Friday, August 8, 2008
Maurice Champion - Urban Network (Los Angels) - Music Business - Wrapping Things Up Pt.1
Stay tuned! Sunday @ 7:00 I Will Post Part 2 of "Wrapping Things Up"
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
At The End...Nick Garrison - AEMG - Los Angeles
I have soaked up so much information about aspects of music licensing, publishing, royalties, and so much more.
I'm really not sure what to say at this point. This has been a summer that has had a big impact on me and will definitely help shape my future.
I am really grateful for the opportunity I had in coming out here and all the doors that were opened. I have met some incredible people that I will be keeping in touch with as I head back north.
Take care,
Nick Garrison
ZIMBABWE TO LA, AN INTERNATIONAL INTERN STORY SO FAR pt 4




Hey guys
Well I have to say the last week has been quite eventful and a busy time for me, for we are getting to the end of this long journey here in LA.
Last week began with a sudden shake up to the city of LA with an earthquake happening at the beginning of the week. I was at work sitting on my desk when all of a sudden our room was shaking and moving side to side. I quickly went underneath the table and Maurice did the same as well, as our whole building was moving. This was just another crazy experience to be in, but to some a first time. To me this was just another adds, to my many earthquake experiences I have had in my lifetime but been in while since I have felt one and I must say it did give me a little shake up. Being in this earthquake reminded me of the days I was I lived in Japan, an about 13 years ago I experienced one of the most devastating earthquakes of all time in 1995 when an earthquake struck in Japan in the city of Kobe. Now this was a life and death situation but luckily at that time we had just moved to the city of Tokyo but the earth quake was so powerful that the after shock’s were able to reach Tokyo.
On Thursday we had a half day at work but returned to work later on that night at 9:00pm for an all night of working hard and pushing ourselves to reach certain goals that Warren wanted us to achieve by the end of the night or should I say beginning of the morning. Yet again this was quite an experience, but hard working as well, really hard. But a lot of work was done and to; all social networking sites, invites for the upcoming marketing entertainment summit it Houston Texas and packaging of magazines. We did it all, but at the same time it was fun and tiring too. We got done around 5am and It was back at the apartment for a little nap, and before you know it I was once again up at 8am and ready to get back in the office around 10am. We had to get in early to attend a meeting at noon at SESAC that day. So Tracey kindly gave us a ride to work that morning and we were in the office just in time to meet up with and Jayson another intern that interns with us from MI and Warren to head down to the SESAC offices in St Monica.
The reason for this meeting was for the marketing campaign that Maurice and I are involved, and we had to shoot some footage for the promo video that Maurice has been working on for most of the summer. Being at SESAC was an honor indeed; it just felt so great to be at this organization were songwriters and publishers license there songs and music. In addition of being there we were able to meet with the senior director, writer and publisher relations Mr. James Leach. It was such wonderful pleasures too meet and chat with Mr. Leach who’s has been with SESAC for many years and around the music industry for as well. The man had a few words to say about certain things we discussed and just before we left Mr. Leach gave us some really good words of encouragement and advice to Maurice and I. It was truly something to take in and hear these great words from him. After spending sometime at SESAC we headed back home and all I wanted to do was sleep the rest of the day.
This past weekend was my last weekend out here in LA and I wont lie I really wanted to make the most of it, and there’s no other place I’d rather be at than the beach on the last weekend. So a couple of friend’s of mine and I headed down to Manhattan Beach for the day to watch the huge Volleyball Tournament that was being held on the one side of the pier. The Beach was ridiculously packed with people and there was no chance of walking on the beach, but we made a plan and were able to park some were and watch the games being played. The day went on and turned into an eventful night of hanging out with random people that we met by the beach. On Sunday the day began early and getting prepared for Debbie’s arrival to the apartment. Debbie, Charley, Warren, Ashley and Israil all came by for a visit and hang out and to talk about our wrap up party on Wednesday night, on specific things we shall be expecting to happen. The afternoon went on very smoothly and relaxing, with hotdogs and salads and just socializing time. Later on that day around 5 Cole and I headed down to Venice Beach, for I hadn’t been there yet and there was no way that I was going to leave LA without seeing this place. Cole and I just took a walk down the side of the road to see various activities that people will be doing. The beach is very entertaining and full many cultures and tourists walking by and admiring the area. It was actually a good time to be at he Venice because at that point in time the sun was setting and we lucky to see it. I was told before I came to LA that you have to see the sunset at Venice beach for it’s the most incredible thing to see and it truly was.
Well the final week is finally here and it’s hard to believe it, but it’s true so much drama, action, love and laughter has happened out here in LA. For some its going to be hard to leave behind what they have created but not goodbye, but others its been a opening gate for new things in life, but I think to all of us its, defiantly been worth it. So I say this to all the other Interns congratulations!! On a job well done and make most of these last few days or weeks form some and make them count, for you only live once to tell a great story.
Munya
.....eh
If there is one thing that anyone should know before coming to LA to intern, it's that you should be prepared to WORK. If you don't dedicate yourself to the internship, then there is no reason to even come out here. I'm not saying you can't have fun. Some weekends out here have been very action packed and exciting for me, and the rest of the interns. Just be prepared to focus during the week, and keep your mind on the goal at hand.
This past week, I was able to walk into Snoop Dogg's manager's office and hang out for awhile. I was given the opportunity to listen in on calls, and ask for advice from Snoop's manager on becoming a better, more prepared person myself.
When you're a manager at the level that Snoop's is, you'll always be working. That is something that I've noticed while working at The Firm. I honestly don't know how some of them keep on top of things. There are so many people that need daily correspondence, and it seems like half of a manager's day is playing phone tag. Not to mention, the added stress of everyone else who calls in, with other concerns.
