An Intern Reflects on Her Epic Summer

Ellen Badger
Exit Paper
Summer 2006
Epic Entertainment

My summer with Epic Entertainment got off to a fast start. Within minutes of arriving, I was making the morning’s coffee, drafting a shopping list (the first of many), and completing purchase orders and expense reports- all for people and events I was completely unfamiliar with. Like Katie, the production intern who arrived about hour after I did, I learned a little about everything as I went along.  

From the first day, it was clear that this was not a “sidelines” internship. I was not just answering phones at the reception desk, occasionally filing away a receipt or two. Of course, there were some lackluster tasks, like getting the office lunch, picking up the mail, or pulling safety pins out of 500 chair back linens. But those jobs needed to be done. And usually, someone like Aunt Donna or Cousin Julie would be right next to me, pricking their fingers on the same pins. Knowing that the work I completed (whether it was picking up the George Bush impersonator at the airport or buying the office a new stapler) was valued and appreciated was motivation enough for me to contribute to my new team. I was always treated as a player on the team, given my own set of responsibilities that often challenged me to learn about the business.

Although each day at Epic brought something new to the table (which I loved), some aspects of the internship stick out in my mind.
I learned a lot sitting in on the weekly staff meetings. Contributing to and participating in these meetings allowed me to see firsthand how an organization develops and communicates ideas, goals, and business plans.  
Similarly, attending client meetings with Donna and Julie provided me with the opportunity to watch them meet and interact with our clients in-person. Taking notes and following through on assignments from the meetings offered me a chance to take ownership of aspects in the event.

Furthermore, Epic encouraged me to be involved with other departments that interested me, like marketing. When an occasion to work on a marketing project arose, the office supported in my efforts to participate. Those opportunities I had to attend marketing meetings and the bridal show provided me not only with a better understanding of other departments at Starlight, but also with a valuable experience working on the marketing end of developing business.

One of the most valuable experiences this summer was taking on my own event. Although small in size and even smaller in budget, it taught me a lot about working with vendors and the other departments at Starlight. This event reminded me of the importance of making sure that all parties stay focused and on target and asking the right people the right questions to achieve the client’s desired results.      

Although technically it was a business trip, I certainly enjoyed working on the All-America City competition in Anaheim. Since it was at the beginning of the internship, it was a great opportunity to get to know more about Donna and Epic, while working on an event that made our clients and our city proud. It was an event that reminded me why I love working with events. When I participate in planning an event, I am helping someone’s vision become a reality, and it was an honor to serve on this event to make many children’s (and some adults!) dreams come true.

I would recommend this internship to students interested in learning about a variety of events, not just specifically concerts or weddings. In fact, I liked working with Epic’s wide variety of clients. Working with local government, non-profits, and private clients alike opened my mind to new possibilities in event planning that I had never considered before. This has been by far the best internship I have ever had- the people and the projects were all so great! I look forward to keeping in touch with my new friends and family at Starlight and Epic.