Working With Rails

Lauren Blakestad 3077 Greene Avenue Fort Worth TX 76109 l.a.blakestad@tcu.edu/lauren_blakestad@att.blackberry.net/(936) 674-7349

EDUCATION

TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY Student August 2005-pres • I am a senior in the Communications/Radio, Television, and Film Major • Current GPA of 3.0

EXPERIENCE

HARDFEST Promotions and Booking Assistant Los Angeles, CA Summer 2008-pres • My involvement with Hardfest began when I sent my resume to Kurt Dietrich, who does all online promotions for Hardfest. He and I discussed creative ideas to promote the Hard Summer Music Festival on July 19, 2008 at the Shrine auditorium in downtown LA. I helped create a simple but effective look for the Hard Myspace page rather than a cluttered page that included too many details. • After attending the Hard Summer Music Festival, I became more involved with Hardfest and the electronic genre of music it promotes. The shows feature performances from the world’s greatest electronic artists including MSTRKRFT, DJ AM, N.E.R.D., Justice, and Soulwax. I flew to LA during August and assisted Kurt in designing T-Shirts to promote Los Angeles and the Hard festivals. • I made suggestions for booking artists for the Hard Haunted Mansion and sent a booking e-mail inquiry to The Crystal Method. I was invited to attend Hard Haunted Mansion on October 31, 2008 and will be helping with the concert.

VIRGIN RECORDS/EMI Strategic Marketing Intern New York, NY Summer 2006 • Virgin Records Strategic Marketing develops integrated multi-platform marketing campaigns and executes strategically aligned initiatives. The experience I attained involved a brand’s internal marketing, online, PR, and promotions units. • The Virgin Strategic Marketing team manages all the moving parts: blending media, retail/trade tie-ins and event elements into a unified effort that delivers exponential exposure while maximizing ROI. • I helped coordinate and promote the KT Tunstall concert at Webster Hall sponsored by Origins. • I created a power point presentation for an event at Marquee sponsored by Monster energy drink. This event featured the Gorillaz and their five concerts at the Apollo Theater. • I was responsible for delivering important packages and running errands, making presentable covers for promotional CDs, acquiring contact/booking information quickly for promotional and business uses, answering and responding to calls for the VP of Strategic Marketing and the CEO of Virgin Records, researching and organizing information for the Senior Director of Strategic Marketing, and compiling/sending creative promotional packages to other companies. • I observed how professionals handle different situations efficiently in meetings and conference calls. • I researched for, and sent informational memos to prospective business partners concerning the Summer Sizzle festival in Jamaica (this featured Beanie Man’s Birthday Bash and promoted Air Jamaica).

GORILLAZ CONCERT @ THE APPOLO THEATER Intern New York, NY April 2-6, 2006 • I was responsible for setting up dressing rooms for the artists every day before the performance. • I provided assistance for and accompanied the artists to and from different locations. • I was responsible for assisting Ike Turner backstage each night. I made sure he was prepared and on stage for his performance. I worked with the entire event staff to keep the production running on time. • I had to explore much of Harlem and Manhattan to complete certain tasks/run errands • I assisted with finances and organized backstage after the show each night. • I worked directly with the Gorillaz management team and the venue’s booking agency. • I had to be alert at all times and respond quickly in a fast-paced environment.

FANSCAPE, INC. Representative 2002-2004 • I developed and executed creative ideas for marketing Fanscape’s artists online, provided regular feedback about the promotional and marketing missions set forth by Fanscape, and shared my ideas concerning new music and productions. • Fanscape provided me with music business experience, a chance to help shape the success of an artist’s career, and the opportunity to establish contacts in the industry.

DREAMWORKS RECORDS MARKETING (for ShaggLA) Conducted Interview February 10, 2003 • I was on the DreamWorks Records guest list to conduct an interview at the show. • I Interviewed The All-American Rejects for Teresa Ensenat (Artist & Repertoire Coordinator) of ShaggLA for my school newspaper. • ShaggLA provided feedback on artists from students all over the country for DreamWorks Records and was supervised by Reed Seerman (DreamWorks Records Marketing). • ShaggLA gave me the opportunity to work with a very popular artist as well as the experienced individuals who work for them.

Reviewed Concert May 10, 2003 • I was put on the DreamWorks Records/All-American Rejects’ guest list in order to provide feedback for the record label. • I Reviewed Buzzfest XI at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in Houston for ShaggLA. I provided feedback on artist performance and made different suggestions concerning the artist lineup for the show. • I gained experience with the booking process for a huge event featuring many artists. I provided regular feedback and promoted certain artists for the company by passing out stickers, CD samplers and posters.

ADDITIONAL

KAPPA KAPPA GAMMA 2005-pres • I am a member of the Fraternity Relations Committee of Kappa Kappa Gamma. • I participate in Pi Kappa Phi “Push America” which is a non-profit organization that raises money to serve people with disabilities.