The panelists individually spoke about the music industry from their unique perspective, followed by a question-and-answer session. The music industry professionals gave valuable advice on how to break into the industry, remain persistent despite setbacks, and find oneâ€s niche within the profession. While the panel included representatives from various parts of the music industry, they all stressed the importance of networking and keeping in touch with others in the field.

Once the open forum concluded, BCEC members were able to chat one-on-one with the professionals and receive personal, valuable pointers. In addition to the positive reviews that were received, Vanderbiltâ€s BCEC is anticipating an even greater turnout for their next meeting, “The Business of Sports: Speakers Panel,” on Tuesday, February 26.

Michelle Sibley
VP, Entertainment Marketing, Citi

I was a senior majoring in sociology and social psychology, an area of study I truly enjoyed learning about, which was a welcome change from the harsh and unfriendly academic climate I endured at my college prep high school. Yet, as much as I felt engaged in my major, I knew that academically it would lead to few job opportunities. It wasnâ€t like finance or accounting, which had a defined end goal. Sociology was a bit more fluid in terms of the jobs it had available. And for me, I was still figuring out my end goal; my passions; my career options.

A few months before, pressured by the daunting realization that my major led to few defined job opportunities and that I would need to create my own job opportunities, I launched the Business Careers in Entertainment Club with a friend of mine, who stumbled across BCEC during a Google search of: “How to go into marketing and still have fun.” Starting BCEC, and becoming President of the club, was a way for me to define my interests beyond the walls of my sociology classrooms and I had hoped it would give some direction to my career path postcollege.

Perhaps I didnâ€t realize until I was already knee deep in BCEC, but it became much more than just a resume enhancer for me. Through BCEC, I realized that my interests in the entertainment industry had actual career potential, something my major couldnâ€t offer me directly. The club helped me put “2 and 2” together to understand my interests and how they could be applied to a career in the entertainment industry. I donâ€t think I realized until a few months in, but it was because of my truly organic passion for the entertainment industry that I dedicated so much time to the well-being of the newly-formed club and that I actually enjoyed dedicating my time to this cause.

While my peers were basking in the freedom of senior year, I was spending hours every week on BCEC. I became personally invested in every meeting, every event, and every speaker. We had speakers and workshops from all aspects of the industry; sports, television, and music. All were equally inspiring to me, and all I considered to be an opportunity to network. I came to realize that networking in the entertainment industry was the most important gateway to a job and to a career. Every time we had a speaker come in from a company I found intriguing, I networked my heart out. And I was good at it. Iâ€m still in touch with many of these people, but the most valuable networking contact I ever made was at a networking event for others. In January 2011, I planned an exclusive networking trip to Manhattan for select club members to interact with influential members of the entertainment industry. We visited MTV, HBO, Disney, Madison Square Garden…but the most lifechanging visit for me was with Live Nation.

I recall entering Live Nationâ€s Irving Plaza, listening to my brand new “interview pumps” clicking and sticking to the hardwood floor as I walked, no doubt picking up some warm beer residue from the venueâ€s most recent concert. The silence of the 1,000-person ballroom was deafening, yet it was simultaneously screaming with concerts from the past. The speaker Live Nation sent that day truly changed my perspective on “real life.” His passion for the music and entertainment industry, and for his position at Live Nation was clear, and it resonated with me deeply. As a second semester senior with many job prospects and even a few job offers in front of me, nothing had truly excited me yet. I was terrified to accept a job that I wasnâ€t passionate about, but I had no idea where to find such a job. Like most college seniors, I was terrified to leave the most amazing four years of my life behind for a boring, “9-to-5” job. If I was going to enter the “real world” with open arms, I wanted it to be for a job I loved. And a job at Live Nation seemed like something I could love.

Needless to say, I wasted no time networking with my contacts from that BCEC Live Nation meeting. A month later, a result of my networking, I was sitting in Live Nationâ€s office, wearing those same “interview pumps,” at the desk of the EVP of Live Nation Networks. I remember interviewing my heart out that day. It was truly one of my best interviews. I left the office knowing I had done spectacular. Even if I didnâ€t get that job, I knew I had found the spark I was looking for. The daunting thought of the “real world” was a bit less daunting, because I found a job I could truly be passionate about. Even if I didnâ€t get that exact job, now I knew jobs like that existed out there. It opened up doors for me, and I was completely renewed.

