Internship & Studio Assistant Programs

Synthesized 2026-05-06 from 47 docs in ~/trc-drive-exec/Internship and Studio Assistant Programs/.

Overview

TRC runs two parallel workforce programs that provide low-cost studio labor in exchange for experience and/or studio-time credit:

1. Studio Assistant (Hour Trade) Program — Independent contractors who work in exchange for studio-time credit at $20/hr (or, in an earlier draft, $18/hr). They are not employees, not academic interns; they sign a separate Independent Contractor Trade Agreement.

2. Academic Internship Program — Unpaid academic-credit internships partnered with accredited colleges. The first confirmed cohort is the Emerson College LA Campus Spring 2025 cohort. Academic interns earn no cash and no studio credit; compensation is entirely through school credit.

Both programs operate out of TRC's facility at 1660 9th Street, Santa Monica, CA 90404. The programs appear to have launched in earnest in January 2025 (studio assistants) and February 2025 (Emerson interns).

Program Structure

Studio Assistant (Trade) Program

Engineer sub-track (per "20 USD Engineer" contract dated 2025-04-14): Studio assistants who are capable engineers may be engaged specifically to engineer studio sessions at $20.00/hr cash (not studio credit). This is a separate independent contractor agreement, not an internship.

Academic Internship Program (Emerson College, Spring 2025)

Application & Selection

Studio Assistant Trade Program

• Recruitment method: General interest intake form (Google Form, launched 2025-03-14), word of mouth, direct outreach
• Volume: Intake form generated 15 responses by May 2025 (tracked in responses_2025_03_14_studio_assistant_general_interest_intake_form_for_contact_info_acquisition.xlsx)
• Interview format: Video call interviews conducted by Gabe (Gabriel Harrison, Studio Manager). Round 1 interviews were 2025-01-18
• Interviewer prep doc key questions (from Gabe - Prep for Interviews Round 1 - Q1 2025.docx):
  • Location / willingness to commute to Santa Monica
  • Availability
  • Strengths (digital assistant tasks, video cutting, social media, cleaning/organizing, technical automation)
  • Trustworthiness/integrity emphasis ("Have you ever stolen something?")
  • Clear explanation of studio-credit compensation
  • Event support requirement
• Rubric signals (from Gabe notes): enthusiasm, positive attitude toward variety of tasks (including cleaning/organizing), ability to commute immediately, technical skills
• Selection: Managed by Gabe; candidates marked as "can commute immediately and Gabe thinks is good" in database
• Contract: Independent Contractor Trade Agreement (most recent: v4 "Intern Contract - 20 USD per hour version," dated circa Apr 2026 based on mtime). Signed before start.

Academic Internship Program (Emerson)

• Recruitment: Via Emerson College LA Campus academic partnership
• Interview format: Video call with Gabriel Harrison (Studio Manager)
• Offer letter: Signed by Gabriel Harrison, Studio Manager, countersigned by intern
• Notes on Spring 2025 candidates (from Emerson Internship Program - Notes on Candidates by Gabe from Video Call Interviews.docx):
  • Sihan Jia ("Eillish"): Communications/business minor; social media experience; eager, flexible; ready to start immediately
  • Ekaterina Veber ("Katya"): Film student; from Russia; photography; interested in video, live event production, and business tracks; has ideas for social media
  • Olivia ("Livvy") Themistocles: Film background; camera/audio production interest; Canon C70 and Alexa experience
• Formal documentation: Customized syllabus per intern, offer letter, Emerson paperwork for academic credit

Onboarding

Studio Assistant Trade Program

• Orientation day: Documented as 2025-01-26 (per hours tracker). Staff attended (Ari Brelig, etc.); lasted roughly 1–8.5 hours depending on person
• Key onboarding resources (per Master Doc - TRC Interns and Studio Assistants.docx):
  • Opening Checklist
  • Closing Checklist
  • TRC - Stuff That Needs to Get Done
• Access provisioning: Google Calendar invites for shifts (tracked in Weekly Scheduler with "In Google Calendar?" column); access to company phone (213-537-3107) for communication
• Sign-in process: Paper clipboard in the office (Blank Sign-In Sheet); columns: Date, Name, Start Time, Break Start, Break End, End Time, Entered into Hours Tracker
• Hours logging pipeline: Paper sign-in → manually entered into Master Hours Tracker for Interns and Studio Assistants 2025-05-11 Version.xlsx → entered into CRM so studio credits are accessible

