Explore every episode of the podcast Entertainment Matters
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| With Steve Caswell | 23 Jul 2026 | 01:28:07 | |
With Steve Caswell “It’s got to work creatively, it’s got to work operationally and it’s got to work commercially.” Steve Caswell has spent more than two decades working in entertainment, including senior roles with Haven Holidays, Butlin’s and a privately owned entertainment business. In 2025, he launched Next Phase Entertainment, working across entertainment provision, collaboration and consultancy. In this conversation, Steve talks about leadership, designing entertainment around its audience and purpose, and the relationship between creative, operational and commercial thinking. We also discuss changing entertainment offerings for new audiences, current challenges within the industry, and his hope for a more thoughtful, collaborative and sustainable future for entertainment.
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| Notes - on The Practitioner and The Producer: Freedom, Security and Creating Opportunities | 16 Jul 2026 | 00:16:50 | |
Notes - on The Practitioner and The Producer: Freedom, Security and Creating Opportunities In this Notes episode, John introduces The Practitioner and The Producer, a model for looking at how careers, shows and projects in live entertainment work. Starting with the question of how you get the freedom you want and the security you need, John looks at some of the stories we inherit about how entertainment careers are supposed to work, what can be hidden inside the word “just”, and how easily hoping to get lucky can become the whole plan. He then explores the two roles that appear again and again across live entertainment: the Practitioner, who gets paid to do the work, and the Producer, who creates the opportunity in which that work gets paid. In this episode:
Explore The Practitioner and The Producer You can explore the full model, see the diagram, watch the talk and read the written version here: www.john-blackburn.com/practitioner-and-producer Have a conversation with John If this episode has helped you see your work differently, John would be very happy to have a conversation with you. Usually, that conversation looks at what you currently want, what game you are currently playing, what your activities add up to, and whether your current plan is likely to take you where you say you want to go. www.john-blackburn.com/connect-with-jb Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet If you’d like to stay up to date with new episodes, please sign up to the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet: Music by Pete Faint Website: www.petefaint.com Instagram: @petefaint_ | |||
| Notes - on being motivated | 09 Jul 2026 | 00:12:32 | |
Notes – on being motivated inspired by Matt Roberts Matt Roberts made the observation that one of the hardest things performers deal with is maintaining motivation. In this episode, I explore the idea that motivation might not be something we simply wait for. Perhaps it's something we can learn to connect with deliberately. Sign up to the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet and stay up to date with new episodes and podcast news: Music by Pete Faint. Website: www.petefaint.com | |||
| With Matt Roberts | 02 Jul 2026 | 01:35:59 | |
With Matt Roberts This week I’m joined by Matt Roberts, Director and Head Agent at Roberts & Day Management. We talk about Matt’s journey into agenting and the origins of Roberts & Day, growing up around music in Leeds and training in Blackpool, the realities of agency work, and some of the opportunities and challenges facing performers today. Conversation sequence
Find out more about Matt and Roberts & Day: Website: www.robertsandday.co.uk Sign up to the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet and stay up to date with new episodes and podcast news: Music by Pete Faint. Website: www.petefaint.com | |||
| Notes - on making and keeping promises | 25 Jun 2026 | 00:10:02 | |
Notes – on making and keeping promises This episode is inspired by my conversation with Janine Coombes. We explore Janine's idea of Promise, Package and Price alongside Seth Godin's observation that a brand is the promises you make and keep. From McDonald's and farmers market burger stalls to websites, posters, social media and show promotion, we look at how promises are communicated through the signals we send, whether we've thought about them or not. The episode asks a simple question: what promises are you making, and are they the right promises for what you're trying to do and the people you're trying to do it for? Sign up to the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet and explore previous episodes at: • https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod With thanks to Pete Faint for the Entertainment Matters theme tune! • Website: https://www.petefaint.com | |||
| With Janine Coombes | 18 Jun 2026 | 01:17:38 | |
This week I’m joined by Janine Coombes, a marketing consultant and mentor who helps coaches and consultants think more clearly about their offers, positioning and pricing. We talk about what an ‘offer’ actually is, Janine’s Promise, Package and Price framework, common mistakes in offer creation, and some of the myths that continue to shape how people think about marketing and selling. We also put those ideas to work by reviewing several entertainment websites and exploring what makes an act easy, or difficult, to book. Learn more about Janine and her work: • Website: https://janinecoombes.co.uk Sign up to the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet and explore previous episodes at: • https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod With thanks to Pete Faint for the Entertainment Matters theme tune! • Website: https://www.petefaint.com | |||
| Notes - on value and worth | 11 Jun 2026 | 00:10:22 | |
