Elouise Smith

Elouise Smith
She/Her
Ticketing and Customer Service Manager, Illuminate Adelaide

My journey into festivals began with Adelaide Fringe. Like many people fresh out of school, I wasn’t sure what direction I wanted to take—and opted out of university. In 2020, I found an opportunity to work as a Box Office Assistant with the Fringe, and from that moment, I was hooked.

Since then, I’ve returned to Adelaide Fringe in a range of roles, from Box Office Supervisor and Customer Service Coordinator, to Artist Ticketing Coordinator in 2024. Each role helped me build not only technical skills but also a passion for delivering great audience experiences.

Keen to expand my knowledge and perspective, I worked across different festivals and cities. I spent three years with Melbourne International Comedy Festival, most recently as Box Office Manager, and in 2023, made my debut at Edinburgh Fringe—an incredible deep dive into the pace of the world’s biggest arts festival. I returned in 2024 as Box Office Manager for Underbelly, a milestone that stretched and grew my leadership skills.

If you’re just starting out, my advice is simple: put yourself out there. Get hands-on experience wherever you can, work hard, and say yes to opportunities—even when they’re outside your comfort zone. You won’t always know where the next door will open, but by being open, calm, and genuine, you’ll build connections that carry you forward. I aim to create that same sense of support and ease in every team I work with.

Landing at Illuminate Adelaide has been a full-circle moment. In my current role, I’ve been able to bring everything I’ve learned back home to Adelaide—applying years of experience into a role that feels both challenging and rewarding. Working with the Illuminate team has been nothing short of inspiring.

Box office and ticketing is a dynamic and fulfilling career path. It’s full of incredible people, evolving technologies, and unexpected opportunities. Every festival brings something new, and it’s the relationships you build that make it unforgettable.

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This article is part of the Festival & Event Industry Career Profiles series, a collection highlighting the diverse stories of Adelaide’s finest festival professionals. 

Photography by: Jack Fenby