Opera Roanoke: A Fabulous Work Enviroment

Another week at Opera Roanoke under my belt! I have to say that I truly enjoy working here. It's a unique experience that will definitely be a benefit for my future.

So I know I have been updating you on tasks that I'm doing, but I haven't filled you in Opera Roanoke's work environment. Liz basically tells me everyday we're not like every organization. And she's right. Opera Roanoke is just as laid back as they are professional. This nonprofit organization not only cares for its patrons and guests, but keeps the office casual. I feel no pressure to be someone I'm not, or to get work done without having a grueling boss who breathes down the back of my shirt. That's a HUGH reason why I love getting up every morning and coming to the office, knowing that I'm going to have over fifty engaging and hilarious conversations throughout the day. How can anyone enjoy a job that requires every conversation to be like a job interview? Thats so much unnecessary stress. If you can get just as much work done in a relaxed environment then I don't see the issue. We all joke around, check our phones occasionally, and work our butts off. I can also talk to Liz, Scott, and Amy like they're my friends, still knowing that they expect 100% from me and from each other. It certainly does help when you get along with everyone though, which I feel is crucial for a good flow in the office.

I suppose I should also fill you in on things I've been doing the past couple of days. There are some left over boxes from the storage closet that still need to be rummaged through (I think they're multiplying). Today I uploaded pictures to our server so that we can have a digital archive of our productions. And yesterday I scanned documents to have as digital as well. Backing up files makes for smart business! I've basically been tying up loose ends here and there, and organizing some PR and old media.

I should also share my adventure from yesterday. Liz and I had to drop off a check at the Jefferson Center. We thought we would be active and take the fifteen minute walk. We got there fine, no hassle at all, chatted for a bit, and as soon as we started to leave it began to down pour. Liz and I are firm believers that it doesn't take much for one to melt in the rain. And who wants to get Michael Kors wet? So we waited, and waited, and waited, until the rain finally subdued. We got maybe two blocks from the Jefferson Center and it started raining again, which caused us to take shelter outside of the Oakey Funeral Home where we waited another twenty (or more) minutes. Finally catching a break, we made it back to the office, with only minimal damage, except for my flat, frizzy hair. Our thirty minute trip turned into an hour and fifteen minutes... The moral of the story: ALWAYS carry an umbrella, or be lazy and drive.

Until next time!
-Matt

Conquering the Closet

Good morning! It's almost the weekend. Which for me means Netflix and long overdue practicing of orchestral excerpts. I know, I live on the edge, man...

So, I know what you're thinking. "Would you just be done with the closet already?" (goodness, the puns). Well yesterday I did finish organizing the illustrious storage closet once and for all! I won't go into detail about what I did because I would just be repeating myself from previous posts. But I will share some pictures and talk about the importance of organizing an organization's storage closet.

Here's why a new employee/intern should have to organize your closet...

You go through hundreds of documents, pictures, supplies, programs, articles, newspapers.. you get my drift. During the process you get rid of a lot, you find better ways to organize the information, you consolidate, file, and you inevitably learn much about the history and past of the organization... It's like a research. Why do we do research? To learn about a topic, more or less. How do we do research? We read through and organize data. And that's exactly what I've done at the beginning of my adventure here at Opera Roanoke.

Now I know what productions they've done previously. I know what costumes they used. I know that all data used to be stored on floppy disks. I know the past artistic directors. I know that the 80s and 90s were a regrettable time for graphic design. Just by rummaging and filing, my knowledge about Opera Roanoke is ten fold compared to learning by talking to Liz or Scott. And not because of a lack of knowledge from them, but because I've experienced the past first hand.

So, my point of the story is that you don't use interns to organize supply closets because they're interns, but because it's simply the best way for them to learn about the organization.

On that note, I'm glad to be out of that closet (although I think that ship sailed a long time ago). Oh you know I had to say it!

Look for more upcoming posts about my adventures as Administrative Apprentice for Opera Roanoke!

Here are some pics from the week!

                                                    Those never ending programs

                                               The Final Product

Journey to the Center of... The Opera Roanoke Storage Closet: Part II

Day 7. I'm running low on food and water. I figure I have about 24 hours worth left of supplies. I don't know my exact location, but I'm somewhere near the "Merle Norman" cookbooks from 1989. I'm beginning to doubt my chances of making it back to the entrance. Today I ran across a flock of old programs, there must have been 300 of them, and I'm not so sure how and where I found the strength to fight them off. Last night in my dreams, I was continuously haunted by the word "miscellaneous." I'm not sure why, but I don't like it...

Okay, back to reality.. I'm not really lost in some storage closet dimension. However, I am still in the midst of organizing the storage closet. And I apologize for no posts over the past week, I was busy with a job for Virginia 4-H Congress. I know you've been biting your nails waiting on another post. So, without further corny injections let me tell you what I did this past Friday as Administrative Apprentice (has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?) at Opera Roanoke.

I arrived at the office around 9, earlier than usual, to attend an advertising meeting with Liz and Pat (she's with the children's theatre in town). Pat is quite the energetic lady, and I mean that in the best way! We arrive at Lamar (advertising) at 10am and pitch our thoughts about having 17 of the arts programs in Roanoke share some space on a digital billboard. I have to say Will, the sales representative, was on his game and really helped us out. This is one of those learning experiences you have as an intern. Liz and Pat aimed high with the money at hand, listened to our options, and with Will, came up with a realistic plan to advertise on a digital billboard in a way that would still be beneficial. Success for the day!

