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Shannon Downey is an Adjunct Faculty Member at Columbia College, she’s also a professional problem solver, an educator, strategist, community builder, fire starter, and a fiber artist. When asked how she manages to do it all, Shannon said, “My life goals are simple: Learn everything, know everyone, and go everywhere.”  In addition to teaching at Columbia, Shannon owns a Marketing company, Pivotal Chicago, and consults for small and medium-sized businesses. She also teaches once a week at Mission Propelle, an empowerment program for girls in elementary school.  This winter, she will become a teaching artist at EleveArt Community Studio, where she will lead an inter-generational fiber arts program. What doesn’t this woman do!? She’s incredible. We had the pleasure to sit down with Shannon and learn about all of the cool, amazing things she is doing.

How are you connected to Columbia?

I have had the pleasure of being an adjunct faculty member in both the School of Business and Entrepreneurship and the School of Design for about a year now.

What is the #EndGunViolence gallery show?

The #EndGunViolence gallery show is the culmination of a craftivism (craft + activism) project that I have been facilitating since the spring. Over 100 fiber artists from all over the world have been creating images of guns and sending them to me. November 4th will be the opening night of the show. All of the pieces will be for sale and all of the money will go to support Project F.I.R.E.

Project FIRE (Fearless Initiative for Recovery and Empowerment) is an artist development employment program that offers healing through glass blowing to youth injured by gun violence in Chicago. Project F.I.R.E. combines glass arts education, mentoring and trauma psycho-education in order to support trauma recovery and create employment opportunities for young people who have been shot or witnessed the homicide of a loved one.

What is so special about this project?

First, the amazing response and participation from my global community of fiber artists has been staggering.

Second, my local community has been unbelievable.

The show has evolved into a collaborative show and will also feature the glass art created by the young people of Project F.I.R.E. Additionally,ArtReach Chicago brought me in to teach the young people of Project F.I.R.E. how to embroider so that their whole team could participate in the craftivism project.

In addition to the show, there will be artist talks with the young glass artists of Project F.I.R.E., their instructors, and therapists, and myself. There will be a free community embroidery workshop and a stitching circle that will include facilitated conversation about the gun violence plaguing our city. And, I plan to live stream the entire event so that my digital community can join my real life community for these important events.

The project and events surrounding it evolve everyday as people come to me with their ideas and volunteer their time, energy and spirit to this project. Columbia faculty member Richard Zeid volunteered to design our marketing materials and several of my students are going to help install the work and produce the opening night event!

I hope to see everyone there! www.BadassCrossStitch.com Instagram: BadassCrossStitch

You have created a website that showcases “Seriously Badass Women,” a group of empowering female leaders in our community. What female leader has inspired you?

Ironically, the women I feature on my site are the women that I am most inspired by. They do the hard work, show up, live their truth, support other women, exude grace, speak their mind and work to improve the world for others every single day.

(Shout out to Columbia Faculty Jessica Jacobs who designed our amazing logo)

www.SeriouslyBadassWomen.com Instagram: SeriouslyBadassWomen

What advice do you have for women that want to be leaders in our community?

Start. Take action. Do something. You don’t need permission to be a leader in your community. Being a leader doesn’t require anything more than a desire and willingness to take action towards something you believe in. Build a community if you have to.

What’s next? Any other projects you’re working on?

This is one of those periods where I just need to get through what’s now. I’m certain this craftivism project is going to light the way for what’s next so I’m just going to let it. I’ll keep you posted!

Twitter: @ShannonDowney @pivotalchicago @projectfirechi

Company: www.PivotalChicago.com

Art: www.badasscrossstitch.com

SBW: www.SeriouslyBadassWomen.com

Instagram: @BadassCrossStitch @SeriouslyBadassWomen @projectfirechi

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Student Spotlight: Elise Hearden (MAM ’17)

Elise Hearden is finishing up her first year in the Master of Arts Management (MAM)program at Columbia College with quite a few experiences under her belt. Relocating from NYC to enjoy the rich culture and career opportunities the Midwest has to offer, she is a great example of the self-driven artist. Learn of her adventures, plans and wise words in this interview.

What is your current major and expected graduation date?

