Keep calm and carry on…
For us Brits, we’re renowned worldwide for having a “stiff upper lip” approach to life. Though, this might not always be the case… It’s natural to feel overwhelmed and experience stress, trust us, we work in the events industry! On a brighter note, stress isn’t malicious, it’s our bodily and mental reaction to a given situation and for prehistoric man, it would’ve saved their cotton socks. Without stress induced flight or fight mode… we may not be here…
Let your hair down…
Life is such a rush, especially with our constant use of computers, laptops, tablets and smart phones. With everything being so stimulating, it can be quite hard to switch off and unwind. Thankfully there is a cure! So, step away from your smart phone and give those eyes a well-deserved rest. Changing your view and giving yourself some much-needed head space really helps. Think back to what you really love to do and indulge in it!
We can help…
Feeling the pressure? Give our punch bag a few swings! Feeling frustrated? Take it out on our foosball table! We’ve got a few things dotted around our venues to help offer you a new perspective that are a bit of fun! It is said you can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation… don’t pass up on our building on our Lego wall. Psst, if you love colouring in, turn over our studio headed paper for a nice surprise!
Did you know Grace Marshall runs Think Productive’ Stress Less Achieve More workshops at thestudiobirmingham? If the source of your stress is an overwhelm of too much to do in too little time and a constant feeling of information overload and distraction, Grace will show you how to reduce stress by eliminating those nagging feelings of doubt, guilt and overload panic, and replace them with a focused, playful, purposeful and productive momentum.
Book onto the next one at thestudiobirmingham here: stresslessoct2018.eventbrite.co.uk
Balance…
If we’ve had the pleasure of hosting your meeting or special event, you’ll have noticed aside for our vibrant décor, we love the colour grey. So much so we incorporated it into our logo. But why grey you ask? Other than reminding you of the typical British sky’s colour, it promotes balance and complete harmony, the comfortable medium between light and dark. We’re firm believers in work hard, play harder. A work life balance is essential and thestudio team are encouraged to switch off after their days commitment. Once the team even had a masseuse visit and take a 15-minute massage within their work day!
Proof is in the pudding…
Check out the NHS online, they have some great advice on managing those dreaded stress levels. Making small changes can offer a whole new world!
“When the moon hits your eye Like a big pizza pie, that’s amore…”
If you didn’t know already, the 9th of February is dedicated to the super cheesy, super saucy and fully loaded main. Whether fine dining or eaten the morning after, thestudio’s celebrating National Pizza Day by offering you a slice of the action: to win a pizza on us!
Take another pi-zza my heart…
Tweet @studiovenues a quick sketch of your ideal pizza. The most impressive we’ll replace it with an actual pizza… No kidding.
Do pizzas and conferencing go hand in hand? We can all agree, aside from being a faithful crowd pleaser, pizzas are simple, efficient and most importantly delicious. Reigning supreme when it comes to variety, it’s no wonder this nosh is an international star. Being food fanatics, we can’t help but liken this famed food to event perfection!
Just like a divine slice of cheesy heaven, a great venue will offer their guests a tailor-made experience with lots of opportunity to shake things up and of course, extra mozzarella. We’re definite believers in flexibility when it comes accommodating peoples’ needs… Arranging your event should be as easy as pie… pizza pie to be exact!
Wishing everyone a scrumptious day…
With the flurries of new year’s resolutions coming in faster than UK’s snow spells, 2018 will no doubt be full of fantastic opportunities to make your wishes come true. With foresight taking centre stage, we’d like to celebrate your dreams!
I have a dream…
Martin Luther King’s timeless speech undeniably influenced change, he dreamt of a future full of equality and freedom, a future which he pursued to create a reality. Today, take inspiration from people who chase their callings. Aspiring to go after your dreams, no matter how big or small, can be illusive. It’s easy to only see the successful iceberg tip whilst overlooking what lies beneath, this perception is perfectly demonstrated by
Stephen McCraniein’s famous quote:
“the master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.”
One thing’s for sure, with a bit of elbow grease and perseverance, dreams can come true!
Burning with passion…
Ever notice how hours can fly by when you’re immersed in something you really enjoy? It’s because you’re no longer a serial clock watcher! When we’re bored, we become insanely aware of how slow time passes. Most of our lives are spent at work, time that would be best spent doing something we love. Unsurprisingly a lot of thestudio team had a background or interest in events before getting to join the family, as you could’ve guessed we love what we do!
