Matt James

Award-winning event producer, author, and owner of event company Left Field Productions,
Matt James has 27 years’ experience in corporate, charity, brand experience and special events.
Winner of 30 event industry awards.
Celebrity clients include: Elton John, Sarah Jessica Parker, Stella McCartney, Kevin Spacey, David LaChapelle, John Waters, Elvis Costello and Diana Krall,
Corporate and charity clients include: Canon, Barbie, Montblanc, Chopard, Credit Suisse, Christie’s, Fremantle, Wella, Selfridges, and The Red Cross.
Matt is often invited to:
speak at industry events, including ILEA (International Live Events Association) conferences and lectures, International Confex, and RSVP;
judge awards and competitions, including The Eventice, Corporate Event Association Awards, and Incentive Travel & Meetings Association Awards;
lecture at university event management degree courses.
He is the author of Become an Event Planner: Secrets for Getting Hired from Employers, Recruiters, and Event Professionals.
Before founding his own event company, Matt worked for leading Middle East advertising agency Publicis Graphics.
Matt began his event-planning career working on fundraising events for AIDS charity London Lighthouse, before joining the corporate events team at the investment bank Credit Suisse.

Left Field Productions is an award winning event management, design and production company with a client portfolio spanning leading brands, charities, and celebrity clients.

Past events include:

Elton John’s Annual White Tie & Tiara Ball
Stella McCartney’s Wedding
Launch of Sarah Jessica Parker’s Work of Art
The Art of Barbie for Mattel
Canon Designs for Life for Canon UK
David LaChapelle‘s first UK exhibition
Launch of Montblanc’s first collection of fine jewellery
Launch of Superbrands for Selfridges
La Trophee Chopard and La Fate Noire for Chopard at the Cannes Film Festival
Elvis Costello’s Wedding to Diana Krall

For more information see www.leftfield.productions.

African tent interiors for Elton John's African-themed White Tie & Tiara Ball produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — Elton John’s African-themed White Tie & Tiara Ball

Donna Summer, Barry Manilow, and Elton John perform at Elton John's White Tie & Tiara Ball produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — Elton John’s White Tie & Tiara Ball

Singer Gina West performs at 'The Secret Garden' event for The British Red Cross Ball produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — ‘The Secret Garden’ event for The British Red Cross Ball

John Waters photocall for 'Love You to Death' TV show launch at MIP TV Festival in Cannes produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — John Waters’ ‘Till Death Do Us Part’ TV show launch Cannes

Chinese table styling for Elton John's Chinese-themed White Tie & Tiara Ball produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — Elton John’s Chinese-themed White Tie & Tiara Ball

Snow covered White Party at the pool at Cliveden produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — The White Party at Cliveden, Private Client

Russian church interiors for Elton John's Russian-themed White Tie & Tiara Ball produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — Elton John’s Russian-themed White Tie & Tiara Ball

models photographing the audience at Canon Designs for Life AIDS red ribbon fashion show for London Lighthouse produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — Canon Designs for Life AIDS red ribbon fashion show

Sarah Jessica Parker's 'Work of Art' TV show launch at MIPTV Cannes produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — Sarah Jessica Parker’s ‘Work of Art’ TV show launch Cannes

Chinese tent interiors for Elton John's Chinese-themed White Tie & Tiara Ball produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — Elton John’s Chinese-themed White Tie & Tiara Ball

hand drawn pencil style interiors for the D&AD 'Yellow Pencil' Awards produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — D&AD ‘Yellow Pencil’ Awards

Stella McCartney standing in front of an ice cream van for Stella McCartney boutique launch London produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — Stella McCartney boutique launch

gold and black interiors at La Fete Noir for Chopard at the Cannes Film Festival produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — La Fete Noir for Chopard at the Cannes Film Festival

Country line dancers at 'Honky Tonk Blues' for The British Red Cross Ball produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — ‘Honky Tonk Blues’ for The British Red Cross Ball

Dancers at David LaChapelle's Barbican London UK exhibition opening produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — David LaChapelle’s exhibition opening

entrance to 'The Secret Garden' event for The British Red Cross Ball produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — ‘The Secret Garden’ for The British Red Cross Ball

The dining room at 'The Secret Garden' event for The British Red Cross Ball produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — ‘The Secret Garden’ for The British Red Cross Ball

silver and black interiors at La Fete Noir for Chopard at the Cannes Film Festival produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — La Fete Noir for Chopard at the Cannes Film Festival

interiors at Chelsea Design Center for London Design Week produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — Chelsea Design Center for London Design Week

flowers on ceremony chairs at Elvis Costello & Diana Krall wedding produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — Elvis Costello & Diana Krall’s wedding

African style interiors for Elton John's African-themed White Tie & Tiara Ball produced by Matt James of Leftfield Productions — Elton John’s African-themed White Tie & Tiara Ball

