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How To
Get the Most Out of Your Music Industry Internship
- It should go without
saying that what you hear in the company stays in the company…especially
if you’re dealing with celebrities or are backstage at shows. In most
cases, spilling can also get you sued!
- Treat your
internship like a job--it’s the music business, not the music party--and
conduct yourself accordingly. Your internship may suck at times, but
there are 500 people in line behind you who want it, and the company
is important to the bosses, clients, and customers.
Besides…conducting yourself accordingly will probably land you better
assignments, and you may like it better.
- Learn how to read
and comprehend letters, contracts, and other document quickly, so you’ll
be able to read and understand every piece of paper that comes across
your desk. (This is a skill that improves the more you use it, so
practice at home before your internship.)
- Find a mentor in the
company who’s doing what you want to be doing and try to work for that
person as much as possible. Ask how they handled certain situations in
their own careers. If you ask them about them, rather than asking
them to help you, even a difficult boss will sometimes open up a
little. Then you can mention your goals and ask their advice on
how to get there.
- Never turn
down an opportunity to make copies, and apply your fast reading skills
while you’re doing the task. It may be the only time you’ll have to
learn about press releases, contracts, riders, and other important
documents.
- C.Y.O.A.: To cover
yourself, keep a file of your own copies of: completed assignments,
important documents (the more important they are, the more likely they
are to get lost), FedEx tracking numbers, assignment notes dates and
times plus supporting documents to show when you completed them, and
copies of anything a disorganized boss or driven, disgruntled coworker
could ever possibly blame you for. At some point, you’ll probably need
it! (By the way…It’s to your advantage if no one knows your little file
exists. At some companies, documents do disappear
accidentally-on-purpose.)
- Know the company’s
procedures for handling sensitive documents, and where the shredders
are. In some jobs you’ll be working with a lot of sensitive information
and may use the shredder more than the recyle bins.
- Make your own
secret, personal copy of every phone number and address you deal with,
along with a notation telling where you got it (Your notation might read
something like, “Internship 6-2006, XYZ Company, Paul Bigwig’s office”).
Don’t let anyone know you have it: Some bosses are cool and will
actually encourage you to create your own personal rolodex, but many
others prohibit contact info from being removed from the building at
all. And that nice intern across the aisle just might do anything
to get ahead…including ratting you out!
- Never
steal a rolodex card or computer file; you’re sure to get caught. Make
your own copy, for your own secret, personal rolodex.
- If you borrow
something (with permission) or bring work home, bring it back
immediately. Not doing so is a guaranteed way to tick off the boss.
- Read the trades on
your break, or between assignments if you’re asked to wait and truly
have nothing to do. If your boss is remiss about emptying out the
magazine rack, ask if you can take home some of the back issues. Or, if
you’re charged with tossing them out, sneak a few home. They’re not
exciting reading, but it’s a great way to learn the names behind the
scenes.
- Because they’re so
busy, many bosses don’t give feedback, and some will neglect to tell you
if you’re doing something wrong. If you’re not sure, catch the boss at a
good time during an afternoon lull and ask what you can do to do your
job better.
- Turn off your cell
unless you’re using it for actual company business (which is almost
never). Ditto the Blackberry and IMs. You’re on their time, not yours.
- Don’t IM with
friends, join a chatroom, or download a file on the company’s computer.
You could accidentally expose the company to a computer virus, and how
would you explain that?
- Never get tipsy at
your company’s or client’s show. In fact, you’re probably better off not
drinking at a show at all: you’ll hear and learn more important stuff if
you’re sober, and some bosses have unwritten rules about drinking on the
job. (If you’re not sure what the unwritten rule is at your company,
order club soda with lime; it looks like gin and tonic to those who
prefer you drink with them but is also easy for the boss to tell you’re
not drinking.) Also, in many companies or areas of the U.S., there’s
still a double standard that applies to women in the industry, and
people –even co-workers or the boss--may judge women harshly if they’re
seen drinking with the band or a group of male co- workers.
- Never assume you’re
allowed to invite someone to one of your company’s shows. In most cases
your boss will usually tell you when it’s OK. If he or she didn’t say,
either assume it’s not, or ask before inviting anyone (and chose the
invitee carefully.) When you arrive at the show, be prepared with proper
company ID and know whose office arranged the tickets for you. If
there’s a problem, offer to step aside while it’s resolved.
- A client’s show
should be treated as if it’s a satellite office of the company, and
anyone you invite to the show should behave accordingly.
- Always ask if you
can help someone. You may get a cool assignment out of it. Or, doing a
boring assignment with a good attitude may get you a cool assignment (or
job) later.
How to and Quick Tips
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