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.

---
Edit.

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

It's so easy.

Being a good listener is probably the best personality trait someone can have.
I need to be a better listener.

"How to Win Friends..." told me this too. I know it's a book and not a person but jesus I've gotta listen!

OH THE IRONY!

Redesign of FREENYC.NET

For my last graphic design project we had to pick a logo to redesign, and create an identity system as well. I was taking the class as an Honor Option, so in addition to the logo, business card, envelope, and letterhead, I also created two screens of the website.

Above is the logo and screen cap of their "site" (which is really just a blog), FREENYC.NET.
I absolutely love this organization. They send out newsletters with "cheap and free events in NYC." Although, it is frustrating that they send out their newsletters Friday, and they have Friday events listed! They should send it Thursday night.

ANYWAY.

Here is my redesign.

And here is my Web Design
HOME:
BLOG:

2 Weeks.

Well Hello Blog! Only about two more weeks until I will be writing, AT MY INTERNSHIP TODAY...

I'm very very anxious to start! Very curious to see what I'll actually be doing. I think I'm going to be doing more graphics stuff at Knitting Factory, and more generic tasks at +1. Which is fiiine by me! Ian Wheeler asked what my web design skills are. Obviously I was honest. I said proficient and told him what I've done before. I mean, I feel like I could edit things and make adjustments and whatnot, but I don't think I'd be able to start one from scratch. I'd just work off the one we made in New Media II!! :-P Here are screen caps of those sites.



So I have two weeks to learn myspace coding, keep HTML and CSS fresh in my mind, perfect my letter to bands that I've put on Club Loaded fliers, and I think I'll finish, "How to Win Friends..."

In other exciting summer news, I have already a great list of summer concerts and events to attend!
Check it!

• June 10, Elvis Costello
• June 12, Bubble Battle
• June 16, Third Eye Blind
• June 21, The Aggrolites
• June 24, Bedouin Sounclash
• June 25, 311
• June 28, Gay Pride Parade
• July 1, MGMT
• July 11, Doreen's Birthday
• July 24, Deer Tick
• August 16, Life Ends, RA Training Begins
  

Junior year coming to a close!

So this is it. Finals week as a junior! I'm trying to manage all the free days I have coming up.. making sure I get enough work done!

In addition, the stresses of "the real world" are already upon me. Trying to find a frikken place to live. I have three different options right now. To be honest, I don't really know which I would be most happy with. There's a house right behind campus, in bethpage, and east rockaway. They all have lots of ups and down. Being close or far from campus, the safety of the area, the condition of the place. Tomorrow I find out if the bethpage house is even an option and I'm visiting the east rockaway place.

It's really nerve racking because I feel like this will have a pretty big effect on my summer. Who/where I'm living. Bleh!

I just want to KNOW. I have to move in a WEEK! This will be my first time living off Hofstra's campus since I lived in MA before college! Wow. That's a crazy thought.

I actually think no matter where I am, I'll be homesick. From Hofstra. I know...I'm a loser!
Yup... I'll definitely miss it! But it's only 3 months.