Name: Russel Lenhoff
Nickname: Russ, Rusty, Rustle
Title: Senior Project Manager
Number of years with Sold Out Event: 1 year this month (Happy Anniversary to me)
Describe yourself in three words.
Loyal, Open, Awesome!!!
What does your role at Sold Out Events entail?
Putting out fires and at the same time often creating them
As a project manager at Sold Out our roles are all about planning, organization, vision and attention to the most minute details as well as the means to pull off both small and large events without a hitch.
What do you like most about your job and what do you like the least?
I really enjoy the lack of sleep, it really keeps me motivated and inspired. Some of our best ideas are made when we’ve been on the road for weeks on end with very little sleep. I highly suggest everyone tries it sometime.
But in all seriousness, it’s all about the people. In this industry it’s imperative to surround yourself with hard working and fun people. Like a lot of other industries, it’s the people who will make or break you. The journey from colleague to friend to family is a great journey to be a part of.
I really don’t enjoy receipts and making sure they’re all acquittals are done correctly.
A big con in this industry is that the long hours, late nights and significant travel tend to significantly reduce the amount of time we get to spend with our ‘outside of work’ family and friends.
How did you get started in the events industry?
I very much stumbled across it.
I have always worked in sports and more so in the high-performance sector. It was time for a change and time to experience a different facet of the industry.
Do you travel for your job?
Do I travel for my job? pffffft, a better question would be “Am I ever at home for my job?”
We are constantly on the road to all sorts of weird and wonderful places. It’s really one of the great perks about being in this industry and being a part of Sold Out, we get to travel, travel, travel and then just when you think you can’t possibly travel anymore… you’re back on the road behind a steering wheel deciding if you should listen to a podcast or music or asking the person at the check-in counter if there are any window seats available.
Where has been your favourite location and why?
I’ve been really fortunate that I’ve always travelled for work and been to some sensational places all over the world. During my time in Sold Out I’ve been lucky enough to travel all over the country… literally, during the QBR tour in the lead up to Commonwealth Games, we travelled more than 15,000km around Australia.
As much as I thoroughly enjoy the commute into Taren Point every day, the award for my favourite place would have to go to Hobart. We didn’t get to spend too much time there but got enough of a feel for the capital of the lonely little island down south. It’s very much a place that I will be returning to.
What has been your favourite event/activation to work on and why?
This title goes hands down to the Commonwealth Games 2018 Volunteers End of Games Celebration. There was very little planning time allowed for this, we were deeply engrossed in the actual Games during the lead-up and there were things changing on an hourly basis.
We had a great team working on this in the lead-up and then again in the execution. We managed to pull off a superb event for 15,000 incredibly selfless people who dedicated immense amounts of effort as well as weeks and months of their lives to ensure the Games were a success. The spine-tingling feeling you get when you see everyone having a great time is second to none.
And it ended with a spectacular firework show!!
What is something about your job that most people wouldn’t know?
ALAN!!! We in the office are nothing without Alan. He is a blessing from whatever higher powers you may pray too. He is Sold Out’s version of the Stig.
Before Alan comes the world is dark, when Alan leaves, the world is light
He kickstarts our brains every morning with a fresh brew and gives us our caffeine fix to get through the day. Alan and his coffee van are the secret driving forces behind the team at Sold Out.
What is the most unusual thing you’ve seen or done while working on an event/activation?
Well this happens on a regular basis and doesn’t happen on an event site but rather in the office… being asked to put on Justin Biebers songs by the ladies here! This just boggles my brain!! #whoisjustinbieber
Have you ever met a famous person while working on an event/activation?
Justin Bieber!!!
Nah, just kidding. There’s been a few famous people around and being in this industry you meet a lot from all different backgrounds. Being at the Games was great because we had the opportunity to meet all sorts of athletes.
We also went on a national tour with a lot of the Team Australia athletes after the games. It’s difficult to narrow it down to one because they’re all really great people. The best part about it is realising that athletes are just normal people and there’s no need to be intimidated or get flustered around them.
If you could swap jobs with anyone else in the company for one day, it would be…
Bertie (Tom and Kims Dog)
He’s just a big chiller and gets treated like royalty (not Harry and Megan royalty, that’s just too much). He gets to lounge around all day, gets fed great food. Pure Bliss!
If you had to pick a movie title to describe your job, it would be…
Cool Runnings or Rockstar
Do you have a party trick?
I can drink 2 beers with one hand. I drink one beer whilst the other one tips into the one that I’m drinking. (this needs to be done using cups. Bottles and cans don’t work)
Do try this at home!!!
