Farewell, Blogspot!

Hello All!

I am finally fully moving over to my dot com's blog at emilymiethner.com/blog. Please follow me there for continous updates about my experiences with design, events, social media, and marketing. It's been fun! Below are links to all my other online portfolios and sites.

Twitter
LinkedIn
Tumblr
Flickr
GawkerTV
Coroflot

Internet Week Day 2: The Webutante Ball, Getting Sexy with Techies

As part of Internet Week Gawker.TV hosted The Webutante Ball at Marquee last night, bringing together techie geeks, media whores, and lots of Gawker interns past and present!

I met a lot of really interesting people and had a lot of fun...it was a seriously ballin' party. Glad to know people in this field are fun to party with, because it's definitely where I want to be right now. Small world moment: a guy I did summer drama camp with in Massachusetts in 8th grade was there!

More here!
[Gawker Video]
[The Observer]
[CNET]

Adam Gillman of Techies Give Back and the talented Jon Martin.

Getting down with Webutante Ball princess Kari Ferrel, aka the Hipster Grifter

Internet Week Day 1! Network Network Network

Yesterday was the start of Internet Week, a 7 day celebration of all things web-related. I had the pleasure of checking it out with the lovely Reb Carlson.

I had my portfolio reviewed by an Aquent rep, who gave me great feedback. One of her suggestions was to list the companies on my resume before my job title, since I have a lot of impressive names.

We also talked with the creators of the Eye Writer and the Not Impossible Foundation. Reb and I are going to take promoteYOU to the next level and offered to do free work for them, which they said they would gladly accept and desperately need.

Then we ran into Gawker intern alumni I had met at NY Media Bowling, Jon and Vanessa. We decided to go to a City Wide event at a wine bar where we got free Paninis...shwing! We also met up with another Hofstra Grad, Jess.

Lastly we headed off to the Knitting Factory (where I used to intern!) for an event sponsored by the AV Club/The Onion. I met some more great people, a singer in a 70's-esque alternative rock band, a graphic designer who was super interesting and reminded me of Uma Thurman from Pulp Fiction, and a guy who actually also works at Gawker doing sales for Fleshbot.

Below is all the swag and the many business cards I gathered. Definitely a successful day, and tonight, the Webutante Ball!

Best New York City Internship. Ever!

Wednesday I worked my last Time Out New York event as the Marketing and Events intern at the Summer Singles Party. My internship is officially over. It was very bitter sweet. Looking back at this past entry entitled "The Perfect Internship," I was totally right.

Let me preface by saying that I've had numerous internships in companies big and small, in a variety of industries, and I've enjoyed them all. So I am confident that my internship at Time Out New York Magazine was the best new york city internship I could have gotten for my last semester as a college student. At TONY I was able to explore my new interest in events and marketing as well as hone my design skills.

The best part of the internship? My co-workers. I had the pleasure of working on a variety of projects with everyone in the marketing department. They trusted me with important tasks and I really appreciated that. They helped me with everything from creating a portfolio to job applications, and even got me another internship.

The other reason why Time Out was perfect for me? I love the company. They cover everything. Art, music, fashion, city life, events, and more. I have so many interests, and Time Out satisfied all of them!

My favorite event was probably Rye House Celebrates Fat Tuesday. It was such a success! We had a packed house, there was an awesome rag time band, The Red Hook Ramblers, and I even got to help bartend! You can see me in the video serving, and I also designed the drink menu that's held up.


Outcome of this internship? The possibility of a job at Time Out! I applied for their Social Media and Marketing Role and made it to the second round of interviews. Wish me luck! Even if I don't get it, I can't say enough about Time Out and I am super grateful for everything the internship has given me.

FYI: Anyone interested in getting help with preparing for internships? Creating an effective online presence? All that jazz?! Learn more about PromoteYou and hit me up!

The Postgraduate Entry.

How can I sum up my college experience? Exploring, risks, prioritizing, and passion. I truly had a fulfilling college experience, and I don't regret anything. I got involved in so many things and all of them taught me something valuable.

