MBA Insider: A Day In The Life October 2, 2007, 5:40PM EST

Hitting the High Notes

(page 2 of 2)

Derek Kwan
Interlochen Center for the Arts
University of Wisconsin (Madison)
MBA class of 2007

Story Tools

4:06 p.m.—It's sound-check time. Depending on the artist, this process can take anywhere from five minutes to three hours. The production staff works to eliminate any faulty wires, defective microphones, shorted amplifiers, etc., but things can still go wrong during the performance.

5:35 p.m.—The sound check is complete, and the production staff will finish focusing the lights on stage. Now the primary challenge is keeping the artists happy until the show begins, which usually consists of providing access to the creature comforts unique for each individual artist.

6:25 p.m.—Security meeting with the artist's manager to clarify policies on photography, recording, and audience interaction. This is followed by an orientation meeting with the 50 volunteer ushers and on-site EMS staff.

7:02 p.m.—Doors open to the venue, and ticket holders start entering. I usually try to grab a quick bite to eat.

8:04 p.m.—The show starts. At this point, I can only hope for a smooth performance without a technical malfunction or an unruly audience. I head up to the box office to gather attendance and sales information.

10:16 p.m.—The show ends without incident, and the load-out and breakdown process begins. I pay the artist's manager and take care of any other outstanding business.

12:08 a.m.—Load-out is complete and the semitrucks and buses depart for their next tour stop. It's time to head home and get some rest before tomorrow's concert!

While an MBA is not absolutely essential for a position such as mine, there will be more and more graduates entering the industry from specialized programs like the Bolz Center. The key factor differentiating the Bolz Center for Arts Administration is that it's a specialization housed within an MBA program (most arts administration graduate programs offer either a Master of Arts or Master of Education). A decreasing pool of arts funding combined with increasing competition for an individual's leisure time has forced nonprofit arts organizations to operate as for-profit businesses. Business school has taught me the importance of staying nimble in order to constantly adapt to the changing world, especially in the arts.

If I had a chance to go back to business school, I would definitely want to take a course covering intellectual property as well as a course on information technology. The combination of these rapidly evolving subjects is having a broad impact on the arts field in general.

As for advice for someone who wants to break into this field, I would suggest that they seek out an internship or volunteer at an arts organization. Just like any job, experiencing the real world, day-to-day activities of an institution can reveal whether or not it is the right fit. If they feel it is something that they want to pursue, then I'd suggest applying to a specialized program such as the Bolz Center, which will provide an array of opportunities in the industry.

Kwan is a member of the University of Wisconsin -Madison MBA class of 2007 .