This past week I got a chance to do a return engagement to my old college alma mater, the University of Southern California, to speak with a room full of college students at the Thornton School of Music. Now for the record, I never quite managed to finish my degree and I’m secretly hoping that if I show up enough the Dean will be kind enough to reward me one of those ‘honorary’ degrees that I’ve heard about but never received. To spice things up a bit I took along my young associates Seth Allen and Jake Versluis to prove that you can in fact get a gig in the business and to offer their insights as well. The class was full of enthusiastic Trojans and we covered alot of territory. For those of you out there that could not attend the class but who have dreamed of working in the music biz we’re going to put some clips up on our little blog to let you sit in so to speak. Thanks to my friend Professor Richard McIvery for inviting me. I hope you enjoy it.
That’s pretty cool, man. It does seem kind of weird to get a degree to get into the music business. You would think it’s about just knowing the “right people,” like you said. But again, it doesn’t hurt, right?
I bet these people were pretty pumped about having a guy in class teaching them first-hand. Very cool. Thanks for posting.
Here’s the big point Steve, why?
Where you have major labels suing there customers and that relationship is completely destroyed.
I know now some of the brightest folks in the media business that have built major new multi-media companies and have sold them for anywhere from 20 million to 2.1 billion dollars, guess what they are no longer coming down to LA to work on a desk at an agency or be an inter at some label, we have lost them and you know what, they are more passionate about music than ever, they just know that the new industry is no longer here in LA, NYC or London, it’s that new start-up company of where it is going will be the new leaders, and believe me that’s reality!
Man Ren, I fucking love you.
Notice: I have been celebrating 4/20 all day, so I’m going to be all over the board.
The music business needs less degrees and more people who are interested in progressing music and letting it take its own steps. That’s not something you’re going to learn in a classroom. That type of activity is processed and learned over time by getting out there and pursuing the things you love.
The kind of people that pursue degrees in music aren’t doing the wrong thing, I think they’re just going about trying to learn what they need to learn in the wrong way. No it’s not going to hurt you, and a little extra knowledge isn’t going to hinder you. But to expect to find everything you’re going to need to be found in a textbook is ignorant, I believe.
Me, well I’m pursuing my degree in Public Relations because I think the people skills and the work involved will be something I can enjoy and will ultimately improve my person-skills for me and my band. Nothing like the publicity of word of mouth!
By the way Ren, I’m making plans to visit my cousin in Glendale California this summer, still up for that lunch? Haha, gotta let me know Ren!
Thanks for starting this all,
-Rh.
It still blows my mind that you can get a ‘music industry degree’, I don’t think we have that up here (Canada). I know that there’s the Harris Institute in Toronto, but from the looks of that, it’s mostly lectures and contact building – not an actual degree. And over on the other coast in Van there’s a certificate program, a little bit of learning and a practicum – which I think is the best way to go about it. At the very least, it gets your foot in the door!
If I’m not on the golf course Reese!
I found this tutorial to be quite helpful…i get the sense that your associate Seth has learned quite a lot from being under your wing for the past 5 years and will go on the manage successful acts someday soon. Although i did learn quite a lot about the day to day activities i’d like to see your next session take place at the University of California in Los Angeles…otherwise known as -U-C-L-A. Long live the Bruins, REN Management and Incubus!
I’m glad you enjoyed it Ari. You are absolutely right about my friend Seth Allen. He’s been a huge asset to me and the band and I expect that one day he will be a very big player in the music business. He has all the right stuff and I’m very proud of what he has accomplished to date. As far as a date at UCLA goes I understand that they already have quite a few music types offering advice over there so I’m not sure they need another voice much less one who likes to wear USC swag. Before you think that I’m dissing UCLA I’ll tell you that I am the classic LA split personality when it comes to UCLA. I spend the better part of my days right across the street from the campus at my beloved Bel Air Country Club. When I attended USC I actually lived in Westwood and spent my time studying at the UCLA research library. While I’m definitely a USC sports fan in general, I grew up watching the Bruins win 9 national basketball championships under Coach John Wooden . I’ve had the opportunity to hear Coach Wooden speak a couple of times at Bel Air CC and there’s nobody I admire more than him. I will be a UCLA basketball fan for life.
Okay fine…I’ll take my incubus cd’s off e-bay.
Thanks for managing great music. How can i help spread the word about your site?