This article discusses a recent acceleration in the nature and pace of work and employment in the UK culture industries. Multi-skilling and de-specialisation are a result of growth, change, convergence and competition in the arts and media sector. Creative work increasingly follows the neo-liberal model, governed by the values of entrepreneurialism, individualisation and reliance on commercial sponsorship. One consequence for the relatively youthful workforce is the decline of workplace democracy and its replacement by 'network sociality' which in turn is influenced by the lingering impact of dance and club culture. Independent creative work finds itself squeezed, compromised or brokered by the venture capitalists of culture.