Jon ‘JD’ Davis

Profession:
Managing Director of The Chain Group.

Date & place of birth:
August 6 1971; Watford, UK.

Your first job after full-time education?
I was area manager for a four-shop burger chain called Stars ‘N’ Stripes in the deepest, darkest south-west of England... yarp!

What was the career path that took you into crewing?
My interest in events started at 18 when I moved to London and began working in an Uxbridge nightclub. By 21 I’d progressed to working as senior bar manager at the Ministry of Sound — six months later I was managing the entire club! I stayed until I was offered a partnership in a small Kensington club called Central Park where I started to envy the lifestyle of the people who I was booking to do gigs in my clubs.

Next logical step: tour manager! After 10 years, I learned that you could travel the world continuously, staying in five star hotels, taking business class flights and earning enough frequent flyer miles to travel to Saturn. Unfortunately none of this made it easy to take an active role in my two childrens’ lives, but I wanted to somehow remain in live events.

I looked for an industry in which my skills with people and 10 years of show and touring experience could be passed on to as many people as possible — namely crewing. I dread to think how many hundreds of years of experience we lose each year to other industries.

How did The Chain Group evolve?
It took three evolutions in seven years before we got the formula right. First a crewing company, then a technical crewing company, now a group of event support companies — Rugger Luggers for manual labour, Local Crew for technical labour, and Event Academy for our training and our clients and suppliers training. This enables us to support, or fully produce, any type of event from a private party to a stadium concert.

Coming soon will be Rapid Elephant which will take care of our PPE and tool supply, and CarsVansTrucks, our transportation wing... big plans! Looking inwardly at our own systems allows us to look out across our industry with confidence.

How competitive is the current crew market in the UK?
No more than any other. Find your niche and excel within it. Industry leaders will always survive if they remember the people that made them who — and put them where — they are.

What distinguishes The Chain Group from its competitors?
We’re big enough to do the job and small enough to care. There aren’t many jobs that we undertake where I don’t take an interest somewhere, from initial contact to clearing the venue. We still have clients who like me to run the job personally to maintain continuity. Whatever makes the event a success and the client happy.

What has been the most challenging project for you to date?
Expanding from a company into a group of companies whilst in a recession. Our survival strategies? Taking care of our clients, suppliers and business partners. I introduce new clients to my clients and suppliers and in return, they do that for me. The more partnerships with other companies you can obtain, the better your chance at survival.

People forget how many people we work for, and with, as a crewing company and how many times we get asked for our advice on potential suppliers.

Is there anything about your sector of the industry you would like to change?
Co-operation, not competition! I would much rather see all sectors of our industry reaching equal standards to ensure the professionalism and respect for our own industry.

Who wouldn’t like to have the same standard of crew in London, Leeds, Paris and Oslo? With a little co-operation, we could reach industry-wide standards that we are all proud of and strive to surpass.

Do you have a favourite gig of the year?
Yes...the TPi Awards. We’ve worked on it now for several years. It’s always an enjoyable challenge and it’s the only gig I know where the audience is as cool as the crew producing it!

What occupies your free time?
Rugby helps me get rid of the aggression stored up across the week. I’ve just been appointed second team vice captain, so motivation and commitment are my new mantras.
  
Your favourite record of all-time?
Sisqó’s ‘Thong Song’. I’ve never listened to it or seen anyone else listen to it without a big smile on their face.

What would be your advice to a teenage JD?
Stop smoking!