Living by the Beat

2008-02-20T06:43:00.000-08:00

Intern Mentality = Product of Generation Y.

Recent college graduates are very important to have in the work environment. I have been in the real world work force for 8 months and have noticed the benefits of having a young person in the working environment.

Before graduating, many college students must partake in an internship. This gets them real work experience while striving to learn new things. College grads are use to learning new things and bring the intern mentality of learning to their job. Every day I learn something new, whether it is a new computer system, what to wear when meeting the company CEO, and better ways to sell our product.

We like to go to work. Well, we haven’t been doing it for long, so coming in to work in the morning is better than staying up all night writing a term paper. With coffee in our system (probably a skinny cinnamon dolce latte from Starbucks) we enter the office with a tolerable amount of perkiness. Most other employees who have been in the work force are groggy and need an hour to relax in the office before getting started. Intern mentality, generation Y peeps are ready to get started.

College graduates have also gotten the “latest” information in technology and new, innovative and creative ways to make the work place better. It can either be new ways to sell to clients, a creative way to market and how to keep the work environment fun (did anyone say Dance Dance Revolution tournament?)

So, make sure to get a Generation Y as part of your team, we are driven to learn new things and can bring great ideas to your organization.
……………when you hire a person with intern mentality, just make sure you know how to communitcate with us!

(My friend also wrote about being young in the work environment.)

2008-02-12T07:58:00.000-08:00

My Own Music Director

I completly understand a Music Directors position; to keep the music that is on the top of the charts playing and to stay within format. But, nothing is more of a free experience than choosing the music you are going to play while you are DJing. When I worked for Y94, in Fargo, ND. I rarely got to chose the music. Well, this makes sense because it is a Top 40's station and we had to stay in format. When listeners would call in, and requested a song, I would mostly answer "I will see what I can do." Unless if the song had not been played within the last hour, is not scheduled for another hour and I could switch it out for an old song (Then I would consider playing it).

When I was the station manager for Kord Radio at Concordia College, Moorhead,MN, I got to play whatever music I liked, except three format songs from CMJ's charts. This was not a problem because I like the music from CMJ. So being a DJ at Kord was a lot of fun and opened me up to new artists and music.

There is a new station in New York, WXRP, that has DJs that chose their own music. “The New York Rock Experience”? From all indicators it is a blend of Classic Rock, Alternative, New Music, and Indie Rock. So you have to check it out, but keep listening to those Top 40 Stations and stations with a format because it is a great way to hear new songs and listen to the genre of music that keeps you going! OK?!?!

2008-02-12T06:34:00.000-08:00

Vince Gill “I just got a Grammy from a Beatle, have you got that yet Kanye, have you?” This is just Priceless! Kanye is such a jerk. Ok, I think his music is neat and I really enjoyed him when he first came out on the charts. I made sure that my college radio station, KORD RADIO had his first album. But I think Kanye just manipulates every situation and tries to put himself on top. There is a classy humble way of doing things and then there is an attention getting, big head way of doing things. And pretty soon, Kanye’s head is going to get so big that it will explode.
When watching The Grammy’s I was so annoyed by the way Kanye used his mom’s death as a means for his publicity. At first, I thought it was kinda cool that he shaved MAMA into his hair, but he kept talking. When accepting his award, Kanye gave his props and then kept talking, even as the music started to play. Kanye said, “Are you really going to turn the music on, on me?” And at first, they kept the music going, but then after kanye repeated it again, they turned it off. How could the producers of The Grammy’s respect Kanye after being a jerk? Well, thank goodness for Vince Gill who gave it to Kanye! That made my day!
Thanks for letting me rant, I usually don’t do that!

2008-02-07T07:51:00.000-08:00

I know it has been long since I have written last, but I have been working hard on getting people's blood for our hospital. The only music I have been exposed to in the past week was waking up to my alarm clock playing classic rock. Until, my ride into work, I got to thinking about another genre of music....MUSICALS!

