Name: Sophia Bengall
Major and year at the time of internship: 1st year, undecided major
Internship position title and organization:
Wed marketing and advertising for the Vancouver Asian Canadian Theater (VACT).
Why did you apply for an Arts Internship?
I applied for this art internship because I’ve always been interested in theater. Growing up I always liked to be the one on stage and doing the acting. Upon entering high school I learnt that there was a whole other side to theater. There was a show that was taken behind the scenes, before opening night and backstage. When I got to university I wanted a more hands on knowledge of what it really meant to ‘run’ the show. Applying for this internship with VACT meant I would be able to learn about running the show.
Tell us about your internship? What were your responsibilities? What did you like about it?
With this internship I was able to help VACT with their web marketing and advertising as well as many other little jobs that I volunteered to take on. I learned to use social media for effective communication, and I had different responsibilities associated with social media. I really enjoyed sharing information with others and knowing how something little, such as a single Tweet, can make a big difference. I also gained a better understanding of marketing and advertising, and could see my work being effective through increased ticket sales or number of auction items and shows.
Other responsibilities I volunteered for involved stage managing a show, e-mailing different people who had not heard about VACT, comparing past performance with current performance, and helping out with rehearsals. With this I learned about the culture and community around theater in Vancouver
What did you get out of the experience? How does it fit in with your future career plans?
Upon entering my first year at UBC it was hard to say what I wanted to do with my life. When looking for a future career, I wondered what would make me happy, confident, and surrounded by people I care about. Thinking back to the times in the past year where I am the happiest are the memories I have working with VACT on shows such as backstage at EtchYourSketchOff or handing out flyers as advertisement. I have gained confidence meeting with new people and learning a lot about myself along the way. This internship has taught me a lot about the power of volunteering. Joyce Lam, the founder, has taught me that following your heart is one of the greatest things that you can do. I learnt how people are affected by social media and how new medias attract different audiences. As a result I am more inclined to use social media in the future; however I now know that it is not efficient to only use such sources for advertising. VACT has taught me a lot about not only the theatre culture in Vancouver but also the Asian culture in Vancouver. In the future I hope to continue my involvement with VACT, as it is a fun environment with people who volunteer their time to do the things they love.
Over this past year I have learnt a lot about myself in the theatre world, as an independent person, and as a prospective employee. Although I’m still not sure what I want to choose for my major I have a list of options that this internship has helped me select. And I will apply to jobs in which I can surround myself with fun and creative people. Working with VACT has changed my life and I hope that one day I will be able to offer someone a similar internship.
