Sayonara Internship Program, see you in another time!

Today marks the last day of Internship program that I had for the Public Relations unit as part of my Bachelor Degree completion, focusing on final exams and hopefully I will be able to graduate on February 2017 *yeayme*.
Inul Vizta Family KTV has been an interesting place for a fast pace of working place. The company is eager to compete with another companies who is offering similar type of purpose which is Karaoke for customers such as working people, students in schools and Universities, families and corporate events. The company can be said as a leading franchisee based company that succeed to achieve a positive brand image and media coverage toward the company.

By completing the Internship program, I will of course miss the company and my small desk (more about it below) and I cannot wait to apply the skills that I have learned to the real world later on. I will mostly feel grateful to my supervisor, Herry and his assistant, Hendra to guide me when I was interning there and receiving important information about the company and to know more how to work in an office environment as personally I have never been working in an office before doing this Internship.

These below are some images of the office that I worked for:

 This above is the desk that I sat during the Internship days.

This image above is the situation of the 5th floor office at Inul Vizta Family Karaoke KTV Palembang, Indonesia.

This table above in the image is where me and the supervisors have a weekly meeting or daily follow up in the office.

Therefore, by creating this blog post marks the end journey of Public Relations Internship and my journey as a University Student.
Thank you my small team members and people in Inul Vizta for the precious memories and fun working situation that we had. See you in another time.

Thanks for reading my blog posts guys :)

Sayonara Internship Program, see you in another time!

Today marks the last day of Internship program that I had for the Public Relations unit as part of my Bachelor Degree completion, focusing on final exams and hopefully I will be able to graduate on February 2017 *yeayme*.
Inul Vizta Family KTV has been an interesting place for a fast pace of working place. The company is eager to compete with another companies who is offering similar type of purpose which is Karaoke for customers such as working people, students in schools and Universities, families and corporate events. The company can be said as a leading franchisee based company that succeed to achieve a positive brand image and media coverage toward the company.

By completing the Internship program, I will of course miss the company and my small desk (more about it below) and I cannot wait to apply the skills that I have learned to the real world later on. I will mostly feel grateful to my supervisor, Herry and his assistant, Hendra to guide me when I was interning there and receiving important information about the company and to know more how to work in an office environment as personally I have never been working in an office before doing this Internship.

These below are some images of the office that I worked for:

 This above is the desk that I sat during the Internship days.

This image above is the situation of the 5th floor office at Inul Vizta Family Karaoke KTV Palembang, Indonesia.

This table above in the image is where me and the supervisors have a weekly meeting or daily follow up in the office.

Therefore, by creating this blog post marks the end journey of Public Relations Internship and my journey as a University Student.
Thank you my small team members and people in Inul Vizta for the precious memories and fun working situation that we had. See you in another time.

Thanks for reading my blog posts guys :)

Reality of events: My first 12 hour day

Hello! Welcome back to my blog.
For those who haven't read my previous blogs, I am interning at an events company in Northbridge, Western Australia.

I am approaching the end of my 20-day internship journey and have experienced my first full day at a conference managed by the company.

A week prior to the conference, one of the company directors emailed a run sheet with a breakdown of all the tasks required throughout the day and the interns that would be responsible for particular tasks.

I was very nervous prior to the event, particularly because I thought I would sleep through my alarm at 5AM and because one of the first tasks of the day was to welcome CEO's of oil, mining and gas companies from around the world. Never the less I arrived on time at 6AM and greeting the guests wasn't as intimidating as I had imagined.

As there were a few interns helping throughout the day, we could relieve each other and take breaks in the 'green room'. Most of our tasks consisted of directing guests on where to sit, handing out name tags, directing guests to lunch, morning and afternoon tea, assisting with mobile device application that was used throughout the conference. Most of the day guests were seated, listening to the speakers so we had very little tasks to do.

During the quieter periods of the day, the directors asked me to return calls for another event they are managing.

The conference consisted of a number of CEO's speaking, referring to videos and slide shows and interacting with the audience. There was a team of audiovisual, that had to follow along with slides, play the videos at the right time, ensure correct microphones were switched on when members of the audience spoke and to ensure the entire day ran smoothly. My director sat with the audiovisual team the entire conference to ensure that the slideshow, videos, and talks ran coherently.


It was a great experience seeing what goes on behind the scene at an all day conference. I learned that it is important to have good people skills when working in events as you have to work and collaborate with a number of people and things aren't always going to go to plan and the way you compose yourself when things take a turn for the worse is a clear representation of your professionalism.

