I'm taking an Artist Management class, once a week, 3 hours on a Monday night. Needless to say, its hard to pay attention most nights. But in our last class we talked about an artist staying loyal to a manager throughout their career, even if they can make better money elsewhere. I'm not here to say which is the best choice, but it got me thinking about loyalty in the record industry. How many people actually remain loyal, and how many people run after whatever will make them the most money? This whole thing brought me back to the first person who gave me my first internship, we'll call her Eva*.
I always talk about networking and meeting new people to help you move forward in your career. To me, its equally important to stay loyal to those who've helped you get to where you are. When I came into my interview for what would eventually become my first internship, I was a nervous wreck. My palms were sweaty, my legs were shaking, and I couldn't catch my breath. Eva interviewed me and eventually hired me--I was thrilled, obviously, and remember throwing myself a party that same night. On my first day, Eva left the company and although I never got to know her, I was always thankful for that first meeting and kept her in my heart.
A year later, I got a message from Eva telling me she needed an intern. She told me that she'd heard I did good work at the 1st internship and wanted to bring me on to intern at her new job. I gladly accepted and this time, I actually got to work for her. On my first day she brought me around the entire company, introducing me to everyone and showing me how each department worked. She taught me everything I needed to know and eventually ended up giving me a place to live. I learned so much and met so many people on that internship because of her willingness to teach me. It is, to date, the best experience of my life. When it came time to find my final internship, she helped me as much as she could, asking people she knew if they needed an intern and giving me great recommendations along the way. I ended up finding one first, but she took me on in what eventually became "Internship #2" and paid me out of her own pocket. Something she didn't have to do and something I didn't ask of her, but something I appreciated immensely.
She's always taken care of me and I will always remain loyal to her. Its truly rare to develop a relationship like that within the music industry, and when you do, you have to hold on to it. Tight. I would work for her over anybody else, any day of the week, not because I feel that I am indebted to her, but because she helps me be a better worker. From the very beginning, her generosity has amazed me but I'm grateful all the same. Yes, its true the entertainment business can be a cold and lonely place, but there is good to be found and for that, loyalty will always be high on my list of priorities.
0 comments:
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