Master of Arts Management (MAM) – May ’17

Why did you choose Columbia’s Business & Entrepreneurship program?

My fiance and I chose to make a life change by moving to Chicago for the thriving and rapidly growing arts scene and its proximity to family.  I chose the graduate program that would best set me up for a career in the Chicago community through connections, flexibility, and opportunity.

What are you passionate about?

Passion is such a tricky word when you really look at its definition.  I am a very passionate individual on many fronts, so to speak.  I prefer to focus on what peaks my curiosity, what warms my heart, and what fulfills my every day happiness. I thrive off of the 3 C’s: connection, collaboration, and community.  Every pursuit embodies these three words, or at least that is what I strive for.  I have rooted belief in arts education and engagement and the enrichment it brings to individuals and communities alike.  I am curious about far too many projects and opportunities, often overbooking my life with great zest.  I am madly in love with love – love of my fiance, love of my family and friends, every day acts of love, and embracing self-love.  Lastly, the every day happiness comes from dance, coffee, wine, sunshine, heartfelt conversations, and bear hugs.

What projects are you currently working on outside of classes?

The project closest to my heart is serving as Co-Founder/Executive Director of Motivated Movers NYC.  We are a codified dance training program designed to create a safe space for professional actors to learn the fundamentals of dance, prepare for specific roles and auditions, and embrace movement on and off the dance floor.  Professional theatre is demanding, and it is becoming highly expected that an actor is comfortable with movement.  With limited resources for an adult who is not quite ready to walk into Broadway Dance Center and dive in head first, our team is passionate about cultivating a community of support and encouragement that actually breaks dance down to the fundamentals.  Our Motivated Movers are truly inspiring and can be seen as Christine in the Phantom of the Opera tour, across the country on tours and at regional theaters, tearing up the audition scene in Manhattan as we speak, and diving into original projects.  If I could be on the dance floor with them every day, I would.  But for now, I am managing the organization from afar and have a dedicated and gracious artistic team fulfilling our mission in NYC. I just started an internship with Prevail Strategic Marketing and Communications and am following my new curiosity of marketing to see where it takes me.  One of the many benefits of this program are the internship and career opportunities. The Prevail internship was introduced to me by a professor on campus, and I am excited to use the knowledge gained in the program to propel me forward. I recently finished an internship as Development Coordinator with Chicago Youth Shakespeare.  I was able to correlate the internship with my fundraising class last semester to develop a strategic fundraising plan for this young and inspiring youth arts education and training program.  Coming up this summer I will be assisting with the opening of a new dance studio in the South Loop, Chicago Dance Academy.  It will be a joy to be back on the dance floor teaching creative movement and theatre dance.But possibly most exciting, I am planning my wedding for December 30, 2016.

Which classes have helped you the most with your career goals?

Personally, I have been able to take a little from every class and put it into immediate action through current projects.  Having the time to be working on so many projects outside of the graduate work is a huge benefit of this program.  Marketing and Fundraising have led directly to opportunities in the city and I am greatly appreciative.  For every day happiness and enrichment, I have to say my Leadership in the Arts class has been a surprising and fulfilling experience.  What could easily be a dry and possibly unnecessary class has actually been the most rewarding, self-challenging, collaborative, and enriching opportunity.  This is entirely due to our inspiring professor and cohorts.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In five years I will be happily married and rooted in the city of Chicago, working for (or managing) a regional theatre, expanding Motivated Movers, continuing to teach dance, and soaking up cultural experiences around the city every day.

How has being a student at Columbia influenced your path to career success?

Columbia is helping me hone necessary skills that were previously weaknesses, such as financial management, and is continuing to grow my network in the city.  The creative individuals I am meeting along the way impact me personally, as well as my career directly.

What is your philosophy on life (personal motto) as it relates to your educational career?

“What is meant for me will not pass me by.” (A favorite mantra of ours at Motivated Movers.)  Also, “The only way to live beyond our lives is to connect and carve ourselves into the souls of those we love.” (Michael John LaChiusa, Little Fish)  I can quickly become a workaholic and have a strong weakness of perfectionism.  These mottoes teach me patience,  remind me of the bigger picture, and keep my priorities in check.

