Berklee Blogs introduces Valerie Teicher, a Music Business major and spring intern, as she begins her internship at BMG Chrysalis, a rights management company representing publishing and recording rights, as well as at The Windish Agency, an independent NYC booking agency serving musicians, bands and DJs. In today’s blog, Valerie explains how her internships have helped her focus her future career…

As both of my internships are nearing their end, there seems to be a little bit of a lull in terms of my work load. I think this is normal, as large projects and commitments would be hard to throw my way knowing that I will be leaving in a couple of weeks. There have been a few days this past week where I have had very little work to do, and a lot of time on my hands. At times this has been discouraging, and it has been hard to stay motivated, especially knowing that in a couple of weeks I will no longer be here, and job prospects are not likely. However, I have really enjoyed my time at both of these places and am excited for the next chapter ahead, so I suppose my motivation may be shifting from these particular internships, and more towards the unknown future ahead—I guess that must be normal as well!

Although I will miss working at both environments, and I will definitely miss the routine and comfort of having adjusted there, I am grateful for the opportunities I have had. I also think that these work experiences have helped me further clarify the type of work environment I want to be in. Although I enjoyed the office environment and the routine, I have realized that I need to be in a dynamic, people-oriented field. One in which I have changing environments, and I am dealing with people directly, as well as being closer to the creative elements, with less degrees of separation between.

I used to think that the 9-5 office job would suit me and I could see myself possibly having a career in this type of environment, but I think I have realized that this may not necessarily be for me. I am still not completely sure what particular job or career this implies, but I definitely want to be involved in a more hands-on way, with changing environments—maybe something revolving more around touring, or hands-on artist development.

In short, I think these internships have been extremely valuable, not necessarily in the work itself that I have done, but in the people I have met and in the way these experiences have helped me clarify what environments I do and do not want to work in. This is not to say that I will be very picky or selective in this next chapter, I know that I have to find a job and that these are definitely hard to come by. However, I want to set the bar high for myself, and do not want to settle for opportunities that may not lead me down the path I eventually want to be in. I hope to be able to take all of these experiences and help craft a good start to a creative and fulfilling career.I think that these last couple of weeks at both internships will revolve more around leaving a good impression with my supervisors and coworkers, and solidifying relationships and connections within the industry. I now know that if I need references or contacts for future job applications, I have particular people that I can count on, and who I know will be willing to vouch for me. All of this will be very useful in figuring out my path from here on.

 

 

Read Valerie’s Other Posts:

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Demonstrating your Value

Kicking Back and Thinking Ahead

Charting a Career Path with Berklee SKills

The Right Search Strategy

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Bio
Valerie Teicher is a singer-songwriter and music business student from Vancouver, Canada. Originally from Bogota Colombia and having lived in several places throughout her life, she has a diverse background with a wide range of influences and interests. Having switched paths from studying psychology at McGill University in Montreal, Valerie attended the summer program at Berklee and was granted a scholarship for full-time study. Since then, she has immersed herself in the business major and has continued to build on her songwriting and performance skills. She is currently finishing her last semester, completing two internships in New York City at The Windish Agency and BMG Chrysalis, while working on her first EP as a solo artist.

 

 

 

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