ISU Music Practicum Students

I have been working at The Music Shoppe in Normal this semester. I worked with the Print Music Manager, Bill Anderson. This past summer I went to the Music Shoppe with a letter for one of the store owners. My letter talked a little about my background, my major, and my desire to do an internship at the store. The store owner is always really busy, so I dropped off my letter for him, and ended up working with other two managers to set the internship up. I worked a few hours each week over the entire semester. I have performed several different jobs over the semester. Some have been: checking the print music inventory to see what needs to be ordered, ordering music from publishers, helping customers find specially requested books, and balancing the amount of stock ordered vs. the average amount of books we are able to sell, based on the past five years sales. This particular job was really interesting to me, because you need to know how many of each specific book you will be able to...

Hi there, Well, I just finished my internship as of this past Wednesday. It was probably one of the most interesting, uncomfortable learning experiences of my life. Day one of my internsip I was thrown right into audtioning numerous kids for a vocal jazz group and a chamber choir, then having to post the results which is harder than I ever imagined. I now realize why vocal instructors take a lot of time with this process, there are so many factors involved. I got this internship because this is the college where I got my associates, so I was in this vocal jazz group 5 years ago. Walking into that same rehearsal room on the OTHER side of the piano was the scariest thing I've ever done. I don't know why, I mean these kids are younger than me I know that I know more than them, but how do I TEACH them what I know...So as we got into the semester I taught sectionals, voice lessons, and taught a couple pieces by myself. I got very close with my students and wasn't just s...

This just in from Pam Swick, who was Jessica Freeman's internship mentor: On Fri, Aug 22, 2008 at 9:28 AM, Pam Swick wrote: > It was truly our pleasure! Our entire staff enjoys and takes seriously the > mentoring process. Please do not hesitate to recommend us to students for > possible internship opportunties in the future. They can apply on line > and/or contact me directly. www.searscentre.com So for those of you looking for internships maybe this is an option! -Rose (thanks, Jessica, for finding this opportunity!)

Hey Everyone, You may remember that I posted blog just before the summer about my internship at Noble Fool Theatricals in St. Charles, IL. It was a great experience; my mentor Audra Sybert was a fantastic educator. She had mapped out an itinerary for me that included various projects for me execute throughout the summer. I wrote several press releases, articles, created advertisements, posters, invites, etc. I was able to refine my writing skills, while tapping into my creative side. However, before I started my internship there, I started a different internship that I was given just after finals week. When I wasn't at Pheasant Run Resort this summer, I spent my time at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates. I worked in the administrative offices with the marketing team, and I also shadowed the Events Coordinaters. I was the very first intern they have had, so I was kind of a guinea pig for them. I was only given a couple of tasks to do independentally, so it was mainly observ...

As of last week, I just finished my internship with Brower Entertainment Booking Agency, an Ohio based company that books talent across the US. My internship was based solely over the internet and phone training sessions. I began by being assigned a band that I would train with. My band was Losanti, a Cincinnati based reggae, rock, funk band who will be playing a show booked by me at the Medici in Normal on Aug. 30th from 9-midnight. Sorry for the shameless plug. Anyway, I learned the process of contacting venues through a website called onlinegigs.com, which lists every available venue in a state. I began with Ohio where I had to contact each venue either by phone or e-mail to secure a booking for my band. Coincidentally, as I began my booking internship, the restaurant that I work for (the Medici) was looking to hire a booking agent. I ended up signing a contract with the restaurant and am now their full time booking agent. As I learned more about booking for a venue, I began reviewi...

Hey all, So I'm just about done with my internship with Carl Thacker, the ISU School of Music instrument repairman. I ended up snagging the internship because I know the last 3 people that he has offered the summer work to, so I talked to him about it all and he said that I got it. It took a bit of jumping through hoops to get it off the ground. Dr. Parsons is obviously new to this whole thing, and he didn't realize that the people Carl hires actually get paid by the School of Music. It took some constant reminders and pushing but it all went through. So all summer I've worked full time with Carl cleaning all the brass instruments that the school has. It's a bit tedious at times but it's definitely a lot of fun. Every horn was different and it was a little adventure to see just how dirty each horn would end up being. Carl's a lot of fun to work for, we constantly crack jokes with each other and all that good stuff. I've learned how to take apart and clean ...

At the end of July I finished my internship with Lily's Talent Agency, Inc., one of the largest talent agencies here in Chicago. Like O'Connor Casting, Lily's is cross corner from Harpo Studios, the only difference is Lily's was on the 4 th floor, and O'Connor is on the 2 nd . I worked there for 2 months and it was a great experience. The internship started very fast-paced! We learned how to answer and use the phone system, as well as the server for all computer documents. We also learned how to format headshots for all on-film and voice-over talent, as well as all comp cards for all print talent. Comp cards is short for compilation cards. These are cards that have several looks a talent can use as well as all of their measurements so casting agencies know if they match all of the criteria they are looking for. The training session wasn't long, so you had to learn quickly or else!! Luckily enough because I was hired mainly for the music division, I on...

In July I finished my internship at O'Connor Casting Company. It was SUCH a good experience, and I really enjoyed my time there. I worked three days a week for two months in the West Loop of Chicago, right across from Harpo Studios. The staff at O'Connor, while incredibly nice and helpful, did not have time to spoon feed information and directions. In my first ten minutes on my first day, a veteran intern taught me how the front desk is run, checking in actors, calling agents, organizing and stapling headshots, etc. After she explained, I was expected to run the front desk on my own, while there were two auditions going on: one a print ad for Babybel cheese, and another commercial for Sprint. After spending a couple days at the front desk, the casting associates felt I was ready go sit in an audition session. While in session, it was my responsibility to collect actors headshots, number and organize them, and document their photos that were taken during their slate. I als...

