I’m a sucker for an anecdotal lede. But when you have a kick-in-the-ass declarative statement, you go with that. So pretend this column started with the following:
As of today, Hear Nebraska has a full-time employee.
Managing Editor Michael Todd woke up this morning with the same job he had yesterday — overseeing the production of all of the multimedia content Hear Nebraska produces on these digital pages, as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Soundcloud, Instagram, Vimeo, Youtube, etc., etc. (Including cutting-edge content like this and this.)
That’s a load of stories, photos, videos, audio interviews, graphics, posts and tweets. It’s no half-time job. But for the last year, he’s only been paid for 20 hours a week to do it.
And while that 20-hour paycheck may or may not have required Michael to evolve the ability to imbibe sonic sustenance, it was a major step for Hear Nebraska to be able to actually pay an employee anything in February of 2011. And today’s development is even more significant.
This nonprofit is able to operate on very little (we raised $3,900 in 2011; $28,000 in 2012 [including a $5,000 grant for 2013]) because nearly everyone we work with, or who works for us, donates his or her time to the cause — Michael being our only paid employee. These contributors include writers and videographers and soundguys and designers. Venues often donate the cost of room rental for our events, for example. Bands frequently donate their take from shows.
We’re grateful for that in-kind support, as well as for every $5, $10 and $25 donation that arrives like a digital love note through our PayPal account. (We also really appreciate old-fashioned love notes.) This community support keeps the machine churning, and will continue to allow Hear Nebraska to grow strong, smart and sustainable. It’s crucial to our mission to make Nebraska an international cultural destination.
On Jan. 24, we celebrated the website’s second birthday. And in its third year, Hear Nebraska has some exciting projects cooking. We’re going to create HN Radio — streamed, on-demand audio and video content that will allow the world to literally hear Nebraska music like they never have before. We’re producing our second compilation album — this time on vinyl. We’ll be teaming up with some heavy-hitting local organizations to put on some awesome events in 2013 that you’ll hear more about soon. And by god, we’re going to upgrade this website if it kills us.
Michael will be instrumental to the success of these projects. So thanks for your help in keeping this talented, lanky young man from Alliance from disrupting shows with a rumbling stomach. (Music consumption satiates the soul more so than the body.)
Thankfully, Michael will have help with the heavy lifting. I’m excited to announce three new spring interns — Kat Buchanan, Nickolai Hammar and Ingrid Holmquist — and two savvy vet holdovers from last fall in Chevy Anderson and Lance Heybrock. We've developed their duties by matching their personal and professional goals with HN's needs. Each of them will be honing different skills, and they all know they'll get out of this internship what they put in.
They each introduce themselves below. Please say hello next time you see them at an event, and tell them your story:
Name: Katherine Ruth Buchanan
Age: 19 (am I the youngest on the HN team? Aw, man.)
Hometown: Fairway, Kan.
Current city: Lincoln
Focus: Photography and multimedia
Why do you care about Hear Nebraska?
I care about Hear Nebraska because I care about music –– I care about people and their stories and the beautiful, loud, emotional way that those feelings can be projected to others through song. I'm all for any organization that cultivates a community of musicians, artists and other creative people.
What should HN's audience expect from you?
Expect photos from live shows, audio stories about kick ass artists, and some perfectly-crafted tweets and Instagram comments.
What about the internship has you most excited?
In addition to meeting cool-as-hell bands and musicians, I'm looking forward to make an impact on people's knowledge of Nebraska's music scene –– it's already incredibly exciting to see folks reading and sharing the posts I've made.
What skills do you most aim to develop?
I'm real happy to be working more heavily with audio in my "Hello, My Name Is…" series on HN. Keep an eye out for those stories every couple weeks.
Who is your favorite Nebraska band?
Lightning Bug rules! It's hard to pick a favorite, but that's where I'm at right now. Sun Settings will hold a special place in my heart for years to come, though, I'm sure.
What's your favorite music video?
"Someone Else" by Universe Contest.
Professional in your field who you most look up to? Why?
This is tricky. I should choose a photographer, but… I guess if I were to expand my field to "storytelling" or "semiotics" or even just "journalism," I could say Ira Glass, because that's what I really want to say. He's just the best man on Earth.
Name: Nickolai Hammar
Age: 19
Hometown: Lincoln
Current city: Lincoln
Focus: Multimedia
Why do you care about Hear Nebraska?
Hear Nebraska is something people need. It provides a unique and organized look at the music scene here.
What should HN's audience expect from you?
I will produce content that I'm proud of and would want to look at myself.
What about the internship has you most excited?
The people I'll get to work with. Not only other HN'ers, but the audience and the artists I'll undoubtedly meet.
Who is your favorite Nebraska band?
My favorite Nebraska band isn't exactly from Nebraska (sorry), but some of the members have lived here for a long time. Magic Slim and the Teardrops was a band I grew up listening to, and in part, I was raised by some of them.
What's your favorite music video?
My favorite music video is for "Hold It Now, Hit It" by the Beastie Boys.
Professional in your field who you most look up to? Why?
The professionals who I most look up to in my field are those I surround myself every day that I go out and take pictures or record video. I learn from them each and every time we work together and they have taught me more than they know.
Name: Ingrid Holmquist
Age: In people years, 20. In cat years, 1.33.
