Bernice Noel knows how to face a fashion mob. The front-of-house venue captain for BC Fashion Week and New York’s Olympus Fashion Week took time out from a photo shoot in the Big Apple to reflect on working on live shows and on the differences between here and Manhattan. (The dates this fall are September 8 to 15 for New York and September 26 to October 1 for BCFW). Noel visits New York twice a year to work the shows—and what a lot of work it is: confirming that the space is presentable, controlling audience numbers, and keeping the runway clear of debris.

What is your favourite part of managing a live show?

“The adrenaline, you know. It’s different in New York because it’s more intense. At BC Fashion Week it’s a piece of cake.”

What are the key components of a good show?

“Production has to be on key: your back-house production, lighting, front of house, and definitely media exposure and marketing, because if you don’t have the guests there, it’s pointless.”

What has been your favourite show concept since you’ve been in this industry?

“In New York it’s a lot different. The stage changes for every designer so you won’t see the same for Heatherette as Calvin Klein. In B.C. the stage won’t change and that’s the set for the whole entire week.”

How would you explain the differences between working at these two events?

“In New York…there are a lot more shows. In one week you can have 72 shows and in Vancouver we have three shows per day and it’s a three-day event.…This season in New York there are four different tents.…The biggest can hold up to 600 but with a lot more in the lobby watching it on the screen and the general public outside trying to catch a piece of it. The Vancouver venue mostly holds 250 people.”