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Tessa, Production Coordinator at Girls Gotta Eat: Advize Career Interview
A career in audio entertainment, starting with college journalism and SiriusXM internships, led to a Production Coordinator role at the popular podcast *Girls Gotta Eat*.
This multifaceted position involves pre- and post-production tasks, live event management during tours (including coordinating with venues and additional performers), and social media management.
The work is fast-paced and requires strong communication, meticulous attention to detail, and adaptability.
While challenges exist in balancing big-picture thinking with detailed social media work, the rewarding aspects include the high-energy environment, working with celebrities, and the constantly evolving nature of live shows.
The interviewee's path highlights the value of diverse experiences, saying "yes" to opportunities, and actively pursuing interests to build skills—even through roles like personal assistant or nanny—ultimately leading to a fulfilling and exciting career.
Entry-level positions like production assistant and podcasting roles are readily available for those interested in this dynamic field.
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Tessa Hughes
Production Coordinator
Girls Gotta Eat
California Polytechnic University - San Luis Obispo
NA
Creative Writing, Journalism
Arts, Entertainment & Media
Product / Service / Software Development and Management
Greek Life Member
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Career Path of a Production Coordinator at Girls Gotta Eat
Tessa's career path showcases a consistent progression through various media roles, starting with extensive involvement in college journalism—"newspaper, the radio station, the affiliated websites and the business"—culminating in a SiriusXM internship and ultimately a Production Coordinator position at the podcast *Girls Gotta Eat*, following a brief, less satisfying stint as an associate producer for a political radio show. The journey highlights a clear passion for audio entertainment and a strategic pivot towards a desired career path.
Main Responsibilities Of A Production Coordinator At Girls Gotta Eat
As Production Coordinator for the podcast Girls Gotta Eat, Tessa's responsibilities are multifaceted, encompassing both pre-production tasks like "helping build out outlines" and guest coordination, and live event management during their tours where Tessa acts as the liaison between "the talent and the venues," handling technical needs and coordinating additional performers. This role also includes post-production elements such as social media management and researching pop culture topics for new episodes.
A Day In The Life Of A Production Coordinator At Girls Gotta Eat
A Production Coordinator's day at Girls Gotta Eat involves a variable workload, ranging from "setting up cameras and lighting" for recordings to managing social media content and approvals for both Girls Gotta Eat and their sister company, Vibes Only. The role heavily emphasizes communication, as Tessa starts each day by outlining needs to their bosses and then follows up throughout the day with updates and requests for approvals.
Most Important Skills for a Production Coordinator at Girls Gotta Eat
Tessa, a Production Coordinator at Girls Gotta Eat, emphasizes the crucial need for effective and quick communication, meticulous attention to detail ("triple checking all your stuff"), and exceptional organizational skills to manage the "lot of moving parts" in their role. Maintaining a pleasant demeanor is also key, given the frequent interactions with venues, guests, and other contacts.
Favorite Parts Of Being A Production Coordinator At Girls Gotta Eat
Tessa, a Production Coordinator at Girls Gotta Eat, most enjoys the touring aspect of her role, stating that "each live show is different," with every city offering a unique vibe and talent. This variety, including incorporating elements like "NBA or NFL drum lines and dance teams," makes each show exciting and keeps the work engaging.
Biggest Challenges Faced by a Production Coordinator at Girls Gotta Eat
Tessa, a Production Coordinator at Girls Gotta Eat, finds her biggest challenge is "being detail-oriented," a skill requiring a shift from "big picture stuff" to meticulous work, particularly with social media, representing a significant departure from Tessa's previous less structured approach.
Favorite Parts Of Working In The Entertainment Industry As A Production Coordinator
Tessa, a Production Coordinator at Girls Gotta Eat, loves the "entertainment industry" aspect of her job, enjoying the "high energy" and variety of working with comedians and reality stars, discussing pop culture, and meeting people Tessa admires. This allows Tessa to combine work with personal interests, making each day unique and fun.
What Type of Person Thrives in the Media Industry According to a Production Coordinator at Girls Gotta Eat
Tessa, a Production Coordinator at Girls Gotta Eat, highlights the importance of being "outgoing and communicative," possessing "a certain level of confidence," and the ability to "assert yourself" to thrive in the industry; initial challenges as a young woman underscored the necessity of matching the "big outgoing personality" prevalent in the field to avoid being "swallowed up."
What a Production Coordinator at Girls Gotta Eat Wishes They Had Known Before Entering the Live Events Industry
Tessa, a Production Coordinator at Girls Gotta Eat, found the biggest unexpected challenge to be the adaptability required while touring; "every city, every like place is like really different," making it crucial to be adaptable, a skill that while possessed, was not fully prepared for prior to entering the industry. The experience highlighted the need for preparation beyond technical skills, emphasizing the importance of navigating diverse environments and personalities.
Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Production Coordinators
Entry-level positions in Tessa's field include "production assistant," podcasting roles, and work in touring, often found through direct searching rather than resumes. A path like Tessa's, starting with "part-time nanny part-time, personal assistant" roles and transitioning to "executive assistant" before becoming a production coordinator, demonstrates how various assistant roles can build skills and lead to advancement within the industry.
Significant Career Lesson From A Production Coordinator At Girls Gotta Eat
Tessa's most significant career lesson is adaptability, viewing each role as an opportunity to expand one's skillset—"adding it to your toolkit"—rather than linearly progressing. This approach allowed Tessa to proactively learn social media skills through various roles, ultimately leading to a social media management position and illustrating the value of saying "yes" to opportunities and being vocal about career goals.
College Experiences Helping A Production Coordinator At Girls Gotta Eat Succeed
Tessa's undergraduate experience, a journalism major, saw her actively pursuing "entertainment based stuff," diverging from the traditional news focus of the program; this proactive approach, driven by personal interest and a willingness to develop a diverse skillset, ultimately led to a fulfilling and adaptable career path. The decision to "do what makes you happy" and trust one's gut proved instrumental in navigating career choices and finding a job Tessa enjoys.
How Identity Influenced Production Coordinator's Career at Girls Gotta Eat
Navigating a career in a field often dominated by older men, the production coordinator found the experience "emboldened" them, requiring the development of assertive communication skills to overcome both ageism and gender bias. This involved combating imposter syndrome and challenging instances where tasks were unfairly assigned, ultimately leading to a stronger sense of self-assurance in their professional abilities.
Advizer Personal Links
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tessa--hughes/, Instagram: @tessa.hughess
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