On my way into work, I was blaring and singing (skwaking really) to music from Rent. I think musicals are making a comeback with the younger generation, due to High School Musical; which I love!

Music from musicals make great singalongs, in the car or at home. Many people know the words. When I took a road trip to Montana with a couple friends, I think we sang Seasons of Love from Rent more than 100 times. When I am driving along with my boyfriend, we have a great time signing songs from Avenue Q.

There is an emotion to every song in a musical and you can find one song that matches what you are feeling. Singing to musicals is a great way to release your emotions and just have fun!

2008-01-22T07:50:00.000-08:00

The Radio Meets the Office!

Something I cannot live without....music! This is especially true when I am sitting in an office, sometimes bored or less motivated. I need music to give me the beat to work to. I usually listen to Mix 107.3 which is a hot adult contemporary station. (We are not allowed to listen to music over the Internet.)

I brought the radio in my second day of work and I have started a fad around the office. Everyone else brought their radio and listens to their own music. It is great! Yay for music!

2008-01-17T05:13:00.000-08:00

For a long time, I have wanted a career in radio because I have been an intern and part-timer for many radio stations in the Midwest. Currently, I am not in radio, but work for a non-profit organization.

My heart is still with entertainment, especially the music industry. But, when I met with my mentor in Minneapolis, she was telling me that the best place to go for entertainment is with the Internet. She told me that radio is not dead and will be around for a long time; but, the best way to make a career is with going digital.I do agree with what she is saying, but I do believe in radio. I am very passionate about learning the movement of digital media and how radio can be incorporated with it.

I read an interview with Joseph Jeffe on Hear 2.0's blog where he said that radio is not interactive and a conversational medium. Also, that radio stations do not try new things to stand out above other media. Although I feel he makes really good points and there have to be some new ways to get companies interested in sales with a radio station; radio stations try to converse with their listeners.

For example:
1. I was a part-time DJ for Y94 in Fargo, ND. And during the Halloween time, we made videos about one of the DJ's being haunted. This was only posted on the website for listeners to see.
2. Elliot in the morning of DC101 in Washington takes calls and talks about whatever the listener wants to talk about.
3. Hot99.5 has their own chat on it's website where you can talk to other listeners.
4. DJs also use MySpace or Facebook to connect with listeners.
5. DJ's go out to remotes to promote a club or event and interacts with listeners.

So, I think radio stations are trying new ways to converse with their listeners while using digital media and in-person conversation. Maybe they have not found the best way to converse with listeners, but they are sure trying!

2008-01-15T04:36:00.001-08:00

I am a cheerleading coach in Prince George's County, Maryland and my cheerleaders teach me new things everyday! They like to make fun of me because sometimes, being from Minnesota, I just don't know the PG culture. Anyways, they have taught me how to krump. Krumping is fun to do because it releases a lot of energy and it is like your body is having a dance seizure. My cheerleaders make fun of me a lot for that!

Also, they were telling me about a type of music that I didn't know about in DC; It's called Go-Go Music. This type of music originated in DC and uses a lot of percussion especially the conga. Unfortunately, go-go music has such a bad rap because a lot of violence has happened at go-go parties. So you won't be able to really listen to it live, but you can always purchase it on itunes. It's got a great beat!

2008-01-14T08:24:00.000-08:00

Love listening to internet radio? Don't have time to listen to it right then? Life Hacker has learned of a new way to record radio or music into an MP3 of that program or song!

2008-01-14T05:23:00.001-08:00

DRM is out the door, but some major record labels are working on new ways to stop piracy. I believe that because music is becoming more digital, more people are paying for their music on iTunes. I believe that if the band is good, more people are willing to pay for the music. But, if the music artist is not respected, like Brittany Spears (come on, I just HAD to throw her in! haha), then more people will download the music for free. It is going to be hard to stop piracy, but people who love music are more willing to pay because of respect for the artist. I am sure major labels hate the new wave of digital music. But for me....I love it!