Notes - on value and worth In this Notes episode, I explore a distinction that emerged while thinking about my conversation with Charles Umney's work on the politics of value. Phrases like "charge what you're worth" and "know your worth" are often useful and encouraging. But they can sometimes blur together two different ideas: your worth as a person, and the commercial value of the work you do. I explore why those might be different things, why commercial value changes from one context to another, and why separating the two can help us understand our careers more clearly. Along the way I discuss:
Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet: With thanks to Pete Faint for the Entertainment Matters theme tune. Website: Instagram: | |||
| With Charles Umney | 04 Jun 2026 | 01:15:36 | |
This week I’m joined by Charles Umney, Professor of International Work and Employment at the University of Leeds. We talk about AI and creative work, Charlie’s idea of the politics of value, and why the real question may not be whether AI replaces musicians, but how it reshapes the conditions under which creative work is valued, paid for and understood. We also explore platforms and algorithms, worker voice and collective bargaining, and what musicians, performers and entertainment professionals may need to think about as AI becomes part of the landscape. Learn more about Charlie and his work: Google Scholar University of Leeds If you'd like to stay up to date with new episodes, please sign up to the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet: Music by Pete Faint | |||
| Notes - on being organised | 28 May 2026 | 00:09:53 | |
Entertainment Matters In this notes episode, John Blackburn reflects on a moment from his conversation with Claire Owen-Jones, where she offers a simple definition of what being organised might actually look like. Rather than treating organisation as a personality type or moral judgement, John explores the idea that being organised may be less about becoming a certain kind of person and more about discovering practical ways of doing things that genuinely work for you. Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet: Theme music by Pete Faint. | |||
| With Claire Owen-Jones | 21 May 2026 | 01:15:57 | |
This week I’m joined by Claire Owen-Jones, an accountant who works with freelancers in the creative industries. We talk about Making Tax Digital, getting organised, and why your relationship with your accountant might matter more than you think. Along the way we discuss: Making Tax Digital and what is actually changing. Why HMRC wants people doing more regular bookkeeping. The benefits of streamlining your finances and separating business and personal spending. Software options for freelancers and creative businesses. What “being organised” really means in practice. Why communication with your accountant matters more than most people think. How to think about finances as a story rather than just a list of numbers. And why accountants probably hear more fear, shame and avoidance than most people realise. Find out more about Claire: With thanks to Pete Faint for the Entertainment Matters theme tune. Stay up to date with Entertainment Matters and receive the Cue Sheet: | |||
| Notes - on compliments | 30 Apr 2026 | 00:17:39 | |
In this Notes episode, John reflects on compliments, and why people in live entertainment often struggle to receive them. What gets lost in that process is what the compliment is really about. Most people aren’t scoring technique. They’re describing the effect something had on them. And that effect is, ultimately, the point of the work. That same distinction shows up in criticism as well. Not all feedback carries the same weight, and timing, source, and context all matter. But separating the message from the messenger can make both compliments and criticism easier to handle, and sometimes more useful. — If you would like to hear when new Entertainment Matters episodes are released, please sign up to the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet:
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| Notes - inspired Jillian George-Lewis | 23 Apr 2026 | 00:07:23 | |
Notes inspired by Jillian George Lewis In this Notes episode, John reflects on something Jillian said early in their interview: “I just got a sense for what the right show in the right venue means.” He looks at what that “sense” might actually be. The idea isn’t mystical. It’s repeated exposure, noticing what happens, and adjusting. There’s a tension in that process: ignore feedback and your instincts don’t sharpen; ignore your instincts and you never act. — If you would like to hear when new Entertainment Matters episodes are released, please sign up to the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet: And thanks, as always, for whatever you do to make live entertainment happen. | |||
| With Jillian George-Lewis | 16 Apr 2026 | 01:17:14 | |
With Jillian George Lewis “I had to go and meet Channing.” In this episode, John Blackburn chats with Jillian George-Lewis, Director of Creative Programming at the Hippodrome Casino in London where she played a central role in reshaping its theatre offer and bringing Magic Mike Live to London. Jillian is also an in demand performer working across cabaret, hosting, and live events. Amongst other insightful topics, Jillian discusses the realities of running a build inside a 24-hour casino, the negotiations behind a major international production, and the less glamorous work of getting departments to operate as one system. ... and if you’re watching the video version, stay tuned to the very end. — Connect with Jillian Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/delores_deluxe — If you’d like to stay up to date with future episodes of Entertainment Matters, you can sign up for the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet: And thanks, as always, for whatever you do to make live entertainment happen. | |||
| Notes - inspired by Luke Wade | 09 Apr 2026 | 00:13:17 | |
Notes inspired by Luke Wade In this Notes episode, John reflects on three things Luke said that apply well beyond video production. Beginning with Luke's reference to leaving no stone unturned and exploring different ways of making an idea like that fit you, then moving to talking about the importance of a clear core concept for shows and projects. — If you would like to hear when new Entertainment Matters episodes are released, please sign up to the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet: And thanks, as always, for whatever you do to make live entertainment happen. | |||
