Big Plans: The Juilliard Career Fair and Alumni College

It's going to be big! It's going to be spectacular! It's the 2004 Juilliard Career Fair and Alumni College—on February 8, 2004, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This is one event you can't afford to miss. Both the Office of Career Development and the Office of Alumni Relations are working to provide you with the best connections, resources, and seminars to help you get more out of your careers. The event is open to all students, faculty, and alumni of The Juilliard School.

You might recall that the first Juilliard Career Fair was held in February 2002. More than 60 vendors participated in that event, offering career information and resources to Juilliard students, faculty and alumni. Participants included photographers, publicists, management agencies, graduate programs, teaching fellowships, entertainment companies, Web designers, health care companies, and much more. The idea behind a Career Fair is twofold: to put students and alumni in direct contact with organizations that will provide them with the resources and/or services needed to advance their careers, and to offer students and alumni networking opportunities with each other and with professionals in the field.

What contacts will you make? Don’t miss the Career Fair and Alumni College on February 8.

Our plan was to host the Career Fair every two years, and alternate it with a Volunteer and Internship Fair (which was hosted for the first time last March by the Office of Career Development). The fair introduced organizations that provide performing arts-related opportunities to communities in need, as well as those offering career-building internships in the arts.

This year, we are combining forces with the Office of Alumni Relations and providing a full day of activities that include not only the Career Fair, but also an Alumni College. The event will feature seminars, presentations, a special luncheon with President Joseph W. Polisi, and of course, access to all of the Career Fair participants.

We are expecting a large turnout of vendors for the Career Fair—anywhere from 70 to 110. There will be something for everyone who attends. Some of the confirmed participants are: A2Z Music Services, Actor's Equity Union, the Actor's Fund of America, Mona Lisa Sound, Nick Granito Photography, Career Transition for Dancers, Dance Theater Workshop, Danskin, Uptime Studios, Kaleidoscope Sound, Andrew Fingland Photography, American Symphony Orchestra League, Quantum Management Services, Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, and New York Foundation for the Arts.

The addition of the Alumni College is exciting. The Alumni Relations team has been working to set up seminars throughout the morning and afternoon hours. Among the scheduled events is a presentation on "Running the Show" by alumnus Todd Frazier (M.M. '94, composition). Mr. Frazier founded the Houston Festival for the Arts and has been a strong advocate for the entrepreneurial side of performing arts careers. If you have ever dreamed of having your own dance studio, theater company, music school, or something entirely different, this presentation is for you. Mr. Frazier will present a blueprint for incorporating your own festival, school, or ensemble. According to his experience, it's not nearly as difficult as it appears. Advanced registration is strongly encouraged.

Another exciting presentation is "Outreach at Juilliard," by alumnus and director of educational outreach, Dr. Aaron Flagg (B.M. '92, M.M. '93, trumpet). If you have been following his work with the Office of Educational Outreach here at Juilliard, you know that community outreach skills are becoming a necessity for the 21st-century artist. If you are unfamiliar with these skills, or the incredible opportunities awaiting you in this field, don't miss this valuable presentation.

Some of the other seminars include a presentation by President Polisi on "The Artist as Citizen"; a panel discussion of "Careers in Higher Education," which will be moderated by alumna Jennifer Hayghe (B.M. '91, M.M. '93, D.M.A. '97, piano); "How to Book Your Own Concerts," by Robert Besen of Besen Arts Management; "Press and Publicity," by Ellen Schantz; "Funding Sources," by Edith Meeks (of New York Foundation for the Arts); and "Anything but Actors," by Alan Simon (of the League of American Theaters and Producers).

A brochure is downloadable from www.juilliard.edu/alumni. Pre-registration is required for the Alumni College seminars and luncheon. Please contact the Office of Alumni Relations at (212) 799-5000, ext. 344, or by e-mail at alumni@juilliard.edu. Mark your calendar for this exciting event—and we look forward to seeing you on Sunday, February 8.

Derek Mithaug is Juilliard's director of career development and an alumnus of the School.