2008-01-09T07:38:00.000-08:00

I don't know much about music, I just love it. My parents never pushed me to play the piano and I hated talking about theories in band. I did love playing my bass clarinet. I was never a part of a band, but ran the Battle of the Bands at my high school and college. I am not a musician (except bass clarinetist, hehe) I am a music fan.
I just love what music does to me. I can remember certain feelings, experiences or time of year from listening to one song. This love of music got me to think about who I am. What do I stand for? What am I all about? While thinking before falling asleep in my comfy bed, I thought about a couple things that make me who I am.
1. I like concerts. When in MN, I love to go to First Ave and in DC, I like the Black Cat, but need to get more familiar with it.
2. I am very interested about the future of music and how it is digitally changing.
3. I majored in Public Relations and still like to have a business relationship with people.

I try to incorporate music and PR into my life, so hopefully this blog gets interesting! And with writing in it, I hope to learn more of what I am about.

2008-01-07T10:09:00.000-08:00

"Music is a movement," Bob Dylan. WOW! that is totally true. I listen to music first thing in the morning, it is like my little bird chirping at the window, my cup of Joe or my Mountain Dew. The beat penetrates my body allowing my muscles to pulse, so I can get out of bed. It literally gives me energy throughout the day and I can listen to any song that will go along with my mood.

I read an article on Seth's Blog and it totally inspired me to be apart of the music world as it is changing! Please read it, it's a hit!

2008-01-04T07:38:00.000-08:00

I miss the experience of music. Today I am so busy that I don't even have time to go to a concert. I feel that the only time I have available to listen to music is in my car; during my 1 and 1/2 hour commute to work.

Back in the day, music was not able to be recorded and the only way you could listen to it was by attending a wedding or some party. Then around 1885, the phonograph cylinder was created. This was the first object that would record and reproduce sounds. They played it through an amplyfying form and it was still used for social events. Is music still a social event today? The last concert I went to with friends was in May 2007 (bummer). Because it is so easy to have music by the click of the mouse, has the social social events around music changed? Do we only have time to listen to music in our cars, belting it so loud that the car next to you gives you a funny face?

From the time of the phonograph cylinder to downloading music over the internet, the way we listen to music has changed( and is still changing). But I hope that we all will try to make music a social event!
Goals for this year:
1. Go to a bar or concert; listen to some live music with friends.
2. More Dance Parties.

2008-01-03T05:20:00.001-08:00

Now, "The Big Game" and Doritos are getting involved in the music business. Remember the commercials for last years "Big Game" and especially the amateur commercial for Doritos? Well, this year they are doing it differently. They are looking for an undiscovered music artist to perform for the commercial (It doesn't have to have anything to do with Doritos). All you need is Talent, a MySpace page, MP3 of the song and you playing it on video. Hot99.5 in Washington DC reported this morning that the winner gets a $10,000 deal with Jive Records. Compared to what I wrote in my blog yesterday, I would almost feel that it would not be a good idea to take the deal with Jive Records and stay independent. But, what do I know? I am not going to try out for the Doritos Commercial; it is too late to submit a video now and I have no singing capabilities. But I urge you to vote for the finalists until 1/7/08!

Ok, thinking of Doritos makes me really hungry and I have the PERFECT recipe for you to make while watching the commercials for "The Big Game." It is called Taco in a Bag! make everything you usually have for tacos: meat, lettuce, onion, salsa, cheese, sour cream, etc. Then, take a small Doritos bad, crush the Doritos and put the contents of the taco in the bag. There is no mess and when your team scores and you have to jump up and down, you can hold the Taco in a Bag in one hand while giving a high five with the other! It's perfect for "The Big Game."

2008-01-02T06:12:00.000-08:00

Times are a changing! When I first got into music, I bought tapes. The first tape I bought was Ace of Base. Then, when I was in elementary school, I bought my first CDs; Nirvanna and Off Spring. Purchasing music in plastic cases is dwindling, now EVERYTHING is digital. I download music, put it on my ipod and feel pretty cool when I walk around with white headphones in my ears.