Exploring. I tried a ridiculous amount of activities while at Hofstra. Ultimate, American Marketing Association (HAMA), Spectrum/Masquerade, The Vagina Monologues, Hofstra Concerts, HAGA, Nonsense...I worked for Public Safety, Admissions, Publications, The Playhouse, and the Graphics Lab. Some of these I did for a hot minute, some I never quit, and each helped me get where I am today...for example, HAMA helped me figure out that I didn't want to be a Marketing major and HAGA gave me an outlet to explore event planning. I learned how to work with finicky people, and I was lucky enough to work in some amazing and talented teams.

The Hofstra Association of Graphic Arts (club I co-founded) at Relay for Life

Risks. I came into Hofstra planning on being a Marketing major. Why? I guess I had it in the back of my mind that I needed to do business to make money and be successful. Thankfully, through a combination of chance and surrounding myself with extremely supportive faculty, family, admins and friends, I realized business was not my place at Hofstra. I can remember the moment when I left an appointment with my Career Counselor knowing the next day I'd be changing my major to Fine Arts, I'm pretty sure I was skipping. It was a huge risk for me. I'd never taken graphic design courses before and I have family in the arts and know how hard it is...but the weight lifted off my shoulders from knowing I'd be doing something I truly enjoyed and was passionate about confirmed my decision!

Hofstra Commencement program, recognized for earning high honors in my department!

Prioritizing. It took me some time to become really great at prioritizing. And I'm referring to everything from running a club meeting or napping, working on projects or playing at frisbee tournaments, and going to class or hanging out with co-workers at my internship at Time Out New York Magazine. I've always sought advice in making decisions, but I've come to learn that only I know what is most important to meeting my goals and enjoying myself, and not to let peer pressure get to me (although sometimes peer pressure can be good!). I think that's an extremely important skill to have throughout college.

With members of my team, Hofstra Women's Ultimate Frisbee, M45

Passion. Junior year second semester is when everything really started to click. I had found my place in the Fine Arts department and began to focus on the clubs and activities that I was really passionate about. I helped to raise almost $9,000 for the Nassau Coalition Against Domestic Violence through the Vagina Monologues and The Sex Toy Raffle, create a club, The Hofsta Association of Graphic Arts and a networking event for Fine Arts students, and plan the first Women's Ultimate tournament at Hofstra. All of these accomplishments made me extremely proud, and for the rest of my college career I poured myself into making these projects bigger and better at Hofstra. I can confidently say that these clubs and events are now and will continue to be staples of the Hofstra community.

In front of my home at Hofstra, Calkins Hall, aka the Fine Arts Department

A very short list of some really fun things that I never expected I'd do in college but happened and were awesome:
I was voted Homecoming Queen, got the part in a play as a little girl who thought she was Jesus, participated in Improv Everywhere's No Pants Subway Ride, traveled to Barcelona and London, and performed as N'Sync at Hofstra's Annual Drag show.


Partial list of more official and academic-oriented accomplishments: Dean's list every semester, except this last one, when I made Provost's list, Junior Women and Orientation Leader of the Year, graduated Cum Laude, Hofstra Women's Ultimate received Most Improved and Best Sport Club of the Year, Fine Arts Department Certificate in Achievement in Leadership, Special Contributions to the Department, New Media, and completed my Fine Arts Honors Thesis Project, inducted into Phi Eta Sigma and Phi Beta Kappa Honors Societies, Who's Who in American Universities and Bovenaan Awards, and awarded "Most Likely to write 20 exclamtion points in 10 text messages in 2 hours" by The Hofstra Association of Graphic Arts.

College was an amazing four years. Thanks to everyone who has been a friend and lent a hand, I could never name you all because there are so many, and I never could have done what I did without you all. I can only hope...well, I know the next few years will be just as exciting, and I can't wait!

Moving on...choosing the right neighborhood!

These past few weeks have been a complete whirlwind of events, projects, and people! Full summary updates coming soon, but I wanted to share this great resource found via NY Magazine.

As a recent graduate, for months now I've been struggling with the thought of deciding where to move once I have a job (I was no so adventurous that I went out and found an apartment while still in job search mode). NY Magazine had a great issue about a month back, "The Best Place to Live in NY is..."

It was a really informative issue with a lot of information, but the best part was a supplementary feature on their website, "The Livability Calculator."



