Nearly 300 people filled Smith’s Olde Bar last Wednesday night to support 10 local acts competing in the Southern Talent Expo and Industry Mixer.
Fifty students of the Joel A. Katz Music and Entertainment Business Program organized the expo and mixer for an assignment that reflected over a semester’s worth of work.
Each act performed one song for a panel of industry judges representing Sony RED Distribution and 94.9 The Bull. It was the first showcase of the MEBUS program since it was established in February 2011.
According to Keith Perissi, associate director of the program, the students were directly responsible for managing and promoting the entire event, including everything from stage management and social media promotions to handling the individual acts throughout the night.
The program hosted multiple interviews and auditions to decide which of the 62 acts would get the 10 coveted slots. From there the students worked alongside their assigned acts to prepare for their big night, including multi-media promotions and an initial run through.
Through their many successes and hardships, the students involved agreed that they benefited greatly from the entire experience.
“Working with [the Armory] made me realize I want to get into live music,” said Samantha Kemmer, a junior communication major who was responsible for social media promotions.
Another junior communication major, Spencer Bobo said that having “the knowledge that this is what I want to pursue in life” was the greatest benefit.
In a classroom debriefing the next day, Perissi commended his students for their posed performance while he stepped back for the evening to observe the final product.
“This is a wonderful learning lab for our students,” Perissi said. “This project has given our students hands-on experience in the music and entertainment industry, working with heavyweights such as Sony. They have done the job that agents, managers and promoters do for these 10 artists. This is about as real as it gets. I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication that the MEBUS students displayed.”
Sony Music Nashville co-sponsored the event with PlayPro Media, a talent development company. The winner of the talent expo, 19-year-old Elgin Nation, was given the opportunity to continue work with PlayPro Media.
The Atlanta based hip-hop artist Elgin Nation won the showcase for his performance of “Watch My Wings” and for his work leading up to the event.
After the award ceremony, BNA Records country musician Tyler Farr closed out the night with a set of original songs including “Hot Mess” and “Hello Goodbye.”
DJ Hurricane, known for his work with the Beastie Boys, and UnklRyan, provided music entertainment between competing acts.
The MEBUS Program is currently accepting applications for Fall semester. If you are interested in downloading an application or seeking additional information about the program, visit the program’s homepage at www.ksumebus.com.