Hi! I found your blog through Empress. I am an aspiring writer, also. Unfortunately, I was not able to really break into the magazine industry until now, but I don't think that makes me a newbie. Print mags are so hard to come by these days. It's always been a dream of mine, so I'll just keep at it. No matter Miss Osorio thinks (no offense).
I totally agree that you should attend summer festivals. I just saw Corrine Bailey Rae and John Legend at the Beale Street Music Festival in Memphis last weekend. The tickets were only $25, but I saw them for free because I worked as a volunteer. Volunteering has its perks.