Academic Internship Program (Emerson)

• Week 1 per syllabus: Facility tour (recording studios, video production areas, live event spaces, business offices); introduction to mentors; safety protocols overview; academic requirements review; personal learning plan assignment
• Mentor introductions: Greg Spero (CEO), Gabriel Harrison or Arturo Stabile (Studio Manager / COO), Kaury Hooper (Senior Sound Engineer), Jeremy Schwartz or Alex Rosson (CMO / Video Director)

Roles & Responsibilities

Studio Assistants (daily operational duties)

Opening shift tasks (from Opening Checklist.docx, last updated Dec 2025):

• Turn on each studio room via Alexa and confirm equipment functioning (Podcast Room: turn on TVs, remove lens caps, open Ableton/OBS/ATEM/Chrome; Recording Room: turn on Furman, computer; Mixing/Live/Rehearsal: turn on via Alexa)
• Set out patio cushions, sweep, wipe tables
• Clean shower, verify sauna, check cold plunge
• Kitchen: dock and prep robot vacuum (Ashley), put away dishes, start coffee/espresso machine, clean sink/stove/counters, fridge check (toss anything past 3 days), turn on fireplace (halfway only)
• Lounge: open shades, turn on TV (TRC playlist), turn on jazz, take down bar chairs, spot clean floors
• Bathrooms: replace trash, clean mirrors, restock towels, refill soap, check TP (3 backup rolls)
• Mezzanine: clean bar/tables/sofa, align chairs/stools, clean floors

Closing shift tasks (from Closing Checklist April 2nd 2026 update.docx, most recent version):

• Per-room equipment shutdown (Furman off, computer to sleep, lens caps on cameras, cable management)
• Full kitchen breakdown: espresso machine per guide, coffee machine empty/dry, fridge toss (>3 days), clean appliances, run dishwasher
• Patio: cushions in bin, ashtrays emptied, sauna off/restocked (6 towels, 3/side, rolled with stripe up), cold plunge lid closed, parking chain up
• Bathrooms: full toilet/sink/mirror/towel cycle
• Lounge/mezzanine: flip chairs/ottomans, clean, turn off all AV
• Start robot vacuums (Ashley + The Claw)
• Tuesday: roll trash to street; Sunday: mop all floors, deeper clean each studio
• Last out: Alexa turns off all lights; set Vivint alarm to Armed, Away (mic closet and office lights must be turned off manually)

Ongoing/task-based duties (from TRC - Stuff That Needs to Get Done.docx):

• Studio scanning and cleanup (scan for trash, tidy cables, ensure standard setup)
• Social media: repost tagged stories every morning; capture candid video and post with tags
• Email marketing: weekly event email to members, monthly email to non-members; outreach via Roster database and CRM
• Inventory maintenance and labeling
• Video editing and content chopping (podcast clips, concert excerpts for YouTube/Instagram/TikTok)
• Event preparation and logistics support
• Equipment setup/teardown for sessions and events

Specific SOPs owned by studio assistants:

• Drum kit setup (full SOP in Proper Drum Setup SOP.docx)
• Sunday Brunch protocols (pick up from Mel's ~12:30pm; set up 1pm–4pm; budget ~$220 total after 10% tip; guests eat before staff)
• Locker assembly (guided by video tutorials; leads: Ari, Ash, Jacob; midpoint quality check required; fingerprint locks installed last)

Academic Interns (Emerson Program, track-specific)

Emerson intern specific duties (Sihan Jia, communications track):

