In Chapter 5 of 13 in his 2009 Capture Your Flag interview, musician and writer Conrad Doucette reflects on his post-college years and big media and Internet job experience (MTV, Heavy.com, Fuse). Doucette advises recent college graduate job seekers to use their youth, curiosity, and energy as strengths. Media companies seek these attributes, not industry experience, when hiring recent college graduates. Doucette found his own direction post-college during months living in London. He spends the London months listening, not talking, learning the practical elements that motivate him, including media, big cities and industries that produced the things he loved. This, and an expired visa, then result in his move to New York City, where he lands his first Internet media job at Heavy.com.
Transcript:
Erik Michielsen: To what did you aspire as a college graduate and, compared to where you are now, what has changed?
Conrad Doucette: I did not know what I wanted to do, which I think is normal. But, I did know what my interests were, which in retrospect I’m pleasantly surprised with myself. I knew enough that I wanted to go find others and be somewhere where I could figure things out. When I graduated, I went to go live in London for eight months.
Erik Michielsen: How did it inform how you developed?
Conrad Doucette: I was an outsider right away, which is fine. I have no problem with that. It forces you to be on your toes more. I became more of an observer and listener than a talker. I saw what others were doing but realized I had to surround myself with certain elements to achieve what I want.
Erik Michielsen: What elements?
Practical elements. I enjoyed the media. I enjoyed big cities. I enjoyed being around the industries that produced the stuff I loved. When England kicked me out after my visa ran out – otherwise I would have happily stayed – I came back and moved to New York. I had a bunch of friends, bizarrely, from my Canadian high school living here. All of my closest friends were here. I got dropped running into New York life. It was through a high school friend that I started at my first full time job which is Heavy.com. Which is how I got involved in web.
Conrad Doucette: It’s funny, they say that connections are everything. I’m glad I had that connection. If there is one thing I could change about my post collegiate one or two years. … I felt the city was almost overwhelming. I was happy to be here. I don’t know how to go work at MTV. Now that I’ve worked at MTV on stuff and work at Fuse and other big media companies, I know it is a snap and I know we are always on the lookout for somewhat smart, definitely excited young people.
In Chapter 3 of 13, musician and music writer Conrad Doucette learns to take responsibility for choosing a non-linear lifestyle and career. This provides Doucette, drummer for Takka Takka, Blender.com writer and Fuse TV online producer, to resist peer-pressure and focus on pursuing new opportunities in both music and the Internet.
In Chapter 2 of 13, Takka Takka drummer and writer (Fuse.tv, Blender.com) Conrad Doucette shares building blocks shaping his sense of fulfillment - interaction, teamwork, patience, and focus - and how they enable his passion for music. He elaborates on importance of asserting a focus to "make a certain type of music with a certain group of people" while developing non-performance music interests in media and publishing.
In Chapter 1 of 13, Takka Takka drummer and music journalist Conrad Doucette (Fuse.tv, Blender.com) highlights the engaging feeling present when progressing on the fulfillment path. Not only is the engaging personal feeling uplifting, but also it creates a confidence boost resulting in improved communication with others that benefits all.
In Chapter 7 of 13, Brown University graduate Caroline Giegerich learns to apply her classic education in philosophy and pre-med to modern digital media roles at HBO and the Los Angeles Times. Giegerich finds her philosophy Logic education especially valuable as she deconstructs arguments and works through business problems in sales and business development.
In Chapter 3 of 13, Caroline Giegerich builds self-confidence working as a WBRU radio DJ in Providence, Rhode Island. Working there while studying at Brown University, Giegerich learns to manage popularity through constant listener praise and rejection and diva musicians stopping by for studio visits.
In Chapter 6 of 7, Oregon winemaker Patricia Green shares how she keeps her consistent style amidst vintage variance. This seamless approach not only provides her wines a marketing and branding platform, but also in creates a unified team and partner culture that works together as a family.
In Chapter 12 of 15, Island Def Jam promotiions executive Any Epstein shares this surprising yet understandable insight - talent reigns supreme - as it relates to the changing nature of music big business. In an industry where direct audience engagement, including touring and appearances, is more relevant than ever, music artists are as exposed as ever and forced to rely on individual talent building their personal brands.
In Chapter 11 of 15, Andy Epstein shares what happened when he and his boss first heard Rhianna's song "Umbrella" in the Island Def Jam offices. Both men stopped, sensing the song's appeal, understanding the popular culture and business implications. Fundamental to both, whether working in music or simply enjoying music, is connecting with others by shared emotional experiences.
In Chapter 10 of 15, Island Def Jam promotions executive Andy Epstein shares how the band Phish connected with him in college at the University of Michigan and the resulting relationship value cultivated over time. The concert experience and touring lifestyle enable fans to find connection. Epstein highlights how bands and their labels prioritize providing these community-driven fan experiences to build relationships over time.
In Chapter 9 of 15, music executive traces his relationshp with music from pre-high school Pink Floyd and Grateful Dead concert experiences. Not only does this early experience blossom into deeper appreciation for live music, especially the Grateful Dead and, later, Phish, but also it shapes way Epstein later will participate in this relationship as an Island Def Jam record label operations executive.
In chapter 8 of 9 of his 2009 Capture Your Flag interview with host Erik Michielsne, New York City newspaper journalist Yoav Gonen traces his passion for music - from DJ performing to house music festivals to record shop vinyl browsing - back to childhood and his request as a 4-year old to take piano lessons. Gonen is an education reporter for the New York Post newspaper in New York City. He earned his masters in journalism from NYU and his BA in English from the University of Michigan.
Since 2009, Capture Your Flag has interviewed a cohort of rising leaders who share lessons from their journeys to help others plan, pursue and achieve life and career aspirations. The resulting 3000+ Near Peer Video Library can be licensed for commercial use.
