I survived my first music industry event (as a guest, not as someone working at the event!). One of my friends from home came out to NY to come with me, and we met up with a girl I used to intern with. I'm pretty sure we almost died in the cab, this was after the driver almost hit someone somewhere on Broadway. We got there right when the party started, because I heard it was going to get packed pretty quickly, and that they'd stop letting people in. You know how it is when you first show up to a party or a bar and its early still, everyone was awkwardly standing around, not really sure what to do, taking long sips of their drinks after every sentence spoken. People loosened up somewhere around 8:00.
I should probably mention what the event was, if I haven't already. One of my old bosses was going to this listening party for Slim from the R&B group 112, and told me to come along. His solo debut comes out later this year and I got to hear it last night. The longer you work in the industry, the more people you know, and the more events you get invited to. When I first started, I got invited to the less interesting events that no one wanted to go to. You have to go to these things and work your way up, just like everything else. And I'm sure there are even cooler things I have yet to be invited to. The party started at 7, and there was open bar until 9, and it ended around 10. They started to play the CD when it was almost 9:00, and I really liked what I heard. He was very humble and seemed pretty down to earth for someone who's been in this game for so long, and who has been so successful at it.
I tried to network as much as I could but there wasn't anyone there for me really. The first person I talked to went on a 10 minute spiel about how its important to work your way up in the industry, and as a female, to not sleep around to get to the top (like I don't know this). At first I smiled and took in what he had to say, then I thought for a minute--does something about me scream "I sleep around for promotions?" I am nothing like that at all--but maybe it was the red heels that gave him that vibe. Overall, it was a great time and I'm glad I got to go.
The most important thing you should know about attending any kind of work, or career, related event, especially one where there is alcohol, is to remember that you are amongst your colleagues (even if you don't work at the same place with them, as was my case last night, you will no doubt run into them again). I generally apply this rule: If I wouldn't do it in the day time, I shouldn't be doing it now. That way, you regret nothing you've done the night before. You'll know you've mastered this when you're able to have a good time and not wake up embarrassed the next day.
I learned a valuable lesson of my own last night/this morning--and that is, my stomach can no longer handle cranberry juice. It is just too bad that I had to find this out the hard way, after choosing to stick with the "safe" drink (a.k.a. vodka and cranberry juice). Work today felt like what I can only imagine a slow painful death must feel like. But, I am a firm believer in not calling out of work because you are too tired, too sick, or had too much fun the night before. So I stuck it out, slowly--I knew my day wasn't going to be good when after walking my friend to the train this morning, the strip on my room card somehow got deactivated, and I was locked out, in my pajamas, and already running late for work...
Ahh, the life of an Intern.
Hi Interchick
I came across your blog while googling 'Chocolate ice cream sundae' (don't ask why) and i think what you do is brilliant, if not tough. I'm only still in my last year of school but your drive to succeed is inspirational.