“If you want to expand your industry knowledge, gain first-hand experience in live music, and open your mind to media production? Show up to that first session. It was the best decision I ever made, opening doors to experiences I never thought possible.”

Written by Elena Harris, who took part in Tune Up in the lead up to running the Superdry stage at BTC All Dayer

Signing up for Tune Up was, admittedly, a last-minute decision for me. At the time, I was between jobs and looking for more freelance work, so I signed up for this course as a simple pastime while searching for clients. I wasn’t expecting much. In fact, at first I thought it would be a waste of my time and a bit out of my comfort zone, so I was very hesitant to go. Ultimately, I decided to attend the first session, which, to my surprise, proved to be a very good decision.

Filming an interview with The Detour, booked by Tune Up

So, what is Tune Up?

Tune Up, hosted by Brighten The Corners, is a ten-week course aimed at 16-25-year-olds. Through weekly sessions, you learn the skills needed to put on live music festivals. The goal is to teach young people the essential skills for live music production. They host workshops where you gain hands-on experience with production, programming, marketing and event management, which come together to put on a real live music festival.

Even though I focused on the marketing side, it was great to explore other parts of music festival production, which gave me a broader experience than I anticipated.

What made you decide to go along?

When I signed up, I was looking to add a little something extra to my CV, but I was met with something more; I was able to hone my marketing skills and work closely with the BTC marketing director to gain more insight into the marketing industry.

You don't just learn skills; you get to act on them.

I volunteered to film social media content, edit videos, write the press release, interview the bands, post on Tune Up’s social media, speak on local radio stations, and much more, all of which helped promote the BTC All Dayer festival, which took place in Ipswich Town Centre on the 25th of April 2026. I completed more than I expected, and my tasks contributed to promoting the event. I got a satisfying feeling knowing that I helped put on a live music festival.

Tune Up visit Baker’s Dozen Radio on ICR FM

What surprised you?

Throughout the course, I did not expect to have conversations with people who worked in the industry, such as those at Atlantic Records. Listening to their individual stories, which I personally found fascinating and inspiring, reminded me that everyone has a different path to where they are today; there is no set course. For me, joining Tune Up gave me a moment of clarity that, for now, marketing is the right career, and this course was one step in the right direction.

However, what was more inspiring than the industry talks was the like-minded peers you get to work with.

As this is a volunteer position, you work with people who share similar interests to you and are willing to collaborate to create amazing work. I met many fascinating people throughout the course, all from different backgrounds and experiences. You learn from each other, helping you to grow your skills and mindset.

Was the BTC All Dayer festival worth the effort?

Leading up to the BTC All Dayer festival, we produced a good amount of promotional materials. Highlights included a BBC Radio Suffolk feature to get the word out, which proved a great success, with an estimated 3,000 people attending the free event.

On the day of the BTC All Dayer, I received a ‘Crew’ t-shirt and managed marketing, which involved interviewing bands and filming social media content for the festival. Tune Up was in charge of the Superdry venue, where we set up and packed down. I enjoyed seeing how we used the Superdry space, used for pop-up shops, and transformed it into a music venue. All the hard work throughout the ten weeks came together for this event; it felt rewarding and was worth every moment.

And, your conclusion?

I believe Tune Up is good for young people to expand their knowledge and experience in an already difficult industry to get into. Or to simply become open-minded in the media and production industry altogether, and discover new interests that you may not have thought of before.

Therefore, I wouldn’t recommend Tune Up to anyone who wants to stay in their comfort zone. But if you want to expand your industry knowledge, gain first-hand experience in live music, and open your mind to media production? Show up to that first session. It was the best decision I ever made, opening doors to experiences I never thought possible.

My time on Tune Up & at the BTC All Dayer