I'm a big advocate for internships with small companies.

I was the lone production assistant on a documentary called Before The Music Dies. Directed by my mentor Andrew Shapter, it was released at SXSW in 2006.

Which led to the craziest experience of my career.

This thread is 100% humblebrag because I'm nostalgic as hell right now.

And 100% encouraging you to take a shot on trying something new out because sometimes trying something new, leads to something big.

I emailed Andrew after he spoke in a photography class I was in at UT.

I took a shot on him. He took a chance on me.

I eventually got to be on set for interviews with John Mayer, Widespread Panic, Mississippi Allstars, My Morning Jacket, Erykah Badu, and many others.

From a production perspective, I learned so much being that close to the action. It taught me a ton getting to be that close.

I got to see someone (Andrew) who was figuring out things on the fly, do that while trying to keep everyone together and working towards a goal.

Eventually it culminated in a movie.

(I edited and created that opening shot with the TV btw)
(I also shot a ton of the production stills in the film) https://vimeo.com/181093211 

The night before the release was the rehearsal for the afterparty. I got to walk around freely and shoot whatever I wanted.

The supergroup formed from the movie consisted of:

Erykah Badu
Doyle Bramhall II
Wendy & Lisa
James Poyser
Questlove
Ephraim Owens

We cobbled together a concert at the old Austin Music Hall (pre renovations) when it was still a bit shitty concrete box.

None of us knew how to throw a concert. We all just f'in loved music.

They gave me two responsibilities.

Shoot photos, and figure out how to run the door.

So I did. I just made some shit up. There was a void, so I filled it.

I soaked up the rehearsal because when the F are you going to see all these folks in one place again?

And then the next day I ran the guest list at the Paramount for our movie and escorted Questlove, Erykah (who I ended up working for, for a while) and James in to the movie.

I ran the door at the Paramount and got to make calls on who made it in and who didn't.

At the concert that night, Steve Poltz, who wrote You Were Meant For Me for Jewel bartered with me to let him in.

I had to kick Andy Dick out for being a drunk maniac.

Wanna know why?

Because small organizations are just trying to figure shit out. They're just trying to survive.

If you're willing to put up with that kind of ambiguity, you'll find yourself in a position to experience some big things way earlier than you would otherwise.

So again. This thread was 100% humblebrag.

And 100% a vote for working with the startups.

Working with that movie sucked sometimes. Late night phone calls. Unreasonable requests. Wearing a shitload of hats. It wasn't all roses.

But it was a big shortcut.

It taught me a ton. It literally got me my job @TheButlerBros which was another massive level up for me.

So, I say take the shot. Bet on the right small companies. Trade predictability for access. Build those battle scars early.

They're the career defining if you'll let them be