November 30, 2010

The Entertainment & Arts Management (EAM) program was launched in 2006 to educate students who wanted to work in either the entertainment industries or nonprofit arts. This intensive program features a wide-ranging curriculum that stresses a strong foundation in the specialized business practices of these fields as well as numerous opportunities for experiential learning, all taught by a faculty with extensive real world experience. EAM students choose concentrations in media management, performing arts management, or visual arts management. Our EAM graduates have been hired by William Morris Endeavor Entertainment, International Creative Management, The Mann Center for the Performing Arts, The Kimmel Center, The Mutter Museum, and Philadelphia Theater Company. Larry Epstein, Program Director, says “It’s been wonderful to see our first EAM graduates finding jobs in highly competitive and rapidly changing industries. The program is really fulfilling the vision that was set out for it, and students are finding that their EAM degrees have prepared them well for meaningful employment across the country.”

Brandon Ginsberg, one of the first EAM alums, has been working in the music industry business since he was 13 years old when he took a job with A Sharp Production as a DJ, engineer and event coordinator. After high school, Brandon toured the country playing drums and managing the bands he was performing with before deciding to come to Drexel. “At the time,” says Brandon, “EAM at Drexel was one of very few university programs that emphasized both the art and business of the entertainment industry. Classes were not always textbook based, but heavy on experience instead. That’s what I appreciated most.” Brandon did his co-op at Universal Music Group and worked with artists such as Smokey Robinson, U2 and The Moody Blues. Ginsberg is now working at Red Light Management managing up and coming artists.

Tyler Pietz is an EAM alum from the first class of graduates. Tyler, however, was interested in Hollywood, not music. As an intern at Showtime Networks in New York City he worked in program marketing and advertising. Following an introduction by Westphal Dean, Allen Sabinson, Tyler was recently hired full-time at International Creative Management, one of the world’s largest full-service talent agencies, in Los Angeles, California. "There's no way to conquer the disparity between the creative and business ends of the entertainment industry until you have a comprehensive understanding of their relationship,” says Tyler, “ And that's what the EAM program is all about - figuring out ways to monetize creativity - whether it's an experimental theater production or a Hollywood film with a $200 million budget."

Our graduate’s accomplishments are impressive, but their road to success begins at Drexel. Samantha Lacy is a current student who this past summer worked at NBC1o in Philadelphia. Samantha found the EAM program a perfect fit, with opportunities to enroll in many different internships. Her first was at the Philadelphia law firm Cozen O'Connor, and her second as a marketing intern at World Cafe Live. Although Samantha found neither to be a perfect fit with her ultimate career goals, these experiences helped Samantha develop different skills and contacts, as well as a clearer picture of her own career interests. For Samantha’s senior project, she is co-producing a late-night comedy television pilot with one of her fellow NBC interns, a film major at Drexel. “The EAM program here is great,” said Samantha. “It is based on more than just book learning, but also learning from expert practitioners in the field and internship experience. Without this program, I wouldn't have found my dream job so quickly or so easily.” Click here for more information on the Entertainment & Arts Management program.