Summer Intern Introduction: James

Excited is an understatement when we get to announce the fact we’re on adding two new interns to the Olivia Management team for the summer of 2020! Now we get the privilege of introducing you to James Muller! We have asked him a few questions and he was willing enough to share some answers with us. Read on to learn more about James!

James Muller

What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities?

Some of my favorite hobbies are making music with my friends, playing guitar, and spending time outdoors. I love to run, and go hiking. I have also just begun learning to cook, so I would say that is a hobby of mine.

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?

If I could only eat one thing for the rest of my life it would have to be Mexican food. Tacos specifically.

What do you want to be when you grow up?

When I grow up I want to be immersed in the music industry and make a difference. I want to be a part of something bigger that helps bring beautiful music to people that deserve to experience it. Whether that be playing music, working in management or publishing or some other facet of the music industry.

Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music.

Some of my favorite musicians are: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Dawes, Jimi Hendrix, The Allman Brothers Band, Tedeschi Trucks Band, Dr. Dog, and Anderson Paak. I’ve always been a guitarist, and I love old guitars and amps. Being in Nashville is great with all the awesome old vintage guitar stores like Gruhns and Carters. My favorite thing about music is live shows. I try to go to as many shows as I can because I love the energy and atmosphere of live music. There is definitely something special and unique about the way live music brings people together and brings emotions out of us. My favorite live show that I have been to was Tedeschi Trucks live at The Ryman.

What is your favorite part about Nashville?

My favorite part of Nashville has to be the amount of people that have all come here with the same passion for music. There are so many people in town to collaborate with musically, and that is really rewarding.

Why did you choose to intern here? 

I chose to intern here for a couple of different reasons. The first reason is that I took Erin’s Entrepreneurship class and I loved it. I really learned a lot of useful, practical skills and I loved her personal and honest teaching style. The second reason I chose to Intern here is because I have been managing my own band for the past three years, and I have really enjoyed doing it. I have learned a lot throughout the process, and I wanted to expand my knowledge and learn more about management! The last reason I chose to intern at Olivia Management is because I love that the company is a small boutique firm. I feel like these types of firms offer exceptional service to their clients, and I wanted to experience how that is done.

What would you like to get out of this internship?

I would love to learn as much as I can about the ins and outs of artist management, more specifically about how to help artists achieve their dreams and goals through strategic plans. I also want to get an overall better understanding and feel for the music industry, and how it functions. Overall I want to grow my skills and understanding not only professionally but as a person.

Intern Wrap Up: An Inside Perspective–Intern Style

By: Connor Kozlecar

Olivia Management = A Hidden Gem

To say that my time here with Olivia Management has been fruitful would be a terribly blatant understatement. The sheer volume of knowledge, experience, and love coursing through the veins of this office is almost too much to put into words but I will surely do my best to paint a picture of what this semester has been like and some wisdom I have gained through my experience. I’m so very fortunate to have had this opportunity, and I am even more blessed to be able to continue working alongside these wonderful women and welcome some new summer interns here in the near future!

-A Few Tidbits I’ve Grabbed Along the Way-

ASK

I like many others, have a natural-born curiosity for all things that I see, hear, read, etc. Although I’ve always felt that I have been vocal about my interests in most situations, I will never take for granted the atmosphere that Erin and the rest of the team have cultivated here. Along with being incredibly kind and open, each of them has been consistently available to answer any question you could possibly have. From semester one-on-one’s to just casual conversation, the relationships that I feel like I have built with these ladies are ones that I will cherish forever and I am confident that the knowledge I have gathered from them will continue to help me in my career moving forward. I advise you to take full advantage of any opportunity in any facet of life that you can to simply just ask questions.

Go All In

Wherever you’ve interned before, or wherever you plan to in the future; no matter how daunting or simple the task, put everything you have into it. It will pay off. Through a few large projects that I have had the pleasure of tackling I’ve learned that if you take your time and go above and beyond what you think is sufficient, the payoff is so much sweeter and wholly more rewarding. Do more than what is expected of you. Go all in. All the time.

YE OLDE ZEN ZONE

My favorite project

Play to Your Strengths AND Your Weaknesses

As an intern, you should not only help everyone out by capitalizing on your strengths, but also be clear about what you struggle with and what you would like to get better at. As someone who fears failure like no other, this is a struggle for me. As you continue to develop work relationships and grow more comfortable with those that you work with, be clear about what you need help on. No one will ever get mad about you simply asking for help. On the contrary, if you don’t know what on earth you’re doing and you mess up really badly, that is absolutely no bueno my friend.

