O n April 8, at Woods Theatre, successful Monmouth alumni gathered to share their advice, lives, and love of music. Over the years, Blue Hawk Records (BHR) has made 25 compilation albums with 132 original artists creating 147 tracks, involving over 900 students. Their contributions to not only the university but also to these students’ lives are remarkable. This event was the ultimate celebration of the past, present, and future of the music industry.
The hosts were future BHR President, Antonia Bongiorno and Joe Rapolla, Professor and Chair of the Music and Theatre Arts Department. The event was split into three sections: Panel one, musical performances, and then panel two. It was all so well done, the decor outside the theatre doors, the food provided, and the welcoming atmosphere.
The first panel consisted of five industry professionals who are thriving in their positions. Those included Taylor Coigne, Premium Experiences Coordinator at Live Nation; Kayla Booker, Music Central Assistant at William Morris Endeavor; Jenna Hawryluk, E-Commerce Fan Services Specialist at Universal Music Group; Ryan Hamilton, VP of Business Development and Digital at Spirit Music Group and Founder of CTLG (Catalog Management Services); And finally Mia Heim, Content Manager at Colossus Media Group.
They began by explaining how they landed their first job cementing them into the industry. Coigne talked a lot about how she was open to exploring everything in college and gravitated toward BHR and MU’s radio station, WMCX. Booker, Hawryluk, and Heim all said the same, that being a part of BHR cultivated their love of music and made them want to work in the industry.
“What you do at Monmouth and through internships are gonna help you in your career,” Heim said. Hamilton explained how his love for music made him long to be near his favorite artists and bands. “I was a huge Incubus fan–So I had to get my way in there,” He said. All of them had that driving force inside, leading them to where they wanted to be.
The group also had some strategies for making and maintaining connections, especially on LinkedIn. Heim explained that you should “hit connect, connect, connect” to build your following and get to 500+ connections. Hamilton mentioned following every company of interest could have some value in looking at what they post, interacting, and finding people who work for them.
While the virtual connections are great, Booker said to take it a step further by asking to go out for coffee. She said, “Try your best to stand out and take it beyond that [making a virtual connection].” Living behind a screen is definitely something we’ve all gotten used to since the COVID-19 pandemic, but there’s nothing like face-to-face communication. It’s how we show our personalities and connect on deeper levels.
The group also had a discussion about what technical and interpersonal skills are helpful once you’re out in the field. Booker said, “Being mindful of your body language when you communicate with people,” is especially important. Heim also added that how you approach certain people will be different depending on their role. You can’t talk to coworkers the same as you would talk to your friends.
She said, “Humor goes a really long way when you’re trying to get to know people.” It’s important to remember that we’re all human; showing your personality is not a bad thing. In fact, it’s a great strength when it comes to making that first impression.
Hawryluk and Hamilton talked about technical skills, saying it’s important to be adaptable, especially since the industry changes every day. From platforms like TikTok to Microsoft Excel, it’s important to keep up with trends and learn new outlets. You never know what you’ll be asked of or what you can contribute.
Finally, before panel one concluded, each person gave their advice to the students in the audience. One piece that really stuck with me. Heim said, “Don’t think that graduating means you need to know what you want to do in life…Learning doesn’t end when you graduate; learning ends when you die.” The world is endless, and if you love what you do, you’ll never stop grasping for more.
Before the second panel started there were two performances by MU students, Taylor Wichterman and Jeffrey Mendez. Wichterman sang a beautiful rendition of “Vienna” by Billy Joel taking us on the journey of growing up. Mendez sang “Northern Lights” by Teddy Swims in his first ever live singing performance. Both took my breath away with their effortless talent. Truth be told, I’ve never seen a bad performance at Woods Theatre.
The second panel included Katherine Fernandez, Digital Ad Sales Associate at Paramount; Michelle Etienne, Recruiting and Operations Associate at TurnkeyZRG; Zack Sandler, Producer at Danny Clinch Photography and Transparent Clinch Gallery; And last but not least, Abigail Garcia, Office Operations Coordinator at Vydia.
Most of the alumni had landed their first jobs from connections through MU like Rapolla and Rashida Scott-Cruz or networking events on campus. It’s all about the timing.
Etienne was inspired to pursue a career in the industry because she’s a “big fangirl.” Garcia said the same, explaining that after seeing the “Best of Both Worlds Tour” with Miley Cyrus, she knew where she wanted to be.
The group talked about technical aspects as well and how to cultivate those skills. Sandler said, “You know what you know and you don’t know what you don’t know.” It’s all faking it until you make it, while acquiring skills by doing research and figuring it out. Everything is a learning curve until you practice and improve.
Fernandez and Etienne mentioned learning about all operational business aspects no matter what job you find yourself in. It’s always good to have that learning mindset. Everyone stressed the rising usage of AI platforms like ChatGPT and Google Gemini, something all of us are going to have to get used to in the workforce.
They gave some really great advice for making a name for yourself while making those connections. Etienne said, “Kindness goes such a long way.” In most job settings the world might seem large but everyone knows each other, so how you treat others will definitely reflect your connections.
Fernandez emphasized the importance of building your personal brand and being consistent in sharing your accomplishments. Etienne followed her up by saying personalized resumes are really what draws people in. Templates are great, but after seeing a million carbon copies of the same resumes, you’ll get lost in the crowd.
Garcia gave her input by saying, “Be emotionally intelligent,” and it goes a long way in knowing how to approach and talk to people. Sandler reminded everyone that being behind a desk isn’t everyone’s future. “You can be an artist. The end all be all doesn’t have to be corporate,” He said. Remembering why you love music is so important: the curtain going up, the lights going out, that first note, and hearing the crowd go wild.
While students were there to get advice regarding their future careers, there was still time for laughs. Specifically, when Sandler revealed his “Roman Empire,” of exploring other creative outlets in his downtime, like the video game “X-Plane 12,” a flying simulator. This entire interaction got a lot of laughs from the audience. It was such a wholesome moment in between the serious career advice.
This event was truly a success and left students filled with the drive to forge their network. It gave MU students hope for their own futures of sitting on panels like this once they graduate. It all starts with love and passion for music.
