How Identity Has Influenced a Production Manager at Hamilton the Musical's Career
Facing significant student loan debt pursuing a career in the arts, Franklin adopted a risk-mitigation strategy, including a double major and consistent employment throughout college, "being very careful budgeting" and strategically navigating career advancement. This careful planning, combined with building professional allies and advocating for oneself, allowed for a successful career trajectory despite the initial financial challenges.
Financial Planning, Risk Management, Career Strategy, Networking, Professional Development
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
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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. Mitigating financial risks: Franklin emphasizes careful budgeting, working through college, and having a backup plan (second degree) to manage student loan debt incurred while pursuing arts education.
2. Strategic career progression: He highlights the importance of strategic planning, networking to build alliances within companies, and seeking opportunities for advancement to navigate the competitive theater industry.
3. Time-weighted risk assessment: Franklin advises young people entering the arts to understand their financial obligations and make smart decisions, assessing the potential return on investment of their education and career choices.
Transcript
As someone who took out loans to pay for school, how has that impacted you and how you navigate your career?
For many people, going into the arts and taking out a student loan can feel like a risky endeavor. It absolutely was for me, so I kind of built my career plan and my in-school experience with that mindset, wanting to mitigate risks.
I double-majored and had a second degree in case I didn't think I could navigate the theater world. That was a way to mitigate my risk upon graduation.
I was very careful with budgeting in college and worked through all of it. I was an IT specialist, something random, but I did those things to minimize my future obligations.
Once I was out of school, I was very careful again with budgeting and figuring out what opportunities I was going after. You start as a PA and don't make a ton of money, so I was strategic about moving up the ladder, learning to build allies within companies who could help me.
This was important for moving up, asking for a raise, and advocating for me to take on more responsibility. It's obviously a challenging thing to take on debt as a young person.
Being smart about it, understanding your obligations, and taking time-weighted risk on your return are important calculations for any young person going to school.
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