Roll With the Punches

Nothing ever goes exactly to plan. We’ve all seen this in 2020 so far.

And so what? That’s Life.

Choosing to continue working through our current situation was the best decision I’ve made by far. Surely this group could handle their own and more without a few interns. It’s the apparent effort made by you to the people that you don’t necessarily owe anything to that sets you apart. Instead of finishing my semester solely focusing on school, I, along with our other two lovely interns Jackie & Emma locked arms and continued simply because we love what we do and who we work with. I’m a big proponent of “getting what you give,” if you will, and I would give my left arm for this company for how impactful they have been on me and my college career. I’ve had a handful of personal things happen in my life this semester, as they do, and what has kept me grounded and moving forward is the internal obligation that I feel like I have for everyone that works here to hold up my end. I will always thank them for that.

Enjoy it

Being an intern is fun, so enjoy it! Especially when you’ve got the backbone that they do here at OM. Don’t get too caught up in your own world, and just enjoy yourself and the experiences that you get to create as an intern.

A Wonderful Memory

To Erin, Maggie, & Mackenzie

I cannot express how thankful I am to be a part of this team, and I am more than excited to continue here through this summer as an intern with Emma. Nothing but wonderful things to say about my coworkers and the wildly creative, motivating, and lighthearted space that they operate in. Thank you SO SO much for the best semester I have had at Belmont.

See you soon!

Intern Wrap Up: Life Lessons with an Intern

By Jackie Minton

The end of the semester is here, yet again. You would think by now I’d have learned to get used to this rhythm (after being in school for close to two decades!) but alas—I have not. It always seems to catch me by surprise! Over the handful of months I have spent here at Olivia Management, however, I have learned quite a bit about the industry, working with a team, and well, myself. Here are a few nuggets of wisdom I have gleaned from my time as an intern. I hope they are good lessons (or reminders) for you, too. 

A photo from my visit to the Library of Congress this semester, Spring Break 2020.

Organization is a worthy struggle.

The Olivia Management team has inspired me to reevaluate how I work on tasks. They spend a notable amount of time, energy, and brain power on the front end to set up processes that help their world go around in the future. From watching their approach first hand, I have learned that if a task seems overwhelming, it probably simply hasn’t been processed into manageable steps. Organizational work at the beginning may seem tedious, but it is worth the reward!

Don’t put up a wall where there isn’t one.

Why can’t a coloring book be a merch item? Why have we drawn lines where there needn't be any? Creativity is just as necessary, if not more so, on the business side of things. I hope to take this perspective into my own career as an artist and as an entrepreneur.

One simply does not stop learning. 

Not only does the music industry grow and change everyday, but so do our goals. Admitting that there is more to learn, is only the first step. Make time to research what interests you, listen to podcasts that inspire you, and seek out knowledge from those closest to you. Don’t be afraid of the unknown! That open landscape is an exciting place full of possibilities.

Humility is powerful.

Olivia Management’s founder Erin Anderson quietly teaches this invaluable lesson to all of those close to her. She makes a point to listen, consider others’ perspectives, and voice gratitude, not simply for her clients, but for everyone that walks through her office door. Being on the receiving end of her respect (even as an intern) was such a powerful reminder for me: humility doesn’t simply move mountains, it moves hearts. Living in the light of humility is a grounding gift, not just for yourself but for all you encounter. 

Saying goodbye is never easy.

(Especially when the people you’re saying goodbye to are amazing!) I’m thankful for my time with this incredible team and am dually excited for the interns to come that will get to learn from and contribute to Olivia’s future! I look forward to seeing all that is yet to come, both for them and for me.

Photo by Sophie Flemings.

Signing off with a grateful heart - Jackie :)

Spring Intern Introduction

Just last week, we had the honor and privilege of welcoming three new interns to the team here at Olivia Management! We can’t wait to watch them grow in all things artist management and music business. World, please meet Jackie Minton, Emma Martin, and Connor Kozelcar. We know you’ll love them just as much as we do!

Jackie Minton

Why did you choose to intern at Olivia Management? 

I met Olivia Management at an artist panel I went to over a year ago and was so stuck by their community focused approach to artist management, I applied to intern here as soon as I could! I am so thankful for this opportunity to learn how they do their work from the inside out.

What do you want to get out of this internship?

I hope to learn how to work on a variety of tasks, while also learning how to dream about the future. I want to improve my skills in seeing things to their end, while also working with a team.

