Behind the Curtain - Bronwen Lutz shares her experience of working on the Country Shows circuit
A Show Stand job can look glamorous, especially when the sun is shining! But it’s not always sunshine and flowers so we asked our guest writer, Bronwen Lutz, to spill the beans on behind the scenes…
Shopping, day drinking, and catching up with friends is part of what country shows like Burghley Horse Trials, the Highland Show and the Game Fair are all about, often with a few horses thrown in for good measure. At least, that is what it’s all about when you are a punter, interested in the sport, fashion, food and fun.
However, I’d like to share some of my experiences at these events from the other side, the side where you work hard, sleep (a bit) and queue for the showers.
The very first show I worked at was the Badminton Horse Trials, one of the biggest events of the season. I pitched up my tiny tent behind the large Rural Crafts marquee, alongside caravans, cars and the smug people with roof tents, all trying to settle in and get organised.
It was like camping anywhere else, except on this trip I needed to look like I’d spent the night in a hotel, not sandwiched between 2 extra sleeping bags, a deflated roll mat and an exploded hot water bottle.
The first night it was hard to sleep, as I was nervous, excited and a bit soggy! What felt like 30 seconds later, there was light outside and it was time to do the underwhelming journey to the loos.
Is it acceptable to walk there in my pyjamas or should I get semi-dressed first? This is a work environment after all! I figured it was too chilly and too early for dressing-up, so I shuffled over in a large hoodie and tried not to make eye contact with anyone.
The trader’s campsite vibes are varied in the mornings. There are the early rising runner/ dog walker types. Then the “I’ve already been up 2 hours and showered when there wasn’t a queue” people.
Others cook bacon and eggs on a little stove, whilst plenty just roll out of bed and hope for the best. I’ve fallen into a few of those categories over my show “career” but none of them required getting up early or making breakfast!
Generally, though mornings are hard no matter where you sleep. The very best thing about other traders is we all have an understanding that whatever state you had been seen in early that morning, it was politely forgotten 40 minutes later when you are dressed, hair sorted and doing your make up in the front seat of your car.
Over the years my operation became much slicker, but to begin with it was chaos.
Top tips so far:
Always bring a dressing gown or big hoodie.
Don’t forget to take your towel to the shower, it’s a long walk back.
And keep interactions to a minimum until you are presentable.
As you can imagine deciding what to wear to these events can be tricky, I never forget to sort my outfits for the days ahead. “I’ll just decide what to wear on the day” is a dismal experience when you’re rummaging around in the boot of your car (trying to find your other sock) with wet hair when you need to be on the stand in 5 minutes. I tried not to do it to myself.
The shows have been some of the best times of my working life. I see amazing people, experience great nightlife, catch up with friends that live far away, you know, all that good stuff. I was very lucky that even the work side was good because of the lovely people I worked for at Mackenzie & George.
The fact that they also sell the best leather goods out there is the cherry on top! The joy of selling products that I know people will love to own for years to come makes the job so much more than just selling.
So yeah, it is also often bloody hard work with the long days combined with bad sleep, sore feet and often self-inflicted hangovers. But even the random eating times, late hours at work and heavy lifting can’t ruin the fun.
The funny thing about working the shows, as opposed to just attending them, is when people come and ask you where other stands are, or if you’d managed to watch anything and you usually can’t help them, because you’ve not been off the stand.
Don’t get me wrong, when you work for fabulous companies like I have, they always try to make it as enjoyable as possible for you, but at the end of the day, you are being paid to do a job, not swan around.
I remember working that first Badminton, and due to needing days to set up and pack down, and it being a long show - you are there a while, yet I didn’t see a single horse, not one, at an international equine event! Turns out they don’t put traders and the rider’s campsites near each other… who knew?
Then there’s the shopping. I always try to be pretty strict on that front as it’s incredibly easy to spend a week’s wages in 20 minutes when all these lovely brands are so conveniently under one roof.
But if you do find something you absolutely cannot resist,other traders are often generous with discounts and holding things back, it definitely adds to the sense of community.
The nightlife can be fabulous, Badminton probably being the best for onsite entertainment, however Stamford and Cheltenham are great local towns with plenty of nice bars and clubs with sticky floors.
I once bribed a man on the gates of Burghley estate to let us back in with cheesy chips after I lost my wristband at an ungodly hour!
Probably the most interesting thing I have appreciated doing this job is that behind the facade of social media, shiny giveaways, and branding, are the lives of the people who run these companies.
Paying vast sums for stands, stock and staff means that making a living, let alone a killing, is difficult. Some shows are nightmares when poor weather and even poorer attendance strikes. So, next time you see an “influencer” asking for a freebie, please bear this in mind.
Overall, working with great people, at often very beautiful sites, having fun, and earning money is a wonderful experience and if you’re good, can open a lot of doors.
My last piece of advice is - don’t wait for Saturday night to go berserk on the social front - you have the last and longest day of trading, plus pack down and often the drive home. It will be agony if you’re hungover too!
You can find Bronwen on instagram here