Jun
12
Metro Studios: An Intern’s Survival Guide
June 12, 2009 | Leave a Comment | Written by Gina Volk
Editor’s note: We had the pleasure of having Gina Volk intern at Metro Studios this spring. She was a bright, helpful intern and we already miss her (the photocopier misses her, too.) Here’s her take on an inside look at Metro Studios.
When I first walked into the office at Metro Studios that would be my home for the next 10 weeks, the first words to come out of my mouth were, “Wow! They have a pool table! That’s awesome!” Little did I know that I would learn so much and have so much fun with the people at Metro Studios in the weeks to come.
Working at Metro Studios is sort of like being a member of a large family. You work hard together while having a lot of fun. But of course, with every family, there are some rules. So here it is: my internship survival guide for Metro Studios.
1. Be creative. You are working in an environment where people offer up creativity from every direction. Think outside of the box, and don’t be afraid to color outside the lines. Your idea may be exactly what they’re looking for!
2. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Everyone at Metro Studios has expertise in a different area, and they enjoy helping interns grow and develop their skills and interests.
3. Speak up! Don’t be afraid to speak up when the time is right and you have a great idea! Even if they don’t end up using your idea, they still like the contribution you give. They’ll appreciate the effort you made and will know that you take this internship seriously. However, just make sure your idea is well-thought and straightforward.
4. Try new things. As an intern for Metro Studios, be prepared to assist in a wide variety of areas and tasks! I’ve helped with a wide variety of things such as:
- Researching and writing
- Learning to code webpages
- Running the teleprompter
- Showing a mascot how to line dance
- Becoming best friends with the photocopier
By being willing to lend a helping hand wherever it was needed, I learned more than I thought possible in 10 weeks.
5. Be thorough and meet your deadlines. Do your best to finish projects on time and to the best of your ability. If you procrastinate, you’ll end up wasting valuable time.
6. Smile and be prepared to laugh. In the Metro Studios office, it is impossible to work an afternoon without laughing at least once. Make jokes and don’t be offended if they pick on you! It really means they like you! Remember, you’re family now.
Metro Studios is an amazing place to work. I didn’t know a single person who looked forward to working on Monday, until I came here to intern. Their positive attitudes are tangible! Metro Studios is truly one of a kind company.
Jun
12
Meeting and Event Best Practices
June 12, 2009 | 1 Comment | Written by Lindsay Talsness
For some people, the thought of planning a meeting or event can be daunting. Here are four helpful recommendations to make planning your next meeting or event easier and more organized.
1. Ask why. As in, why are we holding this event? What are the outcomes we desire? With your overall goals as the primary focus, the rest of the event will take shape more easily.
2. Determine who, what, where, when, and how.
- Who will be attending? The theme, décor, time and location of an event for 200 college students will be (and should be) different from an event for 200 50th reunion college alumni.
- What will be the theme? A memorable theme will be one which really resonates with your target demographic. Not feeling particularly creative? Ask a professional for help! At Metro Studios, we have both the creativity and event planning expertise you need.
- Where will your event be held? Choose a venue that is convenient, offers ample parking, is appropriately sized for your event and can work with the resources you are bringing to the event. Will your attendees need air transportation, hotel transportation, rooms or meals? It’s always wise to work with a meeting planner and visit possible venues in person to get the best rates, services and overall experience when choosing a venue. Some venue ideas include: hotels, conference centers, resorts, stadiums, museums, and universities.
- When should everything happen? Having a clearly outlined timeline for event preparation is a key part of planning. Providing a copy of the timeline to all parties involved – from your caterer to your audio visual team will help everyone stay on the same page.
- How much can you spend? Until you determine how much individual items cost, set a working budget by expenditure type.
3. Use the Web to your advantage. Today, the web enables you to plan your event smarter using Internet tools for registration, collecting fees, managing assets, event promotion and post-event wrap-ups.
According to Meetings and Conventions magazine, “Among those who have used such sites for meeting planning purposes, Facebook is the most popular (74 percent), followed by LinkedIn (66 percent) and Twitter (56 percent). More than one-third (36 percent) have launched a blog to market events.”
Event planners frequently use the web to post meeting information, register participants, collect fees, post event photos and presentations and add sponsorship value to their events.
4. Choose to work with professionals who have expertise in all the areas required to support your event. Work with a team who will understand your objectives, strategically and creatively plan your event, and can provide full support – from custom media solutions to whatever technical requirements you may have. Professionals take care of details and provide seamless production services that make for a flawless, memorable event.
At Metro Studios, we’re ready to help you plan your next event – and we have the technical and creative resources to provide you with a comprehensive solution from start to finish.
Additional Resources – You are Not Alone:
- Meeting Professionals International
- International Special Events Society
- Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association
- Metro Studios
Jun
11
Photo Journal: On the road with Metro Studios
June 11, 2009 | Leave a Comment | Written by Lindsay Talsness
It’s been a busy, exciting few months at Metro Studios! Here’s a quick look at some projects we’ve recently been working on.
ACE Awards Live Webcast
We had a great time producing the ACE Awards Live Webcast for hundreds of in-person and online viewers.
Scottsdale Community College
Scottsdale Community College’s Department of Culinary Arts asked us to shoot a series of promotional videos for their program. We learned the secrets of making those cool vegetable garnishes, filleting a huge salmon, frosting a fancy cake… the chefs and students didn’t have to ask us twice to sample their creations!
Kirk shooting a close-up for petit-fours, when he wasn’t busy thinking up food puns.
Getting volunteer diners was a piece of cake!
The Grill Toppers Photo and Video Shoot
What a week it was when Metro Studios took on The Grill Toppers project. Our facility was transformed into the ultimate grilling event, complete with dozens of pounds of meat, countless side dishes, as well as numerous place settings to match all of the NCAA team colors. After getting our product shots, we took the gear, food, and props on the road to several different locations.
Donna, our food stylist extraordinaire, lends her expertise, while Susan, our art director, drops in the lemons “just right.”
Connie, Metro’s senior writer/producer, dresses the set. By the time we finished each shot, the food had been sprayed, glued, and was completely inedible.
Our newest “intern” samples some extra prop food and lends morale support during the shoot while her dad, Aaron, takes care of the video editing.
Kendra, Metro’s project coordinator, directs one of the actors on his grilling technique.
With the photos and videos completed, we are looking forward to building The Grill Toppers website this summer.
Commercial Shoot with Wisconsin Football Coach Bret Bielema
Bret Bielema, head coach for the University of Wisconsin football team was the star of our recent commercial shoot at Camp Randall Stadium in Madison, Wisconsin. I wonder if the Big 10 schedule came up in conversation?
Metro Studios’ Social Media Seminar
John Whaley, our Director of Internet Marketing spent a day with Phoenix business professionals teaching them how to grow their businesses through social media marketing.
Whew! As you can see, it’s been a whirlwind spring - but it was spent doing what we enjoy most - providing our clients with effective, innovative solutions. Like what you see? Please contact us if you’re interested in learning more about the solutions we can provide for your business.
To see more photos of Metro Studios projects, visit our Flickr photostream.