Yelp! Leeds needs somebody. Not just anybody. We need Rowena Harris. Here she is telling Wendy Denman about her job, our Passports to Leeds City Centre and Diamond Jubilee dance moves.
What’s your job all about then?
Basically, Yelp is website that connects people to great local businesses, and anyone can sign up to read/write reviews about what’s great (and not so great) in their city. I’m the Community Manager for Yelp in Leeds, and as a CM it’s a little bit like being a one-man-band – I play all the instruments, at once, only I try to make better music! (I do love a one-man-band though. Our guy in Leeds is awesome.) I wear several hats in the job, which involves welcoming everyone to the website and engaging online with the awesome community we have – Leeds yelpers are fabulous folks who love to share their experiences, and adventure in the online and offline world! I also write the weekly newsletter, which tells folks all about what’s hot in Leeds, and why it’s a fabulous city to be in. I partner with events, to promote the happening things going on in the city, and I also organise events to promote the best of Leeds’ indie business to our Yelp Community and beyond! (Think spirit sampling, menu tasting, cocktail making and all other kinds of celebration!) I tweet, I review, I meet-and-greet, I explore, I adventure, I party, and I’m an utter gadabout. I also work very hard to make Yelp in Leeds the best it can be for all involved. All part of being a Community Manager!
OK, please tell us about the worst job you’ve ever had, to make us feel better
So, the worst job I ever had is a bit of a toss-up between working as a waitress for a very un-PC landlord, when I was 17, and making sandwiches in a sandwich shop. Learning the minutiae of whether or not a customer wants just grated cheese in a bap, or grated cheese with a buttered bap, didn’t really challenge me as much as I’d hoped. (Not that I don’t appreciate a good cheese sandwich. In fact, I could go for one right now.) I did have a really random job in a ‘Christmas Shop’ when I was at Uni – I started that in August, and it closed by September. Who doesn’t want tinsel and baubles in September? Madness.
Yelp’s Head Office is in San Francisco. Where would be your dream place to be a Yelp Community Manager and why?
Well, at risk of sounding like a total cheese-monger, doing this in Leeds is a dream job – I’m totally an honorary Yorkshire lass and I adore Leeds and the Community we have here. But… If I could do this in any city in the world, I’d say Reykjavik thankyouplease. (Let’s hope the powers that be are listening.) Even though the entire population of Iceland is less than Leeds, it’s an amazing city and the landscape is utterly mind-blowing. Waking up with mountains and volcanoes in the distance, geysers and hot springs nearby, quirky electronica bands and 23 (or six) hours of daylight would be incredible. Let’s not forget bathing in waters heated by the earth in open air, whilst it’s snowing outside. Did you know they have 13 Santa Clauses? They’re evil little dudes, with excellent names, like Meat Hook and Door Sniffer. Look up Yule Lads on the internets; they even have an evil Christmas cat! Of course, then I could fulfil my dream of holding an Elite Event on top of a glacier, in an ice cave, drinking Viking Beer, with the Northern Lights watching over us, and Bjork playing us into the night. We might be at risk of an eruption, but that makes for all the more adventure.
If Leeds was to enter the Olympics, what do you think we’d win gold at?
(Just to let you know, I’ve had to look up what sports are involved in the Olympics – it’s not my speciality!) I understand we’ve Hannah Starling competing in the 3m Springboard, for diving, so I’d say we could take that on. Looking at the list of Olympic athletes from Leeds, we’ve got a fair few of the sports covered to be fair! If music could be an Olympic sport, we’d absolutely get gold. And real ale quaffing. Of course, I reckon we’d be pretty sweet at football, right? And with all of the lovely countryside, I’d like to think we’d be good at the mountain biking. If we could get in on some of that trampolining action, that’d be really cool. More trampolining in Leeds! And, it’s a bit left field, but let’s get volleyball back on the scene. We don’t need beaches for that, surely?
What can you tell us about Yelp’s Passport to Leeds City Centre? Do I need a new passport photo?
Well, this is something I’m massively excited about! As well as our regular events for the Yelp Community, we hold a few larger scale events in the year, and this one is open to absolutely anyone! In a nut-shell, it’s a celebration of some of the finest indie businesses in Leeds, where participating businesses have put up a really cool offer for the week that anyone can partake of! It’s a really lovely way of celebrating what’s so cool in the city, and sharing the love across the board to get people excited about Leeds. Think #hometourist style fun. We’ll be having a right ruddy party to celebrate the launch of the Passport week on Sunday 10th June, 4-7pm, at Birds Yard Boutique, which is a beautiful vintage and crafts shop, and houses The Marvellous Tea Dance Company and their gorgeous tea room! You’re all totally invited – though spaces are limited, it’s free to RSVP, and we’ll be telling everyone about the businesses who are involved, with an array of lovely drink and food samples, and some fantastic live music. Gary Stewart no less! (Of course you can check the event listing for all the glorious detail on who is offering what during the week)
Romantic meal, Robotic dance off, or Road trip to the seaside?
Oooooh, you tricksy thing you. Do I have to pick just one? I adore a road trip to the seaside, since there’s nothing quite like catching a wave (that made me sound like I’m uber cool and can surf, FYI – I ‘bodyboard’!) but I’ve been known to get involved in the odd Robotic dance off scenario, in my time. I happen to consider myself a Robot master, so be warned if you’re thinking about manipulating a dance-off situation within my vicinity – I’ve got moves. One, which I have thusly dubbed: The Robotic Royal Wave. Oh yeah, you know what I’m talking about: Lunge, curtsey, wave. (It doesn’t sound robotic, but you’ll have to see it to believe it.)
Anything else we need to know?
Just that you can find me in these places: rowenajayne.yelp.co.uk, @yelpleeds, and I hope to see you at the Passport Launch – perhaps even on Yelp! Do get involved, it’ll be lovely to see you there!