a word from the PAS intern alums … The Percussive Arts Society internship was a launching pad for my journey within the music industry. Through my involvement with PASIC, the PAS publications, and the PAS museum and library, the internship helped me discover career opportunities in the music industry that can unlock my full potential. Assisting with PASIC allowed me to gain and maintain contact with artists and educators alike, as well as introducing me to a variety of job opportunities available in the music industry. Working with the country’s most extensive collection of percussion instruments and literature afforded me an exclusive opportunity to meet knowledgeable, passionate percussionists from around the country. Along with the relative field experience any internship offers, the PAS internship allows each intern the freedom to be creatively constructive. With unending support and inspiration from the entire PAS Team, I was able to truly contribute to the future of the internship and the organization. The remarkable internship at PAS provided the essential music industry experience and professional contacts that made me a marketable candidate in the music industry. I developed professionally through my intense involvement in the planning and implementation of PASIC and other responsibilities at the PAS office. Not only did I assist in the building of an internationally-acclaimed nonprofit organization, but I also created many long-lasting friendships and contacts in the percussion world and throughout the entire music industry. Working as the first ever PAS intern in 1993 provided me with the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the percussion industry while utilizing the theories that I studied as a Music Business major at Western Illinois University. The PAS internship was my springboard into the music products industry. As an intern, I was able to network with the owners and managers of every drum and percussion company. This networking opportunity eventually led to multiple job offers upon the completion of the program. I have worked with major percussion manufacturers like Yamaha, Sabian, Pro Mark and Zildjian, and in 2003, I started my own percussion sales and marketing company. I have been involved with PAS in a variety of capacities since 1987 and will continue my involvement throughout my career. The internship at PAS helped my career in the percussion industry. I do not think I could have been as successful in the industry if I had not been an intern at PAS. David Kelley Anyone interested in becoming an intern with PAS can be assured they will have a great work environment, gain experience through a wide variety of projects and tasks as well and make a large number of industry contacts that are crucial in building one's career. PAS gives their interns a great deal of freedom and personal responsibility which allows them to create their own experience catered to their specific goals. From my first day in the PAS offices, I was treated as another staff member, not as an intern who runs errands. I was given a great many real tasks and responsibilities and further given the space and freedom to find my own ways of accomplishing them. PAS interns will encounter no training-wheels or safety nets, just priceless real world experiences. Playing a key role in the production of a major event like PASIC, interacting with high-profile artists, and dealing with major manufacturers, publishers, and educators are just a few of the many things I was able to list on my resume just six months after completing my undergraduate degree. Without doubt, these experiences have given me a competitive edge over my peers as well as a great deal of confidence as I further my career in the music and audio industries. Jeff Piper The internship with the Percussive Arts Society is an experience I won’t soon forget. Working with the society helped me gain knowledge and experience that I would have otherwise missed out on. As a fall intern with PAS, the majority of my internship was dominated by the planning and production of the Percussive Arts Society International Convention. My responsibilities included keeping track of all the artist information, including contracts, tech sheets, and artist correspondence. While PASIC was the main focus of my internship, I was also involved on other projects for PAS such as new marketing schemes, museum displays and research, and computer related projects. PAS also gave me the opportunity to network and build relationships throughout the percussion world. Working and talking with artists and company representatives, as well as the PAS staff, has proved to be one of the most valuable assets I obtained from the internship. Working with PAS team is an experience I would recommend to anyone wishing to enter the music industry. Nick Wulfkuhle
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