Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Production Managers
Entry-level positions in entertainment, according to Franklin, a Production Manager at Hamilton, include "production assistant to a production manager," stage management PAs, and general/company management internships or office PAs. Alternatively, "entry-level kind of crew person" roles offer valuable experience, allowing individuals to "meet a lot of people and start to find where maybe you would want to specialize," eventually leading to well-paying positions with benefits.
Production Management, Stage Management, Technical Crew, Internships, Entry-Level Positions
Advizer Information
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Job Title
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Undergrad
Grad Programs
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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. Entry-level positions in production management include Production Assistant to a Production Manager and Stage Management PA.
2. Internships or office PAs are available in general management and company management.
3. Technical roles start with entry-level crew positions, such as helping unload trucks or carry scenery, offering opportunities to learn and specialize within the field, potentially leading to well-paying jobs with good benefits.
Transcript
What entry-level positions are there in the field that an undergraduate college student might consider?
Across the entertainment world, there are a number of different jobs. I'll start with production management. Your entry-level position will be as a production assistant to a production manager. That is the entry-level job.
Stage management is the same. You might be a stage management PA. Within the broader theatrical management sectors, we often hire interns or office PAs in general management and company management.
It's about getting your foot in the door, meeting people, and starting to understand the intricacies of how this works. On the more technical side, you can start as an entry-level crew person. Sometimes that's literally helping to unload a truck or carry scenery.
It's not a super technical job to start, but you can meet a lot of people and begin to find where you might want to specialize. Those are great jobs, and as you work your way up, they pay really well. They offer great benefits and contribute meaningfully to the industry. You can definitely jump into a role there within an undergraduate degree. You don't need to go back and get a master's or something.
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