Big Heavy World has been promoting and archiving the Burlington music scene since 1996. Our existence and success is due to participation by volunteers and interns who share our extreme enthusiasm; we simply wouldn't exist without their support. Our internship program allows a greater level of freedom and creativity than one might expect, but also demands a high level of responsibility and dedication to each mission. As a supervised work experience for academic credit, Big Heavy World internships guarantee personal and professional development.

Students or Internship Coordinators may contact James Lockridge at 802.865-1140, info@vmls.org

Share on Facebook

Vermont Music Library Research Assistant
(Ongoing, Multiple Positions)

Prerequisites: Basic computer literacy (spreadsheet experience helpful), type 50 wpm, respect for cultural preservation issues, enthusiasm for original music of all genres.

Description: Enter liner notes from 350+ Vermont-made albums into relational database that will ultimately form the engine of a public, searchable, online repository of Vermont music history. Gather print-media sources for historical library. Manage aggregation (expansion) of collection through outreach via Vermont's regional media (contingent upon funding), compile "wish list" database of known but not-yet acquired Vermont artist releases.

Practical Objective: Contribute to expansion of a signifigant, comprehensive statewide music preservation effort. Develop a unique permanent public cultural resource serving the state of Vermont.

VT Jukebox Project Coordinator
(Ongoing, One Position)

Prerequisites: Should have notable organizational and communication skills with an outward professional persona. Basic computer literacy is necessary (email, Web browsing) Audio encoding into the MP3 file format (CD 'ripping') and ID3 tagging are also necessary and can be taught at Big Heavy World to a candidate with otherwise solid aptitudes.

Description: This position interacts with the Vermont Dept. of Buildings and General Services to maintain and expand Big Heavy World's VT Jukebox project, bringing Vermont-made music to the state's official Welcome Centers. Communication with artists who would like to have their music involved, and with press across the state to promote the project, are key components of the work. Processing new content into MP3 format for distribution on DVD and gathering and filing written artist permissions are also tasked to this position.

Practical Objective: Expand and bring awareness to an effort to bring exposure of Vermont artists to millions of travelers on the Vermont Interstate highways. Administrate this project with high standards of quality and friendliness.

Outreach Staff
(Ongoing, Multiple Positions)

Prerequisites: Bravery in the face of telephoning strangers (musicians). Ability to read the newspaper and send email. Organizational skills helpful.

Description: Gather news, advertisements, or other evidence of newly-produced Vermont-made recordings each week from press and online sources across the state. Find contact information for these artists and make outreach via email and telephone to bring the title into inventory at vermontmusicshop.com and into the public Vermont Music Library administrated by Big Heavy World. This is a good job for an organized and outgoing personality - it's low-stress but absolutely crucial to the cultural preservation work accomplished by the organization.

Practical objective: Contribute to expansion of a unique and sizable regional music preservation effort. Establish and maintain comfortable (and pleasant!) relations with Vermont's musical artists. Facilitate involvement by Vermont artists with Big Heavy World projects and ongoing programs.

PHP/mySQL Programmer
(Ongoing, Multiple Positions)

Prerequisites: Must be a turbo-geek with PHP, mySQL. Familiarity with Apache/Unix variants helpful.

Description: Help author an interactive back-end to the web site hosted on a Macintosh XServe running OSX Server 10.2.

Practical Objective: Improve the web site that builds and maintains a point-of-contact for the regional music community. Help us kick ass promoting our scene. Build something useful, free, and communal with your name on it.

Photojournalists
(Ongoing, Multiple Positions)

Prerequisites: General computer literacy, basic photographic skills, interest and ability to work nighttime hours, responsible and professional attitude in 21+ environments, willingness to learn use of Web-related software, love of live music.

Description: Photograph live performances with Olympus D600L, Fuji FinePix 2800, or Canon GL-1 digital camera; optimize images for the Web on a Macintosh computer with Adobe Photoshop/ImageReady; edit images with captions into the Paparazzi Web pages of the Big Heavy World site with Adobe GoLive.

Practical Objective: Expand a permanent historical online photographic archive of Burlington-area live music performances.

Sponsorship Marketing Asst.
(Ongoing, Multiple Positions)

Prerequisites: Self-confidence, interest in traditional and guerrilla marketing concepts, personable phone manner, 'Net savvy, affinity for grass-roots level community participation.

Description: Assist in securing financial sponsorship of various VMLS projects including the Web site, printed mail-order catalog, live showcase events, and large-scale mailings. Determine which businesses might entertain a sponsor relation (via their perceived demographic and positioning interests) and pursue their support.

Practical Objective: Participate in generating the operating funds of the Big Heavy World enterprise.

“Documentary” Videographer, Non-linear Editor
(Ongoing, Multiple Positions)

Prerequisites: Familiarity with basic digital video and nonlinear editing concepts. Willingness to seek (and attain) high production values with minimal resources. Creativity. Indie editing aesthetic.

Description: Keep running with a video project started in 2003 – A program of small segments that shows what goes on in the office and who on the crew does what, to be broadcast on P.E.G. (Public/Educational/Government) stations in Vermont. We work with a Canon GL-1 and edit with iMovie 3.0 or Final Cut Pro 3.0 on a Macintosh G4.

Practical Objective: It’s a core project to make outreach to musicians and bands and show them how they can get involved with and benefit from the various activities Big Heavy World does to support Vermont’s music.

Creative Writer
(Ongoing, Multiple Positions)

Prerequisites: Sample of any creative writing you’ve done or published. Your solemn vow that you know the difference between ‘to’ and ‘too.’ Must like big chairs.

Description: If you’re a journalism major, this is your three-alarm call. Come help us write a paragraph for each CD that enters vermontmusicshop.com on its way to the shelves of our Vermont Music Library. We need a writer that’s comfortable listening to anything and flexible enough to write a non-critical description that communicates some real idea of what each album’s like. If you like a job description that reads, “Sit on your butt and listen to music” then this *might* be the one for you.

Assistant in Development
(Ongoing, Multiple Positions)

Prerequisites: Keen interest in marketing, journalism, or creative and persuasive pursuits. Internet literacy (you can search Google, right?). Must spell well and be “verbal”, but not like in ‘Usual Suspects.’ If you’re self-directed and expect you’ll do well for yourself later in life, start here. (Ass-kickers only need apply. Jim’s a surly bastard.)

Some people just want to rawk. And some want to… actually get sh*t done. Help Jim remember to shout “Poopy!” when necessary, and pull together the presentations to sponsors and funders that keep Big Heavy World spinning like a Phish fan. We do unique, amazing work for Vermont’s music but we’ve spent too much time building databases and pimping hella-shows and not enough time telling people how wonderful we are. Hard habit to pick up, but we’re learning.