What I Learned from Covering Big Time Rush
- La Voz Latina
- Sep 21
- 4 min read
Written by: Michelle Calderon
In August 2024, my life changed forever. I got in contact with Lior Grunberg, Big Time Rush’s manager, and he helped me set up a Zoom interview with the band for the Howard Courier.
To say that interviewing them was a dream come true is an understatement.
Since then, I have gone on to write more stories, obtain journalism interviews, and cover live events.
I was invited a year later by Grunberg to photograph Big Time Rush during their Saratoga Springs concert. I was given a photo pass and a concert ticket; it was an aspiring pop culture journalist’s fantasy.
I learned a lot from this experience, but the most important lesson was to never give up on my dreams, despite how many setbacks I’ve endured. Here are a few others I learned:
Practice and Intense Research Are Key
When the interview was confirmed, not only was I over the moon, but I was confident in my abilities to have a meaningful conversation with the members of Big Time Rush. Since I had been a fan for years, I believed the questions would come naturally to me. However, I was reminded that it’s essential to do your research on your interviewees, despite how well you think you know them. The research should go beyond a simple Google search.
I dug deep. I researched their backgrounds to get a better understanding of who the men were before joining Big Time Rush. I looked up their most recent fan encounters in order to understand their relationship with fans and how they stay connected to them. I also studied their most recent interviews to learn about their upcoming projects.
Needless to say, my hard work paid off. Not only were they impressed, but I was able to give my article valuable and new information. My article was one of the first to report on their upcoming movie.
By conducting thorough research, I was able to have an organic and smooth conversation with the members.
Always Jump at Every Opportunity!
Before this interview, I had never worked with a celebrity. Most of the work I had done were local news stories. Therefore, interviewing high-profile individuals was new and scary to me. Although I always wanted to be a pop-culture journalist, I felt unworthy and unimportant to request a celebrity interview.
When I came across a Diamondback article where University of Maryland student Molly Szymanski had interviewed the members of Big Time Rush, I realized the work I had done was important, and I had every right to request any interview.
I reached out to her, where she then helped me get in contact with SEE UMD, a student-run organization that plans, promotes and executes events on campus.
Through their help, I got in contact with Grunberg, and the interview was scheduled.
When I learned about Big Time Rush’s current tour, I immediately got the itch to cover them again. After contacting Grunberg for a second time, I was given a photo pass to photograph them from the pit! The experience felt so surreal, and I made many valuable connections. I also became a stronger photographer.
Had I never taken the first step to request my interview with Big Time Rush, I would have missed out on such a fun career highlight!
If you don’t go after your dream opportunities, they won’t come to you. I learned to have confidence in myself and my work history.
Most importantly, I learned that the worst that can happen is being told no, but you’ll never get a yes if you don’t ask.
Always Show Off Your Work on Social Media
While most of the publications I have worked for are digital newspapers with minimal social media presence, I found it helpful to show my work on all of my social media platforms.
According to a 2024 Pew Research study, “Social Media and News Fact Sheet,” approximately 54% of American respondents get their news from social media. Social media is a useful tool for journalists, especially for those trying to attract more readers and subscribers.
By sharing my interview on my social media platforms, I brought more views to the interview and publication. I also connected with more experienced journalists and received more referrals for future job opportunities.
This interview provided me the opportunity to grow my social media presence and credibility as a freelance journalist.
Months after this interview, I covered the 2025 presidential inauguration of Donald Trump. By interviewing a Latino for Trump as part of my coverage, I created my most viral TikTok to date. The interview generated approximately 157,000 views and over 1,000 comments and likes. If I had never gained the confidence to post my Big Time Rush interview and article, this viral TikTok would not have happened.
Sharing my work on social media, especially through video forms, has taught me that the best tool for a journalist is right in our hands. Social media is the future of journalism, and in order to excel in this field, you must take advantage of it!
Don’t Give Up on Your Dream Despite How Impossible Your Circumstances Feel
During my time as a student at the University of Maryland, I suffered a lot. I was forced to work over 40 hours a week as a full-time student while being in an unsupportive family.
I’ll never forget the emotions and challenges of balancing my classes with work while faced with my family’s harsh response. I felt alone during that time. I was failing at my dreams and had no one to help me.
Despite my struggles, I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in English and have continued to work toward my dreams since then. While balancing a 9-5 job, I still write for various publications and cover events for my own page as well.
There was a time when I would cry myself to sleep because I felt like my journalism dreams were out of reach. However, interviewing Big Time Rush taught me that regardless of my difficult past, I still have all of the skills and experience needed to become a journalist, and I’m only getting started!
As long as I continue to take advantage of every opportunity that comes my way, I know that eventually I’ll become a full-time journalist.
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