My day: I spend the first hour of my day yelling ‘clean your teeth!’ at anything that moves. Having put one child on the school bus (observing the 400m Uncool Dad exclusion zone) and dropped the other off at his school, I head to the Chester Performs office, up above the wonderful Rows.
When the festival is up and running, as it is at the moment, my day is often a bit of a blur punctuated by trips to the railway station, the Town Hall and the university.
Chester Station is always an exciting place to be as every day sees the arrival of another famous speaker for me to ferry to their hotel or venue.
Trips from the office to the Town Hall are less exciting as we transport A-boards, pop-up banners and other stuff that we need to make the events the seamlessly fantastic spectacles that they are.
Dress: A jacket with leather patches on the elbows is an essential part of the Literature Festival manager’s wardrobe.
What is the favourite part of your job? Meeting people. It always transpires that the audience is just as interesting as the writers and performers that come to the festival; it’s a privilege to meet them all. More than in other events, the audience is at the heart of a literature festival, with direct questions from the floor an integral part of the proceedings and with book signings giving people the chance to meet their heroes face to face. As a result, the atmosphere at the festival is always especially warm, not least because authors as a species are generally a very friendly bunch and Chester audiences are unsurpassable. Whatever the reason, there are always lots of smiles.
What would be your dream job if you weren't doing what you do now? Hollywood star.
How do you relax when you are not working? Watching telly. Can’t stand reading.
What is your favourite film?Cinema Paradiso (especially in the open air at Moonlight Flicks this summer).
What is your favourite book?A Prayer For Owen Meany by John Irving (in spite of what half of the Festival Book Club thought about it!)
What is your favourite song?A Rainy Night In Soho by the Pogues .
If a film was made of your life, who would you like to play you? David Tennant
Have you had your 15 minutes of fame? No, thanks to the efficiency of our volunteer stewards in noticing that a large man with a cigar has forgotten his fur coat and chasing after him with it.
FACT FILE:
Name: Paul Lavin
Job: Festivals manager at Chester Performs
Born: Bolton
Education: St Cuthbert’s RC Comprehensive (Bolton), Thornleigh College (Bolton), Leeds University
Family life: Married to Melissa with two boys, Frankie (12) and Theo (10)
