Bryan Saicheur
Guest Writer
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An array of lights and flashes fills the space, followed by white noise, consisting of screams and clapping. Sweat and excitement are rubbed off from shoulders as strangers huddle. Welcome to a concert.
The next day tells a different tale.
An alarm clock mocks the white noise and becomes an irritant. Claustrophobia from the crowd vanishes. Empty spaces in the car fill the void. An unforgiving cold breeze from the A/C unit kicks in. Soon after, the heater teases as it begins to work magic. Welcome to work.
Over the past year, one City College student has attended nearly 12 concerts — a busy hobby not many can claim. She balances going to music concerts, attending college classes, and fulfilling work duties, which she performs as an unpaid intern at local radio station Alt 94.7, KKDO-FM. It’s an impressive and hectic feat. But lo and behold, Taylor Thomas, 21, remains joyful and collected and is still able to be a model student. How is Thomas holding up?
“If the job wasn’t so damn awesome, I’d be hating my life right now,” says Thomas, with a laugh. “It’s been busy, but I’m not complaining.”
Bundling work and school has become the norm nowadays for students across the globe. However, many of them aren’t as fortunate as Thomas. With the help of her younger sister, Tara Thomas, Taylor’s radio internship is a dream for music enthusiasts.
“I got her the internship,” yells Tara, as the sisters begin to argue. “If I didn’t show her the radio station, she wouldn’t have ever found out about the opening. It was all my evil plan.”
Alt 94.7, once known as Radio 94.7, sent a message to its VIP members (fans who sign up for texting notifications) about an unpaid internship for the spring 2018 semester.
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“The process was super easy,” says Taylor Thomas, a communication studies major. “I got a response almost instantly.”
As an intern for Alt 94.7, Thomas punches in at least six hours per week. From there, her job consists of notifying contest winners, filing, assisting events and venues, shadowing DJ Chris K from 106.5 The End, and attending music meetings on Thursdays when the station votes on which songs to play on air.
“It’s really fun and interesting to see how it all works,” Thomas says. “I just realized how much music is a part of my life now. Give me a moment.”
Before Thomas obtained her internship, she was attending concerts regularly like many young people. When she turned 18, she says she obtained more personal freedom and used some of the money she saved to jam out and share memories with her friends. Thomas’ go-to pal on the journey is her best friend, Hannah Lomas, 21.
“When a new song comes out from one of our favorite bands, we put that on repeat,” admits Lomas. “Then when we see that song performed live, we’re like, ‘Yeah, we know the words.’”
The unpaid internship does come with some nifty perks.
“When we go to the concerts, we try to get as close as possible and get pictures with the band,” says Thomas. “At work, it’s a totally different mindset. When I do events for concerts, I’m not allowed to fangirl out, so that sucks. I guess I’m lucky I get to jam out and work, too. Wait. Nevermind, I don’t get paid, but at least I can see them live for free, so I guess that’s a win.”
She doesn’t quite remember when her internship contract is up but looks forward to more opportunities. With the internship on her resume, she is confident that things will go swimmingly.
“I don’t even want to think about it,” says a tear-jerked Thomas. “I love this job! I don’t want it to be over, but when it happens, well, shit.”
