Week 2

Why hello dear blog! Week 2 after two weeks in Europe. First of all, forgot how tired I get after a day of like 4 hours of commuting and an 8 hour work day where I don't really take a break.

So what did I learn this week?

Not as much as I wanted to when it came to editing Partisan's myspace. I did a whole lot of google-ing trying to find answers to certain things I wanted to do. I was getting a tad bit frustrated. I'm still trying to meet up with a friend who can teach me more myspace tips and such.

Made some new graphics

+1 seemed a bit more relaxed this week. And holy crap did I do an insane amount of tearsheets. I did get a pretty good system going so it became very sort of mechanical, which made it go by fast. I also made a signature for Min and he was very happy with it! I also go to listen to them talk about bad interns from the past, a conversation that was spurred off of them saying how great it was that I came in and owned all the work that had to be done.

TEARSHEET!

Tips about working hours / hours worked:
Let me preface this with every internship is going to be different. I've definitely landed myself two laid back internships in terms of the hours and when I have to come in and leave and what not.
BUT:
At both places I don't really take a lunch break. I just sit there as I eat. At that's while working for 8 hours. Thus, this week I had two issues. One, I left my wallet with someone so I had to take a later train to +1 to wait to get it back. So I emailed two people to let them know, and also sent some finished tearsheets before I got on the train. So I didn't feel guilty about coming in late. Especially because I often sit there for bits at a time with no work to do.

On Thursday I went to the 311 concert, so I had to leave Partisan early. I did everything they had assigned me for the day, plus, they were having a meeting, so after I sent them all my work we wouldn't have been able to really talk about it for a while. So again, I think leaving early was alright.

Now, of course you want to impress your internship bosses by being responsible and on time and all that. BUT, at the same time, if you are a good worker, and occasionally have good excuses as to why you need to come in late or leave early... remember, you're not getting paid! So unless they actually have a big project for you to do that would require you be there the max amount of time, I wouldn't worry about it.

Mid Week Update

I thought I'd update with some interesting news while I await a work assignment.

In Partisan Records news, Deer Tick's new album, Born on Flag Day, was reviewed by Pitchfork this week. It wasn't very good. Basically called them unoriginal. Other reviewers liked the album, but since Pitchfork is really the audience Deer Tick seems to be aiming for, it's unfortunate that it was pretty negative.

In other news, I got the urge to look at MTV Iggy's website after talking to my friend Doreen who interns there, and found this.
Organized by China's largest condom manufacterer, this runway show of Condom Dresses has occurred each year at the China Reproductive Health New Technologies & Products Expo. The next expo will be on August 5, 2009. No wonder China does such gimmiky things to promote condom use. I mean I'd be afraid not to use condoms with the whole one baby rule. I wonder what happens if a women has twins, triplets, etc...

Back to Internship stuff...

Did mad tear sheets yesterday. Web AND print. The print ones, holy shit did they take forever. I had to scan the covers of the papers in pieces and the scanner is mad slow. BUT. It was was better doing something tedious than not doing anything at all. I'd rather feel useful.

In Knitting Factory news, there's a lot of construction going on under the office! I REALLY hope the new Knitting Factory is finished before the summer ends. I want to be able to go to a show there right after work. How cool would that be? I'd be sitting in the office while the opener goes on (because I work until 7) then I'd be able to just head on down and see a show! Unfortuntately, the construction business is not known for timeliness. Boo.

Music Business Note:
A band's management is not the same as their record label. I noticed a some of the bands are on different labels but managed by Partisan or +1. I wonder what the difference is? Hopefully by the end of the summer I'll find out.

Got my assignment!
Peace!

Week 1

Why Hello Blog.
Here is my first entry after a week and a day of my two internships!
For any one who's forgotten, my internships are at +1 Music and The Knitting Factory / Partisan Records.

Feelings from the first week:

• Working with Partisan Records is AMAZING. The first day when I got in Ian had work for me ready to go. I got to design web ads from scratch for Deer Tick's myspace and insound.com. The next day, after doing a bit of mailing, I got asked to design a sweet tour poster :-) I worked on it for about 4 hours while Ian and Tim were out at a meeting. I came back and they gave me some suggestions, and by the end of the day we had a sweet result! It's being sent out to the venues where Deer Tick is headlining.

• +1 Has a really cool vibe to it. There's always awesome music playing. They do publicity for The US Air Guitar Championships. So basically, they are awesome. I delivered something to Manhatten to the guy that runs it. He's got a sick apartment. I did a lot of "tearsheets" there, which are like screen caps of on-line articles about their clients.

• Learning about the label's / "favorite-ing" all the bands' myspaces was a great idea, Shelly at +1 was impressed. And I definitely felt more prepared.

• I never feel lost in NYC / Williamsburg. Although, I walked an average of 3 "wrong blocks" a day, I'd say. At this point, I pretty much have about 10 streets in each direction named.

• I'm pretty much OWNING the subway system. Knowing my way around is such a fantastic feeling. I'm starting to feel like a real New Yorker, doing as much as moving to the side of the Subway car that's closest to where you want to go.

Tips for people planning to Intern (I'm not trying to be all high and mighty "I can already give tips after a week"...I'm just saying, I already learned stuff! Which is awesome...):

• Be the person to make the introduction. If you walk and and don't know people, make sure you leave knowing everyone's name.

• It's better to look lame and take out the guide book than to keep walking the wrong way and miss your train.

• Ask questions if you're unsure of something, otherwise you may make a mistake that will take way more time to fix later on.

• When it's lunch time, ask if anyone wants to join you, or if they have any suggestions. Or if people say anything like, "lunch run!" ask if you can come along. It's a great way to get to know your colleagues and get to know the area by walking around with people who already know the area.

So, the other great thing about my internships, they were both totally cool with me taking off for two weeks to go to Europe! So, I will be in London then Barcelona until June 18th.

See you folks when I get back!

Oh how neive I was... :-P

THE NIGHT BEFORE MY INTERNSHIP STARTED:

Alrighty babay!

So I am writing this blog entry on a stickie note on my mac. We have no internet here until tomorrow. Where is here?!
My new house for the summer in lovely Bethpage NY. After getting pretty much settled today I really believe this was the right choice. Ran to the train station and then walked back this evening, to know exactly how long it will take me...a mere 13 minutes! And I was walking at a slow/normal pace! This is great news. It's also extremely easy to get to.

Phew. I'm actually tired right now. I cleaned out my backpack tonight! I know I'm a loser. I actually vacuumed it and everything! I'm catching the 9:44 tomorrow. Gets in at 10:32. Hopefully I can make it to +1 before 11.

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Edit.

Note to self, everything that can go wrong, WILL go wrong the first day of your internship.