What is your favorite part about Nashville?

Oh, definitely the community. I also love all the variety of restaurants and coffee shops, but they are all a fruit of this city’s focus on encountering each other. When I moved here, I was amazed by the willingness of others to listen and share authentically about their experiences.

Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music.

As a songwriter, I enjoy most anything with a poetic lyric and melodic sensibility.  Some of my favorite artists include James Taylor, Ingrid Michaelson, Taylor Swift, Leif Vollebekk and Josh Garrels. If there is a guitar picking part or a cello, I’m sold.

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?

If I could only eat one thing for the rest of my life it would probably be almonds. I’m pretty sure I’m already halfway there.

What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities? 

I enjoy eating dark chocolate, drinking hot tea, and reading philosophy. I would minor in all three, but sadly I only study the latter. I also do calligraphy on the side for fun!

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Emma Martin

Why did you choose to intern at Olivia Management?

I chose to intern at Olivia Management because I saw how passionate the company was in helping artists grow as much as possible both artistically and as people.

What do you want to get out of this internship?

During this internship I hope to gain more knowledge about touring and what kind of planning goes into sending artists on tour. I also am really interested in learning about the prep work right before album releases. In the future, I hope to work in the creative part of publishing or management.

What is your favorite part about Nashville?

My favorite part about Nashville is how you can walk into almost any restaurant or coffee shop and hear live music. I also love the sense of community that Nashville has even though it’s such a big city.

Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music!

Some artists and songwriters that I have been into lately are Emily Weisband, Madison Kozak, The Band CAMINO, Lizzo, Kelsea Ballerini and Dan + Shay. I love all different genres of music but my top genres are singer/songwriter and country.  

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?

If I could only eat one thing for the rest of my life it would probably be pasta!

What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities? 

I love to go hiking and camping! I also love listening to music and playing card/board games with my family and friends.

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Connor Kozelcar

Why did you choose to intern here?

Any internship opportunity is an opportunity worth taking in my opinion. When you are unable to find anything negative about past internship experiences and the reputation of a company you’re interested in, is in my opinion when you’ve hit the gold mine.

I chose to intern at Olivia Management because of the strong community that they promote and the clear message that when you’re devoting your time to their efforts, they’re devoting the same time right back to your experience. Since starting school at Belmont, I’ve had big hopes to find an internship that cares for their interns and cultivates the right atmosphere for growth. To me it just felt like Olivia management is doing exactly that.

What do you want to get out of this internship?

In a general statement, as humans we are all students, all the time. The whole goal of an internship is to learn right? With this being my first internship, I am excited to have the opportunity to work in an atmosphere with such hard-working individuals and a team aspect that promotes a strong sense of community. I am eager to learn, become proficient in this facet of our industry, and create the relationships that will help me succeed and confidently move forward with my career.

What is your favorite part about Nashville?

Aside from the music, The food options….. Wow. So much good food, so many cool little nooks and crannies in the city, and so many great genuine people that come out of the area. I’m blessed to have the opportunity to live and attend school here.

Favorite musicians, artists, genres, equipment, shows you’ve been to...tell us anything you love about music.

I’m a listener of almost all genres. A few of my favorite current artists include Allen Stone, Tom Misch, Theo Katzman, Joey Landreth, Chris Stapleton, Lawrence, Jordan Rakei, Marcus King Band, Stephen Day, The Dip, etc (I could go on forever). My all time favorite artists/musicians/bands include The Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, John Mayer, Dave Matthews, The Beatles, Jack Johnson, and The Allman Brothers

I love everything about music, but what sticks out to me the most is the raw expression that the medium represents. Any single piece of music can tell you more stories about the person who wrote it than you can think up. I think that in the vast creative world that the music industry embodies, its infinity is the most fun part. Whether you’re listening or creating, the passion behind every piece of music tells a story that no other medium could. 

If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life what would it be?

Logical answer: Chicken - there are a million ways to prepare chicken and it never gets old. That's smart, right? The ~Just what i'm craving in this moment~ answer: Five Guys Fries

What do you love to do? Hobbies? Activities?

I love to sing! I am currently the Vice-President of a collegiate A Cappella group at Belmont University called The Beltones. When I’m not knee-deep in school work, singing my heart out with my friends, or working my other jobs, you can find me:

1. Stopping traffic to pull over and pet a dog

2. Playing far-too-competitive games of racquetball on Tuesdays

3. Browsing the internet for things that I would buy if I had the money to blow