The Graduation Open Letter of 2009.

Hello, everyone. Sorry that the blog has been so sporadic in 2009. 2009 was a very strange year for me and all of the students at Grady College, especially the Broadcast News and TeleArts students ($4000, anyone?).

Yes, eventually the Apple Authorized Training Center will be up and working, but for now I'd like to address the "It's the worst economy ever you're graduating into.." psycho-babble!

I graduated from Syracuse University in 1991 and 2000. Although the professors were some of the best people I've learned from (and had the fortunate opportunity to actually work with), they did say the same things: "It's not a good time to get into the job market", "The economy is taking a bad turn", "It's going to be tough", etc. I heard this in 1991 and 2000. Has any graduating EVER been told that it is a great time to be graduating into the job market? If so...was it true?

I've learned that situations are not simply "good" or "bad": situations are always good, bad, and ugly. If you're all as smart as we claim you are (and you are), you won't simply see the economic world as something simply reduced to good or bad, especially while you're trying to build your career. Take 'em or leave 'em, but here are my suggestions:


PROMISES ARE JUST THAT..."PROMISES":

If I believed people every time they said to me, "I promise you that if you do this job for free that bigger things and bigger money will come from it," I would have a jet pack, a lazer rifle, and eventy-buhjillion-fuhfillion-dollars in Krugerands and gold bricks guarded by giant gundam robots. A promise made does not equal a promise kept. Believing that what you do will always lead to something better and grander gives credence to "...the worst economy in years." A gig is a gig. If it leads to something bigger, then WOOHOO!!! However, don't bank everything on that. Do your best at that job, don't put all your eggs into a "promise", save the money you make, invest some of it into items you truly need, and have your sights set on the next gig. And please trust me on this one: "No matter what, we promise you that no one is going to lose their job." As soon as you hear that one, know that the reason someone said it is because the possibility of people losing their jobs is there and will most likely be a reality. Always have three-to-six-month of rent, car payments, etc. in reserve.


TWO MUCH NEEDED ITEMS:

#1. A lawyer.

#2. A Blackberry to keep in touch with your LAWYER!!!!

"I'm just graduated, I don't need a lawyer, dude." No, you're an un-tapped bundle of energy and creativity that wants to make movies, graphics, etc. and as someone with a company, I know I can get your to make stuff and then possibly steal it from you.

School is great, but those of us in the institutional world have many rules to protect ourselves, and to protect you. Once you get that diploma, you're on your own. YOU have to learn to protect yourself. The place you work for: they need to protect their product and profits, not you. At Grady, teaching students to have better skills than my own is my top priority: as a freelance editor/post-production specialist and consultant, my bottom line is profit and my own marketing...so, I have a lawyer.

Yes, you are young and most likely have no money to spend on a lawyer...you sure about that? Ever spoken to one? You should. Find out who the best entertainment/business lawyers are in your area, or find one just starting out...like you. See what it would take to start a long term business relationship. Why not? You've got the time.

And now, the Blackberry. I have one. I use it to stay in touch with business contacts, students, and my lawyer. I don't use it for games and such. If you have Facebook and/or Linkedin, the ol' Blackberry is a great way to stay in touch and find out about jobs that just "come up".

Being "active" in your communication and business practices tends to cushion the effects of a "bad economy".


WHAT ARE YOU INVESTING IN?

Laptops and editing systems are good if you intend to freelance...but what else do you have? What did you ask for as a graduation gift? A suit? A nice bag? Good shoes? A year-long pass for the Marta, "T", "L", or Metro depending on where you're living? Gloves to work on production sets? Tools to work on production sets? A headset for walkies when you are on set? PS3's are cool, but are you a creator or a consumer?

I've learned to laugh-off a lot of grief given to me when students and professionals see that I've spent my money on heat-resistant gloves, a production-assistant fanny pack flashlights, battery testers, etc. But more people borrow those from me than anything else. And I routinely just walk onto sets and get work because I have the proper "stuff"...and I really don't like working on set...but I do like money to buy more audio and editing gear. It's easy to rack up a lot of those cheaper items liek gloves, testers, etc. in six months if you plan correctly.


GRAD SCHOOL

I've not commented on the question of, "Should I go to grad school?" for many reasons. While I initially did NOT want to make my personal feelings on this public, here goes...

If you intend to teach or do research in the academic world for the rest of your life, then go to graduate school immediately after undergraduate school. If you intend to do nothing but work, learn, and focus your skills in something such as screenwriting in one of the many schools with excellent programs, then go to graduate school right after undergraduate school. If you want to avoid the bad economy, then don't waste your time. I was very fortunate to have a graduate class of people who wanted to be there, not people avoiding the real world and living out the "fifth year senior partying dream."

I work with many people, and what I can honestly tell you in that people who took the time directly after college to "experience the world" have better jobs, and better life, and a far better idea of "reality". Going to Atlanta, Los Angeles, London, Chicago, NYC, etc. doesn't mean you need to have "The Job" to leave. Get out of your parent's house, get off their health insurance, and start taking responsibility (if you haven't already) to get out of bed and live on something other than the "academic schedule".

Be a bartender in Barcelona. Rent surfboards in Hawai'i. Work a ski-lift in Denver and teach yourself guitar at the same time. Learn how to brew beer while working at a microbrewery. Rent out camera equipment in midtown Manhattan. These are examples of former students of mine who took anywhere from six-months-to-two-years to simply learn to live in the world and follow an interest...and during those times, they still freelanced on movie sets, made music videos, assisted on live shows. Three went back to graduate school five years later and did very well because they WANTED to be in school again. All of these people currently work in the TV/Movie industry as producers, editors, and graphic artists. An interesting, mature, well-rounded person is far more valuable to a good graduate program than grades and "bad economy panic mode". Did I mention all of those students graduated into the "bad economies" of 2001, 2003, and 2005?

Douglas Adams wrote that the Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy was the best selling book in the known universe because it had the words "Don't Panic" printed on it in big, friendly letters (loosely quoted for this blog).

No matter what any webpage, graduate speaker, etc. informs you of, you'll be fine if you live smart, be active in what you do, and don't "avoid" situations because of what "might" happen or because "it's a bad time".


Long Live The Rebellion.