(I've already posted it in the blogs but it's too juicy not to share)
Not a long while ago, an opportunity popped up to work as an apprentice for a 'Big Four' record label (won't mention which just in case the illuminati are on to me). I was elated thinking that I would be able to meet some huge artists and be exposed to them on a daily (regardless of the ABHORRENT salary). The position was with the radio team and I would basically be doing admin work which I didn't mind at all.
Anyway, so I apply through the agency. Naturally, I have no experience within the music industry so all I talk about in my cover letter is how
dynamic and
groundbreaking the music industry has become and I think I mentioned something about how the Billboard charts has changed to include . Here's an excerpt (
):
Quote:
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I would like to improve my overall understanding of the music industry like how an artist is approached, what their contracts involve and the processes involved into making a song a hit. Additionally I would like to improve my understanding of how branding works and what is appropriate according to the type of artist.
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Cute right? Then I proceed to mention ATRL because I ran out of things to say:
Quote:
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I'm learning about the music industry by being active on forums such as ATRL where pop music is discussed, including radio spins and chart positions.
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Anywho, the agency contacted me back saying that I have been shortlisted to like 30 people or something.
I arrive at the agency and everyone is tacky as hell so I'm thinking I got this despite being like 30 minutes late and barging into the room. The woman from the label talks to us and asks us questions about who some of our favourite artists are; me being SLICK decided to mention some of the artists on the presentation that she was showing and she was like "yaas did you know that they're signed to us?" and I was like:
Quote:
Oh really? Great!
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Little did I know that I had some competition because everyone wanted to have a say and outshine me but naturally I dominate the conversation and the stupid activities they had us do like making the tallest tower out of spaghetti and marshmallows
By the end of the day, they wanted to interview everyone but if you were interviewed by the recruiter from the label you're basically a favourite (despite them telling you otherwise phst..). So the woman chooses me and some other irrelevantés to interview.
So she calls my name out and I enter the interviewing space and everything seemed okay; it was VERY informal and she even swore a lot. She asked me some generic questions and I think I fared well considering it was my first interview EVER with a recruiter.
She then
asks
me
about
ATRL.
Quote:
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So this forum you mentioned, I'm aware of it
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Aware of it HOW sis? The atmosphere completely changed and I was praying that she wasn't someone from Taylor Nation (even though I don't use ha at all).
Quote:
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I've never visited but I know what it's about.
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I've got nothing to do with the messy threads, I swear!
Thankfully, that's where the talk about ATRL ended.
She then uses some cop-out EXCUSE as to why I wouldn't be suitable for the radio team but the BUSINESS admin team instead, talking about how "amazing" my grades were and that I'd "go to waste" because I'd able to contribute to the Business department. After finding out that the business role entailed GOING TO SUPERMARKETS AND ASKING THEM TO PUT UP CD SHELVES OF THEIR ARTISTS' FLOP ALBUMS, I was like:
Quote:
I don't think that my skills would be utilised in the same way that they would be if I had the opportunity to work with the radio department and I think you're making a grave mistake
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But she proceeded to tell me that the head woman of that department would love me but I stormed out and that was the end of it (well, I didn't storm out but I left
)!
So I beg to ask, did they reject me because I mentioned ATRL? Will mentioning ATRL have an impact on your future? All of the kids with me had a very basic education/experience and weren't that creative or musically hipper than me. Not to be cocky, but I KNEW that I was superior.
