If you know me, this might be hard to believe: I am currently on an advisory board for a student internship center. That’s ironic because I’ve only been an intern once (with Man Made Music, a small music production company) and it was long after I finished college. Therefore, I am no expert on how to be a successful intern.
However, I am an expert on how to be a failed intern. I’ve applied with both DC Comics and Marvel Comics (numerous times). I’ve let great connections at publishing companies like Random House and Ingram slip through my fingers. And I even botched a shot with Nancy Cartwright, the voice of Bart Simpson.
Both of the Big Two comic book publishers posted their internship opportunities much later that I expected. I thought they would be locking down interns in March or April. Not the case. DC and Marvel waited until late May / early June. And I would have been a great candidate… if only I had waited for their postings and not given up earlier.
I think the best way to get a resume to the right Big Two people is to pass one along through an editor. As a college grad, I managed to have some light communication with editorial. I once sent Andy Schmidt a resume back when he was with Marvel, and I think that would have been a great “in” had I been eligible to be an intern (you have to be a student).
As for publishing companies, my dad actually used to be the head of Ingram’s digital printing division. Think of the great connections I could have made there as an intern. Instead, I decided it would be better to work as a YMCA summer camp counselor. That was one of my worst ideas ever. Later, a connection of mine from Ingram became the President of Random House. And what did I do? I blew that connection too! I called him up once and I failed to sell myself whatsoever. Another week, another blown opportunity.
The biggest and best shot I ever botched was a chance to intern for Nancy Cartwright. She works out in Hollywood, so naturally the internship would have been spent in Los Angeles. She needed someone who could navigate the city and get around easily. I should have said, “Okay, Nancy. I don’t know Los Angeles that well… yet. But give me a month to research the city and I’ll know it like the back of my hand!” Instead, I rushed off the phone and promptly lost her number.
So here’s what I learned from all this: 1) Be patient. If the opportunity doesn’t come along right away, stay vigilant. I called Marvel Comics every week for four months, but I never got a response because the internships weren’t being offered yet. By the time they were available, I had stopped calling. 2) Be enthusiastic. Prove you’re a necessity by being assertive and resourceful. 3) Fucking intern ANYWHERE!!! If I had interned at any one of these places, I would have been well on my way. Instead, I spent my summers earning minimum wage while working sucky, depressing jobs.
And that’s just another reason why I’m going to have to sneak into the comic book industry if I ever want to make it in.
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