What advice would you give to prospective students?

Every program is what you make of it.  There are unlimited and impactful resources and connections at Columbia.  Seize them.  But don’t stop there.  Hit the pavement, dive into outside opportunities, and remember those around you.  You never know what window of opportunity or individual will lead you one step further down the path you are meant to take.

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Student Spotlight: LaMar Brown (MAM ‘16)

LaMar is a recent graduate (May 2016) of the MAM program who we featured in the spring. His post-grad plans include launching his own dance company. Although he sees connections made with others as the most valuable takeaway, the skills cultivated in classes are just as important for his future career goals.

What are you passionate about?

This is a hard question to answer but I think it boils down to being passionate about life. I believe that people should live rich lives, full of the joy of living, connecting with the people and world around them, and especially love for themselves, each other, and the world. This translates into my deep passion for dance. Dance is one of the rawest forms of expression. People physically express themselves on a daily basis but dance has the ability to condense moments in time in order to relate those raw emotions to others.

What projects are you currently working on outside of classes?

Mostly, I am working for companies. I recently just finished helping Writers Theatre open the box office in their new facility in Glencoe, IL. I am a Box Office Associate with them. I am also serving as the Artistic Administration Intern at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago as a part of the General Management Department. I am responsible for securing music licenses for performances, paying music, choreography and designer royalties, receiving job applications, assisting with the coordination of the auditions, and my responsibilities are continuing to grow. Essentially, I am actually using my current classes to work on my own personal project, which is to lay the groundwork for my own dance company.

Which classes have helped you the most with your career goals?

Honestly, I believe all of the classes have helped me in various ways. It is hard to say which is the “most” helpful. But I will choose the Entrepreneurship and New Business Creation course because it forced me to really spend time on conceptualizing how to actually get my dance company started as an arts business and not just a “performing troupe.” There were many concepts and tools used that other classes had introduced. It was also a great way to share my ideas and get feedback from others with many varied backgrounds, interests, and strengths.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In five years, I see having my dance company “off the ground,” performing at least one major concert a year, with smaller engagements throughout. And most importantly starting to see the company be successful artistically and fiscally. I believe I will also begin the process of ending my time as an administrator for other companies and taking mine on, full time.

How has being a student at Columbia impacted your path to career success?

The biggest impact has been the people. As with any college experience, what’s most important is the connections that a person makes while there. First, the MAM program has given me a great cohort. The members of my cohort have grown to become my colleagues. They all have such rich backgrounds and many have skills that I do not have. I have learned from them just as much as my professors, and oftentimes more. I believe these individuals will be a great resource to call upon as I build my professional career and I hope they feel the same about me. Also, the college lends itself toward building professional relationships outside of the school. I was able to get my job with Writers Theatre because of a faculty member that directly recommended me to the organization while he was performing consultations with them. These connections to people and communities are where the biggest impact are found.

What is your philosophy on life (personal motto) as it relates to your educational career?

Live, Love, and Laugh. I tend to worry a lot. Doubts are normal, and I think the college experience can sometimes heighten those. But, when I sit back, meditate, and remind myself about the joy of life, I realize I should have nothing to fear, and all of my goals are attainable. It takes many moments of reminding. Haha!

What advice would you give to prospective students?

Don’t come to college looking for someone to hand you all of the answers to your dream job. Instead, expect to be given tools that you can use to create a larger picture. You won’t need every tool you are shown. Oftentimes, the tools and skills you develop are not ones that you thought you would need. Sometimes it is a skill that you aren’t told about that you don’t realize you are building. In the end, it is about how you utilize the tool. Would you wash dishes with a hammer? Most likely not. School, college, a degree, is the same. The way in which you use it, is more important than the tool itself. It helps to have an idea of what you want to do. And more so, to know how to recognize when you encounter something that can be used to achieve your goal. It requires thinking/analyzing creatively and outside of “the box”. It also helps to have some experience in your chosen field to help put concepts into perspective.

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Student Experience: SXSW 2016

This year roughly 100 of Columbia’s community consisting of students and faculty from the Business & Entrepreneurship Department will head to Austin, Texas to participate in South by Southwest (SXSW). The SXSW conference and festival highlights innovative original music, independent films, and emerging technologies.