| With Luke Wade | 02 Apr 2026 | 01:20:37 | |
With Luke Wade "... if we were just in theatre, we'd be rich and all of our problems would be solved..." In this episode, John Blackburn chats with Luke Wade – founder of LiveWorks, creating video, branding and visual assets for live entertainment producers and promoters who want to raise the standard of how their shows look - on stage and online. Luke talks about some of the important aspects of visual design for theatre and shows, the importance of collaboration and communication and much more. — Connect with Luke Wade Website: LinkedIn: Instagram: — If you’d like to stay up to date with future episodes of Entertainment Matters, you can sign up for the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet: And thanks, as always, for whatever you do to make live entertainment happen. | |||
| Notes - inspired by Jayne Curry | 26 Mar 2026 | 00:07:42 | |
Notes inspired by Jayne Curry In this Notes episode, John Blackburn reflects on a moment from his conversation with Jayne Curry, where she says, “50% of what you do on a cruise ship happens off stage.” John explores what it means to see the real conditions that create success in an environment, rather than simply following the handed-down version of the job description. Using Jayne’s example of visibility, feedback, and rebooking, he considers the difference between playing the advertised game and noticing how things actually work. — If you would like to hear when new Entertainment Matters episodes are released, please sign up to the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet: | |||
| With Jayne Curry | 19 Mar 2026 | 01:29:44 | |
With Jayne Curry "50% of what you do on a cruise ship happens off stage..." In this episode, John Blackburn chats with Jayne Curry – Head of Talent Development for Don Casino in the US, co-owner of Black Box Booking in South Florida, and a professional guest entertainer with 23 years at sea. Jayne talks candidly about feedback, brand positioning, and the difference between the job description and the job as it actually functions. She shares how visibility, humility, and understanding the wider organisation can influence rebooking as much as performance itself. The conversation also touches on evolving with the industry, mentoring experienced acts, and what the future may hold for guest entertainers as cruise entertainment continues to shift. — Connect with Jayne Curry Website: YouTube: Don Casino Entertainment Agency: — If you’d like to stay up to date with future episodes of Entertainment Matters, you can sign up for the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet: And thanks, as always, for whatever you do to make live entertainment happen. | |||
| Notes - inspired by Jess Chambers | 12 Mar 2026 | 00:10:30 | |
Notes inspired by Jess Chambers In this Notes episode, John reflects on three ideas from his interview with Jess Chambers: picturing one real audience member instead of a crowd, treating marketing as something that happens in stages, and remembering the power of a single encouraging sentence. If you would like to hear when new Entertainment Matters episodes are released, please sign up to the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet: And thanks, as always, for whatever you do to make live entertainment happen. | |||
| With Jess Chambers | 05 Mar 2026 | 01:23:44 | |
With Jess Chambers In this episode John Blackburn chats with Jess Chambers, founder of Tootsuite Marketing and self-described event strategy sidekick, about how events actually sell tickets — and why most people start far too late. We talk about lead time and why “marketing” isn’t one thing. Jess separates the slow, human bit (teasing, warming people up, getting familiar) from the bit where you actually ask for the sale, and what changes when you only have three months rather than six. There’s also a properly practical detour into what “doing flyers properly” even means, why “everyone is welcome” often isn’t as inclusive as people think it is, and why she’d rather you talked to one real person than a theoretical demographic. Connect with Jess Chambers: https://www.tootsweetmarketing.com/the-green-room https://www.tootsweetmarketing.com/writing-event-copy-free-playbook LinkedIn: Jess Chambers If you’d like to stay up to date with future episodes of Entertainment Matters, you can sign up for the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet: | |||
| Notes - Inspired by Ali James | 18 Feb 2026 | 00:13:31 | |
In this "Notes" episode inspired by his interview with Ali James, John Blackburn explores the concept of 'Yes And' as a value or way of thinking, emphasizing the importance of exploring ideas before evaluating them. He discusses the difference between 'Yes And' and 'Yes But' and how to start applying this to your own work.
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| With Ali James | 17 Feb 2026 | 00:57:17 | |
With Ali James Ali is the movement director and a cast member with Showstopper! The Improvised Musical, co-director of the London 50 Hour Improvathon and the Southend 48 Hour Improvathon, and co-director of the Pretend Company. We talk about what it takes to create new shows from scratch, what really happens during a 50-hour Improvathon, and why community, values and “Yes, And” matter so much in her work. Ali shares what she’s learned about fear, exhaustion, collaboration, and what happens creatively when self-doubt gets quiet. We also explore the challenges of getting new work made, supporting “small fish with a good story”, and why care structures matter in intense creative environments like Edinburgh. Connect with AliInstagram: If you’d like to stay up to date with future episodes of Entertainment Matters, you can sign up for the Entertainment Matters Cue Sheet: https://www.john-blackburn.com/pod And thanks, as always, for whatever you do to make live entertainment happen. | |||