Who are you
I am Susan Twartz, one of the owners of Profiles RF Management (PRM). I have been in this industry for nearly 40 years, with a few roles at different companies. Back in the early 1980s, I was part of the three-person team that set up the Concert Division of the PA People. I managed a music school that had about 200 students for a few years before starting at Jands, where I stayed for 19 years. That sounds like a long time, but I had different roles there. The most significant was my role as the Product Manager for Jands’ manufactured products. I was responsible for the development of products from concept to grave, as well as worldwide support for them.
I was also the chair of the Australian Wireless Audio Group, which was an industry-led body that represented the needs of our industry during the digital dividend and restack of the television channels.
Now, I work in my own business alongside my partner, Peter.
Describe the work you do
We undertake RF Spectrum Management for major events, broadcasts, musical festivals, etc, across the country. Peter does most of the significant technical stuff while I liaise with the clients to scope the job, quote it, book travel and work with our subcontractors etc. When we are both onsite, I work with the stakeholders to ensure they are operating the equipment they said they were bringing, using the frequencies we have assigned to them and then check everything is going well for them. During the event, we patrol for rogue users and get them into the plot or work together to track down possible interference causes. After the event, I generally follow up with our client to make sure everything went well.
What led to your current work?
Basically, family. My parents needed more care and support, and we were missing out on doing things with our grandkids because of the restraints of being largely office-based. I wanted more flexibility to do all of this, as well as continuing to work. Unless we have to be onsite for a gig, Peter and I can work from anywhere worldwide, which is handy given we have family in Boston.
What are you working on now or about to start work on?
We are just finishing up the summer season of summer sports and music festivals. Winter is quieter, although the football codes are our major clients, so the weekly matches keep us busy. This builds towards September and early October with the finals, which is when the summer festival season starts again.
What are the worst things about your job?
As a business owner working from home, switching it off is much harder. I go for early morning runs and walk the dogs at the end of the day to try and delineate work and home life.
The other thing is I must deliberate about carving out time to catch up with family and friends.
What, so far, has been your career highlight?
I’ve had many career highlights, but two things come to mind.
It’s an amazing feeling holding the first prototype of a product in your hand that many, many design meetings ago was just a concept. Then, to see those same products out in the field, even today, being used still gives me a thrill.
In my current work, it was the first match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup (a cricket match) held at the MCG in 2022. It was India v Pakistan. The crowd was massive, and the atmosphere was amazing. The broadcast went off without a hitch, that is, no interference.
What is the most blatant example of sexism you have encountered at work?
The industry has come a long way since I started, but sometimes, it hasn’t. I’ve been fortunate to have been supported by a few good men working around me who respected my skills, and my gender truly didn’t matter.
But then there were a few idiots – the ones who offer you a quicky in the toilets/dressing room/venue of his choice or the manager who invites all the males in his team sailing on his yacht, but you get left out because there is only one toilet!
What advice would you give any woman considering a career in the entertainment industry?
Unfortunately, this industry is not conducive to having a family. The hours required to work on live events don’t fit well with young children’s demands. So, essentially, you must choose whether to start a family or work full-time at live events. My advice would be to get some other foundational skills (business degree, event management certification, etc) so you can work in an adjacent area during your child-rearing years if that’s what appeals to you. The additional skills also come in handy if you are a freelancer running your own business or need to diversify during a downturn (or another pandemic).
What is your career goal?
My current career goal is tied to our business goals. We have some short-term goals and a longer-term goal. Ultimately, I’d like to retire while I am still healthy and with enough money to continue indulging my desire to travel.
