Damon Delaney

I graduated with a Bachelor of Laws and Legal Practice and a Bachelor of Justice and Society from Flinders University in 2013, but a year before graduation I took on some casual bump-in work at the Garden of Unearthly Delights. This led me to being offered a front of house role for that season at the Fringe. As soon as my studying was finished, I began to take on more seasonal jobs at events like the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Darwin Festival, and Edinburgh Fringe alongside local gigs in Adelaide whenever the opportunity arose, including Cirque du Soleil’s Totem, Summersounds Festival, and the 2023 FIFA Fan Fest.

I have also worked casually as part of the Patron Services team at the Adelaide Festival Centre since 2016, which gave me the freedom to pursue other seasonal contracted roles such as venue managing at The Queen’s Theatre during Adelaide Fringe 2021 and producing at RCC Fringe 2019 and OzAsia Festival 2023.

Since late 2021, I have been the front of house coordinator with the Adelaide Festival which is a seasonal contract from around October/November to the end of March or early April. In January of 2024, I will be taking on the role of program coordinator with Patch Theatre.

Live events are some of the most challenging, rewarding, and interesting environments to work in. You are surrounded by so much passion, joy, and love from both the audiences and the people you are working with.

It sounds obvious, but try to work as many events and festivals as you can. Try to pay attention to what works and what does not (and try to think why that might be the case). Try to enjoy your work; this can be an incredibly challenging industry at times, but it is a special one that not everyone gets the chance to experience.

Pronouns: He/Him

Content supplied by: Damon Delaney

Edited for clarity by: Dahlia Opala

Photography by: Thomas McCammon

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