Marketing Internship: My Time at Circomedia by Jonny Shalom

The internship Circomedia provided in conjunction with UWE has been fantastic for both my personal and professional development. Throughout my time here I have been given the opportunity to work across the whole marketing mix whilst also learning about the niche world of circus. Each day at Circomedia brought new and exciting opportunities, from crafting promotional emails and posters to watching developing street performances. One thing I enjoyed whilst working here is the uniquely satisfying feeling that comes with drafting promotional materials for a show from its inception to its opening night. Additionally, working in a grand gothic church complete with intricate iron lettering on the gates and bonding with the resident cat Lionel certainly added to the unique charm of working for a contemporary circus academy. I was also lucky enough to meet the many different talented individuals who work in the team and gained invaluable advice from Circomedia’s current Marketing Manager who has helped me learn more about the industry I’ve chosen to work in.

Circomedia is particularly interesting to work for as they provide such varied services. As a marketer, we quite often think about adapting our messaging to different audiences across different brands, however at Circomedia I found myself adapting towards different audiences within a single brand. Circomedia run a youth circus, free events, professional shows, an academy and so much more. This challenged me to maintain brand consistency whilst also understanding who the target audience was at the time. I learned so much from this experience and was consistently provided with constructive feedback (and praise) for every task I had a hand in.

I feel as if I joined the marketing team at a very important time, it being both the 30th anniversary and the start of a rebranding for Circomedia. This allowed me to get involved in the many events and celebrations associated with this and provide my thoughts on the rebranding. Everyone’s opinion is valued at Circomedia, even me as a temporary marketing intern, which helps contribute to a positive work culture. Considering this was my first professional marketing role, I was entrusted with an impressive amount of responsibility which helped me feel as if I was having a significant impact on the marketing efforts of Circomedia. This kind of experience is difficult to replicate in an academic course and has empowered me to pursue further career opportunities within the marketing sector. Learning more about circus as an art form has been a fascinating journey and my amateur juggling skills were quickly overshadowed by the immense talent of both the teachers and students at Circomedia. Watching the various shows and performances quickly became a highlight of working here and has deepened my appreciation for the artistry in circus.

My internship at Circomedia has developed my professional marketing portfolio, allowed me to meet incredible people and given me an appreciation for circus so I will always be grateful to both UWE and Circomedia for my time here.