Casual to Venue Manager: Jasmin Spalding's Funlab Journey
Oct 02, 2024
Jasmin (Jas) Spalding, Venue Manager at Hijinx Hotel Karrinyup, has been named Barcats Employee of Choice for October 2024. Her passion for hospitality, dedication to customer service, and strong leadership skills have made her a standout.
About You:
1. Tell us a bit about yourself – how did you get into hospitality?
I began my journey in tourism and hospitality at 15, working weekends at a theme park operating waterslides until I turned 18. After finishing school, I didn’t immediately jump into studies and decided to take on a second job while continuing at the theme park until the season ended. Around this time, Covid happened, and I felt my time with theme parks had come to an end. I was pursuing personal training studies when I saw a Facebook post about Funlab hiring "caddies." The idea intrigued me, and a supervisor from the theme park, who also worked at Funlab, shared the post. It looked like a fun opportunity, so I applied!
2. How did you find yourself in your current role?
I found out I was interviewing for the role the next day and was told to dress up, which I thought was a prank! But I rolled with it, bought some cowgirl accessories to match my white boots, and showed up to the Holey Moley venue for the first time—it was awesome! After the interview, I got a call 30 minutes later saying I’d landed the job as a casual team member. Fastest job turnaround ever!
I started in November 2020 while finishing my PT studies, working day shifts at the cinema and nights at Holey Moley. I loved the energy, but after finishing my studies, I left for a full-time sales role in the fitness industry. I quickly realised I missed the fun at Holey Moley. One Friday, I visited the venue and told my manager, Lauren, how much I missed it. She mentioned they needed help that evening, and since I was still on the books, I ran home, grabbed my uniform, and jumped back in!
Not long after, I quit my full-time job and asked Lauren about progression opportunities. I became a casual manager, and after six months, I was offered the Assistant Venue Manager role at a new venue. In July 2022, I explored other options but soon realised Funlab was where I wanted to be. I reached out to Lauren (now the State Manager for WA) and returned to Funlab for the second time, helping onboard new leaders and learning from them.
In October 2023, I was offered the role of Venue Manager at Holey Moley Northbridge, and now I have the privilege of managing Hijinx Hotel.
About your venue:
3. What do you love most about working in your venue?
What I love most about working at a Funlab venue is the abundance of opportunities for Motherfunners (that’s what we call our team members). I started as a casual and was pleasantly surprised to be considered for roles even though I had limited experience. Funlab invests a lot in training and upskilling us, focusing on everything from shift driving to people management and recruitment.
I also enjoy the fun and engaging activities Funlab organises, like cocktail and pizza-making competitions, which help build a great network within the company.
One memorable moment was when my team at Northbridge hit a challenging goal that Lauren and I set. As a reward, we promised to do a 3-hour shift in costumes of the team’s choice. They smashed the target, and Lauren and I ended up working in banana costumes! It’s not every day you get to say you did that for your job.
4. What skills have you developed since working in this role?
Since joining Funlab at 19, I’ve developed a range of skills that have significantly shaped who I am today. Adaptability is a key skill I’ve honed, as Funlab is constantly evolving and striving to be the best. This dynamic environment has also strengthened my problem-solving abilities. Additionally, my communication and interpersonal skills have grown through interacting with diverse teams and addressing various challenges effectively.
My training skills have also improved considerably. When I was 16, I was training fellow team members on waterslides. Now, I’m responsible for training new leaders on running shifts, system training, and more. This progression reflects how my role has expanded, and my skills have evolved over time.
5. What advice would you give to someone considering a career in hospitality with Funlab?
If you're considering a career with Funlab, it’s an exciting time to join the team! If you thrive in an environment with like-minded, hard-working individuals, this is the place for you. The possibilities are endless, and you might even find yourself running around in a banana costume! Funlab’s continuous growth and innovative new brands make for an exciting and creative atmosphere. Plus, the commitment to growing and developing its people is truly awesome. So, if you're ready to have fun and dive into a positive, supportive environment, Funlab is the place to be!
About the industry:
6. What changes in the hospo environment/culture have you noticed over time?
One significant change I've noticed is the impact of social media on a venue’s success. Influencers and online reviews play a crucial role in shaping public perception, with guests increasingly turning to social media to explore and evaluate venues before visiting. This shift has heightened the importance of maintaining a positive online presence and engaging with customers digitally.
Additionally, there’s been a strong emphasis on personalised interactions. With guests becoming more careful with their spending, providing an exceptional and tailored experience has become essential to encourage repeat visits and build loyalty.
7. What do you love most about working in hospitality?
What I love most about working in hospitality is meeting new people every day and being part of making their special moments even more memorable. We see guests celebrating all sorts of occasions, and if I can contribute to making their experience unforgettable, that’s my goal. I also appreciate that every day is different. The vibrant energy from guests who are here to enjoy themselves creates a dynamic atmosphere that makes work feel lively and fulfilling.