It turned out Live Nation didnâ€t have any job openings for me, but my interviewer was so impressed he passed me along to his counterpart at Live Nationâ€s entertainment access partner: Citi. Citi and Live Nation had – and still have – a long term partnership which grants cardmembers with exclusive access to Live Nation concerts. The position I interviewed for would work directly with Live Nation to provide cardmembers with this entertainment access. It was as close to a job at Live Nation as I could get. And it was equally appealing. With the blessings from my interviewer at Live Nation, I took four interviews at Citi and was offered a Vice President-level position soon thereafter. Four months later, I was moving my entire life into a small one-bedroom in Manhattan, eager to take on the world of entertainment.

Now, in 2012, itâ€s hard to believe Iâ€ve been working for Citi for over a year. I truly love my job which is something many people canâ€t say. I wake up every morning excited to go into the office which is truly precious to me. So many people go through life simply “satisfied” with their jobs, or – even worse – hating their jobs. I look forward to the challenges of my work, and feel incredibly lucky that I get to do something I love every single day. I am also in a wonderful position where I am getting exposed to influential people across the entertainment industry. This exposure is invaluable and has the potential to open so many doors for me in the future.

My story is a common one. A college student who knew what she enjoyed, knew what she liked, but never realized how to turn that into a career. What is uncommon about my story, however, is BCEC. Succumbing to the pressures of an unstable economy and unwelcoming job market, I started the club to add color to my resume. But that club became so much more to me than just a conversation piece during interviews, or another bullet point on my resume. BCEC truly opened my eyes to the career possibilities out there, and allowed me to turn what I thought were simply interests into a full-blown, exciting, engaging and passionate career in entertainment.

Connect with Michelle Sibley on LinkedIn

1. Sony Pictures Entertainment Spectrum Internship – Production & Post-Production
   Sony Pictures Entertainment has openings for interns in a position that will give them insight into the inner workings of the entertainment industry. In addition to observing the inside business of Sony Pictures, interns will work on project assignments related to their department. Openings are available for Pre-Production, Development, Talent & Casting, Music, Physical Production, Post-Production and Acquisition.
2. Home Box Office Internship – Television/Programming
   Time Warner has opened up several new HBO Television/Programming internships for students looking for exposure to the HBO brand’s inner workings. Internship positions are open in multiple areas within the television and programming sector, but interns must be able to work in Los Angeles.
3. Turner Broadcasting Internship – Event Marketing Summer Intern
   Turner Broadcasting is looking for a summer intern for their Time Warner College Associates Program (TCWAP) in 2012. Interns would be working in the Event Marketing department and helping to support project managers in a variety of event planning venues, such as event organization, acquiring catering and venues, and on-site help at local events.
4. The Nickelodeon Recreation Creative Studio Internship – Graphic Design
   The Nickelodeon Recreation Creative Studio brings together many live Nickelodeon experiences around the world each year. Self-motivated interns with passion and creativity are currently needed for their graphic design department.
5. Country Music Television Internship – Corporate Communications/Public Relations
   Country Music Television is the number one country music network in America, and one of the nation’s fastest growing cable networks. Internship positions are open for motivated students interested in working with their fast paced Corporate Communications/Public Relations department.
6. Walt Disney Entertainment Internship – Entertainment Tech
   Walt Disney Entertainment has provided the Disney experience at the Walt Disney World Resort in Florida since 1971. Walt Disney World Theme Parks and Resorts are seeking interns with experience in stage management for their Entertainment Technician program. Interns may also work with the Audio, Lighting, and Props departments at Walt Disney World Theme Parks and Resorts.
7. Focus Features Internship – Publicity
   Focus Features, a division of NBC Universal Pictures, is looking for student interns to work in their publicity department for spring 2012. Interns should be highly motivated, well rounded and ready to gain experience while working with publicity project managers and teams.
8. NBC Universal Internship – Television Casting Intern
   NBC Universal is among the world’s top media and entertainment companies and is constantly developing quality media entertainment for venues around the world. NBC Universal currently has openings for interns in their Television Casting department for spring 2012. Interns can expect to gain experience at NBC Universal while working in a fast-paced, group environment.
9. Telemundo Internship – Entertainment TV
   Telemundo, an American network that broadcasts quality programming in Spanish, is a division of NBC Universal. Telemundo is currently seeking interns for their Telemundo News internships. Interns will be responsible for assisting telenovelas producers in story development, assisting on set by finding videos, tape logging and more. Interns must be able to speak, read, and write Spanish fluently.
10. Viacom Internship – Music and Talent Relations
    Viacom is one of the top entertainment companies in the United States, developing and managing numerous entertainment properties around the world. There are currently openings in Fall 2012 for interns interested in working in Viacom’s Music and Talent Relations department. Interns will be responsible for working with talent, assisting casting producers and more.