It is also important to remain professional throughout the entire event because it may be an opportunity to network with business professionals.

Overall the event was fast paced and a good learning experience for a soon to be university graduate.

Below I've inserted a screenshot of the run sheet the interns were sent the week of the conference.

Looking through Rose-coloured Glasses

As I'm writing this, it is 1:38am on Sunday, and I just came home to hear the neighbours cranking up some loud music *lovely* Also, as I'm writing this, my feet ache once again from an exciting and crazy night spent at another signature Momentum Forum Events function: the Brian Gardner Pink Ribbon Ball. 

Behind the scenes

T'was a Pink Night
Held at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre, the massive ballroom was lit up in pink. Before the guests were to arrive at 6:30pm, setting up tables with name cards, raffle tickets and envelopes, auction catalogues, and corporate signage was the first task our group of interns. It was great to see you all there again (you know who you are!).

From the get-go I had an inkling that the night would have it's stressful moments; as is expected from helping to run an event. The corporate signage list wasn't set out according to a previous version, and the guest list pinned to boards by the entrance weren't printed well; raffle tickets had to be counted and re-counted, and laid out on all forty-six tables, and so, too, did the auction catalogues; all neatly rearranged to accommodate everything else crowding the table. There's a lot more paperwork at an event than you'd think.

Pink Ribbon Ball 2016

As the guests arrived in the foyer, enjoying their bubbly pre-drinks and came over to the table where raffle entries and door prize sign-ups were happening, the excitement started to build together with the decibels of conversations. The rainy weather withdrew into the night, and soon everyone was filling the ballroom, anticipating the night ahead.

The Pink Ribbon Ball is an annual signature event, since Barbara founded MFE in 2002, and its support for breast cancer awareness is amazing. It's sad to realise that this illness is something that everyone in that room had a connection to; either because they experienced it, they guided someone else going through the rigorous treatment, or because you want to support others discovering the painful journey. Behind the pink lights, the sequinned dresses and the grand ballroom, we are real people gathering to support a cause that we, sadly, hear about too often. This is something our guest testimonial speaker Debbie Clarke was sharing with us last night.

Going One, Going Twice, Sold!
Behind the scenes and away from the reality check felt across the room, the live auction was coming up soon. But before the real hustle began, Jess and I got the delicious task of showcasing a 10kg life-size Cadbury chocolate bar, tempting everyone, which was really fun!

Colour me pink

And so the serious bidding began. In addition to the team which was handling the auction, us interns were made to divide and conquer, and be 'spotters': signalling anytime someone in our section raised their hand to place a bid to benefit the auctioneer. My head was swirling from one side to the other, patrolling the area if you will, trying to keep up with the pace of the auctioneer's speedy monotone of which bidding price we were at. There was also a silent auction, but it was pretty quiet on that front; I wonder if any of those silent auction paintings got sold...

Wrapping it Up
In the end, everyone was dancing and having a good time. The live band got a crowd of their own up on the stage, singing away as the smoke machine fogged the disco laser lights. The atmosphere was infectious. When all the auction catalogues, corporate signage and other bits and pieces were collected, it was time for us interns to get together and have a glass of wine. What was a nice surprise was that the kitchen had some desserts left over for us to enjoy. Chocolate cups with raspberry coulis, macaroon meringue and flower petals was truly a treat!

The A-team

Finding an internship is like finding an ant in the sand for me

Hello friends, this is Isabella I know it's really late that I just post my blog post for the 1st time for the internship. Let's just get started :)

First of all, I have no idea that finding an internship as a PR student will be really really hard and requires a lot of time and receiving replies when you apply for the position is kinda giving mixed emotions like excited to work as intern but a bit sorrow when the company does not want us in their industry. But all is good now because I will finish my intern position soon enough after finding it with much effort and struggle.

I have been enjoying my intern position as a social media assistant in managing the company's Facebook page and the website for the company. I work for a karaoke industry called Inul Vizta in South Sumatra, Indonesia. It has been a pretty successful company as it's been running from 2008 and everyday there is always guest or customers who want to sing at the place.
The name for the company is pretty unique because the franchiser use Indonesian singer to work as the icon or ambassador for our company. The company also has a lot of branches across Indonesia such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Lampung, Medan, Makassar, Depok, Tangerang and many more.