• Develop/implement studio communications strategies
• Manage social media accounts
• Produce promotional materials (event flyers, member updates)
• Document operational processes

Emerson intern specific duties (Katya Veber, video/lighting track):

• Audio/video equipment setup and operation
• Facility/inventory/infrastructure support
• Post-production (audio editing, video editing, file management)
• AI tools integration into studio ops

Performance & Evaluation

Studio Assistants

• Hours verification: All hours must be approved by an authorized TRC representative before studio credit is issued
• CRM tracking: Hours entered into the same CRM used for member studio credit management
• Credit usage example (from Amia Jankans' record): Earned $948.33 in studio credit over ~7 working days (Jan–Feb 2025); redeemed $480.00 on 2025-03-30; balance $468.33
• No formal written evaluation process documented for studio assistants; management is informal

Academic Interns (Emerson)

• Grading rubric (for Emerson credit):
  • Participation & Professionalism: 30%
  • Assignments & Reflections: 25%
  • Mid-term Project: 20%
  • Final Project: 25%
• Evaluation milestones: Written reflections (weeks 2–4), mid-term project (weeks 5–7), independent final project (weeks 11–13), final presentation + reflection paper (weeks 11–13), career workshop + exit review (weeks 14–15)
• Exit: Exit interview + completion of Emerson College academic paperwork

Notable Cohorts

Winter/Spring 2025 Studio Assistant Cohort (January–May 2025)

First operational cohort. Orientation 2025-01-26. Key members appearing in hours tracker:

• Amia Jankins, Charles White, Alexiss "Lexx" Lloyd, Anddy Chuta, Drew Jackson, Tommy Cody, Ari Brelig, John Reichmuth, Bella Plumber, Hailey Ponchione, Ekaterina "Katya" Veber, Sihan "Eillish" Jia (the last two are Emerson interns who also appear in the hours tracker), Ahmir Phillips, Ava Perez, Camynn McGrew, Henry Mattei, Maxwell Fritz, Richard Steffens, Brian Cho

Emerson College Spring 2025 Internship Program

Three confirmed interns with offer letters:

• Sihan Jia ("Eillish") — Communications/social media track; started 2/11/2025
• Ekaterina Veber ("Katya") — Video/lighting/live event track; started 2/11/2025
• Ruiting Guo ("Renata") — Technical/operations track; started 3/5/2025
• Olivia Themistocles ("Livvy") — Video/lighting track (interviewed; no offer letter found in docs)

All three working academic interns: 23 hrs/week, unpaid, for school credit only. End date: April 30, 2025.

Summer 2025 Studio Assistant Cohort (May–August 2025)

Tracked in Weekly Scheduler (13 weeks, May 18 – August 17, 2025). Members:

• Returning: Ahmir Phillips, Crystal Speros, Ashley Allen, Ella Crandall, Ashley Hackworth, Ann Oya, Richard Steffens, Steven Charles, Lexi Lloyd
• New: Dovi Mok, Bryce Andrade, Jesse Wintner, Anton Shelton

Fall 2025 Studio Assistant Cohort (August 19 – December 21, 2025)

18+ weeks tracked in Weekly Scheduler. Members:

• Returning from Summer: Ella Crandall, Steven Charles, Richard Steffens, Lexi Lloyd
• New Fall members: Sam Menzelos, Lena Barker, Anthony Torrise, Josh Bockholt, Joshua Baldwin, Jimmy Winick, Keali'i (Jordan) Clapprood, Cassandra Sher, Miles Madigan

Winter/Spring 2026 Studio Assistant Cohort (December 30, 2025 – April 5, 2026)

13+ weeks tracked in Weekly Scheduler. Members:

• Returning: Anthony Torrise, Ahmir Phillips, Francesca Gautreau
• New: Ethan Neal, Eryn Pitts, Jeremy Schoblocher, Dalton Mumphrey, Liam Walsh, Owen Grey, Valeree Mortensen, Bailey Carter, Kai Friedenberg, Elisio Paiva, Natalie Rivera

Summer 2026 Studio Assistant Cohort (Planned, as of May 2026)

