Antoine, 29, entrepreneur/Editor in chief, Trax
I thought it was somewhat odd when Etienne told me I should interview Antoine, since I think we all know what magazine editors are. But not so fast! Antoine wears so many (metaphorical and literal) hats: editor in chief, entrepreneur, record store owner… Another example of someone who manages to do it all. Even if it means it’s not so easy to interview them.
What’s your job, exactly? Entrepreneur and editor in chief of Trax magazine (Ed. note: a very respected French electronic music magazine). I created my own music related events company, Sources Management, 2 years ago. Before that, I had my blog called Source de Calcium, I was organising events in Paris’ museums and I was finishing my Masters degree.
What was your first job? I’ve had thousands of odd jobs since the age of 11. I’ve worked in restaurants, as a salesperson in the food industry, in customer service for a big Swiss bank… I even sold vacuum cleaners! It taught me how to sell anything to anyone. Now that I apply it to music, which is what I love the most, it’s even more efficient.
What did you study? I studied Law for a bit, I was at HEC (Ed. note: one of the most prestigious business schools in France) for a few months. I got a BA in Latin, Ancient Greek and Language Science at La Sorbonne, then a Masters in Communication. I interned in a few places including Brunswick Arts, which is the arts department of a communications partnership group. I was working on their cultural communication strategy.
What did you want to be when you were a kid? I wanted to be a geologist!
Did you ever have a mentor? Not really, but I’ve had role models: Sorbonne professors, philosophers, entrepreneurs, revolutionaries.
What’s your schedule? I work 90% of my waking time (I sleep 4 or 5 hours a night), 7 days a week.
What do you wear to work? It’s important to have standards in an office to avoid letting yourself go, but I’m glad I don’t have to wear a suit and tie.
Do you have any side projects? I have a music label, I co-own a records store called La Source, and I’m opening a bar in Mexico in a couple months.
Who should I speak to next? Alexis, head of publications and new media for Galeries Lafayette (Ed. note: coming soon!).