Final Posting

Here goes my final post...

Today is my last day at the Kennedy Center. In a way, it feels like it came at a perfect time, and that I should be looking towards my future career options. It's scary to hear myself talk that way...

We had an intern farewell breakfast this morning, and received a gift from the Institute as a thank you for all our work. It was a very thoughtful gift, and the graduation certificate was cute. I personalized thank you cards for everyone that has been very welcoming to me here, including the MG office. Everyone was so nice to me, and I couldn't have asked for a more hard working group of individuals to work closely with.

Just wanted to close up this chapter...I suppose.

In the news :-) Millie got a pretty bad review in the Washington Post... :-(

Advice to myself

Advice to Myself About My Internship at the Kennedy Center


Walking away from my Kennedy Center experience may be one of the most difficult things I have done in a long time. Through dedicated hard work, I have come to find that level of maturity and accountability required by this organization. Although it was difficult at first, I was able to juggle schoolwork and this internship, and manage to learn a whole lot from the experience. Here are some pieces of advice I would have liked to give myself from the start.
You are not going to learn what you think you will. There are many unexpected lessons that will be gained just from being around the office, and soaking in how a functional arts organization runs. Expect to get out of your personal comfort zone, and ask questions. Don’t be afraid to meet as many people as possible, and be outgoing.
Understand that your supervisor has so many other things on their plate, and cannot be bothered by trivial questions. Be independent, and find answers to your questions from others, such as the assistant manager. Don’t be afraid to initiate new projects for yourself. Be willing to help out as much as possible in all the different DEVO departments, even if it is a mundane task such as tying hundreds of ribbons around boxes. Be willing to accept days that are not as busy as others. Be willing to accept days that are absolutely nuts.
Don’t be afraid to contact your supervisor if there is an insane amount of traffic, and it just so happens that there was a bomb scare at the Watergate. Go to lunch with some of the other interns sometimes. You will get lost in the beginning, but by the end, you’ll know where you are going! Be on time for seminars, even from the first week. Write thank you notes for everything. Make professional contacts with staff members. There will be events going on at the Millennium Stage that sound…interesting. Go to see events, and take advantage of the free tickets. Enjoy the programming, and remind yourself every once in a while why you decided to be an intern with this wonderful organization. Soak in as much as possible, and write things down. Always be willing to do any project, and follow through with the work. Ask questions at the seminars, and participate.
Understand that the organization is huge, and you will never really get a clear picture of how each department truly functions. The seminars help, but until you actually work in a department, you won’t know the ins and outs. Try really hard to learn everyone’s name and title. Just take each day as it comes and make the most out of your time. Most importantly…try to have some fun!

Almost rounding home plate!

As the semester is drawing to a close, so is my internship at the Kennedy Center. While I have enjoyed my time here, I have also learned much about myself as a working professional, which is much different than my work as a student. It has been an interesting experience, and one that I am certainly glad I was given the opportunity to have.

It's also been an extremely interesting week! The highlight of my week, by far, happened on Wednesday. I was out with Holly, going to different FedEx stores all over the city to pick up packaging to send CD's out to donors. When we got back, I had an assignment from Jean Campos in Special Events. I was charged with calling a subsect of the list of attendees for the Chairman's Honorees Luncheon, which is taking place on Saturday. My section of the list was from P to S. Needless to say, Izchack Pearlman and Alma Powell were on my list. The Pearlman's didn't pick up their phone (but they got a message from me!)...however, Alma picked up her phone...and I got to talk on the phone with her. It was pretty exciting. Most of these important people have assistants to take care of things like RSVP's , but Alma went right ahead and took care of it. She is a big time supporter of the Kennedy Center, but I was impressed that I could hold it together while I was on the phone with her. I lost it as soon as we hung up, but it was great!

Anyway, so how is that for a critical incident?!? I love it...

I got my final evaluation in from my supervisor, and its a little different than I expected. I still dont know if I "made progress," but all of a sudden new issues have come up...which is fine, because I like criticism...but I didnt know that certain points were weaker than others. However, it was progress from the last one. My phone demeanor has gotten a lot better, and I have been representing the Kennedy Center well on the phone. Good to know.

I will be able to report on Monday what happened over the weekend with Honors. I will be working at the Chairman's Honorees Luncheon on Saturday, not at the actual event. I'm so excited, though, to be around with all of the people whose names I now recognize from filing and doing paperwork on them. Plus, the honorees. What a great time to be at the Kennedy Center.