Graduate and undergraduate students from AEMMP Rock, AEMMP Hip-Hop, AEMMP Talent Agency, AEMMP Digital Distribution and Promotion Agency, and AEMMP Publishing practicum classes attend the event to gain experience through marketing and promoting their bands in different Austin events/venues. While in Austin, the students will host their fourth annual networking event, AEMMP Records, Unofficial Day Party, at the Bat Bar on March 17 from 12-6.

The AEMMP Records showcase will feature talent such as Shah Jahan, Yoko and the Oh No’s, The Lucky Dutch, and other guests.

The adventure from Chicago to Austin gives students a real-world opportunity to experience the industry. SXSW speakers and participants represent active professional members of the music, film, and interactive arts industries.

Don’t miss any step of their journey to South By Southwest. Follow the hashtag #AEMMPSXSW16 on social media and follow the blog to take part in this excitement.

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Student Spotlight: Adriana Prieto Rodriguez

How did you spend your winter break/J-term? Consider organizing and presenting a full conference to DIY artists internationally. That’s what one student of the Master of Arts Management (MAM) program spent her winter break doing.

Adriana Prieto-Rodriguez has gone from amateur events coordinator to marketing and self-management guru. Less than 100 days from receiving her Master of Arts Management, Adriana is putting her education to use and sharing her new found knowledge with the artist community in Mexico City.

The conference came about as part of a scholarship granted by the Mexican Arts and Culture Fund(FONCA). Adriana gave Marketing and Self-Management conferences for musicians during J-term in Mexico. The conferences were given at the two public music schools that belong to the National Institute of Fine Arts in Mexico City and the National Conservatory of Music.

Conference content was divided up into three parts: marketing basics, branding, and public image. The main goal was to encourage musicians to expertly promote their own musical ensembles/projects by using DIY marketing tools.

Topics discussed in the conference were: The Arts Marketing Process, The AIDA method, Promotional Materials and Techniques (Visuals, Creating a Press Kit, Merchandising, Social Media, etc.), The Arts Product and its Branding, Audience Segmenting and Positioning, Public Image of the Artist, Stage Management, and Audience Development.

“I was surprised that many people approached me at the end of the conferences asking me for advice to promote their individual projects.”

Conference attendance exceeded expectations with about 60 musicians in each conference including students, faculty, and professionals. The audience came from different music institutions and also from other art industries.

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Student Spotlight: Melissa Jimenez (MAM ’17)

Melissa Jimenez is an international graduate student from Trinidad and Tobago studying in the Master of Arts Management (MAM) program. Although she has the education, experience, and entrepreneurial spirit, she came to Columbia to strengthen her skills in the arts and entertainment industry.

What is your major? When is your expected graduation date?

I attended The University of the West Indies – St. Augustine campus in Trinidad and Tobago where I completed a BA in Musical Arts with a concentration in Steelpan performance and Voice (singing) in 2012. I went on to complete a certificate in Event Management at the same institution, and a LCCI Diploma in Marketing. I am now pursuing a Master of Arts Management at Columbia College Chicago where I am expected to graduate in May 2017.

Why did you choose Columbia’s Business & Entrepreneurship program?

I have many entrepreneurial ideas floating around in my head and on paper of things and some I have already tried my hand at. All my ideas are geared towards advancing the arts and entertainment industry in Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. Having said that, I have a lot of practical experience dabbling in things here and there so I felt as though I needed some more direction to help me refine those ideas and thus began the search for universities where I stumbled upon Columbia. The curriculum immediately caught my attention with its diverse offerings both theoretical and practical and the many lecturers who are not only teaching at the institution but living what they teach as successful entrepreneurs in their own right. Thankfully, the U.S. Fulbright program made that wish of attending Columbia come true, for which I am eternally grateful.

What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about helping others. I want to see people strive and to see the Caribbean’s arts industry grow and become a force to be reckoned with. I want the world to see the Caribbean as not only an ideal vacation destination but know us for our explosive talent and admirable cultural diversity.

What projects are you currently working on outside of classes?

