Why can't we be friends?

Hello again,

I am going to talk about something a little different today. I won't be bombarding you with links, videos or articles. The topic I would like to touch on is a bit more personal.

I did mention at the beginning of this blog that my goal is to work in entertainment PR someday. I was originally leaning towards the music industry, but certain experiences in the last two years have begun to change my mind.

The music industry is very harsh to me. I believe that everyone is free to have their own taste in music, because perception is such a huge part of an individual's personality. When everyone is obsessed with what is hip and new, not many people share my ideals. Who is to say that one band is better than another? I am honestly getting a little tired of being criticized for the bands I love. It has made me a self-conscious person, which I do not like. No, not everyone is going to agree with you all the time, but I have realized that the music industry is a lot about image and ego. I'm not sure if I want to work in that environment for the rest of my life.

The video game industry seems to be much different. Going out to dinner with a big group of gamers really puts things into perspective. It doesn't really matter what genre of games you enjoy. I am personally obsessed with JRPGs (specifically Final Fantasy). I haven't really broadened my horizons for taste and time reasons. Yet, no one I have encountered really cares. As long as you can hold your own in a video game conversation, no one will ever call you wrong. A few may disagree with me, but I have already had many experiences with gamers and professionals in the industry. All of them are accepting and open-minded.

At dinner tonight, I sat across from a gamer who was a huge Zelda fan. I never grew up playing Zelda. Instead, I grew up playing Final Fantasy, which this individual has never even touched. These differences didn't seem to matter. We were able to engage in intelligent conversation without a single argument. The conversation itself was what was interesting, not necessarily a particular game or genre.

Even talking to a member of Gator Gaming the other day made me excited to get into the industry. I thought the club was solely focused on computer games, but the individual I spoke with was actually into all types of games. He seemed very welcoming and friendly. I didn't feel awkward, which is great news, because I really want to join that organization eventually. I was afraid that they would not want me since I have not played a huge variety of games, but that did not seem to be the initial case at all. It is always nice when people surprise you.

I have become much confident in my own knowledge of the gaming industry and my ability to assimilate into that world. I know a lot of this comes from reading video game magazines, articles and news. It is extremely important for me to continue my own education of the industry as a whole. To me, it isn't work. It is fun and engaging. I may not personally play a game like Dragon Age II, but I can certainly tell you about recent concept art I have seen from the game. I am starting to take pride in staying on top of these things, however little they may be. Some may seem it as insignificant, but this is going to be my career someday. I have to know my stuff.

All I can say is that I'm hopeful for my future. I don't mean to bash the music industry in any way, I just think I have quite possibly found the place where I belong. I never thought I would be so focused. I really have been lucky to meet certain people in my life, particularly during college. I would not be the same person without them.

Until next time!

Love,
The Girl Informer