Behind-the-Scenes said: "Hello!
I'm currently a freshman enrolled in college here in the city. I'm majoring in Arts & Entertainment Management with a potential minor in Special Events Marketing.
My friends and I, all freshman, are seeking internship positions to work in the industry. I was curious as to if anyone on this board knows about companies that will hire/intern freshmen for the spring season?
While my friends will be away for the summer, I will still be living in the city. My friends and I are extremely well versed in the theatre industry and are very experienced theatregoers.
Any tips, advice, and help would be extremely appreciated.
Thanks!"
Good questions! I've interned on and off Broadway, and while my experiences may be different from others, here's the advice I can give:
Absolutely take advantage of connecting with everyone. If there is someone in the industry you know, shoot them an email and see if they'd be interested in an informal interview. Nothing too professional, maybe go out for coffee, learn the tricks of the trade, ask for advice, etc. When you do that, you actually become (at least in my experience) far more memorable to those you speak with.
Playbill has often been my go to when it comes to job searches and (like any other job listing website) I tend to send out maybe 100 or more in a week. It's tedious, but the more you do it, the greater chances you have at being spotted.
Really it's not the greatest advice I can give, but it's all about persistence and using what you have to your advantage. For example, I went to BroadwayCon on Saturday, and while much of it was purely for fun, I took the time to visit panels about the industry and give out a business card to anyone who would be willing to take it.
In regards to some of the users talking about unpaid vs paid internships, I suppose it has to do with where you look. The internships I've had in the industry have always been paid, but that is because I never took an offer that wasn't. Of course, that meant that my pool got very small very quickly, and there are many unpaid internships that really offer the best. So, it's really your call on whether or not you want to sacrifice that. Hope this helps!
"We're actors, we're the opposite of people!"
- Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead