Nick Tanner, a senior music business major at the 91勛圖, has two big reasons to be excited about the upcoming Festival International de Louisiane.
Hes among three UL Lafayette students who are completing internships this semester for the largest international music and arts festival in the U.S. And, hell have the chance to perform during the cultural celebration as a member of a soul and funk band.
The festival is expected to draw 300,000 people to downtown Lafayette April 24-28. Entertainers representing 24 countries will perform and over two dozen area restaurants will be offering some of their best dishes.
Tanner and fellow interns Haley Gonzales and Olatunde Soyombo have been working diligently behind the scenes.
In preparation for the 33rd annual event, Tanner has negotiated contracts with musicians. Hes tracked down stage layout plans from tour managers. Hes booked hotel rooms for artists. And hes practiced to take the stage on closing day.
Tanner is the guitarist for Dphrnt Strks, as in Different Strokes spelled with a ph and no vowels, he explained.
Tanner, who is from Kenner, La., said experience hes gleaned as a festival intern is invaluable given his aspirations. After he graduates in May, he wants to become a performer and a tour manager for other bands.
In the music industry you often need to be able to do a little bit of everything and find second sources of income, Tanner said.
He envisions working as tour manager for several years while he tries to get his musical career off the ground. Maybe it turns out that I become a tour manager, then book gigs for myself when Im not on tour with another act. Im never going to give up music.
Gonzales, a senior mass communications major from New Orleans, is also using her internship to prepare for a career.
One of her responsibilities has been reaching out to potential donors and sponsors, which provides person-to-person interaction that improves your ability to communicate, she said.
Candace Gulotta-Haggart, development director, said Gonzales is smart, ready to handle challenges, personable and customer service-oriented.
And, shes organized and helps keep me organized. I think of her as more of an assistant than an intern, Gulotta-Haggart said.
Gonzales, a graphic designer, has created promotional materials such as flyers and logos to promote the festival. Im considering several career options, including broadcasting, making films for companies, and social media or graphic design, so its been beneficial, she said.
Like Tanner and Gonzales, Soyombo, a senior journalism major from Lafayette, has spent his time with the festival polishing his skills and networking.
His writing ability has come in handy. Hes crafted press releases and promotional materials to bang the drum for the festival.
Soyombo has written articles for local print publications such as FACE Magazine and Acadiana Profile. He has also appeared on morning TV shows.
A saxophonist, Soyombo said his internship has also given him a window into the music industry.
Its been cool. Even though Ive been a musician my entire adult life, I still hadnt seen it from this side of things.
Soyombo, Tanner and Gonzales have given as much help as theyve gotten.
Lisa Stafford, festival programming director, mentored Tanner. But in one aspect of his job, he mentored her. Stafford leaned heavily on Tanner for technical assistance for a hard-to-navigate software program.
The database keeps track of virtually every aspect of festival logistics, from the schedule to stage plots to contracting everything you can imagine. Its not the easiest thing in the world to do and he just took to it really well, Stafford explained.
Carly Viator, marketing director, said Soyombos ability to write provided a channel for promoting the festival in a new way.
We wanted to try something different. Weve never had a print journalism student before, so this year were trying to educate people more about what goes into festival.
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Photo: UL Lafayette students Nick Tanner, Olatunde Soyombo and Haley Gonzales are completing internships this semester for Festival International, the largest international music and arts festival in the U.S.