Intern Talk

Learning Objectives: 6A2, 6B2

Origin Story:
Started at Lancaster University, studied computer science, dropped out after a year. Went back to Stoke-on-Trent, working in warehouse for 18 months, packing pottery. Went on to study cultural studies and sociology at manchester met, did masters in sociology. During masters time invited to join blog that friends had set up, start of self publishing. Turn blog into platform to showcase other peoples work. Interned at domus (paid) working behind scenes, on social media (scheduling). Got published online and in physical mag. Friend bought mag, Boat ended up interning there (unpaid), learned how an independent mag functioned, made effort to pitch things whilst there. Each print issue went to new city round world, went to Athens for 10 days trying to find genuine stories about people who lived there. Knew time was coming to end at Boat, sure wanted to stay in independent publishing.

Making Intern:
Proof of concept helped establish a visual standard. Moved back to Manchester from London. Most people in first issue was people who already knew through internships and from bar work etc. Kickstarter enabled production of first issue, raised £7000 used exchange of services and people already knew to produce kickstarter video. Used kickstarter is established in stated covered by multiple mags due to links with issues in news about internships at time. Realised wasn't enough money to make mag due to costs of publishing, started sponsorship angle. Print was good while lasted, hard to turn profit and sell effectively, cost £12000 to make 2000-3000 copies, with everyone getting paid.

Print Publishing:
Make sure print issue is not at centre of business model, as very difficult to make profit due to cost and distribution. Main element of profit is advertising within, high risk high reward. 

Evolution:
New website launch, more diversification by moving away from print, looking at different ways to do digital content. Conversations new addition for podcasts, youtube and events, mixing up delivery to find new audiences. Advantage of digital, smaller overheads, £9500 grand profit from Ace&Tate event which involved creating 5 stories, launch event, made print publication (limited edition 250 copies). Now working in collaboration with events production company, terms and conditions (legal advice for creatives), hosted at We Work, should help to take to any city. Launching podcast soon, initially tried to get funding from art council, if has community impact or purpose driven. Invested in kit from client revenue, also helped by University of Salford facilities, accessed students with participated.

Finances
Workshop/speaking services helped keep a-float, started with free, travel then started to get paid properly. The White Pube, modern spin of arts criticism, publicly publish earnings and comment on experience if feel underpaid or poor experience. If you pitch someone price and they don't negotiate price, you've priced too low.

Networking
Most influential:
Abraham - pop up agency, good pricing strategy
Sophie - helped with podcast and Facebook meetings. Been working in marketing and networking in London. Helped refined how intern communicates with brands, tone of voice etc.
Marlin - used to operations of Glug, very connected which has facilitated introductions. 

Growing:
One permanent team member Lorna, Openset (research based program), has number of roles. Will need team for podcast and youtube based on revenue created by those ventures. 

Questions:
Support at beginning:
lots of support at beginning from various people

Why name intern:
interested in that type of work, seem to be more and more popular but no-one talking about them.

Progress:
swings, risks sometimes pay off sometimes don't

Overall I found this presentation/talk very helpful as it was interesting to hear how an indie mag is set up and run, as well as the progression from print to digital. Furthermore it was interesting to learn about different funding methods to help start up your own business as many of these methods used by Intern could be implemented to other businesses such as setting up your own studios or funding freelance projects.