At first, I was really nervous on how to work as an intern in a company because I don't have much working experience in general let alone as a PR intern. Also, finding an intern position in Australia is really hard for me as I am an international student and don't have significant experience in working and most companies want people who are already have skills in working as intern.
When I work at the company, the manager trains me on how to do the work in general, giving me guidelines on how to work with the teams, what things to post on the accounts and the people are really friendly too as I have known them before I apply for the job.

The one thing that I am concerned with at first was the difference theories applied for PR in general. Like in Indonesia, PR is known more as public speaking, presentation and writing reports. It is seen as communication and promotion tool for the company. But in Australia, it isn't like that, there is more to PR than what I know before studying it in University. So it is kinda interesting to tell my fellow colleagues about what I studied for PR, the techniques, theories, understanding and application for PR in working as well.

Well, I think it is enough for my 1st post ever in this blog. I will write my intern journey soon enough and doing my best as a student as well.

Networking – Can You Help Me?

What a cruisy start to my intern day 10. Researching potential artists for AIME’s upcoming fundraiser KiNDLiNG. From triple J to upcoming YouTube stars from Perth, this task is really shifting the Monday blues into a Monday session of cruisy beats and soulful artists. What makes this moment even better is that it is raining outside, and not a light drizzle but a thunder of water battling against the window pain. This is my kind of day in the office. However, I know it won’t always be like this. It will rarely be like this. 

I guess the flip side to my chilled out morning is the task that lays ahead. When I will have to put in the hard yards to book in a musician or band. It is one thing to listen to their music, appreciate their talent and want them to perform. But to actually book them in as a confirmation can be a tricky endeavour. One that I would say should have been done months ago. 

I am now experiencing the all too familiar “sorry we are already booked” reply. It feels as if I am unrealistically hoping that a semi-famous band will be available in two months’ time, knowing all too well that schedules are written and stamped months in advance. However, I will not keep a couple of ‘rejection’ letters keeping me from achieving AIME’s set list. Hopefully a really exciting act will come my way. 

So two things I have learnt from this experience.

1. Always plan ahead. You might not be ready in terms of planning an event, but it is certain that people outside the organisation are planning their lives, especially musicians who will have gigs, concerts and tours lined up with no space in between.
2. Secondly, I am more than ever realising the power of networking. How one face can lead to another, and potentially a performing act, an inspirational speaker or even a caterer. Networking is everything!

So I am putting this one out there to anyone who is reading this. PR students, colleagues and tutors, if any of you have connections with a local band (Perth) or a semi-famous musician group can you please let me know in the comments.

Sending all my thanks in advance!

From networking with friends I have already confirmed a WAAPA 3^rd year dance student to do a contemporary piece, so perhaps networking will once again work in my favour. 
 

I love music so this internship just keeps getting better and better. Maybe next year’s KiNDLiNG event will have a headliner! Perhaps in 5 years’ time this event will become an Indigenous music festival, inspiring social connectivity within the non-Indigenous and Indigenous community. 

  

 

Creating New Momentum

Beginning any internship is nerve-wracking and exciting; and this was no exception with my first day with Momentum Forum Events.

It was a late afternoon at the Pan Pacific hotel, when I met with other Curtin interns to help set up the ballroom for the event of the night, the Men in Black Ball. 

This fantastic charity event is an annual dance-fest full of delicious food, good music and entertaining highlights thought the night with unforgettable guests (like Carmelo Pizzino from Dancing with the Stars and Soa ‘The Hulk’ Palelei, but I don’t want to name-drop).

The Men in Black Ball Flyer

The Men in Black Ball came about to raise awareness of men’s mental health and well-being. I found it amazing seeing this one idea, after many months of planning and organising, manifested itself that night. I didn’t really understand what it took to organise such an extravagant night, as I was there when it all came together; that’s why I’m looking forward to the next events (such as the Pink Ribbon Ball and the Silver Prints Perth Pet Expo) and being there from the beginning.

As I walked around collecting the raffle tickets from the elegantly set tables, feet aching from the discomforting and foreign feeling of wearing heels for too long, I found myself thinking that this is surreal; the thought of being a part of creating and putting something like this together throughout the internship.

Coming back home I knew that in the following weeks, working in the office, I wouldn’t be able to anticipate what each day would bring. To have the opportunity to be surrounding by so many different people and the variety of tasks that will become my responsibility is refreshing; beginning something new often is.