As you adjust your priorities (nightlife, cost, safety, etc) when it comes to housing, the list of neighborhoods adjusts with it. This is a great tool, especially for those of us who are visually oriented! I'm still on the job search, but I'm going to keep on researching. This did bring up a new neighborhood that seems great that I hadn't considered, Sunnyside Queens. Any thoughts on neighborhoods lived in or living in?!


View Larger Map

Paid or Unpaid, that is the question.

Graduation is less than a month away, and there a million and one decisions that have to be made in a short period of time!

One thing I believe is on the mind of a lot of students graduating: Is taking another unpaid (or barely paid) internship after graduation the right decision?

This is an increasingly pertinent question, with many articles popping up, like the NYTimes Article: The Unpaid Intern, Legal or Not?

What makes more sense? Taking a full time salary job that's so so, or taking an unpaid internship in the industry you want to be in, doing what you want to do?

What's more important? ...money? experience? networking? benefits? Are times so desperate that we should give in and have the "take what you can get" attitude?

I feel like that is the attitude many older adults are pushing on us...but I guess I'm like a hopeless romantic when it comes to my career, and I have faith that someday a perfect job will come and sweep me off my feet, and carry me off into the horizon with benefits and a 401K in tow!

(cartoon care of toothpaste for dinner!)

Evan Roth inspires again...IN PERSON

::Evan Roth at Hofstra::

Evan Roth spoke at Hofstra today, and partially due to me I believe, as I prompted my Professor to invite him to "Not All Artists are Starving" in March. Although he couldn't make it because he was in Paris, he offered to speak when he was in NYC for the Seven on Seven event at the New Museum...thus...TODAY happened.

::Major Points::

"Weekend Projects"

Good ideas can happen in a short amount of time and be published in a day or two. Quick projects can have big impacts on people. Think smarter not harder.

Publishing online early and often is extremely important. Because of stuff being online, people can easily see what you've done. In other words, having an online presence! (dont have one? check out promoteYOU!)

Always continue to publish. Worried about people stealing your work?...don't. Sharing ideas is really important, and projects develop of life of their own.

Use social media to your advantage. In his class, Viral Media for Artists...they learn about making/packaging things in a way where people will find your work. For example, at Boing Boing, a popular blog, you can suggest a link. They tell you how to, and this good start to getting through to any blog publisher.

Tying into mainstream press and the blogging world can help market your projects. Look for memes (internet/pop culture topic trends). No big companies know how to do this...they spend money on viral ad campaigns trying to look sincere, but people see through the bullshit.

::Projects by Evan Roth::

His earliest inspiration was hearing "Straight outta Compton"...and curse words...He used this inspiration for a project while he was at Grad school at Parsons. It was a reduction project...he took all the words out at the album Straight outta Compton" and only left the swears...there was about 6 minutes of explicit content left. He eventually got a cease and desist letter.

Graffiti Taxonomy...

Inspired by Edward Tufte, who did research on typography and was recently hired by Obama to do information graphics to demonstrate the financial situation we are in now.

Collected data (photographed tags in NYC), cleaned then up in photoshop, isolated letters, put them in a new format...a poster, and wheat pasted them in the location that the data was collected. This enable people who aren't familiar with graffiti to see it in a different way...and appreciate it.

Started the Graffiti Research Lab...combining graffiti and technology. First project was LED throwies....the videos and project turned into contagious media...ending in open source, and a how-to on instructables.

He also started the Free Art and Technology Lab...combining pop culture with open source culture.

F.A.T. presents Fuck Google -- at Transmedia in Berlin.

"We all love their products, but no one corporation should own all of our data."

BAD ASS MOTHER FUCKER project (in playing with SEO)

It only took Evan Roth 13 days to get his website the number one hit for bad ass mother fucker.

Tech note: the title tag and H1 tag are most important to getting google analytics to put up your site. Key words associated with URL also help.

USA USB. Experiment using memes to promote a project. It worked...he released this around 9/11 and it got a lot of publicity.

Evan Roth at Hofstra!

Today, Evan Roth is coming to my school to speak!! I've been a huge admirer of his since about a year ago when I had to do a paper on him for my new media class. I really need to go to be now. I wish I had $$ to got the Seven on Seven event he's in NYC for! More on his awesomeness coming soon.