My most recent project includes setting up and moving towards formally launching my company Artzy Bitz. Artzy Bitz is set up to be an all encompassing arts management hub of professionals providing related services. Another project, Artzy Travel is setup to be a stand alone subsidiary under the Artzy Bitz company promoting the Caribbean’s artistic festivals and cultural heritage by facilitating group vacation tours. About a year prior to moving to Chicago I also founded a fundraising event titled, “The Masters Series,” along with a few of my colleagues. This event allowed us to create a fund geared towards helping students who wish to pursue postgraduate education in the arts and entertainment field by providing bursaries. Thus far, we have been able to award two recipients. Our hope for this event is that it will continue to be an annual one where we will eventually be able to offer partial and full scholarships to those in need.

Which classes have helped you the most with your career goals?

Thus far, the Event Management, Talent Management, Leadership, and Marketing courses have helped me the most with my career goals. I’m looking forward to Sponsorship, Fundraising, and Digital Business Development for the next academic year.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

In five years I see myself traveling around the world embarking on different projects of interest, owning a few businesses, and would have sold a few business ideas for others to develop.

How has being a student at Columbia impacted your path to success for your career?

Through this program I have been able to expand my professional network, and be exposed to a variety of tools, specialized industries, and opportunities not available in my home country. As a result, I have become a little more open minded and I am exploding with creativity. Suddenly, all the ideas I thought were crazy or unattainable seem possible.

What is your philosophy on life (personal motto) as it relates to your educational career?

“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” – Maya Angelou

This is true for both my educational career and personal life.

What advice would you give to prospective students?

Columbia is a triple threat College providing: theory, practical application, and field diversity. With great, highly supportive lecturers and faculty helping you develop your creative leaps and bounds at every turn, you’ll be glad you chose it.

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Alumni Feature: David Schmitz ('10)

A 2010 graduate of the Master of Arts program, David gives insight on his experience at Columbia and shares perspective on the program before its renaming. He is currently the Executive Director of the Dubuque Museum of Art, which has received recent publicity on its collaboration with the Smithsonian network.

What degree did you earn from Columbia? When did you graduate?

Master of Arts Management, concentration in visual arts management.  I completed coursework in 2009 and successfully defended my thesis in 2010.

What is your current job and how did you get there?

I currently serve as executive director of the Dubuque Museum of Art, a smaller, nationally accredited art museum in Dubuque, Iowa (about 3 hours west of Chicago). While studying at Columbia, I completed a number of internships, one of which led to my first professional role with the Chicago Artists Coalition. My experiences at Columbia and in Chicago led me back to Iowa and to the Des Moines Art Center, where I spent four years in development. I then worked as an arts programmer for our state arts agency, the Iowa Arts Council, managing programs and initiatives around public art and community arts before accepting a dream job as a museum director.

What field are you working in?

Museums and visual arts.

How did the business program at Columbia prepare you for what you do now?

(Caveat: the program and department was structured a bit differently during my time at Columbia and the training was broader than just business & entrepreneurship.) Coming from an arts background - I was a studio art major in undergrad and had little exposure to business concepts - I was really challenged by the business program and coursework in accounting, finance and statistics. Just making the mental transition to this other domain was a new experience, but looking back, it was critical to what I do now.

What was your most valuable Columbia experience?

Just being surrounded by so many incredibly talented people with the vision and tenacity to make things happen!  If NASA was ever looking for creatives for a manned mission to Mars, I am confident that Columbia grads could quickly land and establish a dance company, recording studio, and art exhibition.

Were there any particular professors who have made a significant impact on you? How?

Bob Blandford for his contagious laugh and passion for museums and exhibitions; Dennis Rich for encouraging me to follow my research interests and write a thesis; and Philippe Ravanas for making cultural policy seem less wonky.

In what way did your Business degree help your career?

I remember one of the music business faculty saying at orientation that earning this degree is about preparing you for an opportunity 10 years in the future. That advice turned out to be almost exactly right in my case.

Do you have any advice for current Columbia students?

