What does the studio coordinator do?
The studio coordinator supports the studio manager in the day-to-day running of the studio facilities. They liaise with the regular clients, check studio availability and, often, skilfully juggle dates with a number of different productions to make sure everyone gets the time they need. They might also provide an estimate based on the rate-card for the studio. This sets out how much it costs to hire the studio by the day or by the hour. Coordinators are often the first to receive a call from a potential new client, so they need to be able to sell their studio, as well as judge when to pass the client on to the studio manager, who will finalise the deal.
The coordinator may take the client round the studio, showing them the production offices, dressing rooms, catering facilities and hospitality suites that are available, as these can be just as important to a successful production as the studio space itself. Once the booking is confirmed, they are on hand to greet the production team and make sure everything runs smoothly. They need to be ready to sort out the many unexpected issues that occur when a programme is in the studio. The coordinator may also help the studio manager with marketing the studio facility.
Being a good studio coordinator requires hard work, great organisational skills, confidence with IT and a welcoming personality. They also need to be a very good team player and be prepared to work at weekends and in the evening when required. Being a studio coordinator is an excellent place to develop your knowledge of studio productions and business management, and it will prepare you to become a studio manager in your own right.
What’s a studio coordinator good at?
- Business: have a keen business sense for marketing the studio and meeting with clients
- Problem solving: be flexible and ready to sort out a myriad problems; make sure the studio space is presentable and ready for client showings
- Communication: be good at communicating with clients about how a production can best use the studio, as well as liaising with colleagues and external crew on various projects
- Technology: know about all the equipment, IT systems and facilities in the studio and be up to date on the available technology
- Being part of a team: ensure that everything runs smoothly and be ready to help colleagues with different kinds of studio tasks when needed
