The perks.

As previously mentioned, I am enjoying my job. For those who may not know (I had to explain it in detail to my mom so she could tell her friends about it), I work for EMI Music Publishing in the licensing department, specifically in the TV group. Basically, I help with the licensing of songs for TV shows (researching copyright information, getting approval from the artists, confirming with the studios or music supervision firms, etc). So any time a studio wants to use an EMI song in, say American Idol or Grey's Anatomy or something, they have to come through us.

I have now graduated from being an intern to the marginally more promising status of "long-term temp." Before, I had been sitting back in a sort of alcove desk area by the copy room, with two other interns. In the office, this area is known as The Icebox. By some bizarro glitch in the laws of physics and/or the ventilation system, the Icebox is always like 10 degrees colder than everywhere else in the office. You may think I'm exaggerating. I'm not. I had taken to wearing a long sleeve shirt and a sweater every day, with knee socks under my slacks, and still I was cold. Another intern often wears gloves. Sometimes I would just give up and wear my coat all day. So you can imagine my delight when last week I was moved to my very own cubicle in a more temperate zone (and it's by the window, so I have a view!). Unfortunately, the other day I discovered that there are three vents nearby, so there is a periodic breeze that wafts through our little area. Great. Still much warmer than the Icebox, though. Or so I thought. On Wednesday I was passing through to get to the copy room, and I suddenly stopped and backed up slowly, a puzzled look on my face. "I know, it's totally warm in here now!" said one of my intern friends. And it was. Warmer, even, than it is at my new desk. Foiled again!

But I do like my work, and my co-workers are all really nice. And of course, the job comes with other perks. For example, whenever an EMI-published artist has a show in the area, we can get free tickets through the company. That's how I ended up in the fourth row of the Spice Girls concert last week. May is going to be a smorgasbord of sweet shows, including Panic! At The Disco (my roommate is obsessed with them, though I'm more looking forward to the opening acts - Phantom Planet and Motion City Soundtrack), Jay-Z, and Kanye West/Rihanna (oh yeah, that's how I roll). I may be seeing Billy Joel at Shea Stadium in July. And tomorrow, James Blunt will be performing in our lobby in the evening. He has a concert that night (which I'm going to, again more for the opening act - Sara Bareilles) and is stopping in to play a private showcase for us. Now, even though I'm not really a big fan of his, it can't be denied that this is pretty dang cool. So I'm looking forward to sitting approximately 6 feet from the piano as James serenades me after work.