Sometimes in business, weather it be non-profit or for-profit, we encounter road blocks that require attention that would otherwise be used on productivity. These road blocks are messy to get through and are a waste of time. I'll give you an example of what happened on Friday, and the short version at that. When Liz and I arrived back at the office, she put me on a project to research. I don't want to compromise integrity, so I will spare you the details. But it resulted in a great deal of cleanup work for the office. Another lesson of business for today.

And just when you thought I forgot... The storage closet. I'm actually halfway there! I encountered operas on old VHSs, informative cookbooks with the most fabulous covers, and several  Opera Roanoke "boutique sale" items from 1996. A few more days, and I'll have that closet in tip top shape. If I ever make it out alive... dun dun dun! (this doesn't get old)

Yesterday Opera Roanoke participated in Parks and Arts 2014. At the Preston Park, Opera Roanoke joined the Southwest Virginia Ballet, Taubman Museum of Art, and Mill Mountain Theatre in a series of performances and workshops for children in the area. I had a chance to meet all of our fabulous (I love this word by the way, fabulous, anything and anyone can be fabulous) apprentice artists. All performers from every organization did a fierce job, and not to toot our own horn, but our apprentices did the best... wink wink. But for real, truly talented musicians. It's also credible to note that the cutest little boy sang I Just Can't Wait to be King from the Lion King, and it was adorable.

Until next time followers! Thanks for reading.

-Matt

Journey to the Center of the... Opera Roanoke Storage Closet: Part I

 Today at Opera Roanoke, I discovered an unexplored world full of dangers and adventure. I had no idea what to expect around each turn and corner. That's right, I'm talking about the storage closet... Dun Dun Dun! Alright, so it's not that exciting, but boy do I love to organize (really though).

I spent most of my day organizing files, boxes, programs, and vinyl records. I made shelf space for the accounting boxes, and transferred old vinyl recordings of some of the greats like Verdi’s La Traviata to Liz’s office for display. I’m still trying to find a way to make them look presentable. 

I wasn’t in the closet all day, though. I walked to a law firm at the Wells Fargo building to pick up some important documents. At 12:45pm we took a stroll to The Taubman Museum of Art for a “Parks and Arts 2014” meeting (#ParksArts2014). Opera Roanoke, Mill Mountain Theatre, and the museum had representatives present to discuss what each company would do (performances, workshops, crafts, etc.). I might add that Parks and Arts is an event over several Saturdays this summer. Local entertainment like Opera Roanoke, Southwest Virginia Ballet, Mill Mountain Theatre, and The Taubman Museum of Art will be giving workshops and performances in festival style setting. Once the meeting had adjourned, I went to Lunch with Liz.

Bach at the office (hehe), I resumed organizing, and at some point I had awesome cake made by Asherah—strawberry lemonade cake to be exact. Yes, it tastes as good as it sounds. Today’s findings were not as exciting as Wednesday’s, but I did find enough bubble wrap to make a dress. Oh, and also two bags and four boxes of a children’s activity to demonstrate vocal chords (and you bet your bottom I tried it out myself).

Look for more posts to come about my explorations through the storage closet (I'm only a third of the way finished!) because I know at this very moment you're just dying to read more about me organizing a closet. But don't worry, that's not ALL I'll be chatting about.

This has been your Administrative Apprentice (sounds fancy right?) from Opera Roanoke!

Until next time,

-Matt Hollaway

P.S. Check out these pics!

My First Day

I would like to start out by introducing myself. I'm Matt Hollaway, a recent Music Business graduate of Radford University. To receive my diploma, I am required to complete a 320 hour internship in the music/entertainment industry. After speaking with my percussion instructor, Dr. Sanderl, he informed me that he had just the contact to set me up with. Before I knew it, I was chatting with Liz Lochbrunner about interning with Opera Roanoke. Our personalities instantly clicked, and in the next few weeks I found myself accepting an internship with them. I am definitely a firm believer in "things happen for a reason" and the phrase "it always works out."

My purpose of this blog is to share my experiences from day to day with Opera Roanoke so that the public might get a taste of what goes on behind the scenes. So without further adieux, here is my first day...

Today was my first day interning with Opera Roanoke in their administrative office.  I spent the first hour touring the building, meeting staff from the Center, and talking with Liz and vocal apprentice/staff member, Asherah (forgive me, dear, I am missing the spelling completely) to get to know them. 

My first task of the day involved brainstorming with Liz and Asherah on their new “end of the fiscal year” online campaign. We decided that we would show supporters/people of the community holding up chalkboard signs explaining why they supported Opera Roanoke with the hashtag “ISupportOpera.” My next task was to assist Bill with moving a keyboard from Opera Roanoke's production studio at the Jefferson Center. Shortly after, Asherah and I ran an errand to pick up supplies for the new campaign as well as lunch. In the early afternoon I started the adventurous project of organizing Opera Roanoke’s storage closet. Today I finished organizing video and record archives. I found a few surprises along the way, including a Mepistopheles Halloween costume and fake snow. During the final hours of the day, we began to brainstorm again on the new online campaign, deciding that we would have a separate hashtag and event for this upcoming Tuesday in the square (#ISupporttheArts) for the general public. Later we will launch the actual #ISupportOpera from the supporters of Opera Roanoke. 

Tomorrow I plan to help with the setting up of the countdown to our online campaign (hopefully we can start a local trend!). I will also update you on my journey into the storage closet of Opera Roanoke in the days to come.

Keep following my posts! Things are sure to get more interesting in near future!

--Matt Hollaway