The Intern Insider: The Hartman Group PR

The first internship I did was last Fall with a company called The Hartman Group PR. They are a public relations firm who exclusively represent Broadway shows (and occasional off-Broadway and other theatrical shows). During my time there they represented such shows as Wicked, In the Heights, Billy Elliot, Memphis, Rock of Ages, Promises, Promises, Elf, and others. The internship was an incredible experience and a great segue into the interning world. At the time I wasn't totally sure which direction I wanted to take my future career (although I was sure I wanted it to involve some sort of entertainment). I started at the Hartman Group with no experience and learned so much in the four shorts month I spent there.

Generally I would arrive at the office (which was right in Times Square) and get to work on going through every major newspaper and "doing clips" or looking for articles that mentioned any of Hartman's shows. This is a typical task for a PR intern. The clips needed to be scanned into the computer and then edited and sent to the PR reps. After the clips my day would generally consist of an assortment of different jobs. I would do anything from sort through old show merchandise and playbills, to compiling celebrity guest lists for show openings and calling each celeb's agent to extend an invitation. I edited playbill information, sorted through b-roll footage, and delivered various things to the theaters themselves. I was also able to occasionally see behind-the-scenes action of some of the plays as they rehearsed and readied themselves for performances.

Aside from my day to day work, I was given the opportunity to participate in some really fantastic events as well. While I was an intern at Hartman, two of the company's shows premiered and I was asked to help out at the red carpet events and after parties. I got to wear a special pass and have access to the backstage and restricted areas of these big events. I helped the shows' stars and guests as they answered questions from the press. It was all very surreal.

This wonderful opportunity gave me the necessary experience to secure my current internship with ABC's The Chew. I cannot stress enough the importance of participating in an internship if you can while in college. The experience gained gives you a big edge when it comes to applying to jobs (or other internships) in the future. Being so close to Manhattan is such a tremendous advantage for those seeking a jump start in the working world simply because there is no other city that has so many wonderful, diverse opportunities. New York City is literally the only place in the world where I can work for a Broadway PR firm, an ABC day-time talk show and The Colbert Report (my future Spring 2012 internship!). My experience has taught me a lot and I cannot wait to continue!