Love Theatre, but Job-Related Question

[Hope]

Posted: 9/28/04 at 10:08pm

Love the board and theatre, but I have a job-related question that I really need some advice on….

2001 college grad with a business management degree. I graduated 3 months before 9-11, and had a very difficult time finding a job in Manhattan. After 9-11 it became harder. I ended up starting an online gift shop - much like a "Hallmark" type. Things never really took off. I haven't broke-even yet, but not at a total loss. Up for almost 3 years now. Sales did pick up at a point, but dwindled to a certain degree. Marketing/Advertising is very expensive, yet difficult as well.

I want to keep my online business going, but I also want to stimulate my creative thinking. It can get boring...all I really do is pack the orders and mail them. I want to look for an entry position in anything regarding:
· marketing, arts, design,
· Page layouts
· anything involving product design, product development
· whatever requires creative thinking, design, color, style, things of that nature.
· Even departments involving fragrant gift set – everything from color, to packing material (bags, tote bags, boxes, etc.)
· Creating fliers, brochures for companies, events, social gatherings, etc.

I also would like to be around people and have a conversation now and then!

Actually I designed the website all on my own. My web provider just gave us templates and all I did was add the pages, pictures, headlines, hyperlinks, and so forth. I did not take any computer classes; whatever I know I learned on my own, just manipulating the buttons and whatever they had available. I know Photoshop.

I have some experience with "product design," if I can call it that. Some items very popular with some of my customers were "stress relievers;" foam-like items in various shapes. I decided to make a gift box, gift basket set, with a number of them, all in various sizes, shapes, colors, etc.
I also design my own fliers/advertising material. I'm not too into computer design. I just had to know for my website. I would be interested more in "paper design/layout" - basically not web designing.

I don't know how I should search for such positions. As you can tell, I’m being very general. Aside from my start-up, I have no prior work experience. I know that I'm looking for an entry-level position. And part-time. Is that a disadvantage at the moment? I understand the economy is still weak, so I would assume that part-time positions would be available.

Could you please recommend any steps I could take?
Thanks so much.
Hope

[morosco]

Posted: 9/29/04 at 10:52am

Do you need a job for extra money or do you want a project to stimulate your creative thinking?

One thing that popped to mind is community theatre playbills or newsletters or calendars of events or brochures. Perhaps you could offer to do one of those for an organization free of charge (they would be responsible for copying and distribution). It would be a way for you to build up a portfolio and then start making money on projects like that. Many community theatres or local theatres simply don't have the resources or the manpower to produce a nice printed piece. I'm sure they would be thrilled and I'll bet they'd let you put your own ad in the piece to promote your services.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/29/04 at 12:01pm

Updated On: 9/29/04 at 12:01 PM

[Hope]

Posted: 9/29/04 at 5:06pm

Thanks guys so much!
I guess we all could use extra money now and then, but mostly I want to break into the industry.

I love the idea Morosco brought up, about approaching community theatres and offer my designs free of charge. But would anyone be interested? Wouldn't they just brush me off as a "no-talent" sort of person, and would they even want to invest in a person like me despite offering to design for free? I'm not trying to put myself down here! But I want to be prepared and show some sort of compentency!

Also I would not be responsible for printing? Do I tell them that?
How about approaching companies in the city that I could work in. Does anyone know such companies?

I'm a bit weary about doing internships because I don't think they would give me much attention or introduce me to many things. I remember doing an intership at a record label and it was the worst. I was thought of as inferior and really was left to copy things, be a "messanger" that sort of thing. The environment was aweful for a student. I did not learn a thing about the industry. You are really taken advantage of and not really thought of as there to learn something. I guess that industry itself is in a world of its own....

Thanks again for the help.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/29/04 at 5:09pm

Updated On: 9/29/04 at 05:09 PM

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 9/29/04 at 5:54pm

"None of them have any talent, why should they care if you do?"

Ouch, I hope that was a joke.