Thank you

We here at Beats have been very fortunate the last year with interns. I talked to two earlier...they been here what, 4 to 6 months now, and it really seems like the time to move on is looming.

Now make no mistake, despite their title of interns, they did nearly as much work as the Editor and myself. And we wouldn't have even been able to put out a mag the past half year without their help.

It started early 2008 with the scary efficient, machine-like Ysabelle. She would pump stuff out and never say a word. We'd hand her an assignment, go take a dump, and it'd be ready in our mailbox by the time we come back.

Then I left for LA in May, came back and met the first two summer interns--Jamie and Nicole. Both didn't fit the typical "intern" mold (they older than me!) but both had their strengths. Jamie was just a great, great writer with a strong sense of music, and Nicole was always enthusiastic.

A few weeks after those two, in came Sindy and Chris. Now these two fit the intern mold more--they were young, fresh-faced college students. Sindy was mature and responsible beyond her years though. In addition to being infinitely more organized, she would keep things in check and plan better than the Editor and I combined (although that ain't saying much). Chris was this wide-eyed kid so eager to learn. So enthusiastic and had so much belief in our product. It was great having that little fruit around.

Now we at Beats are not as demanding of interns as other publications, we don't have some set "you must work 8 hours and commit two months" bullshit that other local English publications have (I dunno what they smoking). Our interns could come and go as they please and work as short or long as they want. Usually interns would be on a part time basis and stay a few weeks. A month, tops. But this summer we had the most dedicated and hardworking crew. While the aforementioned four interns were still here, we had 2 more come in--Alison and Amber. Both gave us what we had lacked since the old Beats team left: someone who's into the whole night scene and hang around LKF afterhours.

At one point I believe we had like, 7 interns at once. We had more interns than actual staff.

After most of this batch left, in came the two who have probably made the biggest impact on us this year--Valerie and Tom. Aka, THE BOSS and T-Rex/Ziggy. The BOSS is just a social butterfly, someone who can go to events, represent Beats, get to know people, network, and most important of all, be remembered. It's something we needed badly in Beats, since I'm the awkward, geeky, anti-social type. As for T-Rex? He's a jack of all trades type of cat. He writes. He photographs. He listens to Bowie. He feeds cats. There ain't nothing he can't do.

Without these nine interns, and I use that term loosely, because they were basically, more or less, full out journalists, Beats wouldn't have been as good.

And perhaps more importantly, I wouldn't have had as much fun at work.

7 of them are gone. Half of them are out the country. Some for good. 2 still remains... but one looks set on a new career (good for her), and as for the others... I'm hoping he can stay. But it's his decision and whatever the case, we will be an inferior mag for the lack of these people.

Thanks for the help.