Jobs for the Major

Jobs for the Major

How this major affects a job search

We know you're all fans of Taco Bell's AM Crunchwrap. It's everything you love about breakfast, wrapped up in a tortilla for easy eating in your mom's VW Bug. Now, what does this have to do with arts management? Think of your arts management degree as the AM Crunchwrap (arts management…AM, pretty much the same right?). You have a ton of different skills, all put together in a single degree. Wrapping yourself in a tortilla for your client's album release party is optional.

An arts management degree is as versatile, just like Taylor Swift's music. Maybe more so. This degree sends you out into the Big Bad World with both business savvy and a carefully honed creative eye. Honestly, most people are only good at one of those things. 

So this degree is something to brag about. It'll be your ace-in-the-hole, even if potential employers doubt your depth of knowledge in each field. Yes, you don't have a full degree in business, and you don't have a full degree in theater or fine arts. So while you may lose out in the job search to people with more specification in their area of study, you, unlike them, will be a jack-of-all-trades. The more trades, the merrier.

Common Career Fields

Music or Film Producer: You are the go-to person on the next big film or music venture. What could be cooler than living the rock star or movie star life without all the annoying paparazzi? In this career field, you are responsible for managing the budget, hiring the cast, and...well, it's your butt on the line if things go south. After all, they give the Oscar to the Producer who wins Best Picture, and not the actor. Think about it.

Artistic Director: New York, New York. If places like Carnegie Hall get you more excited than a kid on Halloween, then this career is for you. Artistic Directors are much like film and music Producers. You are in charge of the venue, from balancing the checkbook to overseeing what acts are booked to developing a longterm vision for the venue. It's a big job, but your fancy book smarts have prepared you well. Go forth and prosper.

Non-Profit Executive Director: If helping others is more your cup of tea, then you most likely will find yourself working at a non-profit like the United Way. The Executive Director is basically the puppeteer of the organization, executing the non-profit's vision for fundraising, beneficiary goals, and more. You will deal directly with donors, sponsors, and community organizations to make sure your non-profit is truly helping those in need.

Museum Exhibition Planner: Maybe the fine arts are what get you out of bed in the morning. We've all heard about how hard it is to be a financially successful artist; that whole "starving artist" shtick is as familiar to us as apple pie. (And decidedly less delicious.) As an Exhibition Planner, however, you'll get the chance to combine your love of the arts with your arts management skills. Do you pick the Van Gogh exhibit or the Picasso exhibit for next month's debut? And how long will the art be showcased? A Museum Exhibition Planner has got some tough choices to make. It may not be life or death, but these problems matter.

Art Festival Director: Lollapalooza, SXSW, and Coachella are a few of the best music festivals around. Coming to a festival and having an awesome time with your friends is one thing, but planning and executing a multi-day music festival is another beast entirely. The Art Festival Director oversees all aspects of the festival from start to finish, from making sure the budget is met to engaging with the artists and deciding which vendors will be a part of the event. If you aren't tired just thinking about all of those details, meetings, and phone calls, then this is a career for you.

Donor Relations Manager: It takes money to run the Washington Ballet, and unfortunately money trees aren't real. So you can't just go around shaking your local oak trees looking for some cash. Instead, as Donor Relations Manager, you have to find individuals and companies willing to support the venue or organization you work for. The Donor Relations Manager wines and dines prospective donors in hopes that their venue is the place they will want to donate any loose cash. You don't shmooze, you lose, Shmoopers. 

Tour Manager: The Foo Fighters don't just take the stage and belt out an amazing performance night after night all on their own horsepower. Behind every great concert is a Tour Manager who is a logistical mastermind. If you choose this career path, you'll be the one who gets the show on the road, whether you work for a major artist or an up-and-comer. You'll set the tour schedule and negotiate pricing, design, and more with the different venues. You'll also manage every musician on the tour, along with the stage crew that sets up each show. And you'll get blamed any time anything goes wrong. Lucky you. No, really. It's still a pretty incredible gig.

Current unemployment of the major

General Business: 5.3%

Percentage of majors who get a higher degree after college

Business: 21%

Stats obtained from this source.