In the news...The Washington Post (11/30) reviewed the production of "Willa Wonka" at the Kennedy Center...mostly good critique, citing it is good for young audiences. The Post (12/1) also reported on the sad state of the NEA funding that President Bush promised in January. Now only $2 million remains for the agency to appropriate out.

There was also a great article in the New York Times (12/2) about the King Tut exhibit, and how much the Egyptian government is making off of it. Museums are having a more difficult time choosing what exhibits they want to have, since all the touring exhibitions are peddling themselves around. Also, the exhorbatant prices! $30 to see King Tut!!

What a great Thanksgiving!

After a wonderful Thanksgiving in NY with my boyfriend and his family, I feel refreshed and ready for my last two weeks here at the Kennedy Center, as well as finals. Hopefully, everything will tie up neatly, and I will be able to get all my work done. I'm so excited about going home for Winter Break and seeing my family.

I have begun seriously looking for a part time job for next semester. On Wednesday, I found two job openings that looked like good prospects for me. I asked Holly for some advice on applying, and she had some good pointers for me. Also, my supervisor Kara will be looking at my resume and cover letter for the job opening at KC that I am applying for. I'm lucky to have such nice people in this department with me, who care about where I end up! Anyway, the help and guidence I am receiving is so kind, and I just wanted to mention it in my blog.

The week has been pretty short because of Thanksgiving, but I will still do a brief re-cap. I got to help out on Wednesday and Sunday with the Joffrey Ballet's production of The Nutcracker. It was great to be backstage, surrounded by the hustle and bustle of it. I was starting to feel really far away from the production side of things in development. That is something I need to think about when I am deciding on a future career path. Right now, however, I am trying out all things, and not limiting myself in any way. Volunteering was a great time...I got to help out with the children (70 in all) who were in the production. We had to take them from the dressing room, to wigs and makeup, to the stage...and back again! It was really fun, and I was glad to help out. Next up...the Honors. Hopefully, I get to volunteer and see the event in person.

Other than that...not too much. I'm hoping to see Thoroughly Modern Millie in the Opera House. The one show I've been so anxious to see!!

In the news...The Washington Post (11/25) reviewed the Joffrey's Nutcracker, and also reviewed the show that Catholic University was workshopping. It's a musical featuring Jerome Kerns songs. The Post (11/29) also wrote up a review of the Texas Prison Museum, which looks like an interesting museum, to say the least.

The New York Times (11/27) writes that Eve Ensler (of the Vagina Monologues) has created a new show focusing on women and body image, entitled "The Good Body." The review was a positive one, and its a show I would be interested in seeing. Also in the Times (11/29), in order to close a debt in the city, Chicago will be utilizing eBay to raise money for its cultural affairs office. The city will be auctioning off items, tours, and experiences that are important to it. The creator of this, Louis Weisberg, is responsible for the cows that invaded the city and raised a lot of money for culture in the city.

Back to the grind, but not for long!

This week has gone by really fast, which is awesome. I have been feeling, lately, that I have been contributing to what is going on in the office, as well as in the development office. While National Advancement prepares for the busy Honors weekend, I will be assisting their office with some various tasks. I have already helped them out with two separate projects: the state reports, and the press packet. Both of these gave me a reason to look at something different in the greater scheme of the DEVO office. A new look on something is never bad, so I was glad to accept the work from National Advancement, which is something I would like to learn more about.

On Friday, I finished up a bunch of work, including a briefing I had been working on for a while. The Forbes 400 has been an interesting project, but definitely not one of my favorites. The process of getting Kara the briefing has not been working, and I don't know how else to make it work. This is something that I will bring up with her when I have a moment to talk with her. It's something I would like to pass on to the next intern in the MG Intern Binder (which I also plan to revise and continue the letter ritual!).

This week will hopefully go by quickly, and then it's Thanksgiving! However, I have a lot of work to get done until then. Setting goals has been an effective way for me to manage my work. When I reach my goals, it feels really awesome for the week. I am still continuing work on the Annual Reports project, and only have about 14 or so organizations left to call. Hopefully, I will be able to complete that before I leave. It's something that has been on my list, and something that has helped challenge me, as I am still honing up my telephone skills.

But on Friday, I was busy doing work for National Advancement, something my supervisor arranged for me to do. I happened to hear her on the phone, since I try to listen and get pointers about how she handles herself. She was talking about "the intern," which I guess to be me. I was sad when she mentioned the same points she had critiqued me on during the mid semester review. I have been working hard to get things accomplished, and learn in the process. I had hoped to work on the tips she gave me, however it will take more time. I am kind of sad that I happened to overhear this, especially on Friday, when I was feeling very confident of my work. I guess Rome wasn't built in a day, and I should be grateful that she still thinks I am doing a good job with the work.