So I have been working at Radio Disney for over a month now and I have learned a lot of random things. I have learned a lot about how a radio station works and just as much about Disney and its parners. I have learned what we can and cannot do with certain companies and it is really interesting to me as well as what companies we can work with, but only if no one knows it is Disney related. For example,we cannot do any thing with food so, for liability reasons. So I wear a gogurt shirt every Wed. at kiddieland to sample gogurt as well as jewel cupcakes. I also enjoy knowing about which other companies that we can work with but only in specific situations and are otherwise competetors. I also love to hear about the difference between a Disney entity vs a Disney property and the restrictions and benifits that come along with that difference when working with said friend/competetor companies. I cannot explain what else I have learned in anyway but as experience. I know I have learned a lo...

I had my first day at Radio Disney yesterday at Meijer in Oswego. We got there at 1pm to set up and started the show at 2pm. I helped where I could however it was only my observation day so I wasn't as participative as the other members of my team. We had set up our prize table, a backdrop, and our DJ. Before the show they went through some of the dances we do which was fun. As the kids and their families came up to us we handed out raffle tickets and stickers. The whole hour was non-stop games, dances, and prizes. One specific family had about 5 kids from 3-18 and almost all of them were little con artists. I had given all the girls raffle tickets (there were 3 of them) and they we fine. Then the boy who was constantly moving came up to me and asked me for one,then asked for one for his brother, and left. He then came back and asked for 2 more because he had "lost" them and wanted another one for his sister as well. Then his brother came us saying he wanted a raffle ti...

First off my internship (proper title) is Promotions assistant at Radio Disney Chicago 1300. My unofficial title is member of the Radio Disney Road Drew and Assistant to the Promotions Manager(sounds like Dwight from the office right?) which I will explain in a bit more detail later. To attain my internship I did some asking around saying simply " I am looking for an internship and I am interested mostly in marketing/promotions." Luckily Ms. Rose Marshack was able to give me a contact ,Matt Friscia , at Radio Disney. He got me in touch with the right people at the station as far as hiring and interviews. I then simply sent my resume and cover letter in using him as a reference. I set up an interview and it was pretty relaxed. I am not sure if it was luck but I am sure that because the person who interviewed/hired me graduated form ISU and was involved in the same activities as me ( UPB :entertainment, and Springfest ) helped her understand what kind of experience I had and ...

Hello friends, Hope finals have been treating everyone well. I just finished my last final, but have little time to rest as I will be starting my internship at O'Connor Casting Company downtown. O'Connor is the one of the biggest television commercial casting companies in the US, but they also cast for movies, television pilots, and voice overs. Although this internship is primarily suited for a film or theatre major, I am also a musical theatre major, and this internship is a perfect fit for me, as I want to be involved in the casting process. This spring, I was debating whether I wanted to intern at a talent agency or a casting company. I applied at Geddes Talent, Stewart Talent, Encore Talent, Claire-Simon Casting, and O'Connor. I interviewed at three of them, O'Connor being my first. I heard about O'Connor from a few friends that had interned there, who had a good experience. They got to do everything from call talent agents to sit in the casting sessions...

Hey Kids, I'm really excited to get started with my internship at the Pheasant Run Resort in St. Charles, IL ( subarb of Chicago). I found the posting on one of the Music Business internships sites...one of the two that David had mentioned, but I don't remember exactly which one. The company is Noble Fool Theatricals, and they conduct all of the musical theater entertainment at the resort. They perform shows that include local students, and they also hire professional performers for more upscale productions. I will be involved with the marketing of their upcoming performances. I agree that it is crucial to come off in the most professional manner, and to be personable. Don't leave anything out of your resume, but also be able to explain and embellish factors that are in the resume. For example, NFT initially emailed me because they saw that I used to teach private voice and piano lessons. They thought I would fit well with hosting rehearsals for the students. This was an ...

Music Practicum Students, Finding an internship in the entertainment industry is probably the hardest part of the internship experience you will encounter. Where in student teaching you are placed into a school district and classroom via the College of Education, and you can find a business internship anywhere from marketing or management in a 5 mile radius of your house, with the entertainment industry...that is a beast in its self. You have to understand where the markets are for music, television, and film and understand that you might have to make the sacrifices necessary to find the right internship that will truly give you the education you need to prepare yourself for a career in entertainment. Of course you can intern at your local halfway community theater of actors that perform side gigs outside there 9-5's, but is that really an efficient use of your time. Getting your foot in the door is truly the key to being successful in the entertainment industry, but don't l...

Hello everyone, I did my internship at a home studio in Bloomington called outside of u records. I knew the guy from a friend of a friend and called him up and we figured it would work. I went to his place a few nights a week for four to five hours each night. I basically sat in the control room and sat back and observed the few week or so, and then I took hold of the computer and recorded some sessions on Pro Tools. I learned a ton more with the hands on part than i did watching, but thats just the type of learner than I am. I didnt quite learn all that I had set out to learn, but I do recommend something like this for someone who wants to go into recording/producing/engineering etc. Id make sure the person has plenty of time to show you things and make sure they are patient enough for you to adequately learn. Christopher Pond