A Preston local has launched a video guide to the city’s creative scene.
Rory Cocker is running Preston Pulse across Instagram and TikTok.
A passionate Prestonian, Rory is keen to use his skills in video and socials to raise the city’s profile as a cultural destination by showcasing live music, events, and the arts.
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“I’ve always rated Preston as a city,” said Rory. “I honestly love it. I’ve visited over 240 places in 26 countries, but something always brings me home.
“Over the years, I’ve got to know the city like the back of my hand. There’s a really cool creative scene here bubbling away, but it never seems to get the spotlight it deserves. Preston Pulse is my attempt to remedy that.”
A firm believer that more could be done to promote what Preston has to offer, Rory has taken inspiration from neighbouring locations.
“As a city, I think we’ve historically done a pretty terrible job of showcasing the wealth of not only the artistic and creative talent we have here, but the breadth of interesting events as well.
“The amount of times I’ve been talking to somebody about a gig or event in Preston and been told ‘I didn’t even know that was happening’ is honestly staggering.
“Cities like Manchester and Liverpool seem to have a much more joined-up, collaborative and cohesive approach, whereas ours has always felt very aimless, fragmented and ad-hoc.
“We’re very lucky to have resources like Blog Preston, who do an incredible job of covering these things in the written word. But it felt like the right time to start something with video as the focal point.”
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After always wondering why Preston didn’t have any glossy, high-production Instagram pages like Secret Manchester, Rory came to a realisation.
“They have that because somebody woke up one day and decided to make it.
“So I thought to myself, ‘I’ve done script writing. I’ve done videography. I’ve done video editing. I’ve done voiceover. I’ve done social media. And I know Preston better than anyone I know. I’m the perfect person to start this.’ So I did.”
Rory has so far shared videos on topics including the Euro 2024 Fanzone, SHOP’s Recollections, Rivvy at The Vaults, Fill the Frame and LOST Lectures.
Within one month of launching, Preston Pulse has amassed over 2,500 followers across Instagram and TikTok, with a combined total of more than 110,000 video views.
Rory said: “I think that just shows there’s a real hunger for this kind of content, and I’m buzzing with the start.”
To discover more, follow @preston.pulse on Instagram and @preston.pulse on TikTok.
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