Seeking Music Writers with Talent, Experience, and Decent Personal Hygiene

First test: Do you know know who this guy is?

​Well, we don't care that much about your grooming habits (some might say that's because we're in no position to). But the music department here at SF Weekly is looking for experienced, opinionated, reliable freelance music critics to review shows, interview artists, make new discoveries, and generally have the kind of freewheeling fun that music writers have -- while turning in clean copy and hitting deadlines.

It's strongly preferred, although not required, that you be based here in the Bay Area (ideally in S.F.), because one of the things we want you to do is review some of the dozens of interesting shows that happen in the city on a nightly basis. You'll often have to turn these reviews in by 8 the next morning, so we hope you like staying up late.

We'd also love if if you come equipped with knowledge and opinions about diverse styles of music. Extra points if you know and want to write about hip-hop and electronic music.

We hope this goes without saying, but you must write well. We strongly prefer that you have experience writing and reporting professionally, and if you don't, that you have experience writing the best copy your college newspaper or record store newsletter ever published. We want writers with a strong voice, a rich vocabulary, and a hatred of clichés. Writing in the first person will usually not be allowed, although, as you've certainly noticed by now, we heartily embrace the royal "we."

Importantly, you must also have opinions and a willingness to share them. Your job as a writer for SF Weekly and All Shook Down will not be to promote or cheerlead, but to describe, analyze, report, and critique. If something sucks, you should be ready to say so.

For all this hard work, you will be fairly paid. You'll get to go to shows for free and get free music. And you'll also be able to broadcast your opinions both in print and online to San Francisco and the world.

Sound like something you're up for? E-mail a brief note about yourself and your taste in music; a résumé; three published music writing samples; and three feature story or blog post ideas about local music to Ian [dot] Port [at] SFWeekly [dot] com.

Because of the volume of responses we're likely to receive, we won't be able to get back to everyone. But if your application is fun, impressive, and intriguing -- and if you seem likely to smell okay and not be a creep -- you will hear from us in the next few weeks.

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