In the news...The New York Times (11/17) reports that the Public Theatre of NY will appoint a new Executive Director, chosen by the board. He is currently the Executive Director for a theatre company in Connecticut, and is very interested in bringing new works from well known playwrights to the stage. Tony Kushner, the author of Angels in America, gives most of his new work to Oskar Eustis, the man taking over the Public Theatre. This should provide an interesting opportunity for the company.

The Washington Post (11/19) reports that Jerry Seinfeld left the "Puffy Shirt" from one of the episodes of his hit show to the Smithsonian Institute. The shirt will be showcased in the Popular Culture section of the American History Museum (along with Dorothy's red ruby slippers, and the Bunker's arm chairs). Also in the Post (11/22), the Studio Theatre is expanding its premises, with the purchase and renovation of two additional old automobile shops. The shops will be renovated to include more space for a theatre, bar, more restrooms, and additional scene shop space. The newspaper mentions that this will aid the theatre to continue putting on great shows, and keeps the community on the cutting edge of architectural change.

Beginning another week.

So, the post didn't exactly make it on Friday. I was quite busy that day! Liana and I went to Chrome in Georgetown twice, so that we could get the photograph of Stephen A. Schwarzman's carving to his mother. I think the gesture is so nice, and the effort shows real thought and sensitivity to a very cherished chairman of the board. Way to go, MG team!

Other than helping the office to get that done, I have been continuing work on my Forbes 400 list project. I finished a briefing on Friday on John W. Kluge, who is very instrumental in the entertainment industry (he is the founder and chairman of Metromedia). I spent a pretty good amount of time compiling information on the man, who actually had a very interesting life. I try to set personal deadlines for each briefing, so that I know everything will get done. Its just very interesting to me to piece together all the little bits of an individuals life, and form the big picture in a short document. One of my critical incidents was getting this briefing out, as well as knowing that my briefing on Larry Ellison went out to staff members to look over. He is a potential donor, who MAY be attending the Honors awards this year. I was happy that I could finish up the work quickly and thoroughly, send it to Kara, who then sent it out to Marie Mattson. It's very exciting to know that my work will make it that far up the chain! Either way, the briefings have been going well, and I cannot complain in that department.

I am really starting to see how intergral the work I do is, and what happens to it after I complete the research. I would like to continue to learn about the next steps in the process. The most positive thing I am so thankful to be bringing out of this experience is that my research skills have really improved. This is a skill that will be helpful no matter avenue in arts management I choose to pursue. With all the briefings I have prepared, I know that I'm ready for the next step.

So, I believe those are all my "critical incidents," at least for the moment. I don't have too much else to report, except that things are going well. I'm starting to think about my final paper for the internship class (eep!), which will be a lot of work to get done. Hopefully, I will be able to pace myself for all the work to come. Just wait for grad school...

In the news...The Washington Post review of "Two Trains Running" (11/11/04) was fairly good, noting some line issues with the actors, as well as a pacing problem for the entire production. I would really like to see the show, as I read the play while I was in high school, and I really enjoyed the text. August Wilson is a skilled playwright, and his work is always thought provoking and interesting. In Saturday's Post (11/13/04), there were two articles of interest. The first discussed the actor who had a heart attack during Baryshnikov's Forbidden Christmas. He remains hospitalized at GWU Hospital, and everyone is praying for his recovery. The other article highlighted the BSO (Baltimore Symphony Orchestra) and their wonderful last production to take place in Baltimore. The orchestra will be moving to Strathmore Hall in North Bethesda (near where I live). The review was great, and it sounds like a show worth seeing and hearing.

Winding down.

I was given a new project to work on when I got back on Monday. I am researching selected indivduals on the Forbes 400 list, running the "brief" briefings by Kara, and then launching some of them into full blown briefings. Its really interesting, because there is so much information on these people, and putting it all together in only a few pages of information is a real challenge. But I was happy to be given this chance to try a different list to pull names from, and ones with so much clout!

Generally, things are going well and I feel very comfortable here. The MG office is a great place for me, and I couldnt have wished for anything better.

Today I drove with Liana to go pick up a picture that was taken for Stephen A. Schwarzman (Chairman) of his name engraving in the Hall of States. I was really thrilled because it showed that I am being included in what is going on with office activites. So many things have been happening, and I cannot even begin to document every since "critical incident."

I have been thinking about the talking points Kara mentioned during our mid-semester review. I am working on my professional demeanor on the phone, and listening to others in my office in order to learn from them.

The Presidential Election is taking up most of the news, so not much to report on that front (at least I got a ballot).