1. Philadelphia Union Internship – Event Operations Team
   The Philadelphia Union, a Major League Soccer team, has an internship opportunity for an individual to be involved in all aspects of game and event operations, including communications and marketing.
2. G4 Internship – Interactive Team
   G4 is looking for interns who love video games and have experience with social networking and blogging. To be considered you must submit a link to your Facebook or Twitter page along with your resume.
3. E! Internship – Online Team
   Popular entertainment cable network E! is seeking qualified interns to research and write for eonline.com, along with working on E!’s social networking pages. Strong computer skills and an interest in reporting on the entertainment industry are a must.
4. NBC Universal Internship – Graphic Arts, Digital Media and Editorial Team
   NBC Universal has an opening in New York for an intern who is interested in all aspects of the digital presentation of entertainment, including graphics and online production. The selected intern may also be responsible for writing editorials for iVillage.com.
5. Sony Music Entertainment Internship – U.S. Latin Team
   Sony Music’s Latin division has openings for interns in several different departments. Interns will gain hands on experience in the music industry by writing reports, conducting research and taking on special projects.
6. New Line Cinema Internship – Theatrical Creative Executive Team (Requisition #128794BR)
   New Line is offering an opportunity for a Film, English or Communication Major to work directly for their Creative Executives. The selected intern will read screenplays and give feedback on them, along with handling script requests and maintaining a database of available creative talent.
7. Fox Broadcasting Channel Internship – Casting Team
   Fox Broadcasting has a paid internship opportunity for individuals who are interested in the casting aspect of the entertainment industry. The successful intern must have strong data entry skills.
8. SiriusXM Internship – Public Relations Team
   SiriusXM is seeking one intern to join their Public Relations team. The selected intern will assist all staff members with media relations, along with creating press materials and monitoring programming for promotional opportunities.
9. WGN TV Internship – Creative Services Production Team
   WGN is looking for a creative individual to assist them with the production of TV, radio and print advertisements. The selected intern will work closely with producers and will also log and dub tapes.
10. Warner Music Group Internship – California Team
    Warner Music Group has openings for interns in their California office. The selected interns will gain hands on experience working in every department, and will also have the opportunity to apply for entry level positions after the completion of their internship.

1. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Internship Program – Music Team
   The Academy’s annual summer internship program helps to place qualified interns in 30 different disciplines, including Music, Costume Design, Cinematography and Editing, with a major television studio. The music internship is open to applicants who can provide five original compositions, along with successfully completing the rest of the application process.
2. Viacom International Media Networks Internship – Production Team
   MTVN Latin America is looking for bilingual interns who have a strong desire to learn all aspects of producing international television. They currently have openings on multiple teams, including Production, Talent Relations, Human Resources and Creative.
3. Sony Pictures Television Long Term Internship – Ad Sales Research Team
   Sony Pictures Television has a long term, paid internship opportunity in New York, NY, for a qualified applicant who has the desire to develop a marketing career within the entertainment industry. The selected intern will be responsible for conducting research about competitors, along with creating presentations.
4. Focus Features Internship – Distribution Team
   Focus Features is a division of NBC Universal Pictures, and has handled the production and distribution of several successful art house films, including Brokeback Mountain. Spring internships are available at Focus Features on several different teams, including Distribution, Acquisitions, Publicity and Post Production. The selected interns will receive hands on experience in the business side of the movie industry.
5. Warner Bros. Entertainment Group Internship – Theatrical Production Finance Team (Requisition #128561BR)
   Warner Bros. is seeking an intern who has a passion for finances and music to join their Theatrical Production Finance Team. The selected candidate will work directly with music professionals on all legal and financial aspects of soundtrack creation.
6. Oakland Athletics Internship – Diamond Vision Team
   The Oakland Athletics are looking for qualified interns to join their Diamond Vision team. Interns will be responsible for assisting with live field productions, including creating scoreboard messages, keeping score, videotape editing and equipment setup.
7. G4 Internship – X-Play Team
   G4’s popular gaming program, X-Play, has an opening for interns who have an interest in video games and television production. The selected interns will play video games for the game capture lab and will also assist the production team with general duties.
8. SiriusXM Radio Internship – Broadcast Engineering Team
   SiriusXM has a summer internship program, based out of Washington, D.C., with openings in several departments, including Broadcast Engineering, Web Design, Talent Relations, Promotions and Talk Programming. Qualified applicants must have an interest in broadcast engineering, or any other aspect of radio production, and will not only receive hands on experience, but will also be looked at by management for possible future job openings.
9. WGN Internship – News Writing Team
   WGN is seeking an intern with a degree in journalism to assist their news writing team. The successful candidate will have strong writing skills and will learn, and assist with, all of the tasks associated with being a television news writer.
10. ESPN Internship – Digital Media Fantasy Games Team
    ESPN has an opening for a sports enthusiast who is also working towards a degree in Computer Science. The intern will develop scripts and templates, and will also assist the department by maintaining on-going games.

1. Nickelodeon Recreation Creative Studio Internship – Attraction/Scenic Design Team
   The Nickelodeon Recreation Group brings a live version of the Nickelodeon experience to a wide variety of different places, including theme parks and cruises. Creative interns are currently needed to assist the Attraction/Scenic Design team at Nickelodeon Recreation Orlando.
2. WGN TV Internship – Weather Team
   WGN has an opening for a student who is either majoring or minoring in atmospheric science or meteorology. The successful candidate will have a hands-on role in the weather team and will be responsible for conducting climate research and editing the Tribune Weather webpage.
3. Sony Pictures Spectrum Internship – Video Operations Team 
   Sony Pictures has a wide array of internships available, including a position within the Video Operations team of their Motion Pictures division. The internship will last for 15 weeks and will provide the interns with real world experience within the movie industry.
4. NBC Universal East Coast Internship – Sports & Olympics Marketing Team
   NBC Universal is seeking qualified interns to assist them with the marketing operations of the upcoming 2012 Olympics. Candidates will work closely with NBC’s marketing department to help ensure a profitable summer Olympics for the network.
5. Warner Bros. Entertainment Group – MBA Summer Internship (Requisition #: 128334BR) 
   Warner Bros. has an opportunity for students currently enrolled in an MBA program to be mentored by top professionals and groomed towards a future career as an industry leader. The successful candidates will currently be ranked at the top of their classes and will have a love for both business and the entertainment industry.
6. SiriusXM OutQ Radio Internship – The Michaelangelo Signorile Show Team
   SiriusXM has an opening for qualified interns to join their lighthearted liberal talk show. Interns will learn about the radio industry and broadcasting through a very hands-on approach with this Daily Show styled LGBT program.
7. St. Louis Cardinals Internship – Special Events Team 
   The reigning World Series champions are seeking interns for their Special Events department. The selected interns will assist the Special Events team with the production of game day and non-game day related events at Busch Stadium.
8. Sony Music/RED Distribution Internship – ‘stache Media Marketing Team
   ‘stache Media is the marketing division of Sony Music’s RED Distribution. Internships are now available for independent and motivated individuals who are interested in a marketing career in the music industry.
9. IGN Entertainment Internship – Engineering Team
   IGN, the leading online website about gaming, offers periodic internships throughout all of their departments, including the engineering team. Qualified applicants are encouraged to submit an application now to be considered for the next opening.
10. Country Music Television (CMT) Internship – Production Management Team 
    CMT has an ongoing intern program which is currently seeking qualified candidates to work hands-on with their Production Management team. The successful intern will thrive in a fast paced environment and will have a passion for learning the production side of television.

1. Warner Music Group Spring 2012 Internship – Publishing Team
   Warner Music Group is currently seeking qualified interns to fill roles in all of their departments, including publishing, licensing and HR. The selected interns will work closely with a business professional within their department and will be responsible for completing a special project.
2. NBC West Coast Spring 2012 Internship – Film Production and Development Team
   NBC has an opening in their entertainment production and development division for qualified candidates who are currently enrolled in college. This position will provide an intern with hands on experience working in all aspects of the television entertainment industry, including development, physical production, music and distribution.
3. Sony West Coast Winter/Spring 2012 Internship – Music Licensing Team
   Sony’s Music Entertainment division has several internships available, including positions in their music licensing, artist and repertoire, human resources, new media and sales departments. Interns working with the music licensing team will gain hands on experience working with seasoned professionals in the licensing department.
4. Nickelodeon Games Group Internship – Creative/Art Team
   Nickelodeon has several internships available, including some in their creative/art department. Successful candidates will be responsible for undertaking product testing, research and reporting, special projects and general administrative tasks for their team.
5. Warner Bros. Entertainment Group Internship – Publicity Team (Requisition #: 128299BR)
   Warner Bros. is looking for an intern for their publicity department. The successful intern must have strong computer and social networking skills and have a passion for pop culture. The position entails seeking out all publicity about Warner Bros. projects and compiling it for future usage.
6. SiriusXM Radio Spring 2012 Internship – Howard Stern Team
   SiriusXM is looking for qualified interns to join their Howard Stern Series and Specials team. Those selected will be involved in the creation of 20 weeks worth of episodes for the Howard Stern Show. Responsibilities will include editing segments, transcribing interviews and dubbing shows.
7. WGN TV Internship – Morning News Anchor Team
   Chicago’s WGN is seeking a qualified intern with an interest in becoming a news anchor. Although the intern will not have on-air time, they will be working closely with the morning news anchors and will be responsible for contributing to special reports and regular news stories, along with compiling guest research.
8. Detroit Pistons Internship – Graphic Design Team
   The NBA’s Detroit Pistons is seeking a design or graphics major to intern in their graphics department. The successful candidate will work on the basic layout of multiple different types of advertising, including signs and autograph cards.
9. FOX 2000 Pictures Spring 2012 Internship – Film Development and Production Team
   FOX 2000 has openings for interns who have a passion for the movie industry. Those selected will assist the executive assistants of various movie productions with a mixture of creative and administrative tasks.
10. MTV Networks Internship – MTV News, Docs and Specials Team
    MTV Networks is looking for interns in all of their departments, including the News, Docs and Specials team. Interns will be responsible for a diverse range of duties and will receive hands-on experience on working on one of the MTV sets.