I loved the experience, and I was also given the opportunity to come back again sometime this week, which I definitley won't pass up.
Currently, I'm covering the desk of one of the busier assistants at The Firm. The manager I am working with is at the head of the music division. So he is in charge of a lot of different things; not to mention his own expansive client list. My experience of covering this desk has definitely given me my own share of lumps, but at the same time, I'm still even more eager to take on the challenge.
I honestly hope that everyone at McNally, and perspective students alike, are able to one day come out to LA and see what the heart of the music business is like. I have enjoyed almost every moment out here, and I'm torn about coming back to MN. I've got a few weeks left, and I'm looking to make the most of them.
Stay tuned-I still need to tell you all about the business that me and a few others are working on.
Monday, August 4, 2008
Stream of Consciousness
LARRY LUCIO ON TWITTER
I just spent the weekend at my computer. Well nearly the whole weekend. Well nearly the whole summer. But I did get a break to kick it at the McNally BBQ on Sunday.
We were graced with the company of Debbie, Charley, Ashley, Israel, Warren and my fellow interns Jon, Joel, Munya, Traci, and Cole. Cole by the way is my hero. This dude is the youngest of us all out here and is making more happen for himself than I can believe. If he has the time to write blogs, you should be sure to follow his because what he is going through is the perfect example for any future intern to observe. Perseverance, sacrifice, hard work, and pure hustle. This guy has stared both diversity and the devil in the eyes and he is still standing. I salute you Cole.
Now back to the computer. I have yet to see the beach, go to a nightclub, or even take a dip in our pool. I've been working a lot. And this is as it should be. I have a big responsibility to do well at my internship and deliver on the CD project I mentioned last time. I take these commitments very seriously. What I am saying, is that to be out here takes sacrifice. I didn't realize how much until now. The summer is winding down to a close but I feel proud of how hard I worked. For me to stay focused in an environment like Los Angeles is a personal triumph. The distractions are endless and the things a guy can do with his time are vast and varied.
As an intern, I think I have learned more about myself than about the industry. This summer has been an exercise in mental discipline and intestinal fortitude. I faced some personal challenges that I would have handled very differently in the past. I felt like giving up sometimes. Anyone who says they haven't is not being honest with themselves. But the point I am making is that this experience has been worth it's weight in gold. It's the kind of thing no amount of money could ever buy you. You are dropped into an strange place and you either sink or swim. And I feel like I'm swimming. This could not have happened without the McNally Career Center. That is just a given. At the same time, I think they will tell prospective interns that the Center can only show you the door. You have to walk through it.
I have yet to make a decision about whether or not to stay. The allure of working for GridMob is intense. I can't reveal details yet but I have had the pleasure of working on deals for some of music's most iconic figures. In fact I got a chance to work with an artist who's work literally changed my life. I know that sounds vague but when the dust settles and the contracts are signed I will explain further. Confidentiality does not lend itself to be good blog material. But the discipline required not to name drop all over the place is good I guess.
That said, I will try to provide some more insight into the experience of an intern as I go along my last few weeks. But the truth is, some things are hard to capture in words and I hope when you read this you allow me that caveat.
This entry was more about me providing some momentary insight into the thought process of an intern in action. I decided ahead of time to sit down and do a stream-of-thought entry. This wasn't planned out... It just came out. And I hope you find some value in it.
To the young people reading this and considering coming to McNally, I have one piece of advice that I am sure you will hear me repeat again and again.... You will get out of this experience as much as you put into it. It is that simple for me.
And I feel good about what I put into it.
PEACE. PEACE.
LL
LarryLucio.com
Maurice Champion - Urban Network (Los Angels) - Music Business - Grinding To The Sun Come Up
After leaving the office at 4:00, I made it home with just enough to catch three(3) and a half hours of sleep before heading to the office that Friday morning to attend this meeting with James Leach, Sr. Director, Writer Publisher Relations for SESAC (performing rights society). Arriving at the SESAC California office, we were greeted by an assistant offering beverages , "Would you like a water or apple juice?". "I'll take a apple juice please!", was my rebuttal. She returned with a Juicy Juice small carton that you use to pack in your lunch in elementary LOL. I'm not going to lie the juice was very good. James arrived shortly and we soon began our meeting discussing some details about some ideas that we would like him to be apart of for The Urban Network.
Today I finished R&B artist Chaz promo video. I see the growth in video editing each time I edit some film. I hope Miller (CEO, The Urban Network)enjoy the video as much as me. So far he has liked all my videos. That's great coming from especially when I just started editing prior to me coming to California. One (1) video down and two(2) more to go. As my internship at The Urban Network approaches the end, the things I've learned are being revealed and coming to fruition.
Much Love
Maurice C.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Evan Gundlach, music business, universal, twin cities
This week at universal I continued to work on the data base about single songs. Since there are so many titles its taking a really long time to get through. I also have to make sure all of the information is correct so I go through it pretty slow. I am going to start putting the sales information on the cd sales pretty soon and start to measure the lifts. I haven’t done that yet so I’m pretty excited about that. So as far as the work I did this week it was a lot of the same, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t have fun. On Thursday I got to go to the cities 97 studio c and watch Duffy do a private performance for us and that was really cool. On Friday we had the music meeting and watched some new artists. I also got the N.E.R.D cd and I thought it was pretty good. I’m also using the warped tour tickets I got this weekend so I’m excited about that as well. Sorry to be so short but I'm sure next week will have a lot to write about. Talk to you later.