Have you ever been to your favorite musical concert and stopped to think how much work goes on behind the scenes to make it happen?
This week, I had the pleasure of speaking with Natalie Camillo ’09. Natalie graduated from YCP with a degree in Mass Communications and a minor in Music Industry and currently serves as a publicist for Adrenaline PR. I was very intrigued by what a “publicist” does and was eager to get a glimpse into her everyday life.
Adrenaline PR, the boutique agency founded by publicity powerhouse Maria Ferrero, was formed in February of 2003 to represent some of today's hottest musical talent. Natalie’s office is based in Freehold, NJ, about an hour south of NYC. As a publicist, Natalie’s job includes securing press opportunities for many of their clients. This includes magazine features, radio interviews, television interviews, internet articles, etc. On any given day, Natalie will set up five to ten interviews with multiple journalists. She finds it rewarding when writers come back to her in excitement over a great piece and to see the final outcome on magazine stands at her local Borders store. Natalie is responsible for about 15-20 clients which include musicians, metal bands and hard rock bands. She works directly with newspapers to pitch articles, interviews and photo opportunities to inform fans when the tour is going through. Her clients have performed anywhere from well known bars to larger venues such as the Electric Factory, Madison Square Garden and the House of Blues.
When I asked Natalie how she landed such an amazing job while only graduating last May, I quickly learned it wasn’t just luck, but rather a lot of hard work, dedication and passion towards the music field. Natalie worked four internships during her college career, three being music industry related and one being radio related. Natalie had been working with Adrenaline PR for seven months and was hired the day before graduation. She credits this to constant contact she had with a publicist at Adrenaline PR for an interview she was working on for the college radio station, WVYC. She was interviewing one of her favorite bands and an APR client at the time, for her radio show. During the time she spent building a relationship with this publicist, she asked if she could send him a resume to put on file. When it came time for him to leave the company (shortly after their correspondence), she was hired as his replacement. She credits networking and timing to getting her first job.
After hearing about Natalie’s successful internships leading to her career, I asked her what advice she has for incoming students?
“I feel lucky and honored to have scored a job before graduation, especially in this difficult time, and I want YCP students to know that it's possible! Don't give up! Get your internships squared away; with or without school credit. Building a super resume is key in scoring a job. Scout out internships that are related to your dream job. In my current job, I work with almost every single company I interned with. Maria Ferrero, the owner of our company, recognized all of the companies I worked with when she looked at my resume. Another good activity for aspiring music industry professionals to take part in is being on a street team. It really shows that you aren't afraid to get out there and promote a product to new people. During college, I was on a paid street team for another one of the companies I work with daily.”
Music has always been a passion for Natalie and she knew she wanted to work in the music business ever since she was a child. While at York, Natalie participated in the college radio station, WVYC, all four years. WVYC was also one of her main reasons for choosing YCP. During her first tour of the campus, the radio station made a lasting impression on her. She had toured stations at other schools, but WVYC impressed her the most due to the size, quality of equipment and welcoming nature of the organization. “Little did I know then, the radio station would help mold me into the music business professional I am today!”
How has YCP prepared you to be a professional?
“YCP definitely aided me in finding a job and honing my professional skills. Through relationships with faculty and connections I made with industry professionals during my time at the radio station, I was able to land four internships and two part-time industry jobs during my college career. The radio station also put me in a credit-earning, decision-making position as WVYC Program Director; overseeing, managing, and helping to grade students working in different departments. It helped me build my go-getter attitude; a must-have in the music industry. I feel that the professional skills I learned working in a management position at the radio station continue to shine through in my current position as a publicist. Something else that I think about daily are my law courses with Dr. Hall and Professor Cabott. I deal with publishing and copyright laws daily at my job, specifically relating to the band we manage, Testament.”
Fun Facts about Natalie
a. Her little brother Daniel Camillo is currently a sophomore at YCP and is majoring in Sports Management.
b. Natalie urges current Mass Communication and Music Industry students with this piece of advice, “GO TO CMJ! (College Music Journal, an annual NYC music conference attended by tens of thousands of people). After admiring panelists for years during our CMJ trips in college, this year I had the opportunity to speak and be one of them! WVYC offers attendance to CMJ every year, so make sure to head up to the office and ask about it. It will open your eyes to the industry you love.”
c. To get her first internship, Natalie walked right up to the CEO at a concert, shook his hand, and said, "I would love to intern for you." She was on the phone with the company the next day, faxing her college credit paperwork.
d. Natalie’s future career goals include becoming a college Professor and teaching courses in the field of Music Industry.
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Natalie holding current issues of magazines with some of her clients featured on the cover.
They include Dethklok and Chuck Billy of Testament. |
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The framed DVD is Lamb of God’s top-selling DVD, Killadelphia. Lamb of God is one of her most successful clients; their latest release Wrath was rated #1 on Sirius XM Liquid Metal’s ‘Top CD of 2009’, the record debuted at #2 on the Billboard top 200, and they are nominated for a Grammy this year. |