I was selected to be an intern at iO and tonight was my first shift. I already know most of the interns, and most nights I’ll stand with them and talk before the shows start. So without realizing it, I’ve been subliminally learning how to do their job over the last six months. This, plus the fact that I’ve worked at six different restaurants, means interning at iO is a breeze. I work one night a week at the theater along with two other interns. It’s our job to take tickets, seat people, help the bartenders, and clean up the place after the shows. In exchange for this, I don’t have to pay for my classes and I get to register before everyone else. There’s also the added benefit of meeting a lot more people (students, bar & wait staff, house managers, performers, etc.)

After everybody’s seated and the performers are on stage, I just stand by the bar and watch the show. I’m basically just meeting people and picking up a few beer glasses in exchange for free improv classes from some of the best improv teachers in Chicago. When you factor all of that in, this is probably the most useful job I’ve ever had, and I’m not even being paid!