I was given the opportunity to work with Tom & Jon on a number of Best Show related projects (stickers, shirts, cd covers, etc) which was a fantastic experience. I consider Tom my #1 Comedy Hero of all time and being able to collaborate with him was the best damn creative internship an "artist" could ever ask for.
Some lessons:
1) DO IT. Put the work in.
2) Work with the tools you got. Heck, when I first started making Best Show related photoshops, it was on a PC that I pulled out from a snowbank that looked like it got hit by a truck. Back in 2009, I made a feeble attempt to land a creative gig down in NYC. I ended up doing some spec work (read: free) for some shitty production house. I remember the guy that owned the place (which was outfitted with all manner of Mac Stations, Recording Gear, Cameras) making fun of my shitty Toshiba laptop that I was making stuff on.
I told the guy: "hey, I made more stuff on this $400 laptop last month than your whole studio does in a year". Needless to say, I didn't end up landing a gig there.
3) NYC is not the be-all-end-all. I used to have this dumb idea that in order to REALLY "make it" in the creative field, you HAD to live in NYC. For some, like actors/ comedians, i can certainly see how being in close proximity to where things are being made would be beneficial. Every place, however, has creative outlets (theatres, workshops, spaces) and people willing to collaborate. Heck, why be one of hundreds of aspiring UCB-ers when you can be the ONE person in your town running the damn show. you can also use the internet to connect and collaborate with people. Many of the things I did for the Best Show were collaborations with other artists across the country who I had never even met with in person.
4) Splash some cold water on your face.
5) Dozens of other life and artistic lessons that Tom/ Jon/ TBSOWFMU have taught me.