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pat and trevor
Pat and Trevor, aka Jimmy Merris and Joe Coppard, met at the London College of Communication in 2004, and are independent curators and artists. They have worked with the Whitechapel Gallery, ICA and Tate Britain, and recently created the project This Is Why We Meet with UAL and Wieden + Kennedy to explore collaborative working in the arts.
We asked them to tell us in their own words via a video about what they do:
What is Pat and Trevor is all about?
Jimmy: Avoiding boredom, enjoying living in South London.
Joe: Meeting people, working with people, showing things to people.
How did you meet and why Pat and Trevor? Why not Jimmy and Joe?
Pat And Trevor was 3 people, then 4, then 3, then 2. Pat and Trevor is named after a band we found in a 'drumming basics' book. They are called Pat Travers Band.
Did you always plan to work for yourselves before leaving UAL?
Yes. Our mothers are both self-employed – one paints cats and the other builds playground for children.
You have an eclectic client list how do you market yourself to such a wide range of potential employers?
We always try to approach new things with a fresh pair of
legs.
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Part of what you do is audio/visual work. This is notoriously hard to value/price, how have you dealt with this tricky issue?
Joe: Events provide an understood structure in which to create revenue out of experience. For me the live environment is where the best audio/visual experience is created.
Jimmy: We don't usually sell our audio/visual work. We are, however, developing a mobile dancing cheese sculpture that we hope to market in the near future.
Which resources, funding or otherwise, have helped you as you continue to grow your business?
Space has dictated our actions. Space has been our best resource – we have received very little funding, because we have applied for very little funding.
How do you manage to maintain your adventurous, experimental approach along with the responsibility that comes with running your own business?
Jimmy: Pat And Trevor takes an adventurous, experimental approach to all things. At present, I am trying to offload some wooden dinghy oars.
Joe: By working hard and taking opportunities when they arise. I am about to launch the Peckham Palais; a 1000+ capacity nightclub with a particular interest in the audio/visual. The centre point of this is a large room with 9 projectors covering all 4 walls. Come and see it.
You put on a lot of events. What are the secrets of a successful show?
Jimmy: The work has to be good, and the space has to be good. Supply Vol-au-vents at the private view. Order too much red wine.
Joe: Add 'tell some people' into that and it sounds good to me!
Do you handle all of the PR for your events yourselves?
Yes
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Collaboration is also a big part of what you do. How do you use your social network to introduce yourself to others and form new working partnerships?
Jimmy: How to answer this question? It is important to be aware of what other people are doing, and if you like what other people are doing, ask if you can be in their gang. If they say No, then start your own gang and when they ask to be in your gang, tell them No.
Joe: Pretty much every project we've been involved with has come about through a chance meeting. So I suppose it's about increasing the chance of chance. Put yourself into a new situation and then talk to the person sat next to you.
You are currently working as art-directors for Illustrated Ape magazine. How did this come about and what goes into such a job?
The Ape has been in publication for over 10 years. There are people in charge of Ape, and one of them met one of us, heard about what we do and asked if we would be interested. This is a very enjoyable project. Publishing / Print is something we are excited by, and this issue is a very special one.
There must be times when your relationship as friends/business partners is tested. How do you maintain a health working relationship?
See Video
Finally, what advice would you give to those looking to cut it in the real world after graduation?
Jimmy: Do not worry – The only way to uphold your impending expectations of the future is to give rise to a constructive approach whereby you are plumping oeuvre consistently. Book an appointment at the Studio Downturn Careers Centre, and talk to one of our advisers. Visit www.economicdownturn.org.uk for more information.
Joe: Don't go looking for the first job that has the title of your degree in its title. A creative course should educate you in creativity.
Experiment.