Real-World Prep

Move over, history majors. In 2023, nearly 150,000 degrees were awarded to graduates of visual and performing arts programs (including STEM majors), according to Data USA, a comprehensive website and visualization engine of public government data. 

Data USA also indicates that compared to other majors, there are an unusually high number of visual and performing arts grads working in industry-related jobs—in both performance and technical capacities—with opportunities expected to increase.

At local colleges with specialized arts-related programs, including UCF and Full Sail University, providing professional experiences for students is key to the secret sauce that helps students have careers in the arts. And professors who have had solid industry backgrounds are a priceless resource for practical knowledge and old-fashioned networking.

Several professors with the UCF School of Performing Arts, for example, agree that the key factors to success include diversifying your skill set, auditioning as much as possible and handling your finances in a businesslike fashion.

Michael D. Jablonski brings 20-plus years of experience as a professional musical theater artist to the classroom in his role as assistant professor of musical theater and coordinator for UCF’s musical theater bachelor’s degree program.

With more than two decades performing in New York City—including three shows on Broadway—plus eight national tours, Jablonski has been there and done that. He emphasizes to his students the importance of relentless auditioning.

He notes: “You have to pound the pavement to get your foot in the door, send and respond to emails and always try to find a way to connect with those who can help you get work.”

In fact, Jablonski and his UCF colleagues routinely call upon their professional contacts and bring them to campus to lead workshops and help students build potentially useful connections with insiders.

“Be the person with whom everyone wants to work,” he adds. “That doesn’t mean always saying ‘yes.’ It means standing up for what you need but making sure you’re helping the process, not blocking it.” In other words, don’t be a jerk, particularly since there’s more competition than ever.

There’ll likely be some tough times financially. That’s why all performing arts students at UCF take a theater career class that concentrates on managing money. But they’re also encouraged to become versatile.

Richard Crawley, assistant professor of musical theater voice and music director for Theatre UCF, and Tim Brown, associate professor of scenery and projection design, echo the advice from their colleagues—and then some.

Crawley, who teaches full time, also directs, conducts and performs as much as he can. “First, I tell students that they need to decide if they want to be in the industry as a career,” he says. “If they do, there’s a better chance they’ll succeed if they’re not rigid in their expectations.”

Brown adds this advice to his students: “You’re only as good as your last show. As a freelancer, how you work with collaborators and team members really pays off for being hired again. Be responsible, be kind and meet deadlines. That way you’ll earn a reputation as a fun and creative person to work with.” 

For students who want to be employed behind the scenes in films or live productions, Full Sail University’s accelerated bachelor’s program is a top choice. According to Data USA, in 2023 the university awarded the most degrees in visual and performing arts in the nation.

Dave Dean, program director for Live Event Production, has been teaching at the university since 1994. Prior to that, as a Full Sail student, he took specialized audio production classes that helped him launch a freelance audio production career.

He has worked for some of the greats in the music industry, including hip-hop artists and legacy bands. And he echoes the theater professors at UCF when he says that his reputation as a congenial collaborator was as important as his technical chops.

“Our students, from their first day, meet and network with senior students,” says Dean. “By fostering this crew mentality, you can create peer/mentor relationships that are priceless.”

Collaborations with community partners are also priceless. For example, Full Sail has enjoyed a years-long collaboration with Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts.

The world-class arts center’s lineup of events, concerts and shows—and the state-of-the-art acoustic environment of Steinmetz Hall—offers a rich hands-on environment for students to gain unparalleled learning experiences in a professional environment.