Yes you read that right…

We’re looking for a rhythm guitarist.
 
And by that I of course mean we’re looking for a salesperson.
 
(But also, genuinely, a guitarist).
 
Music has always had a funny way of threading through our work and team at Smoke Screen. Jack and I were in a band together once upon a time, and I’m not a shred ashamed to say that Scott’s background helped his application stand out when we were recruiting a few years back.
 
I think my train of thought at the time was something along the lines of “ok application number forty seven of this morning, who’s this Scott guy. Ah ok, he’s qualified for the role. Good. Oh, he plays guitar (!). And used to teach music. And, well, he seems a bit weird – in a good way”.
 
All those instincts turned out to be pretty spot on.
 
My point is: it’s become a sort of unofficial truth inside the business that musicians tend to fit and succeed here. Not universally, obviously. We’re not about to turn the place into an all-out thrasher of a rehearsal room. But there’s something about the mindset that translates.
 
So when we started talking about bringing someone new in to head up Business Development, someone half-jokingly suggested we should just advertise for a rhythm guitarist.
 
That struck a chord (sorry). By which I mean… the more we talked about it, the less of a joke it became.
 
What we actually need isn’t the classic (probably outdated) idea of a salesperson: someone marching through doors with their chest puffed out, a laminated script, and a quarterly target pinned to their forehead with nervous sweat.
 
The job is really about connecting with installers and partners, keeping relationships warm, opening new doors, and making sure people remember we exist. It’s business development, yes – but human rather than nightmarish.
 
And sure as you like, we figured the best metaphor for that role was a rhythm guitarist.
 
Nigh-on every band has one. They’re not always the most obvious presence on stage, but my giddy aunt they’re essential to the sound. The rhythm guitarist tends to listen as much as they play. They adapt, find their place, and make everyone around them sound better. They keep the whole thing moving forward without demanding the spotlight. Then, when the moment calls for it, they’re perfectly capable of stepping forward with a bit of flair – but only when it serves the song.
 
Feels about right for what we’re after.
 
Something about musicianship is hard to capture on a CV.  There’s something instinctual about it. Most musicians have spent years figuring things out as they go along. Heaven knows I’ve seen my share of broken strings, missing cables, dodgy acoustics, and audiences who don’t care. You learn to adapt or you don’t last long.
 
It’s being comfortable with the uncomfortable, I guess – and the ability to read a room (or crowd) on the fly. That’s a very useful trait in business development, and not a bad grounding for work in a small business where rigid playbooks don’t really exist.
 
So yeah, the official job description will mention building key accounts, talking to partners and customers, representing the company professionally, and helping shape where we go next. All very much true.
 
But the spirit of the role is simpler than that. We need someone curious and creative who supports the whole band, not just themselves.
 
So probably not the role for a marauding, enigmatic soloist. Nothing wrong with a bit of flash now and then, but what we’re really after is the person who makes the sound feel complete.
 
Anyway. Perfectly aware that advertising for a guitarist instead of a salesperson isn’t exactly standard practice. Then again… standard practice tends to produce standard results. If you want someone who genuinely connects with people – and B2B is almost entirely about connection – it might just make sense to look in places where connection is the whole point.
 
So yep, we’re looking for a rhythm guitarist. And a damn good security fog salesperson to boot.