This is the second year at the helm of the Fringe Festival for Karen Blyth aka The Boss. Thanks to what she and her team do behind the scenes, the Fringe is geared up to offer Wellingtonians more than 100 shows and events over the next three weeks. If she could choose an alternative career, however, it might well be Karen taking the stage: "Wouldn't you just love to know what it feels like to stand in front of a crowd of 30,000+ people and have them all screaming at you for more?"This is the second year at the helm of the Fringe Festival for Karen Blyth aka The Boss. Thanks to what she and her team do behind the scenes, the Fringe is geared up to offer Wellingtonians more than 100 shows and events over the next three weeks. If she could choose an alternative career, however, it might well be Karen taking the stage: "Wouldn't you just love to know what it feels like to stand in front of a crowd of 30,000+ people and have them all screaming at you for more?"During what hours of the day do you feel most inspired?
Morning shower - whenever that takes place! And also between 8pm and 11pm.

How would a good friend describe your aesthetic or style?
A bit of a mess - occasionally '50s inspired but usually a mish-mash of op-shop, old t-shirts and my fave pair of jeans.

What aspect of your job gives you the biggest thrill?
Festival time! Going out every night and seeing everything I possibly can. Trying to sleep in past 8am (I have a very strict body clock that won't let me sleep in - arrrgh!) and then getting up and doing it all over again for 24 days in a row.

How do you think your environment affects the way you work?
My work environment is great and makes me want to go to work. I have the best painting EVER hanging above my desk (it was painted for me especially by Reece at Vincent's Art Workshop), my radio is always on and the sun shines all the time through my window. It's a great place to roll into every morning. I couldn't handle a little grey cubicle with no natural light.

What's the biggest challenge you face as the director of an open access festival?
Trying to find a programme printer that can print a programme big enough to fit all the acts in! This year's programme was originally planned to be only 80 pages in size - it ended up being 96 pages!

Do you like to look at the big picture or focus on the details?
I like to look at the big picture for the six months leading up to the festival, and then about a month out (for better or for worse) I find myself in the details...both are fun.

Describe the ways in which your childhood play has influenced how you work as an adult.
I was a tree in the chorus, but I was the lead tree in that chorus - I like working in a group, but I like leading the group. I also lead the singing/dancing section of a Rocky Horror Picture Show production - I like dancing around the office and singing.

Being the director of a festival is a challenging and varied role - how have the jobs you've done in the past prepared you for it?
Retail: Taught me how to sell it.
BATS Theatre: Introduced me to pretty much everyone I need to know.
TV: Taught me how to work from dusk till dawn.
Work on other festivals: Taught me how to prepare funding applications and make sure all sponsors' needs are covered.
Touring with bands: Taught me how to keep up with the artists and keep a cool head at times of high pressure.
Promoting bands: Taught me how to manage the moolah and calculate the risks.
The whole lot all together taught me how to enjoy my work and not take life too seriously. Having a job that's fun is the best part.

What shows in this year's Fringe would you suggest to the following people, and why?
A 19-year-old girl who dreams about being a rockstar but works a 9-5 at her father's accounting firm.
Chance, which is in the Dance section. Because a 'Chance' is what she needs to take if that's what she wants to do! Hot dancers too - maybe she can employ them to be her back-up dancers once she makes it?!

A 33-year-old male graphic designer who will watch three DVDs in a night but "doesn't have time for theatre".
Little Shop of Horrors - Redubbed, in the Theatre section. It will help ease him out of his La-Z-boy but it still keeps the movie element in there, so he feels safe. This show introduces the element of live foley on stage while the movie rolls on. A CLASSIC!

A 39-year-old mother of two who's on a tight budget and wants to bring the kids along.
Fricnic - brought to you by Cadbury Picnic! Frank Kitts Park, Wellington Waterfront, 17 Feb. Fringe Made section. The Wellington International Ukulele Orchestra want her and the kids to come along and play some tunes with them - plus there's face painting, Spartacus R (local Welli jazzy sounds), contortionists and Bollywood dancers. Chalk the Walk (another free event) is just next door. Bring a picnic to save cash.

If you could go back and choose a completely different career path to the one you've chosen, what would it be?
Lead singer in an '80s hair band at the height of their fame. Wouldn't you just love to know what it feels like to stand in front of a crowd of 30,000+ people and have them all screaming at you for more? Either that or a high country sheep farmer.

What place is always with you, wherever you go?
My parents' house in Clevedon, South Auckland. It overlooks the Clevedon/Ardmore valley, Ardmore aerodrome, also taking in the Coromandel Peninsula to the west, Auckland City to the north and Manukau Heads to the east. The BEST view EVER.

What's the best way to listen to music, and why?
LOUD. I don't need to tell you why.

You are given a piece of string, a stick and some fabric. What do you make?
A makeshift fishing rod out of the stick and string and a mat to sit on from the fabric, while I attempt to catch my dinner, soaking in the sun on a riverbank somewhere near Lake Taupo.

What's the best stress relief advice you've ever been given?
Don't sweat the small stuff - and it's all small stuff. Thanks to Dad!

What's your favourite word?
Grouse.

What's great about today?
It's grey and windy and I feel safe in my office.

Interview by Cass Hesom-Williams