Week 1 roster (status: "Check" or pending start date) from Weekly Scheduler:

• Audrey Chung, Steven Voutthy, Emilio Gomez, Francesca Gautreau (returning), Snehaal Dey, Naiko Dzadzamia, Johnny Cesene, Emily Holloway, Ben O'Connor, Felipe Hoyos (June 1), Luke Allen (May 26)
• Returning TAs pending scheduling: Owen Grey, Anthony Torrise, Matvey Kalachev, Tomas Amezuca, Ken Wong, Levi Huvard

Footage Upload Portal & Other Programs

• Email Marketing / Social Media: Studio assistants are given access to the Roster database (industry contacts), the TRC CRM, and Jacob's email or info@therecording.club to send outreach. Targets: managers, agents, musicians with 65K–3M Spotify listeners.
• Social Media content tracker: Maintained in TRC Social Media.xlsx (Winter/Spring 2026 folder). Content types: Reels (Instagram, TikTok), Posts, Ideas. Owner field per post (e.g., Ahmir Phillips, Natalie Rivera). Statuses: Published, Under Review, New.
• Google Ads credit pipeline: TRC has $10,000/month of free Google Ads credits (via Tiny Room Gives nonprofit angle). As of Spring 2025 this was flagged as an intern-led major project; Katya Veber was assigned.
• Video content pipeline: Interns/SAs chop Greg's podcast and concerts for YouTube, Instagram, TikTok. AI captioning required (with manual spell-check). Subtitling style TBD (actual subtitles vs. TikTok-style).
• Sunday Brunch Program: Weekly event (1–4pm, food from Mel's, ~$220/visit). Studio assistants run logistics: pickup, setup, service (guests eat first), cleanup, and expense receipting to tiny_room_studios_llc+expenses@assist.intuit.com.

Key Facts at a Glance

Open Questions / Contradictions

1. Emerson offer letter date typo: All three Spring 2025 offer letters list end date "4/30/2024" (should be 2025). Sihan Jia's start date also reads "2/11/2024" (should be 2025). These appear to be template errors.

2. 23 hrs/week vs. 15–20 hrs/week: Offer letters specify 23 hrs/week for Emerson interns; the master syllabus states 12–15 weeks at 15–20 hrs/week. Which number is authoritative for scheduling/credit purposes is unclear.

3. Contractor overtime: The old hours tracker notes raise the question of whether CA daily overtime rules (1.5x for >8 hrs/day; double time for >12 hrs) apply to studio assistant contractors. No policy resolution is documented.

4. v3 contract (50/50 cash + studio credit): A draft contract splitting compensation 50/50 between cash and studio credit was edited by "Larry" in April 2025 but no evidence it was adopted. The most recent executed contract (per mtime April 2026) returns to studio-credit-only. The cash-paying arrangement was used for at least one "Engineer" sub-engagement.

5. Emerson partner contacts unclear: The master syllabus lists "Arturo Stabile - COO" and "Jeremy Schwartz, CMO" as supervisors; the later Fall contacts doc does not mention them. Their current roles at TRC are unverified.

6. Inventory spreadsheet marked "OUT OF USE": The The Recording Club Inventory (OUT OF USE).xlsx is marked as no longer current. An updated inventory spreadsheet location is not identified in these documents.

7. Footage upload portal: Referenced implicitly through video pipeline tasks but no specific portal URL or system is documented in these files.

8. Studio Assistant credit redemption process: Documented in the Master Doc that credits flow through the CRM, but no step-by-step redemption process for studio assistants to actually book sessions against credit is documented.

9. Cassandra Sher and Miles Madigan drop-off (Fall 2025): Both appear sporadically through Fall 2025 and then go missing from later weeks without explanation.

10. "INTERNS ST MONICA" spreadsheet: A small doc (Daniela Sopher, Miles Singh, Sofia Sanchez, Elise) labeled "this document needs to be parsed and archived by Gabe." Unclear if these were ever onboarded.

Sources