Grab the bull by its horns…
We encourage risk takers, free thinkers and game changers. It’s why thestudio venues are designed with all the quirks. We want to offer you a fresh environment, laden with the inspiration to get your 2018 goals ticked off. Whilst we look to the year ahead, we wish you the very best of luck in making your dream come true.
Frost bitten trees, twinkling lights, long nights… Winter brings great change to both our landscape and to our hearts. With Christmas firmly planting its snow boots on our door step, Santa at the ready to sneak down our chimneys, cities and homes all beautifully adorned in quaint decorations, it’s no wonder we’re all completely taken in by this magical season! And of course thestudio will be getting involved!
Cold feet…
Don’t be put off numb fingers and Rudolf red nose sufferers, optimism isn’t the only thing that can fight off the frost. Stave off those winter blues with some festive cheer and brighten up the day with the simplest of pleasures.
Boost your team with these seven super suggestions:
1. Decorate the office! Maybe importing a snow machine would be a little much…
2. Belt out some Christmas classics in the office. Sometimes you just can’t help but sing along
3. Short trip to the Markets? Nothing quite like a comforting hot chocolate to soothe the cold
4. Yule be crowned a winner! Have a friendly competition of who can make the best Yule log
5. Whether it’s dress down Tuesday or casual Fridays, why not dig out “those” jumpers
6. Secret Santa anyone?!
Whatever you choose to do to celebrate there’s nothing quite like immersing the team in the season!
Get your knits out…
This Wednesday we’ll be pulling out all the stops, so join us in wearing our Christmas jumpers! The team are looking forward to wearing their cosy Xmas pullovers whilst gift giving as secret Santa’s.
Entertain yourself by checking out what thestudio teamed asked for when they were young…
Navisha – A bike and hells yeah! I was so happy when I received it
Chris – I wanted a puppy! I got a guide dog puppy but we had to give it back at the end of the year
Rachel – I went mad for a furby! Then I bet after a couple of months I got bored of it and it got packed away … oops!
Mandy – I really wanted roller-skates. All the craze in the 80’s. Roller-skates and skateboards. My parents pretended to have bought my brother the skate board he wanted and nothing for me. At which I cried. They had actually bought me them and so I was so happy.
I was always one of those children who didn’t want to get hurt so didn’t really partake in physical activity!
I think I tried riding them just a handful of times before I gave up trying to learn.
What a waste!
Prabjot – I really wanted a furby… never got one though. Also wanted a Tamagotchi, and I got one of those… promptly got bored and then used the batteries for a book!
Whether you’re on Santa’s naughty or nice list, we wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from thestudio.
Guess what we got up to last Thursday?
If you answered with handing out one of those novelty sized cheques, then call yourself Mystic Meg as you’re 100% right!
Charity Cheque…
thestudio loves to work with and support the local communities in the cities we call home, it gives us that Friday feeling every day of the week.
Have you heard of Wood Street Mission? They’re an amazing children’s charity which helps and supports local families in Manchester & Salford. At their core, they believe all children should live a poverty free life, encouraging them to value education and offering practical guidance so families can raise themselves out of poverty.
If you “teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
The fisherman needs the basics before he can start to provide for himself… And that’s what Wood Street Mission supply, the necessities!
If you’ve booked thestudio’s funky, retro space The Classroom, you’ve directly helped to support local Mancunians! For every confirmed event in Classroom, thestudio makes a £10.00 contribution to Wood Street Mission!
Our Commercial Director, Julian Kettleborough, was happy to present Wood Street Mission with £1,210.
We look forward in continuing our work with Wood Street Mission and a huge thank you to our clients, you help make this possible!
Not to be confused with The Ting Tings, The Ting Thing is a prolific Birmingham based blogger! Her work encompasses topics like beauty, fashion, food and travel. So if you’re looking for some inspiration, her lifestyle blog is definitely worth a gander.
thestudio & The Ting Thing…
If you’re new to us, we’re a meetings and events venue who harness their core value of customer first in everything we do. We have 4 venues throughout the UK, with our HQ based in the heart of Birmingham’s bustling city centre.