I recently read an article in the January issue of WIRED by David Byrne. Radiohead recently put their latest album on the web, fans could download it and pay for it, if they wanted to. Isn't that crazy?? At first I was really suprised, but then I realized that this method is a great way to take control of the music industry. We are finding more artists who are promoting themselves though MySpace that have created, producted, written and play the music. It is a type of freedom from labels that is booming in the music industry. Now, artists can make more money because they do not have to pay for a labels work. In the WIRED article, they say that more than half the money from the sale of a CD goes to overhead and marketing, now with music being promoted by artists, those fees are no more. I urge you to read the article on Wired. http://www.wired.comIt is awesome.

2007-03-31T16:05:00.000-07:00

Business is personal, and now, customers need to feel like a stakeholder in your business. So, it is a good idea to let your customers know the ups and downs of your business. In the April issue of Wired Magazine, Glenn Kelman talks about how he opened up with his company's problems and in turn, it brought him more business. He created a blog and posted about how nasty the real estate business can be. He also mocked himself and the Redfin company. At first, I would not think that this would be a good way to get customers, but after thinking about it I would really like to know what is happening at some places I do business with. The risk that Kelman took, made a positive impact on his company. "Instead of discouraging customers, being open about our problems radicalized them," Kelman says. "They rallied and started pulling for us" (Wired-15.04). Many people contributed comments, ideas, and imput on his blog. http://blog.redfin.com/redfin/glenn_kelman/Then, customers really felt like they became partners in the business and stakeholders for the company.I have learned through this article, that although mistakes can be made at a business or people are loosing interest, it is best to be honest with every aspect of your company. This way people will gain your trust and become more interested in what your company has to offer.

2007-03-19T20:56:00.000-07:00

It's not what you know, but WHO you know! Networking is a way to socialize yourself with peers in the same profession or other occupations. It is a great way to get to know people because the world is really a small place, just by knowing someone and then he/she knowing someone else can get YOU someplace in this world! For example, when applying for my first internship, I talked to a woman at my church who is the LSM for a major radio station and she told someone about me and I was hired! It have also "hooked up" my friends with jobs because where ever I worked, the management knew that I was a hard worker, so whomever I recommended would be good too.

You can network anywhere: church, bar, dinner party, at work. Here is how:
1. Introduce yourself
2. Small talk, my favorite is sports, you can almost never go wrong.
3. Find a common interest (Do you like scrapbooking?)
4. Invite for coffee sometime
5. exchange contact info: e-mail, work phone

The biggest thing is that when you meet people, build a friendship and stay in contact with them, because you never know that who you know will land you a major opportunity in life.

2007-03-13T06:43:00.000-07:00

I love my Google!!! I have set up my own page with everything I need on it: ESPN, CNN, Jokes, News and of course the pacman game to wake my brain in the morning! I also have my to do list and calandar. It is the first thing I check in the morning. It is an easy way to stay organized. I can also work on my Blog and go right to Google reader from my personal site.

If you are a busy person and have multiple tasks on your plate, this is a great way to stay organized! I urge everyone to set up their own personal Google because it is a great investment and fun!

2007-02-18T22:08:00.000-08:00

Should you act yourself at work? Do you have a specific "work personality" that is completely different from how you would act at home? I have worked at a variety of different places, and although I act "myself" I also conduct myself in a certain way depending on where I am. For example, I used to work at 102.9 LiteFM in Minneapolis, MN and when in the work place, I conducted myself in a business mannor. I never talked about partying or what crazy things I may have done on the weekends. I currently work for a top 40 Radio station in Fargo and I try to conduct myself more as a "Party Girl." This is not always me, but I have to come off to the radio listeners that I am an awesome party girl. You can see how I portray my personality in this radio workplace. You can see how I portray myself on my Radio Page at: http://www.y94.com/pages/taylorpage.html

2007-02-13T15:52:00.000-08:00

What makes a good boss? I beleive that it is repect. The best boss I ever had was Ted, he trusted me with my work and always gave prompts. I hold him on a platnum pedistol and it is hard for another boss to reach the same qualities that he had. Although, some are close and great to work with. How do you constitute what a good company to work for is?