The 2010 Eat Out Awards Ceremony at Le Poisson Rouge

At Time Out we've been preparing for the Eat Out Awards for quite some time! Last week myself, another intern, and my supervisor, Brooke, went on a walk through at the venue, Le Poisson Rouge.

As someone interested in event planning, I love going to walk throughs and watching people work, listening to them talk. It takes great communication and people skills to plan events...you work with so many people and you have the chance to make everyone you're working with happy, and that's what I love about it. I also love the aspect of collaboration that goes on when you get to work with creative people.

Finally, the big night! I was working the day of the event so I got to be there helping from start to finish! We arrived at 2pm (doors didn't open until 6!) to start setting up the venue. We had the semi daunting task of fitting enough chairs and tables for everyone to sit AND move around. I got a great work out lifting chairs over my head! Myself and another Marketing Intern took charge of the Guest List and welcomed the guests. It was a great turnout, and the guests really had a great time. There was free Stella and wine, so who wouldn't have an awesome time!?

I was able to talk to a lot of the other interns about the current job market and how tough it's been. There are a lot of interns in the marketing department, mostly PR or Marketing & Events, and within the group there's a wide variety of situations. Some interns have been out of school for almost a year, and some are in college, one in high school! I also spoke with another co-worker about his story, how he got where he is. From that conversation I took the fact that it's time to start applying for jobs that aren't appealing as I'd like them to be, because just getting a foot in the door anywhere, can lead to something great!

TON at SXSW!

Last week was TONY's SXSW showcase in Austin Texas, and it went really well! Andrew WK headlined, it was his first time at SXSW and he totally rocked it!

I was the point person for communication between the bands, SXSW stage manger, and Time Out. It was nice to have the amount of responsibility. I put together a book with all necessary information for Brooke to take with her to the show.

I also put together the wrap up. It was really interesting and fun gathering together all proof of what went into putting the event together...advertisements, promos, bills, receipts, backline information. I also searched and gathered press coverage and photos from blogs and online newspapers. I'm really glad I was so involved in this project!

Read more about the show HERE.

The 2010 Eat Out Awards!

One of my main projects the past few weeks have been the 2010 Eat Out Awards (see last year's winner's here). I've been the point person contacting retsaurants to gather contact information and let them know about the nomination. I also created the new invitations for the nominees and press for this year, and sent them out through email and snail mail.

Recently I've been updating the guest list and making follow up phone calls. I really enjoy talking to the people who will be attending, as I've met quite a few characters over the phone :)

SXSW has been another big project, again being a main person of contact for the all the bands and stage manager. It's bee a bit crazy because of all the talk about equipment and all that, something I know nothing about. So jealous of my supervisor, who gets to GO! Andrew WK is headlining with his FULL BAND! So jealous. I met him a couple of times after he played at the Crazy Donkey. He is a super cool fun guy, genuinely nice. Time Out is lucky to have him!


I've also been helping a lot with Time Out For Hunger. I made a lot of edits to the post cards and helped with some excel things. TOFH is when restaurants all donate a portion of their proceeds to the Food Bank on a certain day. It's a pretty cool idea with tons of participants! I'm going to try to hit some place up myself.

In great news, I finally finished my BUSINESS CARDS! And am pretty happy with them! Thanks to everyone who helped push me in different directions and see different things. I know they wouldn't be as cool as they were without everyone's input!!! Also updated my resume today. After this weekend I will be sending out applications for jobs in full force!!!

Something I decided today with the help of my career counselor...I will not be interning for free this summer...anywhere. With all my experiences I am confident that I deserve a full-time paid position, and I think I will find something! I may have to settle for the less than ideal company, but I'll be willing to compromise to a certain extent.

Anywho, next Monday is out next DLS event! I'm excited because the last one was so fun! This is a sit down dinner though, so it'll be a lot different. I wonder if I get to eat the food too...we'll see!

Events at Time Out NY

Since my month at Time Out New York I've been heavily involved in/worked 3 main events. Here's a bit about each and how I was involved.