Today, we’re happily welcoming The Ting Thing though our doors and many other Birmingham-based bloggers! In this exciting event, they’ll be looking to collaborate works, swap ideas and create something nothing short of brilliant.
If this sounds right up your street and you’d like to find out more about Birmingham Blogger UK please click here.
From thestudio…
Wishing everyone a fabulous blog together day!
In our fast paced world it’s good to slow down and place importance on that fabled ‘me’ time. Undoubtedly it’s why apps such as Headspace are such a hit! It can be difficult to set aside time to gather ourselves, so let’s draw inspiration from nature… the mascot for being seamlessly chilled, today we celebrate International Sloth Day!
Did you know…
One of our team members has travelled to the land of these strange but endearing creatures? Check out what she had to say about her experience:
“Eye opening. That would be the best way I could describe my trip. I’ve never travelled solo let alone with a group of strangers! So whilst putting my people skills to the ultimate test, I thought it would be a bright idea to challenge my fears and take part in Indiana Jones type activities like waterfall rappelling, rainforest trekking, white water rafting and riding an ATV though jungle rivers. Yes I survived!
For me, travel is the door to learning more about yourself but you can only go through it if you’re open to new experiences and stepping out of the cosy comfort zone.
Not many people can say they’ve had the pleasure of meeting a sloth in the wild, but thankfully I can. So I knew we just had to celebrate International Sloth Day! (Jyoti even has a mouse mat proclaiming ‘my patronus is a sloth’!)
Costa Rican life is very serene, they constantly pursue efforts which enrich the lives of every living being there. They live by a saying called “Pura Vida” which means pure life, to live a full life, simply put “It is a perspective to life that evokes a spirit that is carefree, laid back and optimistic.”
Just like the sloth, the people there take time to slow down and appreciate their surroundings. Costa Rica doesn’t even have an army… so you can imagine how peaceful of a people they are!”
One two toed step…
We at thestudio promote a healthy work life balance and encourage the team to take on new experiences. We’re strong believers that a change of scene can do you the world of good. So today, celebrate International Sloth Day and take a breather!
You are what you eat…
Not our usual breakfast we must admit but today’s a special day! Creating timeless masterpieces that transport you to magical worlds full of wonder and awe, today we’re celebrating the works of a truly iconic author: Happy Roald Dahl Day!
“Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous. Go the whole hog. Make sure everything you do is so completely crazy it’s unbelievable…” Matilda – Roald Dahl
The Golden Ticket…
Here @thestudio, we’re a sucker for everything inspirational. You’ll only have to visit our venues to be welcomed with a myriad of encouraging quotes. From Rene Descartes to David Bowie… our inspiration net is cast far and wide! We’re looking for our golden ticket, tweet @thestudio with your favourite Roald Dahl quote and be in with a chance of it being put up in one of our venues!
First impressions…
We usually think of the first impressions being the most important but here @thestudio we count on making a lasting impression! With that in mind, check out which Dahl works have touched our team:
Gillian: BFG. Really appealed to a child’s imagination and sense of humour with whizz popping and snozzcumbers. To this day I still call humans human beans….
Julian: My all-time favourite is Danny The Champion of The World – I read it at the age of 7 and I can still remember being up until the early hours of the morning trying to finish it. He lives with his dad in a gypsy caravan and his dad makes a living by repairing cars and poaching pheasants. My favourite bit is when he has to rescue his Dad from capture by driving their Austin 7 to a wood where his Dad has been trapped by his leg (his Dad has broken his leg) I would have loved to have been able to drive at the age of 7…
Nigel: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. It is so Studio and I dream of giving it away to a small child one day who can manage the cash flow better than me…
Dawn: I love James and the Giant Peach. My favourite teacher read it to us as a class when I was little, his writing really made me feel as though I was there with James. We have just started to read it to my little boy at bedtime.
Tracey: It’s funny, sad and seeing all those kids triumph over the horrid Miss Trunchbull always makes me smile and it goes to show if you put your mind to it you can achieve anything and it’s ok to be different!
Prabjot: My fav is The Witches.
Because the witches live amongst us… I could be a witch, you could be a witch, anyone could be a witch!
To all our studio goers remember, “those who don’t believe in magic will never find it”.
What’s your favourite human quality?
Laughter. Funny people definitely leave a lasting impression on us. You might be a hard-core Seth Rogan fan or love to nestle down and stick on Mrs. Doubtfire, one thing’s for sure, everyone loves a good old giggle! Throughout time people have been admired for their talents to influence and shape the world we live in. But what do iconic greats like Mother Theresa, Ghandi, Abraham Lincoln and Albert Einstein have in common? Introducing thestudio’s favourite human quality: compassion.
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”― Aesop
World Humanitarian Day…
Today we recognise and thank the efforts of those who risk their lives in the hope of improving someone else’s. Find out more about the #NotATarget campaign by clicking here.
Small Victories…
It’s great to celebrate the small victories and the little things you can do to make a difference. That’s why thestudio are teaming up with Foodinate – a multi award winning “meal-for-meal” initiative tackling food poverty in local communities. So when you’re booking a delicious Foodinate Fancy Tea, for your guests, you’ll also be providing the same amount of hot meals for your local community! You and your guests can enjoy a variety of fondant fancies, fresh lemon slices, chocolate tea cakes and Foodinate cupcakes… Compassion and kindness never tasted so good! Curious to find out more? Check out Foodinate’s website by clicking here.
We’re also working with Lets Feed Brum, have a little read of how to help the homeless in Birmingham.
From all of us @thestudio, have a brilliant weekend!
Guest blog: Kirsty Rafe: Year 10 at King Edwards VI Lichfield.
When I entered thestudio on the first day of my work experience, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect. I’d arrived early, half nervous, half excited to see what goes on behind the scenes. I’d always thought that a job wasn’t something you could fully enjoy, that it was just something everyone just had to do. Not at thestudio. Although when you take first glance at the doors in, it appears small, instantly you are grabbed by the bright colours and glass doors that allow you to see into the world of thestudio.
Tour
When inside the doors, I was shown around the unique building. Although I’d been inside thestudio doors before, my eyes kept being caught by little quirky details I hadn’t seen before. It instantly put a smile on my face as I struggled to find my favourite part. Everything catches your eye; from the rooms that are labelled with motivational words, to the engaging colours scattered about, and the table football on the second floor. Even the early birds that were waiting to go in couldn’t have been bored for a second.
Reception
After experiencing it myself, I’m convinced that anyone who walks through those front doors, no matter how nervous or unsure they may be, could be put at ease by the welcoming smile on Pedro’s face at the front desk. Admittedly I didn’t answer any calls on the first day, because I was so interested in seeing how the staff react to different situations on the phone. I was in awe at how naturally they could deal with any situation that was given to them, and could answer anything the customer was enquiring about. Now I was determined to be part of this brilliant team.
On the second day, I was on reception again, up on the second floor with Sharon. With this new determination had to be involved with the calls, I finally built up the confidence to do it. I’d been welcomed so well into thestudio that I began to feel like part of the team. All day I dealt with lost guests trying to find their rooms, and answered any questions asked. I learnt a lot of skills, behind the desk, and customer skills.
Mission control/Sales
This is by-far the busiest job area I’d experienced. I admire the sales team because they handle all the enquiries for the Birmingham, Leeds, Manchester, and Glasgow venues. Constant calls and emails came into the office, and were dealt with asap.
I was taken through financial processes in thestudio, and learnt how, instead of pressuring payments from clients, they are flexible with customer payments. I was also taken through all the little clever parts on their website, by Mandy, that the everyday customer might overlook. thestudio website is very useful as it even shows you the route from nearby train stations to the venues. One of the team went out with a camera and filmed the whole route-such a good idea!
Other bits I got involved with
On one of the days I got a little bit involved with the operations team. I’d seen them throughout the week rushing around, and organising things. They cleared away used items from the customers, and provided them with anything they needed. I was impressed how quiet and quick they were at moving things around while people were in their rooms; you wouldn’t even notice they were there. I learnt how to multi task as they were all being asked to do 101 things at once- catering for different rooms and different amounts of clients.
Throughout my week at thestudio I’ve learnt that people can really enjoy their job. Also, that to have the kind of success they have, there is a lot of teamwork, and determination involved. I have really admired the team at thestudio, and hope I can one day be in a successful job like theirs.
I would like to say thank you to everyone at thestudio for welcoming me into their own unique world of business, and giving me a fun week too!
