Danielle Voss

'Spotlight' is designed to give us all inspiration and confirm that anyone can make his or her business dream or that promotion a reality...

And the spotlight is on... Danielle Voss of Festival Mushroom Records!

This month read on to find out all about Danielle Voss

Profile
After completing an Honours Degree in English Literature at Wollongong Uni, I found myself running the Record Dept at David Jones and not qualified for much else! But music is my passion, so I chose to follow that.
After DJ's I moved to Virgin Megastore and became the Singles/Dance Music Buyer. I stayed there for a few years, and then left to join the Sales team for MDS (a groovy sister company to Mushroom Records). After a couple of years I became State Manager, overseeing the NSW sales team.

Following a merger of Mushroom Records with Festival Records (to become Festival Mushroom Records), my role changed to become Specialist Account Manager, dealing with all the groovy specialist dance and indie music record stores in Sydney.

After doing that for a year, (and completing courses in PR and Website Creation) the position of New Media Manager became available, so I went for it, and was successful!

My job is very cool I deal with all online promotions for our artists setting up interviews, promotions, webchats etc, and am the Content Manager for the FMR website, which won an ONYA Award earlier this year!

Check out Dan's work: www.fmrecords.com.au

Occupation/Title
New Media Manager

Company/Organization
Festival Mushroom Records

State
NSW

Age
30

Where did you grow up?
Campbelltown, an outer suburb of Sydney. It's considered a bit rough by people who've never been there, but is actually quite nice. I'm glad I grew up there, because it means I can relate to most people, and have a built-in bullshit detector!

What was your first job?
Christmas Casual for Goldmark jewellers.

What did you want to be when you were growing up?
I wasn't really sure, but knew it would be something to do with music or books, which are my passions. Thankfully I've been lucky enough to pursue one of those!

How did you get to where you are now?
Fate, getting to know the right people, being in the right (or sometimes wrong!) place at the right time......even something that seems bad at the time can turn into a bit of good luck!

How many hours a week do you work?
I start @ 9.30 and work most days to anywhere between 7 and 8pm, 5 days a week. But that doesn't count after-hours work functions (of which there are many...)

Where would you like to be in ten years?
I'm really enjoying the internet work that I do, and working with music I think that both are the future of entertainment, so hopefully still doing something involving both, and more writing work. Also I'd like to own my own flat!

What advice would you give to somebody embarking on their first business or aspiring to achieve extraordinary career goals?
Don't listen to the poo-poo-ers of the world! If you have a goal or ambition, stick with it. Set out to enjoy what you do, too. Work is such a big part of your life, why spend it hating what you do? It will only ruin your health and self-esteem in the long run.

What do you class as your biggest career achievement?
So far winning the Onya Award! It's nice to have some industry recognition.

What is the best piece of advice anybody has given you?
'Your persistence will be rewarded'. I have it stuck to my computer so I can see it every day!

Fast Facts

Who living or dead would you most like to invite to dinner?
Dead JFK, just to see if he was really as sexy and interesting as everyone says!
Living Bono. Such a legend.

Name a movie that actually inspired you?
'Biko' about the South African anti-apartheid activist Steven Biko. He was so brave in the face of a lot of scary stuff, but never gave up.

Your favourite toy as a child:
My Star Wars board game and KISS face-paint!

What are you reading at the moment?
The new Kathy Lette novel 'Nip And Tuck'.

Which song transports you to another place when you hear it and why?
U2 'All I Want Is You'. I remember listening to it late at night as a mopey teenager - it always makes me cry!

Your favourite place in the world, and why?
Sydney really is a beautiful city. We're so lucky to live here free of a lot of the cares of overseas. But I'm a sucker for the history and shopping in London! Can I live in both? ; )

What is your idea of the perfect Sunday?
Sleeping in, going out for breakfast in Norton St Leichhardt with a friend, hanging out at the markets, making something yummy for dinner over a glass of white wine and watching something daggy on telly in my PJ's!

Danielle is a perfect example of someone believing in herself and always continuing to educate herself to further her career and skills!
What a fabulous woman and an inspiration to us all!

Many thanks to Danielle from the Femail.com.au team! Dan, you're a superstar!

- Michelle Palmer