Real Jobs Are Not My Forte: "Don't Get Trapped" (Episode 2)

Last month, we started a new exclusive DT monthly Vlog series documenting the life of 2 Penn graduates who are embarking on a music career, so that others can learn from their experiences.  

This month Ben Naecker (C'09, Water Polo) and Blake West (W'09, Jazz Combos) talk about:

• their move to Austin
• their new day-to-day life
• their plans for how they're gonna keep eating and living (and how much that costs...). 
• What sorts of gigs don't make financial sense for musicians like themselves.

Watch Episode 2: "Dont' Get Trapped" above!

DT Catch Up:

• RJANMF Episode 1: "Don't Panic"

READ MORE - Real Jobs Are Not My Forte: "Don't Get Trapped" (Episode 2)

Side-By-Side Vlogs: How Freshman Year Transformed Him

Last year, I covered a bunch of vlogs HERE documenting Kevin Shapiro's (C'12) freshman year.  He did a really good job documenting his transition from newbie at Penn to full fledged student.

I recently got Kevin's vlog he had posted from last May (which also qualifies it for being part of my "Delicious Leftovers" series) and it's amazing to compare his first freshman year video to his last freshman year video, and how freshman year can transform someone (physically and in attitude). I think it was probably true about all of us (or at least me  : ) ).

Check out the videos below!


Last Vlog Freshman Year:

First Vlog Freshman Year:

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They're Looking for a Double Date If You're Good Looking and Not Crazy (VLOG)

 
Ethan Fixell (C'04, Off the Beat Music Director, right in photo above) and best friend and comedy partner Dave really like to double date.

They went on their first double date in 7th grade, then one in 10th grade.  Who knew that this would spiral into something, much, much bigger...



In 2008, almost 10 years later, what begun as a double date ad on Craigslist has led to:

• emails from over 1500 pairs of women
• 200 double dates
• a vlog charting their experiences
• a monthly live show at NYC's People's Improv Theater
• and more recently, a national college tour (performances have included shows at Dartmouth, Florida Atlantic University, Boston University, and of course, Penn).

Let me introduce you to Dave and Ethan (Ethan on left):

Watch below as the try to score a date by climbing the Philadelphia "Rocky" stairs:

• without a shirt (1:12) 
• followed by their performance with Off The Beat (2:35)

More on Dave and Ethan at http://daveandethan.com and...

• on facebook
• on twitter
• on myspace
• daveandethan@yahoo.com

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READ MORE - They're Looking for a Double Date If You're Good Looking and Not Crazy (VLOG)

And the Award For The Most Enthusiastic Penn Undergrad Who Will Take Over The World Someday Goes To... (VLOG)

Usually one can tell within seconds of meeting someone that he or she is destined for greatness.

And I just have this feeling about incoming freshman Ryan Villanueva (W'13).

As you'll see below, Ryan produces and stars in a dramatic, passionate and entertaining vlog series as he brings us on his "quest for victory" as he journeys to Penn as an incoming Freshman.

Even if you don't want to, do me a favor and just find out why Ryan is like "salmon" in his first episode below...

You really have to see this...

More DT Vlogs HERE!

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READ MORE - And the Award For The Most Enthusiastic Penn Undergrad Who Will Take Over The World Someday Goes To... (VLOG)

From "The Wizard of Oz" to "The Cheese Whizard" (VLOG)

Last year I wrote a post about DJ Gregory's (W'03, Off the Beat) involvement in the (now San Francisco) company of Wicked as well as provided you a sample from his very tv-episode-soundtrack friendly music.

Before he was a wicked awesome musician, DJ was actually a sports nut; he was a left-handed pitcher in baseball, recruited to play at a few division I schools, the quarterback of his high school football team, and a member of the Philadelphia Junior PGA as a kid.

And, now, with the performance experience he has gained, and the passion for sports grabbing a hold of him once again, he has made a move into sports broadcasting...



Check out these 2 impassioned vlogs DJ recently published:

1) (Below) This week's piece concerns the upcoming NFL season and the impending blackouts that many clubs will face. Due to the semi-socialistic revenue sharing model that the NFL operates under, blackouts are used to punish teams who don't effectively market the product locally. But, with the recession putting a strain on ticket sales, journalists across the country criticized the NFL, and commissioner Roger Goodell for threatening to stick to league policy. The Cheese Whizard chimes in to disagree.

2) (Below) On a more Philadelphia-related note, after the announcement that Michael Vick was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles, the Cheese Whizard struck back at protesters of the NFL and the Eagles organization

Per DJ:

"Technology has made it possible for anyone to do what they love - especially in entertainment - whenever they want to. I'm glad to have the means to write, produce, edit and promote my sports ramblings from the comfort of my home."

Incidentally, how did DJ come up with name, "Cheese Whizard"?

"The Cheese Whizard is a play on words...The "High Cheese" is a baseball reference having to do with a high, hard, fastball, sometimes pitched inside to a batter who is crowding the plate. It's a pitch that makes a statement.  And, Cheese Whiz is the traditional cheese of choice for a Philly Cheesesteak...Put 'em together and you have The Cheese Whizard"

Get in touch with DJ at thecheesewhizard at gmail.com




More from DJ's blog HERE

More DT Vlogs HERE!

More DT "Sports" related posts HERE!

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This Week, Vlogs R Us And We've Got Some Good Ones!

In an age where everyone has a voice on the internet, I have decided to dedicate this week to another alumni and undergrad filled new series I'm calling "Vlogs R Us".

Look out for some impassioned posts this week which include:

• alumni sports nuts
• one very enthusiastic undergrad
• a fascinating comparison of 2 Vlogs and how time has created quite a transformation!
  
• 2 very entertaining alumni trying to score a date
  

Be kept in the loop and sign up for the newsletter below or follow me on Twitter!