Singles Party!
This was a party to go along with February Singles issue. They invite the singles listed in the issue, as well as open it up to readers. I was lucky enough to go with Brooke, my supervisor to the walk through, which was a cool experience. Basically you go to the venue, which in this case was THOM Bar, meet with the event planner, Beer sponsors (Stella Artois) and make sure everyone is clear on what's going on. I also go to make the drink menu, and at the event I worked the door and handled the guest list as well handed out the free Stella Chalisis at the end of the night, which was super fun. I love being able to give away free stuff! Pictured is Mackenzie, me, and Caroline at the event, all the marketing and events interns! My apologies for looking extremely creepy.

Haute Hippie Fashion Week Party
Wrote about this in a past entry, so read that here. I also did the drink menu, and feast your eyes on a picture of me in the ballin' dress!!










Dining and Libation Society Presents: Mardi Gras at Rye House
Rye House is a really cool and classic bar/restaurant, and Brooke was awesome and took us on the walk through. I designed the drink menu and a banner ad for the event also. So far I'd say the event itself was my favorite. At first I was working the door and the list, then giving out beads, then I got asked to help serve Stella...on a tray! Luckily, I didn't spill anything...but someone did! It wasn't a big deal I was just glad it wasn't me :-P So then we just handed them out without trays...and also gave out mixed drinks. I got to help the bar tender, Jim, garnish and finish the drinks. That was especially fun because I've always wanted to bar tend! I met the guy the does the TONY videos so that was cool, in addition to connecting with a lot of the guests and making sure they were having a good time and getting food and drinks. I can't wait for the next event, hopefully some of the same people will be there! Pictured is one of my awesome supervisors...and me in the back pouring champagne into French 75s!

Next Entry, the Eat Out Awards, 2010!

Current TONY projects, and HAGA too!

Projects I'm working on:

• The Eat Out awards. I've done everything from design the Readers Choice ballot for print, to calling nominees for contact information and preparing the guest list the to the event. I'm really happy with everything I've done so far and that I'm able to be so involved. I like that I'm actually a big part of this project!

• Drink Menus! I've become a sort of drink menu EXPERT :) I've designed three, one for each of the events I've also worked (Singles Party, Haute Hippe, and DLS Rye House), which is cool.
  

• Web ads and resizing. I do a lot of re-imaging for web, moving things around to make print ads into web ads, etc. Lots of thumbnail making. Sounds lame, but did you know that click "save images for web and devices" makes files very small in file size?! Well, I didn't...I do now!
  

In addition to going into Time Out FOUR days a week (extremely draining!), I've been working really hard with the rest of the eboard on "Not All Artists are Starving, A Night of Networking." The event really means a lot to me, because I wouldn't be where I am now if my Hofstra career counselor hadn't said "not all artists are starving ya know!" I'm also pumped because two people I've met at TONY, my supervisor Marc Whalen and another intern (but already graduated) Mieko Anekawa are going to be speakers on the panel!! Two worlds colliding! Very cool.


Below are two web ads and a drink menu I made!
Next entry? Details on the last two TONY Sponsored events I worked!

Interning at Haute Hippie...FASHION WEEK!

This past Saturday I worked my first ever Fashion event, during Fashion Week! It was Haute Hippie's Fall Collection Preview Show (ps I scanned that mag article in their Feb 17th entry!).

I was definitely nervous, as it's a world I am very unfamiliar with. Yet it was actually a great experience! The picture to the left is the dress I got to wear, on loan from Haute Hippie. Might I say I looked awesome, and got many compliments, and felt like I fit in just fine.

The line was really cool, I got to see the models walk out and get ready (to stand on the runway for an hour)...saved one of their dresses from catching on fire (there were candles lining one of the hallways).

I also got a chance to talk to some of my co-workers outside of the office, which is always nice.

All in all it was interesting and fun, and I enjoyed observing the whole night. Wouldn't mind doing a similar event again!

Passion or Pay?

Today I talked to a women who is a freelancer at Time Out New York as a designer. She's a really interesting gal, and it was cool talking to such an established artist. Her name is Mieko, and she's originally from Japan.

She talked about how she was a designer working full time at a designer watch company (see above), but it just didn't leave her enough time to paint, which is her true passion! (see other picture above). I'm sure the company was sad to see her go! Then she said how she's trying to freelance, but that is also difficult.

