Calarts Hacks

Much of the following is info that Calarts does not seem to actively promote, even though it's there for the taking... Calarts is expensive, so you should know about this stuff from the get-go... If you have other suggestions to add to this page or information to correct, please don't hesitate to contact me.

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* Composers: Get paid for Calarts Performances
I haven't completely confirmed this yet, but there is a vicious rumor circulating that if you register your compositions with ASCAP, you may be compensated for your performances at school. Calarts (and maybe all colleges and universities) are ASCAP-licensed and are required to pay periodic fees to ASCAP for the music they present, mostly for the bigger name composers who are already registered. If you register your pieces with ASCAP (you may have to send in a program), a check might be on its way to you by the end of the year.

* Free Grocery Cards from Student Affairs
Calarts students are eligible once-a-semester to get a free $25 grocery card from Student Affairs. It's supposed to be for "emergencies." Happily, there are no restrictions on what you can buy with it, so use your imagination...
Update: This is now being suspended because so many people are applying for them, so emergencies only folks...

* Free Soup(?) Coupon from Student Affairs
Apparently, once-per-semester you can get a free soup or meal coupon or something like that from Student Affairs. I don't really know the details of this one yet...

* Discounted Movie Tickets
The accounting office sells discounted movie tickets to use at any regal, united artist, or edwards cinema for $5.50! (Thank you Eva!)

* Free Dialup Internet Access
Dialup sucks, but if you live in Val Verde where there is no DSL or Cable, free dialup internet through Calarts is your only option. It's kind of hidden on the library's website under the "How-To" Manuals. You must first have a Calarts email address...

* Free Webspace
There are a bunch of ways to get free webspace through Calarts. Everyone can get 10 MB of space on the muse server through Network Services in the Library. If you ask them to, they will bump you up to 50 MB, but you have to ask... If you're in the Music Department or in the Center for Integrated Media, you can get almost unlimited* space on their servers... Just find out who's the server administrator and ask them to give you a folder and to set up your account.
* "Unlimited" means that they generally have caps, but don't really check that often unless there's a problem...

* Free Food & Refreshments for your Recital or Art Opening
The administration is trying to kill this, but for the longest time Calarts students have been able to get funding from the student council for food and alcoholic refreshments for concerts and art openings. You just have to fill out a form...

* Organize an Independent Concert or Event on Campus
Talk to the Institute Coordinator (Joann Jewett - her office is just to the right of the box office near the main entrance) about signing up for a time slot in the Main Gallery or elsewhere on campus to do something. I believe they have a PA system that you can check out as well. Getting your department involved can help expedite the process, but is not required.

* Stevenson Blanche Student Run Gallery
The Stevenson Blanche Gallery in Calarts is student-run and hence the only gallery that non-art-students can get to exhibit in. It's tucked away near the SuperShop and I think you can find the sign-up sheet somewhere in the Art Office.

* Comp/NewMedia Cam
According to alumnus sources, the Composition/New Media Department apparently has a digital video camera that can be checked out, although they don't advertise it. Record yourself and others...

* The 210
If you're heading into town, especially towards echo park or silver lake, consider taking the 210E to the 2S. a great view of pasadena lights at night, plus it's almost always vacant and fast - a stark contrast to the usually stop-and-go movement of the 101 near silver lake blvd...

* Calarts Opportunities Listings
Jessica White from Student Affairs does a great job of sending out periodic, year-round emails stuffed with calls for works, scholarship/grant info, part-time/full-time job offers, internships, etc. There are even different mailing lists for different departments. You can also find listings online...

* Calarts Job Listings
Contact Jessica White for the password and then go here

* Calarts Student Handbook
Know your rights, or your lack thereof... If this link breaks, you can find it at the Student Affairs website

* Golden Rule About Red Tape at Calarts
Beware. You can get lost in the shuffle, big time. You have to always check and double-check all matters and dealings with your department, the registrar, etc, or else something bad may happen. For instance, take Raja Das' advice - he didn't officially graduate because they misplaced his graduate portfolio:

Hello all, hope this e-mail finds you better than I'm doing. I just learned today that I didn't graduate because I didn't complete my Composition portfolio. Actually, I was one of the first to turn it in. You lucky graduates will recall that they only gave us three days notice and then extended the deadline. Well, I was one of the first to turn it in because I turned it in within those first three days. Lo and behold, it no longer exists. I don't mean to put blame on the music faculty but I know I'm not the only one who believes that it is hardly worth $30,000 a year to deal with the indifference and lack of professionalism prevalent at CalArts. I want to just warn all you students who are graduating in the upcoming years, IT IS NOT ENOUGH JUST TO TURN IN YOUR PORTFOLIO. YOU MUST HOUND EVERY MEMBER OF THE CALARTS MUSIC FACULTY CONSTANTLY, WEEKLY, DAILY, WHATEVER IT TAKES AFTERWARDS UNTIL THEY GIVE YOU A DEFINITE ANSWER(PREFERABLY BEFORE YOUR GRADUATION DATE) AS TO WHETHER YOUR PORTFOLIO WAS RECEIVED AND EVALUATED OR NOT. I'm sorry to all the teachers who take this as an insult. I don't mean it as such and I have tremendous respect for your tutelage and wisdom. But you can't imagine how offended I am after having worked my ass off harder than most people(ya, that's a fact, damnit!) only to get discarded like I was never even there. THIS IS UNPROFESSIONAL, NOT JUST UNFAIR and I expect and demand better of my school. If any one can help, I'd be most appreciative. Otherwise, I guess a diploma from CalArts isn't worth what I thought it was. Thank you for your time and patience. I pray no one is offended, that they just understand what I had to go through and learn from it, and I wish you all better luck than me.
-Take Care(You Will Need It at CalArts)
Raja Das

 

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