(In the meantime, check out my other DT series by looking down the right-hand column of this site)

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READ MORE - This Week, Vlogs R Us And We've Got Some Good Ones!

If You're An Aspiring Musician, You'll Want to Follow DT's New Vlog Series! (EXCLUSIVE VIDEO)

If you're an aspiring musician, you'll want to tune into this post...

What happens when you're in a band at Penn and graduate ...and now only 2 of the members want to embark on a music career full-time?   You embark on your journey in front of all of Penn to watch and learn from in a new exclusive DT monthly video series called "Real Jobs Aren't My Forte".

First, to give you some background, at Penn, Ben Naecker (C'09, Water Polo) (guitars, cowbells) and Blake West (W'09, Jazz Combos) (keyboards, pyrotechnics) were part of the band Satellite Heights which was composed of four Penn musicians, and a non-Penn singer who lived in the area. It was a progressive, modern rock outfit that recorded one album in Brooklyn in the fall of '08. That album was called Launch Sequence, and was released on iTunes in March of '09.  All have graduated and the band is now defunct. Ben and Blake now prepare for their move into Austin's music scene.

This new DT Vlog will document the life of Penn graduates who go on to become musicians, so that others can learn from their experiences. Ben and Blake will be getting into all the gory details that they can once a month on DT in a 3 minute post.

• Where is the money to live coming from?
• Teaching lessons? Gigging? Working at starbucks?
• And how did they acquire the students, or the gig, or the job?
• Are they taking showers in the dark just to save on the electricity bill?
• Are they eating cereal sandwiches for breakfast, lunch and dinner cause they can't afford real food?
• Is the myth that rock musicians end up with a lot of girls really true?
• And any other things they wish they would have known before they started.

Watch Episode 1: "Don't Panic" above ...where Ben and Blake explain who they are, why they're moving to Austin and why you shouldn't panic if you too are embarking on this music journey.



Other compelling Penn Vlogs HERE

Other Penn musicians HERE

More DT stories about alumni working together HERE

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READ MORE - If You're An Aspiring Musician, You'll Want to Follow DT's New Vlog Series! (EXCLUSIVE VIDEO)

Jordan's Jive: Jobless and Without a Girlfriend

Earlier this month, on campus recruiting was happening at Penn.  As you'll see in the vlog above and below, nothing seemed to come of it for this senior.  Was it the tough Financial market or his GPA? What's a college senior to do? Listen to Jordan's vlog to listen to his thoughts!

This reminds me of when I was a senior and we had the old fashioned "drop" boxes where you went to Career Services and literally dropped your resume in the appropriate wooden box slots.  I believe these days everything is electronic.

...Anyway, back in the day, I think I got one interview with some marketing company and tried to convince them why I'd be good for the company.  At the time I remember I wasn't even convincing myself as my real plan at the time was to move out to Los Angeles and try the whole entertainment (acting/writing) path. Read my advice and others' advice about pursuing a career in writing.

More of my Now and Then Thursday posts here!

More Vlogs from Penn alumni and undergrads here!

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READ MORE - Jordan's Jive: Jobless and Without a Girlfriend

Kevin's Vlog #6: He's on Sasha Baron Cohen Watch!

Over the past couple of months here on DT, Kevin Shapiro (C'12) has been vlogging about his experiences as a freshman at Penn.

In this recent Vlog above, Kevin talks about

• a possible rumored sighting of Sasha Baron Cohen as "Bruno" on campus (More here! ...Anyone know anything more about this? )
• the changing of a Fall campus
• his need for sleep!

Check out all of Kevin's Vlogs here

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READ MORE - Kevin's Vlog #6: He's on Sasha Baron Cohen Watch!

Homesickness Sets In...And He's Still Not Really Running

As I've been posting here on DT, Kevin Shapiro (C'12) has been vlogging about his experiences as a freshman at Penn.  I think Kevin's vlogs have been a great way to document how someone new to Penn feels. Something for prospects to check out for sure and something for alumni to relive vicariously!

In Kevin's vlog below, he talks about getting kicked out of a lounge for talking about math and also discusses what activities he's gotten involved in so far.

In this second vlog below, Kevin continues by talking about missing home...something we have all felt at one point or another.

Check out all of Kevin's Vlogs here

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READ MORE - Homesickness Sets In...And He's Still Not Really Running

"Fizzix, UA and D*!#chebags"

I've posted two of freshman Kevin Shapiro (C'12) vlogs so far here and he's been having the time of his life.

But, uh oh.. work is settling in for Kevin and he's now talking about:

• not having enough time in class.
• The UA elections happening on campus (and 1/5 of the class seems to be running!)...And listen to Kevin's thoughts on why he thinks everyone’s running.

Speaking of UA elections, remember these videos from last year’s elections?  I haven't seen any videos from this year's elections, but freshmen, feel free to post here!

Watch Kevin's 3rd vlog here

Check out all of Kevin's Vlogs here

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Nights He Wishes He Could F*?#$ Remember

 

A couple of weeks ago I posted freshman Kevin Shapiro's (C'12) first Vlog. If you remember he had great enthusiasm for Penn which is typical of any freshmen who just started Penn.

In his second vlog, his enthusiasm continues and he talks about:

• Starting classes
• His venture to meet new people
• Best things and worst things he brought to Penn and the item he didn’t have to bring at all
• What’s free for the first time at Penn to freshmen like him
• Kevin continues and hilariously can’t remember some of the nights he’s had thus far!

Kevin also talks about the promise he made in his first vlog about waking up early to jog through campus --because his first class starts at 11. Has he kept his promise? Click below to find out!

Watch Kevin's Vlog #2 here

By the way, is it me or is his roommate in the background getting pissed?

Check out all of Kevin's Vlogs here

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