Congratulations! You have landed yourself in an internship right in the center of Washington DC's entertainment industry. Riot Act is DC's first Comedy Theater and that means there is always a million things going on and even more things to get accomplished. Here are my tips to making the most of your internship:
- Take initiative. On my first day, I was completely overwhelmed by all the new people and their openness to my ideas. I was used to being told what to do and completing it. At Riot Act, they trust you. If they hired you, that means that you are cable and they don't want to waste your time. I was put on the team that worked with social media and Riot Act's online presence. I was put in charge of writing and sending out Riot Act's social media press release and I quickly learned that online, a picture grabs attention a lot fast then a page of words.
- Don't be afraid to fail. The first event Riot Act hosted with an outside company, we experienced a ton of issues. This was the first time we had to collaborate with people outside our staff and while the event was not a disaster, there were small details that were overlooked. Who was in charge greeting people as the entered? Where is the best place to serve food without overcrowding? What the incentive for people at this even to come back to Riot Act and see a comedy show? We ended the event with a meeting where we listed what was to happen next time we hosted an even, and the next time we did, it ran a lot smoother. Everything is a learning experience.
- Traditional PR should never be forgotten, but it is not the only tool. I spent many days simply walking into hotels and business's introducing Riot Act. Most people were receptive to this kind of commitment. A press release can do wonders, but people remember a friendly face over a nicely worded emails. We established connections just by making it through the door and handing out free passes to invite people to experience Riot Act first hand. It's refreshing to know that what you are marketing is worth while. Once Riot Act got people to come once, it was almost a guarantee they would come back because of their great experience.
- Don't be afraid of busy work. Riot Act has a small staff. There were mornings I spent answering phones and making calls. There is no way to avoid this in a staff this small. Through this I learned how better to deal with people when they are upset or angry. When in PR, dealing with people is a must. It's so easy to do when everyone is happy, but it is a skill to learn on how to effectively deal with people who are unhappy.
- Have fun! Riot Act was amazing because they always invited me to shows and events. The best way to learn is through experience, so if you have the time, do any event you can, even if it is just as a participant (and not as an intern). I got to learn how much time and detail it takes for every show that happens at Riot Act. I was also able to market this events online and on American University's campus. It was like a backstage pass for event planning and marketing, but it is only there if you want it. Take it. Learn from it. Enjoy it.
Get ready for one hell of a semester. You'll be great. Step one was landing the internship, so the rest is just being open to new experiences.
Let me know if you have any other questions, I would be happy to talk about Riot Act all day.
Sincerely,
Jordan Van Clief
