Summer Jam 2009 Recap #2

This week at Hot 97, we had to conduct an informal Summer Jam 2009 recap. During this recap meeting with the entire staff, we talked about the long intense process of putting on such an event of such magnitude. The meeting started off with the main boss Brian D'Auriel (who is in charge all Promotions for Hot 97, Kiss FM and RXP radio stations) congratulating all of the staff who participated in making the concert a success. He started off with congratulating himself for hiring such a great team at all three stations who contributed to the success of the concert. Next was Hot 97's Promotions Director (Donyshia Benjamin). She was responsible for getting all the sponsors for the concert, the theme of the concert "Saving The World From Wack Concerts" (and having the jocs dressed up as super heroes), setting up the arrangements with Giant Stadium for us to use their venue and many others task she had in order to make this a spectacular event.

Than we moved to Taneka McLeod (Promotions Coordinator) who demonstrated all of the duties that the Promotions Director gave to her and for the rest of the staff to execute. Taneka was held accountable for conducting all of the contest that we had whether on air, at street team appearances locations or on the Hot 97 homepage. Also, she was responsible for the distribution of the tickets to the contest winners, ALL the arrangements for the Summer Jam Festival (which is a pre-party outside of the Giant Stadium Parking Lot. At this event there are different booths from where sponsors are giving out prizes, autograph booths with the station jocs as well as some celebrities and finally a stage for some performers whether local artist or signed artist to perform) and making sure every single staff member knew their roles throughout that day. After we heard her long list of responsibilities she than congratulated her staff and especially the interns for helping her and for coming into the event early and leaving late (I was there from 6am and didn't get to leave until 4am the next day and ha to be at work for 9am). Taneka recognized all of the time and effort that we had to do to put on an event like that. She even acknowledged the fact that two weeks prior to the event, we didn't get to leave the station until 9pm or later because we had to set up the moving trucks full of decorations, posters and etc for the concert.

After her speech, we went into congratulating the Programming Department. They were responsible for booking the artist and other acts on the stage during the festival and the concert. They were also, responsible for making sure all the performers had everything they needed for their set, their entourage as well as their staff. The main person responsible for this is Ebro Darden (Programming Director) and his assistant Tiffany Jones. They had to directly contact artist from Jay- Z to Mary J Blige's managers to make sure they will be performing, also what songs were they doing, and all other travel arrangements. After the descriptions, Brian than thanked again the other staff members from sister station Kiss Fm and Rock station RXP. Finally, Brian thanked all of the interns again for working diligently and also the long intense hours.

When the meeting was finished I realized that putting on an event this big, historical and with countless number of stars sounded impossible but was easily done with people who were willing for it to happen. You just needed the right staff, performers, sponsors and everything would fall into place. This event was even more crucial than other concerts a kin to this because it IS the biggest concert of all time. Also, it is historical so people are expecting it to be ran well and to also be better than the previous years. In the long run, I feel that this internship experience is making me realize that this is the career path I want to venture off into.

May 18th- June 19th at Hot 97 #1

I have been interning at Hot 97 for a full four weeks now and I love it. While working here, I have been selected to work in the promotions departments under there coordinator (Taneka McLeod). I have been assigned to work personally with the radio contestants who won prizes on air. The main prize that I was working on for the first three weeks was with Hot 97's own Summer Jam concert. This concert comprises of their very own on air jocks, comedians and Hip Hop, R&B and Reggae artist. Whenever a person wins on air tickets to the concert, I had to make sure I received all of their information so I can put it into the computer database system (Promosuites). Afterwards, I would have to make sure they haven't won any prizes through the station within the past thirty days. If they are cleared, I can proceed into calling them directly and letting them know that their tickets were at the station and ready for pick up. When they came to pick it up, I would have to get their valid Drivers License and check back onto the Promosuites to see if they indeed won the prize. If everything is valid, I would have to get their tickets and make a copy of it as well as their drivers license. While I am doing all of this they are filling out a disclaimer that states that they are coming to pick up their tickets and that they are giving us permission to give it to them. When giving them the tickets, I have to make sure I give them their license first and than their tickets (radio statio procedure). Afterwards, I take the copy of their tickets and license I made of copy of, disclaimer and prize sheet, staple it together and than label the day and time they picked it up. Finally, I would put it back into assigned "Summer Jam folder". It took a couple days to learn this long proceedure but when I finally did, i would do multiple contestants at once due to multiple contestants coming at once.

Finally, the big day arrived. It was Summer Jam 2009 titled: "Saving the World From Wack Concerts". We had flyers posted all at Giant Stadium with the radio jocks dressed as superheroes to match with the theme of the concert. The day of the concert I was there from 6:30am and didn't get to leave until 3am the next day. I had to set up with the festival (which is the pre-party for the concert), as well as setting up for the artist, jocs and the rest of the staffs. Throughout that day, I met artist from Jay-Z, Mary J Blige, Soulja Boy, Ron Browz, Elephant Man and many others. I was so amazed that they were talking to me like I was someone that they already knew. Even though I was star stuck through the entire event due to my all access passes, I had to maintain a strict professionalism.

Since Summer Jam has ended, the station has slowed down tremendously. Now we are just concerned with making sure the other contestants come to claim their prizes which we still have to abide by the same procedure like summer jam winners. Overral, I am really enjoying my experience thus far at Hot 97 and can not wait for the rest to come.