College Experiences That Helped a Production Manager at Hamilton Succeed
To achieve career success, Franklin suggests undergraduates "experiment with different roles and learn skills," actively seeking leadership positions in arts-related activities and developing a well-rounded skillset through design courses and community involvement. This approach, combined with networking and leveraging student status to connect with professionals, proved invaluable in Franklin's journey to becoming a Production Manager.
Leadership, Networking, Arts Administration, Creative Problem Solving, Teamwork
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Franklin Swann
Production Manager
Hamilton the Musical/Hudson Theatrical Associates
NYU/Tisch School of the Arts - 2015
UCLA Anderson School of Management
Film, Media Arts, Visual Arts
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Operations and Project Management
Took Out Loans
Video Highlights
1. Take on leadership roles in college: Franklin emphasizes the importance of actively seeking leadership positions in college, such as stage managing shows or producing your own work, to gain practical experience and build confidence. This is valuable for developing skills applicable to a career in arts management.
2. Build well-rounded skills and knowledge: Franklin highlights the benefit of broadening skills beyond a chosen specialty. He suggests taking courses in various aspects of design (lighting, sound, costume, set design) to understand the collaborative nature of the industry and to better communicate with colleagues from different disciplines.
3. Network strategically: Franklin advises students to utilize their status as students to reach out and connect with professionals in the field. He suggests taking advantage of the willingness of professionals to speak to students and share their experiences, an opportunity that lessens as you progress in your career.
Transcript
What did you do in undergrad that set you up for success in your career?
Undergrad is a great time to experiment with different roles and learn new skills you might not have considered. I definitely took advantage of that. I focused on the arts and creative side, taking on as many leadership roles as I could.
I stage managed many shows, produced my own work, and was a general manager on others. I put myself out there, even in jobs where I had to teach myself everything. It's a safe space to do that.
I also wanted to be a well-rounded person. I took classes in lighting design, sound design, costumes, and set design to understand those areas. This has proven incredibly helpful in my career, as I can speak the language of design with my stakeholders.
I also wanted to improve my skills in leading teams and working with people. I was a resident assistant my senior year and managed a building with 1300 students, which was very rewarding.
I pursued many volunteer opportunities to give back to my community. This ultimately helped build my confidence and made me comfortable jumping into unfamiliar situations.
If you're interested in the arts, take advantage of student programs. See student shows, use your student discount, and visit local museums and theaters. See as many performances as you can to understand that world. I lived in New York at the time and took full advantage of those opportunities.
The last thing any student should take advantage of is that people love talking to students. If there's a company, industry, or person you're interested in, reach out. Explain that you're a student and want to learn more.
More often than you might think, people are happy to set aside 20 minutes for a Zoom call or coffee. Take advantage of this because it's much harder to do once you're in the professional world. You have four years to talk to interesting minds. Utilize your professors to help bridge connections; that's one of the best parts of being a student.
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