Client: Music Venue Trust – MVT
Projects: Venues Day & MVT Annual Survey
Location: London, UK
Role: Production Manager & Data Analysis
Sytske has supported Music Venue Trust (MVT) across two cornerstone initiatives — Venues Day and the MVT Annual Survey — contributing both hands-on event production expertise and analytical insight to strengthen the UK’s grassroots live music sector.
In 2022, Sytske was brought on board as Production Manager for Venues Day at Hackney Church, a landmark Grade II* listed venue in East London. Positioned as a consultant, she was responsible for overseeing the planning and delivery of event production — covering health & safety, logistics, site planning, and accessibility — on behalf of the MVT team.
The event was designed with a strong emphasis on networking, and Sytske introduced and implemented JotForm as a scheduling tool to support pre-booked delegate meetings, which the MVT team rolled out with great success. Operating across several buildings within the Church estate presented logistical challenges, from stair-only access at the loading bay and restricted load-in times due to local noise restrictions and the need to respect the venue’s residential setting, to working within standard council waste collection systems that limited sustainable disposal options.
Despite facing a late-stage medical issue that prevented her from attending in person, Sytske ensured a smooth show-day delivery through detailed pre-production planning, robust documentation, and strong relationships with trusted suppliers. She worked in close collaboration with both the venue and MVT’s in-house teams to ensure the event — welcoming 600+ attendees — ran safely and efficiently.
In 2023, Venues Day moved to Woolwich Works, a recently opened multi-disciplinary arts centre housed in a series of historic Grade II and II* listed buildings on the Royal Arsenal in southeast London. The new venue provided much-needed capacity to accommodate MVT’s growing community of grassroots venue operators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders.
As Production Manager, Sytske worked closely with the MVT core team, the venue, and local suppliers to coordinate all logistics and onsite operations. With responsibility for planning load-in, health & safety, infrastructure, and external partner needs, she ensured a smooth delivery across multiple spaces — including exhibition, catering, and breakout zones.
Operational challenges included navigating the venue’s architectural features, such as dip traps across the floor and a loading bay without ramp access. One particular highlight involved the successful installation of a full-size London taxi — part of a sponsor activation — that had to be delivered by truck, aligned to the raised loading dock, and manoeuvred inside without disrupting venue structures or timing.
The generous cooperation of the venue team in allowing early access for caterers, suppliers, and sponsors helped reduce pressure on the start of the main event day — a testament to Sytske’s advance planning and collaborative working style. The event welcomed over 800 attendees, marking another successful edition in a striking new setting.
Returning to Woolwich Works for the 2024 edition of Venues Day provided an opportunity for Sytske to build on existing relationships and operational knowledge from the previous year. As Production Manager, she worked closely with MVT’s internal team, venue staff, and local suppliers to expand the event while refining core logistics, health and safety, and crowd management strategies.
With a clear focus on continuous improvement, Sytske coordinated a surprise awards presentation, strengthened DEI implementation across the day, and addressed known pinch points in attendee flow — particularly around food and drink service during peak moments. While there were no taxis inside the building this year, a full-size Save Our Scene fire truck tested the limits of site access, requiring careful advance planning by Sytske and the venue to manoeuvre tight turning circles and courtyard dip traps.
Sytske also oversaw expanded catering operations, coordinating with trusted F&B partner Chris Crocker and additional food trucks to deliver a seamless transition into the evening celebration. The event welcomed 800+ guests and marked the 10th anniversary of Venues Day with a raised glass and a full stomach.
Alongside event delivery, Sytske also contributed to the 2024 edition of the MVT Annual Survey, a foundational data source for the organisation’s policy and funding work. In 2024 she was responsible for cleaning and preparing the final dataset ahead of analysis and publication. Her attention to consistency and structure played a key role in ensuring the data was robust, usable, and aligned with MVT’s advocacy goals. Going forward she continues to consult and support MVT to restructure and simplify the survey’s question flow.
Whether behind the scenes at the UK’s most important gathering for grassroots venues, or behind a spreadsheet shaping national narratives, Sytske’s contributions reflect her dual fluency in live events and data-driven strategy — and her deep commitment to supporting independent music.
Highlights include:
– Encouraging and mentoring MVT team members to adopt tools like JotForm for speedmeeting scheduling and spreadsheet filters for improved efficiency — and even sparking a newfound interest in Health & Safety, including risk assessments, along the way.
– Securing last-minute clearance for drone filming to capture dynamic footage of the event and venue.
– Partnering with trusted caterers to deliver exceptional, above-expectation plant-based food throughout the day.
– Welcoming the impressive Save Our Scene fire truck to site — a memorable centrepiece requiring careful access coordination.
– Experiencing outstanding team spirit across departments, including invaluable support from dedicated volunteer teams.
– Creating a welcoming, calm, and safe environment for attendees with access needs or DEI-related considerations.
– Collaborating with MVT CEO Mark Davyd in a series of fast-paced, high-impact working sessions — combining Sytske’s analytical precision with Mark’s strategic insight to prepare and structure the survey data for maximum clarity and usability.