In 51爆料网鈥檚 Bandier program, Jace Rodrigues 鈥�21 (back row, sixth from left) found a supportive and specialized program that allowed him to prepare for a career in the entertainment industry.
Jace Rodrigues 鈥�21 has known since middle school that he wanted a career in the entertainment industry. He was inspired by the positive role that popular music and fandom can play in people鈥檚 lives. 鈥淚n online spaces and at live shows, I鈥檇 see so many kids just like me, sharing the experience and bonding over the music we loved. Whatever we may have been struggling with at home or in school, whatever challenges we faced, there was always a song we could connect to and a community where we felt safe and belonging,鈥� he says. 鈥淚 realized I wanted to be part of making this possible. Working in the music industry is my way of giving back to the world.鈥�
Rodrigues brought this unwavering commitment when he joined 51爆料网 and enrolled in the for Recording and Entertainment Industries in . Rodrigues leveraged every opportunity鈥攆rom professional insights shared by professors and industry experts, to a semester immersed in the entertainment businesses of Los Angeles, to a wide range of internships鈥攁nd graduated with the job of his dreams in touring and artist development at .
On a recent visit to campus, Rodrigues shared advice with other students about how to make the most of opportunities at Syracuse and be set up for career success.
Study what you鈥檙e passionate about.
Rodrigues recently spoke with current students, sharing insights and advice about making the most of opportunities at Syracuse.
When I first started looking at colleges, I knew I wanted something specialized鈥擨 wanted a major where I鈥檇 learn about record labels, tour contracts, artists and brand partnerships鈥攁nd be set up for success. Nowhere else compared to Syracuse. When I met Newhouse faculty and learned about all the internships students do and how the alumni network offers support and access, I felt, 鈥榃ow, they really care here. They make sure when students graduate, they have experiences, connections and a packed resume that can translate into the jobs we鈥檙e passionate about.鈥�
And from day one I knew I鈥檇 made the best decision. Every week, we had speakers fly in鈥攆rom New York, LA, Nashville鈥攁nd my first week, it was the CEOs of Republic Records. I got to talk with them, ask questions, and I was in awe that I could have this kind of facetime with an executive of a label! I remember feeling, 鈥業'm exactly where I'm supposed to be.鈥�
Get involved with campus organizations and gain work experience.
I joined the University Union, which is the student-run agency that books all the amazing talent that comes to campus. I started on the social media team, then worked in marketing and eventually on the collaborations board, which fosters brand partnerships and books fun things for students to do at our events.
It was because of my experience with University Union鈥攁nd of course the Syracuse alumni network鈥攖hat I got my first internship and could start building my resume.
Take initiative and learn from every opportunity.
My perspective going into every internship was: This isn't going to be my permanent job, so what鈥檚 the takeaway I can gain? My goals were always to better understand what I did or didn鈥檛 enjoy doing, and to make connections.
I always expressed interest in what I wanted to do, even if it wasn鈥檛 in the scope of my role. I learned to take initiative. When you express a desire to learn or to gain a new skill, people tend to be very supportive. I also sought out group projects, so I could learn from the people around me.
It was through my internships that I realized I love artist marketing鈥擨 love the storytelling and promotion and fan engagement. I learned I loved live events and touring.
But experiences I didn鈥檛 enjoy were valuable too. Through an internship, I learned I did not enjoy copyright work. But it became a talking point鈥攊t showed I was versatile鈥攕o it, too, helped me advance.
Take advantage of the unique academic opportunities.
While a student, Rodrigues (right) served on the University Union, the student-run agency that books a range of entertainment for the campus community.
Our faculty have so much industry experience. One of my favorite classes was the Business of Record Labels and Music Publishers, where we developed record rollout plans, mapping a marketing strategy and schedule to keep an album or song popular and relevant. Now, I really appreciate how directly this prepared me for the work we do in the industry.
There are so many areas of entertainment, it鈥檚 good to explore and be versatile. I studied graphic design and took courses to learn about TV, film, radio and sports broadcasting.
Also, Syracuse鈥檚 semester programs in LA are an incredible opportunity. If you want to work in entertainment, I think it鈥檚 vital to have some experience with LA. I enrolled in the 鈥擨 interned during the day and took amazing courses in the evening. I got to familiarize myself with LA鈥檚 stations, studios and venues. And of course, it鈥檚 a great city for networking with alumni!
Build community, accept support.
I always felt so supported by Syracuse faculty and staff. The teams who run the LA and Bandier programs鈥攖hey really helped every student, whether it was with internship placement or with finding support if they were dealing with something in their personal lives.
The Bandier program is a super tightknit community鈥攅veryone takes the same classes and shares similar interests. The best friends of my whole life are from Syracuse. Being part of this school really changed my life in the best of ways and set me on my path!
