How Many Interns Does it Take to … ?

With the spring semester approaching, your venue may be evaluating its intern program or gearing up to hand off intern responsibilities from the current group to the next. We thought it would be helpful to highlight statistics regarding the use of interns at venues from the recent IAVM Staffing Report. Here’s some of the interesting data in the report:

• Small- and medium-sized convention centers have roughly the same number of interns per year – 2 interns – but large convention centers have nearly three times that amount, sitting at an average of 5.7 interns per year
• The average number of interns for arenas increases incrementally as the venue size increases
• Medium-sized performing arts centers have more interns per year than medium-sized arenas and convention centers combined

According to a study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), a record 63 percent of 2013 graduates completed an internship. While there is currently a fierce debate as to whether unpaid internships are lawful, and whether intern labor is harming the economy at large, there is no doubt that internships benefit both the venue and the individual.  When asked, most venue professionals will cite internships as the launching point of their interest in the venue industry, as well as their foot in the door.

Take a look at the interactive infographic below to see how your venue’s intern program compares to the industry average. You can also purchase the complete VenueDataSource Staffing Report for more information on paid versus unpaid interns, statistics on full-time equivalent employees, and more.

If you’re looking for ways to grow your interns professionally, take a look at these IAVM scholarship opportunities:

Performing Arts Managers Conference (PAMC)

PAMC scholarships are available for full-time student enrolled in accredited colleges or universities. To apply, students must submit the following by Tuesday, December 3, 2013:

1. Complete the Online Application
2. Email documents to Greg Wolfe, IAVM Professional Development Manager
   1. Brief, personal letter stating desire, need and professional aspirations. Please limit it to 750 words.
   2. Resume. Please include a personal letter in the same PDF file as resume.

Venue Management School (VMS)

Scholarships are available by region for incoming VMS Year 1 students. Scholarships are fully funded to cover the two-year program. For 2014, recipients will have tuition, room, and board (including applicable taxes) paid by the scholarship.