So there's the dilemma, have a stable job that your just not as happy at, or have the constant worry in the back of your mind about where your next paycheck will come from! It's a tough thing. But she seemed happy with her decision, and she also may come to HAGA's networking night! Woo WOo!

Week 2! Flew by!

Second week as the Time Out Marketing and Events intern...and psuedo art/design intern! That's right. I'm being used a lot as a graphic designer. So far I've designed drink menus for two events (both of which I'll be working!) for the Singles Party and Haute Hippie Fall 2010 Collection Preview.

Also designed the above banner ad! A lot of stuff I re-design, but this is from scratch. I like it :)
I also made new TONY Staff Lanyards so us VIPs tonight. Seems like I may end up being the bouncer tonight...holding the clicker making sure we stay within capacity. Should be interesting, hope I can keep focus!

Last week Marc also introduced me to the Art Director, Adam, and showed me around. It's very cool to have someone really help you learn the ropes and meet people, etc. I've learned a lot from him in the few days I've been here, especially in terms of the Adobe programs. Shift Enter = Soft Return WHATTT? He also agreed to come to The Hofstra Association of Graphic Art Club's Fine Arts Networking Night.. yup, the event I started! Super exciting.

Looking forward to this week...doing another Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday. Phew!

crappy cell camera pic!

First Week Update! Time Out New York Internship!

First official update as a Time Out New York Magazine Marketing intern!

Week 1!

I get put to work, and I love it! I work under the Marketing and Events Coordinator and the Promotions Director. They are both extremely approachable, professional, and cool. I also started to work under the Art Promotions Director, who has taught me a lot in two days! But it was also cool that a lot of technical things he was showing me was a refresher, so I felt really prepared.

Weeks Projects included:

• Restaurant research for Time Out for Hunger
• Copy Editing, organizing, and maintaining TONY's new "Brand Source Guide"
• Walk through for next big events, DLS and the Singles Party
  
• Resizing in-house ads for the new Time Out Kids format
• Data entry for new singles to prep for launch of "Meet Moi"
  

Working in an office with a lot of interns creates a very different atmosphere. First of all, it's more fun. There are people going through the same thing as you and it's fun to chat and help each other relax. At the same time, there's a definite competitive tension, because everyone is working to stand out and be the best. At least I am of course!

I've decide to come in Fridays when I can so I can take full advantage of all the projects I can work on and participate it. Hopefully I'll get some independent projects that will really show how much I can do for Time Out. I can't wait to continue!

HOT TIP: Bring in food for the office. I brought it muffins as a thank you for welcoming me, and everyone was extremely appreciative, and it opened up a lot of conversation!

Time Out for Hunger Promotional Piece

Rye House, NYC, Venue for Dining and Libation Society, Feb. 16th. Fat Tuesday!

THOM Bar, Venue for Singles Party February 8th

The Importance of Being Updated

Having a online presence.

It's something I started working on when I became interested in Graphic Design. My first online portfolio was my DeviantArt. This is a free site popular with gamer type kids, though I'm not knocking it. Many artists post incredible work it. But I wanted something more professional looking and manageable. I then created a Coroflot and Behance portfolio.

Shortly after I caved and got a Twitter, Tumblr, LinkedIn, and Flickr. In addition, I started keeping a blog about my summer 2009 internships and decided to keep it after the summer was over (you're reading it!). Oh, and can't forget my Google profile! I also hesitantly updated my myspace. Recently, I joined a community called Good.Is., after doing a paper on Matt Owens of Volume One.

Lastly, I reached my goal of launching my own personal website, EmilyMiethner.com on December 15th 2009.

I do a LOT of updating!! Yes, I could get rid of some of my sites seeing as some of them are repetitive (especially with emilymiethner.com!), but I decided to keep them all. I feel like each one offers different connections to people and opportunities that I don't want to cut. Thus, one of my goals of 2010 is to keep my online presence updated and current!

In other news, I got two little Resident Assistant awards this past semester, Most Creative and The Spontaneous Programming Award! Thanks to Curb Your Enthusiasm for the latter award, I've got to find a new show to watch with residents for spring semester!


And event I'm looking forward to this month: No Pants! Subway Ride. Here's the video from last year!