On the record: Advertising student Erin Baptiste interns with local music label
Junior Erin Baptiste has an eclectic group of interests: media, design, history and music.
Originally from Dallas,听Texas, Baptiste听is听the type of person who looks both backward and forward. As a dual major in Strategic Communication (in the Media Design track) and History, she听informs her ideas for the future with lessons of the past. Outside of class, she embraces her love of music as a member of听CU Boulder's all-female a cappella group, On the Rocks.听
This spring, Baptiste began an internship with the Boulder-based record label and recording studio United Interests鈥攁 place remarkably well-suited to combine her passions for media, history and the arts.听The opportunity听came about after she met听representatives听of the company at CMCI鈥檚 fall career fair.
For Baptiste, an average day at her internship might include posting to social media, searching听the web for mentions of the label鈥檚 artists, helping with web design and managing听the office space.听She also has opportunities to learn from and assist with other departments at the studio. For example, she uses her experience in graphic design to help create logos and design听official band merchandise.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really taught me the ins and outs and the ups and downs of small business and the people you really need to rely on,鈥� she says.
The label represents several local indie bands, including The Lil Smokies鈥攁 progressive bluegrass band originally from Montana鈥攁nd Elephant Revival鈥攁 folk group that formed in Nederland, Colorado, just west of CU Boulder's campus. Each week, when she heads to her internship, Baptiste trades in the desks and whiteboards of her classrooms to work amid Fender amplifiers, an array of hanging guitars, and large posters for bands like The Jimi Hendrix Experience.听One of the best aspects of the internship is the ability to attend concerts for the artists, she says, including shows at the famous Red Rocks Amphitheater in Denver, as well as Boulder venues like the Fox Theatre.
鈥淚 think this internship showed me that there is a place for me in the music industry,鈥� she says.听