspired by Jess Chambers

In this Notes episode, John reflects on three ideas from his interview with Jess Chambers: picturing one real audience member instead of a crowd, treating marketing as something that happens in stages, and remembering the power of a single encouraging sentence.

If you would like to hear when new Entertainment Matters episodes are released, please sign up to the

Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet:
https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod

And thanks, as always, for whatever you do to make live entertainment happen.

With Jess Chambers
“You can't go straight in and say, BUY MY TICKET!”

In this episode John Blackburn chats with Jess Chambers, founder of Tootsuite Marketing and self-described event strategy sidekick, about how events actually sell tickets — and why most people start far too late.

We talk about lead time and why “marketing” isn’t one thing. Jess separates the slow, human bit (teasing, warming people up, getting familiar) from the bit where you actually ask for the sale, and what changes when you only have three months rather than six.

There’s also a properly practical detour into what “doing flyers properly” even means, why “everyone is welcome” often isn’t as inclusive as people think it is, and why she’d rather you talked to one real person than a theoretical demographic.

Connect with Jess Chambers:
https://www.tootsweetmarketing.com

https://www.tootsweetmarketing.com/the-green-room

https://www.tootsweetmarketing.com/writing-event-copy-free-playbook

LinkedIn: Jess Chambers
Instagram: Tootsuite Marketing

If you’d like to stay up to date with future episodes of Entertainment Matters, you can sign up for the 

Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet:
https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod