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!
We just can’t seem to settle down, can you guess why? It’s International Coffee Day!
If we’ve had the pleasure of welcoming you through our doors, you might have noticed we love a good coffee. We’re proud to offer you and your guests’ fresh bean to cup coffee on every mug you pour… delicious!
Test yourself and see if you’re a coffee fiend by thestudio’s standards!
1. Have you ever experienced coffee envy?
2. Does the thought of tasting luxurious imported beans excite you?
3. Are you on cup #3 by 9am?
4. Does the scent of coffee outweigh the aroma of freshly cut grass or bacon?
5. Would you always choose a coffee over tea?
6. Are your friends and work colleagues impressed by how many jazzy named coffees you’ve tasted?
7. Do you have a dedicated mugs or your all-important morning pick me up?
8. Have you invested in a trusty coffee machine and placed it lovingly by your bedside?
1 – 4 yes’s – tea drinker perhaps?
5 – 6 yes’s – Coffee has a special place in your heart!
7 – 9 yes’s – Must be still buzzing for your last coffee…
10 yes’s – You’re a true coffee fiend!
Give Me Coffee and T.V…
This wonderful world is full of hot drink connoisseurs. With each of us having our own palates and taste preferences we just can’t help ourselves but give tea drinkers a good ol’ shout out…
It may be International Coffee Day we can’t help but use this opportunity to welcome Tetley tea in our venues!
So whether you prefer a rich coffee, sweet tea or a flavoursome hot chocolate… Happy International Coffee Day from thestudio.
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”.
Sayings through to films and even being venerated as gods… It’s no wonder we have a whole 24hrs dedicated to these feisty furry creatures: introducing International Cat Day!
Are you a crazy cat lady?
Take thestudio yay or nay test and see how cat crazy you are!
1. Do you talk to your pet cat?
2. Is your perfect evening a night in with your furry friend?
3. When on a walk, would you stop and try to befriend a cat you’ve never met before?
4. Do you think about cats more than 5 times a day?
5. If you saw a cat would you have to point it out to the people you’re with?
6. Have you ever wished you were a cat or live in the hope of being reincarnated as one?
7. Would being around your own kitty (or someone else’s) be the highlight of your day?
8. Ever meowed just for fun even if there’s no cats around?
9. Would you cry from happiness if you were handed a box full of kittens?
10. Have you ever taken your cat out for walks with you on a leash?
1 – 4 yes’s – think you should wait for our #InternationalDogDay blog!?
5 – 6 yes’s – Your heart is cat inclined!
7 – 9 yes’s – You’re just on the cusp of being feline-infatuated
10 yes’s – Coo coo cat crazy!
Cat Competition…
Whether you secretly spend all your free time watching cat videos on YouTube or you proudly relish your love of moggies by tagging your friends in all tabby related posts. Whatever you’re level of kitty cat love, we’re celebrating today by offering a chance to win a studio canvas just for your pet! Here @thestudio we really love our purry pals, we even have a wall dedicated to our studiopets canvas art. Tweet your best pet images to @studiovenues with the #InternationalCatDay #WinYourOwnCatCanvas to be in with a chance with winning your very own master piece. Pet selfies only
What’s Up Pussycat?
On the surface, your feline companion may only seem good for lounging around. Apart from sleeping most of their days away, did you know these fuzz balls are great stress relievers? Even science says some quality time with your furry friend can boost those feel good hormones! So after a hard day in the office how about a petting session with your four legged buddy? Now where did that string go…
From all the team at thestudio, we wish you a brilliant International Cat Day!
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!
Find out why we’re bouncing off the walls…
In 2015, we welcomed a new addition to thestudio family in Leeds. Perched on the 8th floor on Riverside West, overlooking both city and country views, thestudioleeds offers a bright, quirky alternative events venue. A place to soak in the Yorkshire views and escape from the norm. We’ve got some brilliant news we’d love to share with you!
Bigger is better…
Remember, remember this September. Imagine that your favourite cake just got a whole new layer, with the same deliciousness as the others! Well, that’s exactly what’s happening to thestudioleeds. We’re happy to announce the introduction of a whole new floor. With a mixture of spaces perfect for small to medium events, they’ll be ready to Rock ‘n’ Roll by this September!
Venues under the hammer…
If we’ve been lucky enough to have you as guests at any of our venues, you might have noticed that we’re really into food. That’s why thestudiobirmingham’s kitchen is getting a revamp! So we can create and make even more delicious dishes for you and your guests.
Look forward to welcoming you!
Selling out in 2016, thestudiomanchester are excited to once again welcome Jamchester through its doors!
It’s Jamazing…
Not quite sure what Jamchester is about? One thing’s for sure, it’s not a festival dedicated to jam! Presented by Gameopolis and HAC100, we introduce the UK’s biggest professional game jam, a weekend long event offering industry professionals the perfect opportunity to let their imaginations run wild. Get your creative juices flowing as you compete either in a team or as a lone wolf to create the best game. Rome wasn’t built in a day, so you’ve been given two to craft your masterpiece!
