On The Scene But Not With The Herd
Chiming in with another update from my music journalism class. Turns out that I missed the class where we were workingshopping our music review assignments, so I never got any formal feedback on my Blackalicious Review. But some people in class last night said they liked it. Anyway, we're on to the next assignment: feature writing.
We were asked to interview someone in class as though they were an artist, and write a 300-word profile. The main instruction from our teacher was that it had to tell a story, rather than just report biographical information. I found it very difficult to come up with a storyline on someone who is just a regular person, and also to do it in 300 words or less. But anyway, here's my assignement; it came in at 296 words. We're reviewing it on Saturday, so I will report in if I get noteworthy feedback.
Andrew Casden: On The Scene But Not With The Herd
This story is about a 24 year old San Francisco kid named Andrew Casden. But I must warn you, it lacks the malaise and self-pity hooks that drive most twenty-something story plots. It lacks the angst and drug abuse hooks too.
It’s not that Andrew hasn’t had his share of sex-addled benders and life-questioning hangovers. And it’s not that he’s obliviously happy at his day job at a video production firm.
It’s just that he keeps on pushing. With a sharp, blue-eyed stare and a genuine connection with any scene he’s involved with. Like when I met him, he was drowning his burrito in ketchup, telling me how it was nice to catch up with the corner store clerk while his dinner-on-the-run was microwaving.
And it’s no wonder there’s no room for a proper meal. As day transitions to night, Andrew transitions from video editor to club promoter for Ten15 to film production designer for the Academy of Art to writer for nightlife bible NightVibe.com.
Yet, amidst all the commitments, Andrew has no sense of entitlement, and no aura of defeat. If these perspectives are the opposite ends of a 24 year old’s mind, Andrew is dead center. And his motivation is appropriately undramatic: “When it comes to life and work, I just want to be in the right environment, and make enough money.”
Wise and humble words. Something you might hear from a seasoned media player who’s spent decades collaborating and creating. Making piles of cash. Befriending all kinds. And fostering an environment ... a scene with the right vibe.
Andrew’s story is only in it’s first chapter, but you can start to see where it’s headed. The nice guy who finishes first. The man who is on the scene but not with the herd.
We were asked to interview someone in class as though they were an artist, and write a 300-word profile. The main instruction from our teacher was that it had to tell a story, rather than just report biographical information. I found it very difficult to come up with a storyline on someone who is just a regular person, and also to do it in 300 words or less. But anyway, here's my assignement; it came in at 296 words. We're reviewing it on Saturday, so I will report in if I get noteworthy feedback.
Andrew Casden: On The Scene But Not With The Herd
This story is about a 24 year old San Francisco kid named Andrew Casden. But I must warn you, it lacks the malaise and self-pity hooks that drive most twenty-something story plots. It lacks the angst and drug abuse hooks too.
It’s not that Andrew hasn’t had his share of sex-addled benders and life-questioning hangovers. And it’s not that he’s obliviously happy at his day job at a video production firm.
It’s just that he keeps on pushing. With a sharp, blue-eyed stare and a genuine connection with any scene he’s involved with. Like when I met him, he was drowning his burrito in ketchup, telling me how it was nice to catch up with the corner store clerk while his dinner-on-the-run was microwaving.
And it’s no wonder there’s no room for a proper meal. As day transitions to night, Andrew transitions from video editor to club promoter for Ten15 to film production designer for the Academy of Art to writer for nightlife bible NightVibe.com.
Yet, amidst all the commitments, Andrew has no sense of entitlement, and no aura of defeat. If these perspectives are the opposite ends of a 24 year old’s mind, Andrew is dead center. And his motivation is appropriately undramatic: “When it comes to life and work, I just want to be in the right environment, and make enough money.”
Wise and humble words. Something you might hear from a seasoned media player who’s spent decades collaborating and creating. Making piles of cash. Befriending all kinds. And fostering an environment ... a scene with the right vibe.
Andrew’s story is only in it’s first chapter, but you can start to see where it’s headed. The nice guy who finishes first. The man who is on the scene but not with the herd.
posted by JD at 1:15 PM
1 Comments:
thanks man. i got some good comments in class saturday -- the most important of which was that I need to take some of the editorial voice out and add more on andrew (the subject of the profile). move the ketchup-on-the-burrito comment up to the lead because people want to know what kind of dude puts ketchup on a burrito. anyway, i will be updating the story sunday or monday. stay tuned.
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