The Contributor | Page 36

READY FOR TAKE-OFF After four years of IMEM, do you think you are prepared for the media industry? Yes. The different courses taught me several things that I can use in the future, for instance finance, marketing and business communications. A lot of things that you have to know you learn in practice. This is why Production House is such a good concept. It gives you insights in the real work environment. Next to that, internships prepare the students for the real world. You were all in the position once: graduating at the ADE academy and being at the start of your career. Frightened to the bone, but excited to be successful and determined to make a change. We talked to two future ADE alumni who are currently working on their graduation project: Edwin de Bruijn (IMEM) and Matthias Kapuvari (IGAD). What are their career preparations, expectations and life goals? Text JITSKE MARRINGA, VERONIQUE VERDONK Design FLEUR VAN ‘T SLOT Name: Edwin de Bruijn Age: 24 Nationality: Dutch Study: IMEM 2009 – present Occupation: Plugged Agency and deep house & techno Deejay; “The Techtives”. Graduation project: “The deejay in an online social environment” 36 THE CONTRIBUTOR You currently have a job, while graduating, but if you had to enter the job market right now do you think you are an appealing party for potential employers? I honestly have no idea. I was very lucky to have a full-time job even before I graduated. Some of my former classmates have problems finding a job in this industry. It is a tough market and getting a job is very hard these days. My advice to every student is to kick ass at your internships! Your internship is the best trial there is. They see you working every day and you have the opportunity to create new contacts. It is not about who you are but who you know! You started as an intern at Plugged Agency and got offered a job. However in the end the combination of work and graduating caused a study delay. Since you have a job was it ever an option to not graduate? Haha! No, it was not. My parents would kill me. A diploma is very important. What if Plugged Agency shuts down or what if they decide they can no longer employ me? I would end up empty-handed because I did not graduate and without a diploma no company will hire me. Besides, I have already paid a lot of money for this study program so it would be no option to throw that all away. The changes and evolvements in the media industry are an on-going process. What is your vision on the industry in your line of work? Based on the music industry I think the changes are promising. Deep House is getting more popular so this gives me a lot of opportunities. Based on the economy I think the changes are really bad. Deejays are asking a shitload of money to play music for an hour. They are blowing up their own industry. Promoters are no longer able to book a deejay because clubs or festivals cannot pay their fees. So instead of making a lot of money, the deejay is not making money at all because promoters simply cannot afford it. “ I was very lucky to have a full-time job even before I graduated ” THE CONTRIBUTOR 37