Here are the top 10 of America's top 100 employers:

1.Google

2.Genentech

3.Wegmans Food Markets
4.Container Store

5. Whole Foods Market

6. Network Appliance

7. S.C Johnson & Son

8. Boston Consulting Grp.

9. Mothodist Hospital Sys.

10. W.L. Gore and Associeates...Mayo Clinic=29,662 and Medtronic= 7,506.

From the 5 best bosses of Fortune 500 Companies found on CNNMoney.com

Richard Caturano is the best. He is president of Vitale Caturano in Boston. To ease the stress of his employees, he offers workers free gourmet dinners and Saturday lunches during the busy season. And there is a year round complimentary breakfast buffet with free espresso. Does this weems like a company you would like to work for? If you were a boss, what would you do to keep your employees happy?

2007-02-06T15:00:00.000-08:00

It has finally hit me, too much advertisements, too much clutter, to much stuff, too much brain activity. After three and a half years of school and really thinking, my mind and brain froze. (Maybe it is just the sub zero temps) But in reallity, when is it too much? When is a company forcing too much advertisements and branding on a person? Is there a time to stop? I don't know the answers to these questions, but it is a good thing to think about.
So, I decided that this week, I would take a break from advertisements (although that is really not possible) and just live the week for myself. I dedcided not to have a care in the world really and just go, do what I gotta do without letting there be too much thought or overload in my mind. I will let the advertisements and stuff enter my mind next week, but for now, I'm not paying attention. So..... companies, don't even try to get into my mind.

2007-01-27T12:09:00.000-08:00

I experienced a type of advertising that always scares me, because I always give in, personal selling.
It started one day when I was just minding my own business, serving tables at Applebee’s; this one woman said that I was so nice and fun and wondered if she could take a before and after picture of my for…..Mary Kay. I was so flattered that I said yes, but remembered that my mother thinks I’m allergic to it. I put that thought under a black sheet and decided to help her out with a before and after picture because she was so nice to me.
So I met her and took the before picture and started to put all the facial supplies on. She was telling me about all the benefits of Mary Kay and how it is a great company; how it has really helped her out in her life. After all the steps I took the after picture and decided to purchase some makeup. Her selling to me one on one really motivated me and made me feel special. She did a really good job of personal selling because by selling me Mary Kay, it will hopefully help my face clear up and I helped her career.

2007-01-22T20:26:00.000-08:00

This weekend, I attended the Fighting Sioux hockey game vs. Bemidgi. There were ton of advertisements there. For example, at the beginning, before the game started, there was a blimp that flew around the arena with Cabela's on it. Then commercials were being played on the Dectronics Jumbotron. I have never really paid attention to any of these advertisements because I always concentrated on the game, but when I took notice, I was in awe of advertisements everywhere. More examples include advertisements on the boards surrounding the ice, light signs that flashed around the whole area, the Coca-Cola and Crary's brand images on the zamobis.
Advertisements were also done by the announcer. Whenever a powerplay was occuring the announcer would say "Fighting Sioux power play sponsored by Bobcat." I thought that was funny because you really never know how many powerplays are going to occur during a game. Also, in between periods, games where happening on the ice. This was a huge advertisement too. The first game had two teams that had to race down the ice and build a Subway Sandwich. Then, the second game, two fans had a Subway Sandwich eating contest.
Never before have I really paid attention to all the advertisements occuring during the Sioux games. I feel that they are just everywhere and that as a fan I become imune to them, until I really pay attention and notice how many and how in depth the advertisements are. Some worked too...I went and bought a Coke