Hometown: Lincoln
Current city: Lincoln
Focus: Editorial intern
Why do you care about Hear Nebraska?
Music, journalism, and The Good Life: Nebraska. What could be better?
I care about HN because it exposes the incredible amount of musical talent and artistic passion coming out of Nebraska. Nebraska could, and should, be a national musical destination and Hear Nebraska does awesome work to try and make it so.
What should HN's audience expect from you?
I'm looking forward to writing a bi-weekly column about how performers express themselves on stage with their wardrobe. Each interviewee will then recommend someone that they think has style on stage. At the end of the column, I think it will be cool to note how everyone is connected. Cue the whole 6th degrees of separation spiel—however, here, it's more like 2 degrees. I think it's cool. And then, of course, I'll pick up weekly articles from Mr. Boss, Michael Todd, as well as help with social media schtuff.
What about the internship has you most excited?
While this is only the beginning of my semester with HN, I have already met a plethora of beautiful souls. I'm involved with journalism for the humanistic aspect of the art. I love hearing people's stories, discussing music as a shared passion as well as meeting new, nifty, and creative people. It's a good gig.
What skills do you most aim to develop?
I'm excited to watch Hear Nebraska produce more multimedia projects and hopefully learn a bit more about the visual side of music journalism. I'm excited to hone my interviewing, casual journalism writing skills as well as improve my visual literacy.
Who is your favorite Nebraska band?
I'm probably pretty biased, but my dear ol' cousin, Max Holmquist puts on a killer show with Great American Desert. People think we're siblings. I don't argue.
I'm also a big fan of Good Show Great Show. Not only are they stellar dudes and passionate musicians, they're also a fun interview and come from a cappella roots. Represent.
What's your favorite music video?
I'm kind of embarrassed to say this, but I'm a sucker for engagements. I'm talkin' chills, watery eyes, the whole shebang. It's probably one of my girlier qualities. Thus, one of my favorite music videos on a local scale is the Love Drunk's session with Blue Bird, #74 Blue Bird: Give Me Light. Watch and weep.
However, local music aside, I love Kimbra's Spotify Session from SXSW 2012 of "Settle Down." Man, can she work that loop pedal. Major girl crush right there.
Professional in your field who you most look up to? Why?
Easy. Ira Glass and Anderson Cooper.
I know it's a typical answer, but The Silver Fox doesn't only produce Emmy award-winning work, but he's also impressively genuine on screen, unlike many anchors and broadcasters of today.
And I appreciate Ira Glass, of course, for his work on This American Life. It's emotional, it's funny, it's thought-provoking, it's human.
Name: Lance Heybrock
Age: 25
Hometown: Norfolk
Current city: Lincoln
Focus: Illustration
Why do you care about Hear Nebraska?
I care about Hear Nebraska because there's no judgment, only positivity and passion. The group at HN truly wants to spread the sense of community among the talent living in Nebraska, and invite others to join in.
What should HN's audience expect from you?
I'm hoping to contribute to the growth of the HN brand, and to bring some new visual elements to the video content.
What about the internship has you most excited?
The most exciting aspect of Interning for HN is being able to work with such a diverse and talented group of individuals who support each other creatively.
What skills do you most aim to develop?
I look forward to pushing myself and becoming more confident in my own sense of visual storytelling.
Who is your favorite Nebraska band?
I recently became aware of Eli Mardock. I saw a post of the music video to "cut me open," and was an instant fan.
What's your favorite music video?
I recently got the chance to work in close proximity to the cinematographer of this video, "Maniac." I grew to appreciate the methodical nature of his work ethic and his knack for manipulating the emotions of the viewer.
Professional in your field who you most look up to? Why?
Eric Nyffeler of the local design/print studio Doe Eyed has recently become an illustrator I admire in the community. His work is simple and clean where it needs to be, and incorporates hand-drawn aspects that reveal the best parts of themselves when complemented by his crisp layouts.
Name: Chevy Anderson (Chevas)
Age: 23 ? exactly
Hometown: Raleigh, NC/Omaha
Current city: The only one repping Omaha
Focus: Videography, photography
Why do you care about Hear Nebraska?
I care about the Nebraska arts and music scene, and Hear Nebraska is a way for me to contribute and make it better.
What should HN's audience expect from you?
To continue to do what I have been doing, but this time around I hope to start my own series of videos.
What about the internship has you most excited?
The possibility of going to music festivals like SXSW and traveling with bands as I just did with Icky Blossoms. That’s why I don’t have one of those cool photos because I was on the road with them.
What skills do you most aim to develop?
I want to really focus on improving my videos.
Who is your favorite Nebraska band?
I suck at having favorites. But if I had to pick it would be UUVVWWZ. The new record is so good. Everybody should go out and buy it next week. Also, I like to get wild to Icky Blossoms and rock to Universe Contest.
What's your favorite music video?
A video I really like is “Open Sign” by UUVVWWZ. I was in this video and I helped capture some of the shots. I know I’m being lame for picking something that I helped with, but I think Harrison Martin did a good job of putting this video together.
Another one I really like is “Bombay” by El Guincho.
Professional in your field who you most look up to? Why?
I really like the Love Drunk project and what Django has done with it. He not only showcases Nebraska bands, but really good bands from around the country.
Andrew Norman is Hear Nebraska’s director. He’s on the hook to raise Michael’s salary. Help him at andrewn@hearnebraska.org.