As if moving from a mountain in Tennessee to New York City isn’t scary enough, imagine working for a powerful company run by Glenn Beck and being sent to DC the second week on the job.
My first week working for TheBlaze consisted of analyzing app reviews, selecting pictures for the website, reading through a bazillion fan mail e-mails and meeting the one and only Glenn Beck (this all being much more than I’ve done in my other five jobs combined). During this busy week, I was also told I would be attending a quick trip to DC with two other marketing interns. We were asked to tag along to a reception hosted by TheBlaze, which promoted getting TheBlaze on cable and the event also discussed the importance of media in the future. This event had cream of the crop speakers including Senator Ted Cruz, Senator Rand Paul, Representative Marsha Blackburn, and Senator Mike Lee.
After waking up at 5:00 AM we embarked on a train to DC - this train was slower than the cars on the interstate - and arrived in the nation’s capital around 11:00 AM and went straight to the venue.
Arriving in DC was incredible. It was very refreshing to see blue sky without skyscrapers obstructing the view and smell fresh air without the smell of sewage (but don’t get me wrong, I heart NYC). Upon arriving at the stunning and delicious Acadiana restaurant, we stuffed 150 gift bags that contained some great info on how to get TheBlaze. After running out of red tissue paper with only a few bags left, Nancy and I went to the closest convenient store looking for the essential ingredient to make the gift bags look like a fiery blaze. The women at the CVS said there was a “great gift shop a few blocks away”, but I learned a few blocks in DC doesn’t mean the same thing in New York. After a hike to this “gift shop”, we arrived at the address and gift shop it was not. Actually it wasn’t even remotely close. It was a grocery store and butcher shop. So unless the woman at CVS just wanted us to stuff the bags red meat, the thirty-minute trip wasn’t worth it.
We finally arrived back at the restaurant and eagerly waited for the guests to arrive. Although a minor role, our job was to man the welcome table and hand out nametags and gift bags. I loved this job for two reasons. One because we were lucky enough to greet the guests and meet the all the wonderful congressmen who spoke at the event. Being the star struck young adult that I am, when Senator Ted Cruz and Rand Paul approached the table I started to slur my words when we thanked him for coming. The same thing happened when Glenn Beck walked by and I shot him an awkward smile and wave, as if we had been friends for years. We haven’t. Clearly I panic in the presence of greatness.
The second reason I loved working the welcome table was because we were next to the kitchen and all the food that was brought out on trays came by our table first. And being a college student interning in NYC, receiving free food is like having a birthday every day.
Unfortunately we were not able to be in the room with all these fabulous people, but the good news is we could hear everything that was being said. It was truly amazing to hear these politicians speak, and it was even more amazing to me that senators who have so much influence in government came to support this company. When I had a little free time, I slipped into the room a few times to hear Senator Cruz joke about Glenn Beck broadcasting from jail one day, and Senator Paul imitate the silent monologue by Glenn Beck from his show the night before.
I was lucky enough to meet and take a picture with Senator Ted Cruz, but of course with my luck something went wrong. My camera must have had the same reaction I did in the presence of greatness and panicked because THIS is what the picture looked like.
I don’t think I will ever be in a room with such influential people in my life. Being in this room full of people who are so passionate about what they do is truly inspiring. Every single person who works for this company is so passionate about TheBlaze and it really shows. My role in the reception was pretty minor, but it was by far the best and most memorable day of work I’ve ever had. TheBlaze is making their imprint in history, and yesterday I saw a glimpse of how truly amazing this company really is.
- Perry