Film, Television, Theatre & Music

Brief Overview

Film, Television, and Theatre

With the rise of the Internet and other new communications technologies, the field of entertainment is increasingly difficult to define. In this profile, we’re talking about film, television, and music, as well as sports—each a form of entertainment raking in millions of dollars. The first three of these businesses are dominated by enormous, vertically integrated companies such as Sony, Time Warner, and Walt Disney, which have interests in multiple segments of the industry. But there are also thousands of jobs in the entertainment industry at smaller, less corporate companies—film and television production or distribution companies, for instance, and small independent record companies, talent agencies, and management companies. Similarly, pro sports is dominated by the four biggest spectator sports—baseball, football, basketball, and hockey—but there are many other sports out there with varying degrees of business sophistication, and even at the Big Four there are numerous, albeit unglamorous and low-paying, jobs in minor-league outfits.

In entertainment and sports, the profits come from discretionary spending, so these industries enjoy the most success in economically stable countries where leisure dollars flow freely. Industry companies supply their audiences with large-scale sporting events, music concerts, TV situation comedies, and silver-screen masterpieces. Simply put, they’re in the business of fun.

The culture in this industry is one of anti-corporate, studied casualness. There are still uniforms—an ever-changing array of baseball caps and jackets in the music business, for example. But they’re invariably less starchy, more expressive of individualism, than anything worn to work in the fields of finance or law. The people? Well, there’s no people like show people, and the sports world has even more pep. This is a high-energy crowd. It’s also a big-ego crowd, and working with its members can be both stimulating and frustrating.

Learn more about the industry and research specific companies on the Vault and WetFeet.

Music

Although most of us are music fans, we don’t know much about the music business. In fact, we normally associate only one or two careers with this line of work. We think of struggling musicians waiting for their big break. Or we think of music teachers (who are sometimes also struggling musicians hoping for their big break). The truth is, however, that there are dozens more jobs in music, many of which have don’t involve actually performing and playing music. All of these jobs bring their own rewards.

Some people in music are principally concerned with selling, marketing, producing, and distributing music. They manage record companies, labels, stores, or artists themselves. They can work in advertising and marketing firms or with a record label as staff publicists, promoting certain acts. Others work on the creative end of the business. They scout new acts and talent to sign to record labels or they may write and perform songs and film scores, arrange them, and record them.

There is a whole range of jobs involved in creating and recording music. Some work as record producers or recording engineers, or live sound engineers. Still others handle the technical aspects of music-making. They run sound or recording studios, or design and build the synthesizers and instruments that musicians use.
Still others in the business help artists run tours while others are principally involved in education, teaching music in public and private schools, at universities, or in private lessons.

But even this doesn’t begin to describe all the niches in music. Some people work as instrument sales representatives, music shop managers, musical instrument builders and designers, record shop managers and clerks, piano tuners, or subscription and ticket service salespeople. Others become radio disc jockeys or music journalists for newspapers and magazines. Still others become music librarians, historians, or music therapists. Careers in music are as wide-ranging as the melodies we hear on the radio.

Taken from Career Prospects in Virginia.

Helpful Tips

Internships are essential to obtaining a job in this field and can be very competitive. Notre Dame students have interned with organizations such as New Line Cinema, NFL Films, and Wolf Trap Foundation for Performing Arts. It’s important to begin networking early with family, friends, professors, Career Center contacts, and alumni. Many students have gained valuable experience by interning in smaller local organizations during their freshman and sophomore year. This allows students to build their resumes and gain hands-on experience in the field.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos091.htm
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos095.htm
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos093.htm

Internship Links

Film & Television

Theatre & Music

Develop Your Own Internship

Students can also contact employers directly to create internship opportunities.

Networking

Tips for networking with family, friends, and Notre Dame alumni. Learn how to obtain access to the Irish Online alumni database.

Professional Organizations

Professional organizations provide excellent contacts for networking and informational interviews. In some cases they may post jobs and internships on their websites.