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.