Admin Duties 

The Intern Desk

Administrative tasks are part of any job. A small office space houses some amazing work ethic, forward-thinking ideas, and hands-on things to accomplish. Barbara McNaught is the founder of Momentum, and is both relatable and inspiring. She really shows that you can take an idea and make it happen. To have a mentor like that is really humbling. She is also from Poland, so whenever we are alone in the office we often speak Polish, which makes me feel lucky to have someone else to talk with who knows this language.

Lately, I have been working a lot with spreadsheets; getting contact lists in order from the Men in Black Ball, and crafting emails to send out to potential exhibitors at one of the next events; the Perth Pet Expo. There is a specific colour code for the spreadsheets I use, which can get confusing if you don’t keep track of which person you emailed, which email bounced back, whose contact information was incorrect, who didn’t update a certain colour, and who was already emailed yet not marked as emailed and have doubled-up. No wonder spreadsheets have a bad reputation.

The Social Side of Media and a Piece of Advice 
Social media and its analytics have fascinated me since last year’s Transmedia Storytelling unit. Getting the chance to do a few social media posts and seeing how the number of people exposed to the links, posts and updates grows is really insightful. With Momentum, I observed from the start that every post on Facebook or every Tweet has a meaning behind it, and that it’s all about having a clear message you want to share with your target audience. Without ideas worth talking about, why use Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram to strengthen your presence?

At another desk, working on spreadsheets,
social media posts and emails

Someone gave me some advice worth remembering when it came to doing the internship at Momentum, which I constantly remind myself of; take notes of anything and everything because every little detail counts. Deciding to take this advice, I now actively take notes of anything that I can write later in these blog posts or the final report. I found that having this sort of mentality helps in picking out key information or even skills that formulate themselves from doing various tasks; whether they be ‘desk-and-char’ based or completely hands-on.  

Coming into the compact office every week, I never know what I’ll be doing. From one side I find it unnerving (how am I supposed to prepare for the day??), but from the other side I see it as another learning curve. If I am able to learn something I didn’t know how to do before, then that’s the key thing I want to get out of this work experience.

I hope everyone reading this is also enjoying their internships all over Perth as well as overseas, taking the PR world by storm! 

- Ewelina

Goodbye for now and Good luck!

 My final week has been the saddest, busiest and most challenging week by far. In my last blog I expressed my third interning week to be my busiest but boy was I wrong. During my final week I was working really busy hours with two days starting as early as 7am and finishing at 5pm. Although these hours were long, I was enjoying every minute of the work I was involved in.

During my busy last week, I had some highlights of helping with filming for a client promo video, calling a clients cause partners for an upcoming opportunity and I met a client which I had spent the last 3 weeks liaising with on the phone. It was so nice to put a face to a voice and be able build that relationship on a more personal level. This week I also had to hand the reins back over on one project that I was involved with from the beginning. After four weeks of being involved, it was very sad to know you have no more involvement in this project, a project which felt like my baby.

Four weeks interning is a long/quick time. It's long enough to feel like you are apart of the team, to fit in and become more then just colleagues but friends with your co-workers. At the end of the 4 weeks I didn't realize how sad I would be to say good-bye, it was lovely to know the feeling was mutual. On my last day everyone said usually with interns we just say goodbye, but this time it was sad as they said they felt like I was an actual employee there. This was a nice feeling to know you ended up really fitting in and will be remembered once leaving. 

On your last day of interning it is mandatory that the intern bring in something sweet to share with everyone. I had recommendations that chocolate is always a winner and brownies were the best. So you guessed it, I made chocolate brownies. However being the terrible cook I am, I ended up burning the first batch at 7pm on the Thursday night, lucky for me it was late night shopping so I was able to run to the shop to buy more ingredients. Thankfully they were a major hit at my internship placement, so it made the late night dash to the shops worth it.

One week after my internship had finished, I received an email from the HR manager inviting me out for lunch with herself and the director of the consultancy. I was over the moon to be invited back; they said they had never taken an intern out for lunch before so I felt very privileged. They thanked me for my efforts and said that although there are no positions available at the moment, the possibilities of the future are unknown. After the four weeks I definitely know that I would love to venture into consultancy when I graduate and I can’t imagine working in any other consultancy than this one. It’s definitely the ultimate dream, so fingers crossed when I graduate there is an opening and I make it on the list of candidates.

For now its goodbye and good luck with all of your internships! I promise interning is the best most invaluable experience that I am sure each and every one of you will love. I know I sure did.

Chelsea J