Need a cool internship that combines music and business? Check out DISC MAKERS
Step one, start a band. Check! Step two, write songs, figure out your sound, get gigs, and try to grow a following. This step is slightly harder to accomplish. A great way to succeed at step two is to employ the help of Disc Makers, located in Pennsauken, New Jersey.OK, so you might not know what Disc Makers does even though they've been around for over 60 years. That's okay, I went to high-school three miles away from their major manufacturing plant and never knew it.
"Disc Makers offers all the services an artist needs to make professional, retail ready CDs and DVDs. This includes such services as mastering the CDs to make them "radio ready," designing the graphics for the on-disc printing and packaging, and creating promotional tools like posters, and stickers. We even design concert merchandise and sell digital downloads at DigStation.com" said Sue Learn, Human Resource Generalist. Disc Makers molds discs from polycarbonate (plastic) pellets to the final sellable product. "Discs are created every 4.1 seconds on any of its 8 production lines."
Disc Makers has nine locations in the United States, including music hotspots like Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, and one opening in Boston. "Disc Makers' has risen to become a leader in the CD and DVD replication industry, specializing in helping independent artists get their name out."
I recently was given the pleasure of touring the Pennsauken facility where I was able to learn quite a bit about this incredibly interesting business. I was so impressed that I was pretty close to handing them my resume towards the end of the tour.
Anyone can work and intern at Disc Makers. It doesn't require you to play an instrument, be in a band, or have worked in the music industry in any way. What is does require is an enthusiasm in your field, drive, a good fit for the company, and the desire to learn. "Disc Makers provides hands-on experience, competitive pay, and an extremely casual work environment, though we have high standards," said Learn.
Students searching for internships have come to the right place. There are marketing interns, DVD authoring interns, graphic design and electronic pre-press interns, and operations interns, all of which are paid. I understand if you have stopped reading by this point and are searching for a link. You can find out more about Disc Makers opportunities at www.discmakers.com/careers. Another hint: check out their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/dmjobs. Why MySpace? "That's where all the clients are" responded Learn.
Anyone applying to a Disc Makers internship must know one important fact: "Disc Makers is NOT a recording studio or a record label," said Learn. "People often make that mistake when applying to our internship program."
If you are interested in interning or working at Disc Makers, you should have the basics down. "We're looking for people with basic reading, writing, math and communication skills." I would like to think that if you made it to college you are able to do all of these things, however I was emphatically informed that is not the case. Beyond those basics Disc Makers looks for creative thinkers who can work independently, manage their own workload, and who have good attention to detail.
To be successful in this internship you must have a desire for hands on experience. "There is no grunt work around here," said Learn. "You have to be able to work independently for the most part." Now that might sound like you go to work, sit in your cubicle and do paperwork all day, but let me assure you these people are a solid unit. "We are very team oriented around here, you must be a good fit if we're going to bring you onboard."
While taking the tour, I found workers listening to music, working together on projects, or speaking directly to clients. Clients can range from corporations who need training seminars on a CD-ROM to a local band that needs exposure or a filmmaker who is looking to submit their film to Sundance.
If you are interested in finding a great place to intern, I would recommend that you check out their website at www.discmakers.com/careers or go to their MySpace page at www.myspace.com/dmjobs and inquire about possible opportunities.
"It's a great place for someone to start a fun and rewarding career."