We’re Jammin’…
Not for the faint hearted, this game building extravaganza is a 24hr event! Guests will be working round the clock on their precious projects. Last year Jamchester welcomed a whopping 200 attendees and received a staggering 39 video games! Whether you love gaming or are a curious kitten, check out last year’s marvels by clicking here… thestudio
To All Gamers…
Here at thestudio, we really value being customer focused. Whether you’re new to our meetings and events spaces or have stuck by us since our Orange days, we’re always super excited to see the return of clients’ year in year out. To everyone competing this weekend, a massive good luck from thestudio team.
What’s smoking hot @thestudio?
Blazing sun, clear skies, hot weather, shades… Yes the long awaited British summer is here! And what a better way to celebrate than a classy BBQ. We humans are a social bunch, loving any old excuse for a get together and with the sun high in the sky, what a better opportunity?
Individually we’re brilliantly unique but together, together we’re unstoppable. That’s why we love rounding up our team for a quarterly get-together. Being on the same page doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom with monotonous meetings. Spicing things up with a fun, relaxed event does wonders when it comes to team bonding. Plus, you know that age old saying to get to someone’s hear you have to go through their stomach!
No case without a showcase…
We’re really looking forward to the season of BBQ’s and great weather. So much so we’d like to add a bit of pizazz to your reunions by offering a smoking hot team building session in Birmingham and Manchester. Running from July to August, catch up with your crew over some delicious food!
Under the watchful eye of BBQ extraordinaire Richard Holden, your crew can enjoy a tailor made bespoke grilling master class. That’s not all, whilst looking forward to this creative lunch, we include the use of a main meeting room, unlimited tea, coffee and snacks throughout the day.
Ideal for 10-20 guests wanting to live it up in the sun, in just a few hours you’ll experience a 2 course menu of a starter and a main course, BBQ skills on show, tips on grilling and roasting, how to make pioneering pesto, saucy marinades, homemade pizza dough plus choosing and cooking the perfect steak! With a variety of activity packages starting from £50+vat pp for 3-6 hour sessions, looks like the only thing you’ll need is some shades and sun cream!
*Minimum numbers for any course are 10, increasing to a maximum of 20 per session. The above is subject to availability, to make an enquiry contact thestudio team on 0800 028 6694
What’s special about today?
Sundays are the king of lie ins, but why’s this Sunday like no other? Well, it’s a perfect day to talk food as it’s World Hunger Day! Nutrition, inspiration and education take the biscuit when it comes to creating a solution, click here to see how you can compel change.
A helping ladle…
Even though we are in the 21st century, hunger is still a massive issue. Whether you’re thinking international or locally we can all help be part of a solution. thestudio loves the cities it calls home and naturally, we’re always looking for ways to connect with our local community. So, for the past month in Birmingham, we’ve been teaming up with Let’s Feed Brum to help make a difference!
As self-confessed foodies, we appreciate delicious, nutritious, fresh, locally sourced food. We love a
delicious dish, and what better than to share it with others? That’s why at the end of the day, thestudio helps Let’s Feed Brum support the homeless by “providing food, drink, essential supplies and friendship” to those living on our streets. Whether you’re an organisation or an individual with some spare time on their hands, find out how you can support your local brummies here.
Proof is in the pudding…
Everything is easier when you’re a team player! We appreciate the difficulties of today’s modern world but with a bit of elbow grease and shared dreams we can work together to make a better future for everyone. Big things always have small beginnings. 🙂
Guess why thestudio’s so excited?
Homer Simpson “eat your heart out” introducing National Doughnut week! Go nuts for doughnuts from the 6th May – 13th May. Kicking off on our fabulous Commercial Director: Julian Kettleborough’s birthday, National Doughnut Week isn’t just a time where it’s socially acceptable to have jam on your face. It’s a brilliant opportunity to raise funds for The Children’s Trust!
For every doughnut you decide to devour you’ll have the chance to donate as little or as much as you can for the UK’s leading charity for children with brain injuries. If you fancied spreading the love of sugar dusted rings, find out more here. Good vibes all round 🙂
Now that’s a doughnut!
Did you know the largest doughnut weighed a whopping 1.7 tons! It was jelly filled and stretched to 16ft wide!
What’s your flavour?
thestudio team are self-confessed foodies, check out our fave flavours and see if you match up with anyone in the team!
Dawn: “Jam donuts, we used to get them as a treat from Firkins when we were little because our Auntie worked in there.”
Jyoti: “Rings iced with sprinkles reminds me of my childhood! I love jam doughnuts dusted with icing sugar and maple syrup ones… YUM!”
Pedro: “1 with sugar sprinkled on top and maybe a jam filling…Because it’s sweet!”
Katie: “Sugar ring 😉 Classic!”