In our very social, digital culture, there is a heavy emphasis on networking and self-promotion, with the assumption being that the right contact or exposure will unlock a rewarding career. This is often summed up by the phrase “it’s not what you know; it’s who you know," which I think is really misleading advice, at best. While networking is important, especially in highly competitive creative fields, what you know and how you develop your talents still matters, maybe more than ever.  My experience has been that developing a career is a fluid and organic process that has more to do with how others know you; for example, do they see you doing good work?  Do they place trust in you and have confidence in your abilities and follow through?   In the long-term, I believe that doing your best work, seeking out mentors, and taking risks are likely to be the most important factors to your success.

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Events Management Class Produces Urban Underground 312

Urban Underground: Area 312 was produced by students in the Events Management class, taught by Kari Sommers during the Fall Semester on December 10th. This year’s focus was on fundraising for Columbia Cares, a charity that supports CCC students in emergency situations.

The event, held on Thursday, December 10, at the Conaway Center, was a success in many ways. There were approximately 260 people in attendance to to experience this multifaceted artistic experience. There was an interesting and diverse line up including Human Bloom (funk/R&B band), DJs CAVEMAN and Sworn Enemies, whose beats inspired the energetic Flow Jam Session by three hula hoop dancers. The artistic musical environment was conducive for other art forms as well. Three artists painted beautiful canvases while the music was playing and the paintings were raffled off at the end of the event.

The event included partnerships with other student organizations. ISO (International Student Organization), ABBA (Art of Business/Business of Art), and CCC classes, such as the Theatre Lighting classand the Makeup class were partners. Frequency TV and The Columbia Chronicle, school media outlets, sponsored the event.

Furthermore, cash sponsorship and in-kind items from external companies included: Dimo’s Pizza, Metro,Jimmy Green’s, Jewel Osco, Bloodshot Records, NPM Chicago, and Toasty Cheesy.

Events Management student Adriana Prieto-Rodriguez shared her thoughts about the turn out.

“The event was successful and the whole class was satisfied with it. We put a lot of effort into it and in the end everything was worthwhile. Also, we believe that a big part of the event’s success was all the help we received from other school’s departments and external companies. This was a great example of effective teamwork and partnership within the Columbia community. I am personally proud of the Urban Underground brand we created. We were very comprehensive with all the visual and marketing materials (logo, poster, website, social media, etc.). We are leaving a brand legacy to the next class!”

Makeup student

CAVEMAN

Tom Molloy, creator of the Urban Underground logo

Human Bloom

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Graduate Students Present Marketing Plan to Local Startup

Monday, December 7th, five teams of graduate students presented unique marketing plans to the newly launched FW Chicago women's magazine. Through the Marketing Principles class, taught by Sandra Kumorowski, students were introduced to a local client and given real-world experience.

"I didn't expect to win because there were a lot of really great presentations. And I don't plan on going into marketing specifically, but I think this class is really valuable in learning the basics in marketing, so that one day when I hopefully am in management, I will at least understand what that department needs to do," Tessa, member of the winning team.

The Principles of Marketing course is a required course in the Master of Arts Management program in the Business & Entrepreneurship Department. Students are expected to learn the basic skills of effectively marketing to target audiences and relating it to the arts. Completing market research, analyzing the business needs, and catering to the brand's values, were among the skills learned.

"The experience overall was very rewarding to be able to actually get involved with something and see that our ideas have true value. A lot of our work is going to be actually used in a business environment. That was really inspiring," Brandon, member of runner-up team, "Gold Coast".

All teams that presented had great ideas that Kendra Chaplain, founder of FW Chicago, plans on implementing. Each student will also be able to add to their resume that they were marketing consultants for FW Chicago Magazine this semester.

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Grad Open House!

The Business & Entrepreneurship Grad Open House is in 2 days from 1pm to 3pm, and it’s not too late to RSVP! 

Email [email protected] for your chance to meet with admissions, tour the campus with a current student and talk with professors!

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Follow the top student run Record Label in the nation! Right here at Columbia College Chicago!

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The most exciting part is doing something real, experiencing the development process of putting on an actual event

Milena Berbenkova, MAM ‘17 on the Gallery Management Practicum

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Missy Elliott’s drops video for “WTF (Where They From)” featuring Pharrell

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Dynasty Podcasts Brings A Chicago Media Workshop With James VanOsdol x Scott Smith To SAE Institute Chicago!

