This summer, I had the great opportunity to intern at the Durham Performing Arts Center. It has been a dream of mine to work at DPAC ever since I started seeing shows there when I was 13. It was always so exciting to dress up for a special evening at the theatre, and get world-class treatment. It was no different walking into work every day!
I worked with the marketing department. One of the most significant skills I learned was press writing. Going into this internship, I had never written a press release before. I had read plenty, as I am passionate about the entertainment field, but had no clue how to approach it. When I was assigned a press release on my first day, I did lots of research on press releases previously published on DPAC’s website, and on other performing arts centers’ websites. I found a common pattern and learned the tone, language, and the basic structure of an entertainment press release. I soon developed my own voice, and was commended on how naturally I took up press writing. For each assignment, I would research the artist, compile their backstory and accomplishments into an order that made sense, and develop a narrative around the data that was also informative. I made sure to use language that would market the performer to a targeted audience, but also be appealing to the general public. I love writing press releases because I get to use my creative writing skills and tie in my experience in academic writing. Check out my first press release here!
My favorite part of this internship was working the events. It was very educational to be able to see the work put into the office be applied to the guests. One of my favorite moments was meeting the tour manager for Indigo Girls - she had graduated from Appalachian State a few years ago and we had many common interests and friends in the area! My interactions consisted of getting to know the guests, answering questions about the events and venue, and basic customer service. When working a Music on the Lawn concert at the American Tobacco Campus, I promoted the upcoming season of events at DPAC, encouraged people to sign up for the email list, and had many fulfilling conversations about the arts and DPAC. One of my favorite experiences was giving backstage tours at the Open House to season subscribers. This way, I got to meet some of the most dedicated guests, and introduce them to what goes on beyond the curtain.
Throughout this internship, in addition to my Development one that I will talk about next week, I deepened my love for this field, because it combines my passion with my strongest skill set. I learned more presentation skills, and how to communicate with guests and market a company. I am now much more passionate about marketing and the business side of theatre. I am specifically interested in learning about target audiences and how a company can market themselves to cater to them, but also interest the general public.
Overall, I am very grateful for this experience and will carry all that I have learned throughout my career. I am so, so thankful and overjoyed that I was able to intern at this world-class venue, and hope to return someday! I highly recommend all students to participate in an internship at some point during his/her college career. I promise it's an unforgettable and invaluable experience!
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