Television Film and Video

Jobs in television, film and video are very diverse today. Most recently, there has been an interesting trend arising in the amount of “Reality TV,” which is a genre that uses ordinary people in situations that arise naturally. People have found this genre of television quite entertaining. The full casts and crew necessary to create these productions including anchors, hosts, actors and producers has afforded the opportunity for many new entertainment industry jobs in recent years.

Radio Broadcasting

Radio is a wonderful way to reach and impact upon a large audience. In radio there are a variety of positions available from programming, engineering, promotion, management and sales as well as on-air positions. There is sports broadcasting and even online radio as well. All of these and more offer good opportunities to the recent college graduate.

Music or Recording

Yet another very vast field with entertainment industry jobs for individuals of all personalities and talents, music and recording is potentially very lucrative. Average salary for a music producer is $45,000 but the potential highest salary is one million. Therefore, a person in the music or recording industry can live a normal salaried lifestyle but has the potential or chance to go very high financially. This high potential lifestyle has become the dream of many.

Theater

Theater uses stagecraft and fine arts actors to present the emotions of story through acting. There are many entertainment industry job opportunities in theater in the areas of costumes, sound, management, sets and props. These again are broad areas which utilize individuals of differing talents and competencies. All come together for the pleasure of creating a truly great production that moves an appreciative audience.

It is often useful to begin a job search for entertainment industry jobs in temporary placement agencies. Also helpful are well-positioned internships. The above four broad categories of entertainment professionals are competitive fields. The two strategies of temporary agencies and internships can be the beginning for an entertainment professional and can help to solidify their finances as they go through the necessary job application process to find the perfect entertainment industry jobs.

Preparing to get an internship
Since you are aspiring to be in the entertainment industry, you should work hard in school and the like. Invest in workshops and hands-on experience depending on your interests. Be sure to do well in every project that you undertake so that later on you can include this in your portfolio and add more experience to your resume. A lot of other aspiring students will be applying for entertainment internships so you have to put in an extra effort to stand out.

Getting an internship
Applying for entertainment internships is very challenging. Production companies and the like are always looking for people with potential. Your job is to leave a good impression during your interview to make sure you get the internship. Research the company and understand the job description thoroughly. Be on time for your interview and look sharp and professional with your attire. Make sure your resume and portfolio highlights the impressive work you have done so far. Be polite and precise at all time. Follow up the status of your application if needed.

Being on the job
Once you have successfully acquired an entertainment internship, you should prepare yourself for the fast pace of the job ahead. Keep your mind open and be alert at all times. Be the best that you can be during your internship and try to learn as much as you can from it. Donâ€t be afraid to explore and make mistakes, the important thing is that you always bounce back and learn from them. Avoid being clumsy so that your bosses will have a good impression of you and they might even recommend you to other companies.

Learning from the internship
Keep your eyes open for opportunities that may arise during your internship. Entertainment internships can be very stressful and supervisors will be looking for those who can work efficiently under pressure. Always be open to challenge yourself and try new things that you will encounter during your internship. You might start at the most basic of jobs, but keep in mind that this is where most successful industry executives started off as well.

This kind of experience will do wonders for your career. You will be able to witness the business firsthand, help in major projects, learn trade secrets and possibly get paid for it. Entertainment internships help you learn about the industry hands-on and will give you an advantage later on in your career.