On Thursday, December 3rd from 2:30 - 3:30PM, Dynasty Podcasts is bringing Chicago media experts James VanOsdol and Scott Smith to SAE Institute Chicago for Chicago’s New Digital Media Landscape - a podcast, workshop, and Q+A live event!

VanOsdol and Smith will be onsite representing Rivet Radio and TouchVision, respectively, demonstrating content creation strategies for each company. The two Chicago media vets will delve into how their previous broadcast, journalism, and digital experience informs their work today with Rivet Radio and TouchVision.

RSVP for the event will be open soon and is open to the public. Look for more information at this space in the coming days.

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Nov. 16, 2015 Social Media Week Chicago kicks off at 1871

Don’t miss this global conference that brings together an impressive roster of thought leaders, technology demos, and interconnected activities around emerging trends in social and mobile media. Speakers and panelists from the 1871 community include CEO Howard Tullman; Pete Wilkins, Managing Director, Hyde Park Angels; Nicole Yeary, Founder, Ms.Tech; Beau D'Arcy and Ashvin Lad, Founders, Breakwater; and many others! 1871 will serve as the main stage on Monday, with programming taking place at other locations throughout the Merchandise Mart for the remainder of the week.

View schedule and attend.

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Course Update: Club Management features Mud Queens

Club Management: Practicum explores a variety of revenue strategies.  On October 28, the students of Club Management produced and presented a mud wrestling show with an overarching Halloween theme, in part to compare the consumer demand for that particular product as compared to the “music-only” shows previously offered by the class.  The verdict?  Quite popular, raising the overall average attendance of all of this semester’s shows by a whopping 84%!

In Club Management, the students learn that incrementally increasing audience size, and audience retention, are significant business reasons to select the right opening acts.  Local acts Lever and Panthatone were selected for their followings, genres and energy levels, to open the Mud Queens’ show.  In these photos, each shows the Halloween spirit with their costumes!

The Club Management: Practicum class (28-4080/5080) provides students with the opportunity to produce  and present live events @ Reggies Chicago, a rock club near the Columbia College Chicago campus. Business & Entrepreneurship classes allow students to apply knowledge and theory learned in previous coursework to the creative and practical experience of running a club.  In Club Management, in particular, they form a management team, select artists, budget, complete contracts, riders and settlements statements, and market and promote a series of shows.

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Amanda Gatt (MAM ‘16)

Amanda Gatt is a second year Master of Arts Management student who is flourishing in her industry while still in the program. She started at Columbia with a strong interest in classical music advocacy. With a background in horn performance, she has grown into a confident businesswoman thanks to the courses and faculty in the Business & Entrepreneurship department.

Outside of the prescribed MAM program, Amanda strives to make connections and follow her passion through projects, internships, and collaborations. Currently, she is working with a Detroit pianist in the planning of a classical musical series called The Detroit Sessions. Amanda's passion for her home state and this project is evident in her explanation for taking on this project.

"The partnership amongst Detroit musicians and established arts & culture organizations will result in concerts showcasing not only the immense cultural diversity in the city of Detroit, but reflecting the resilience and strength of the people that live and work there. By successfully uniting all of these elements, we believe we can resonate globally and show everyone that Detroit is not a broken city, but rather a place where people come together with open minds and create positivity. Essentially, we desire to change the image of Detroit from ruins to a city of the arts."

Determined to secure a position with an American orchestra in marketing, development, or community engagement, Amanda understands that the MAM program takes dedicated work and an open-mind. "Trust the process. Everything in life both personally and professionally involves trusting the process and seeing where it will lead you next. I constantly keep this motto in the forefront of my mind as a reminder to simply be here in the present, experience one moment at a time, and understand that things don’t always go according to plan."

Amanda is also the Graduate Ambassador for the Business & Entrepreneurship Department. You can find her blog about her personal journey on the Graduate Marginalia blog at Columbia College Chicago. When asked what advice would she give to prospective students, Amanda explained, "The MAM faculty wants to see its students flourish, so never shy away from building that initial relationship that will ultimately help you get your foot in the door."