Matt is the author of Become an Event Planner: Secrets for Getting Hired from Employers, Recruiters, and Event Professionals.
A straight-talking, no-nonsense guide that aims to teach job seekers the right way to prepare for a career in the events industry.
Featuring advice from employers, recruiters, and senior event professionals with experience working for some the industry‘s leading players, including:
Jack Morton Worldwide, George P. Johnson, Imagination, Apple, Microsoft, UBM, Goldman Sachs, Credit Suisse, Linklaters, ACCESS Destination Services, International Travel Group, The Dorchester Hotel, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, FremantleMedia, Rhubarb Food Design, Chad Hudson Events, The Red Cross, and ESP Recruitment—the leading recruitment agency for the events industry.
Suitable for complete beginners or event-planning course graduates struggling to find work in the industry, the book reveals what employers are really looking for, to give aspiring event planners the best chance of getting hired.

For more information, see the companion website Become An Event Planner or check out the book on Amazon.

Matthew James' Become an Event Planner book

CORPORATE EVENT ASSOCIATION AWARDS

Production Company of the Year
Victor Ludorum Award for Most Outstanding Entry
Best Party for The Launch of Superbrands for Selfridges
Best New Event for Christie’s Contemporary Collectors
Best Party for Elton John’s Seventh Annual White Tie & Tiara Ball
Best Awards Event for Trophee Chopard at the 58th Cannes Film Festival
High Commendation, Production Company of the Year
High Commendation, Most Effective Use of Budget for The British Red Cross Ball
High Commendation, Best Product Launch for The Snowflake Collection for Chopard

*Matt James & Left Field Productions at The CEA Awards*

EVENT AWARDS

Best Celebration Event Silver for Campaign Press Awards
Best Launch Event Silver for Christie’s Contemporary Collectors
Most Improved Experiential Campaign Silver for Campaign Press Awards
Best Outdoor Event Silver for Elton John’s Fifth Annual White Tie & Tiara Ball
Best Celebration Event Gold for H20: The Element of Life, The Red Cross
Most Improved Experiential Campaign Gold for H20: The Element of Life, The Red Cross
Best FMCG/Pharmaceutical/Healthcare Event Silver for H20: The Element of Life, The Red Cross
The Event Award for Live Event Activity for H20: The Element of Life, The Red Cross
Best Travel/Tourism/Leisure Event Gold for La Fete Noire for Chopard at The 58th Cannes Film Festival

INCENTIVE TRAVEL & MEETINGS ASSOCIATION AWARDS

Best Overseas Event (Short Haul) Gold for Trophee Chopard at the 58th Cannes Film Festival
Best Media & Entertainment, Travel & Leisure Event Gold for Campaign Press Awards
Best Consumer Durables & Technology Event Gold for Trophee Chopard at the 58th Cannes Film Festival
Best UK Event Gold for Elton John’s Seventh Annual White Tie & Tiara Ball
Best UK Event Silver for Campaign Press Awards

*Matt James & Left Field Productions at The ITMA Awards*

EVENTIA AWARDS

Eventia International Awards: Most Effective Use of a Small Budget Gold for Love You To Death TV Launch for FremantleMedia Enterprises at MIPTV, Cannes
Eventia International Awards: Best Promotional Communication Bronze for Love You To Death TV Launch for FremantleMedia Enterprises at MIPTV, Cannes
Eventia UK Awards: Best Celebratory Event for The Secret Garden, The Red Cross
Eventia UK Awards: High Commendation, Party of the Year for H20: The Element of Life, The Red Cross
Eventia UK Awards: High Commendation, Production Agency of the Year

rsvp awards

Most Creative Use of Theming & Props for The Secret Garden, The Red Cross
High Commendation, Most Creative Event of the Year for H20: The Element of Life, The Red Cross

Matt is often invited to participate in industry events, initiatives, and educational programs including:

2018 Guest Lecturer, University of Brighton Event Management Degree Course
2017 Speaker, Buyers’ Networking Club (BNC) Event Show
2014-2017 Guest Lecturer, Southampton Solent University Event Management Degree Course
2013 Judge, The Eventice (Apprentice-style event industry job competition)
2013 Speaker, International Confex Trade Show
2010 Speaker, Academic Venue Show
2009 Speaker, RSVP Trade Show
2006 Speaker, International Live Events Association (ILEA) Conference
2005 Judge, Incentive Travel & Meetings Association (ITMA) Awards
2005 Speaker, International Confex Trade Show
2004 Guest Lecture, University of West London Event Management Degree Course
2004 Judge, Corporate Event Association (CEA) Awards
2003 Lecture, International Live Events Association (ILEA)

Matt James, Guest Speaker, ISES Conference — *Matt James, Guest Speaker at ILEA Conference*

Matt has contributed to both consumer magazines, such as Instyle, Esquire, Sainsbury’s Money Matters, and Ocado Life, and trade publications including Conference & Incentive Travel, Event, and his own monthly column, Matt’s Planet, in RSVP Magazine.