The Secret Talents of Q Media
The longer I work with this awesome team of people, the more I discover the amazing journeys and experiences that made them…them. It’s easy to assume that the people who surround you have always been doing the jobs that they are so good at – but of course that’s never the case. We’ve all been there – slinging burgers, wiping tables, bagging groceries and hawking wares. And you know what’s funny? Each one of those jobs we’ve suffered through have made us better at the work we do now.
Steve Lang: Junior High DJ
Steve spent junior high blasting out Depeche Mode and Air Supply mixtapes every Friday at his school dances. As mixtapes became burned CDs and Walkmans became iPods, Steve made it his mission to watch technology change and grow. Now, he’s our go-to guy for all things tech and electronic. In fact, we think of Steve as the “Q white knight” – someone who saves your butt every time your computer (or the printer) goes awry right before a big deadline.
Steve Field: Produce Clerk
Steve’s always up for anything – wanna shoot all weekend and cut a video in 24 hours? Sure! Wanna drive in from Brampton to meet the crew for 6AM before you go on the road? Sure! Wanna carry this huge piece of gear up 3 flights of stairs? Sure! “The customer is always right” is a strong motto for this one – always willing to help however he can, and he always does it without complaint. And having to carry 50 pound boxes of food on a regular basis certainly helped build the muscles to carry all of our gear (he’s like a pack-horse!)
Dorothy Engelman: Bartender
This one is not that surprising. Dorothy’s always on the move, whether it be to a meeting, to a shoot, to someone’s desk for an edit, or off to a fundraiser for one of the many organizations she supports. She’s fast-moving and can balance all her projects and commitments – and do a whole bunch of other things, all at once. And she has a knack for making people feel comfortable and open, an interview tactic perfected over pouring pints and listening to her regulars.
Richard Quinlan: Bike Courier
Yep, the calmest man in the office used to be tearing frantically down the dangerous streets of Toronto. But that’s why Richard can handle anything that comes at him during the day – crunched deadlines, or an urgent budget request don’t even compare to Toronto traffic, collisions or a super direct delivery request to Yorkdale during rush hour. He’s cool as a cucumber and the great part is, he helps the rest of us keep our cool too.
Graeme Mathieson: Knife Set Salesman
The first word you think of when you meet Graeme? Charming. A skill discovered during his summer as a door-to-door knife salesman. But it also means that Graeme is, at his core, a fearless salesman – and I mean that in the nicest way possible. When he feels strongly about a creative choice, he makes sure his voice is heard – and his boundary-pushing visions encourage us to think outside the box! His “talk to anyone” attitude means he’s a client favourite here at Q.
Caitie Drewery: Barista
Weird hours, urgent requests, strong customer service and literally being run off your feet by the end of the day? That’s a Starbucks barista for you. Strangely enough, I think my work at Starbucks (both in Toronto and out in Halifax during university) was one of the best “real life” preparations I’ve ever had. If I can handle the 8AM rush hour at the Yorkville location, (I’m talking folks who order “a tall non-fat extra hot sugar-free vanilla soy extra foam cappuccino with room for milk”) then I can take on just about anything.
