Fresh Talent for the Performing Arts Center
By Natasha Boord, 12/10/19 (Header image by ICC)
The Performing Arts Center is always looking for new ways to provide entertainment and bring in a bigger audience. Recently ICC hired its new Performing Arts Center manager Makenzie Perryman to help it achieve just that.
Natasha Boord went behind the scenes to interview the new manager to see what she will be bringing to the PAC’s stage.
What aspects of this job made you want to apply?
It is a smaller scale than what I have been working towards for many years. I love marketing, event planning, scheduling events, budgeting, and working with live entertainment. This job combines all these things and so much more.
What inspired you to go into marketing?
I love creativity and design, but I also love the “why” of things and that is what marketing is.
While it can vary, what does a typical week look like for you?
It varies a lot! No two days are the same and I love that! I guess it would be to check email, return calls, meet the renters, fill out contracts, work with student workers, and update social media.
There is no real do this first and then this. It is just whenever I decide to do the items basically.
Although this is still a new experience for you, what challenges have you come across so far while working?
Of course, one of the challenges so far is trying to bring entertainment that people will enjoy and names people may kind of know on a limited budget.
I also have a limited staff so trying not to spread them too thin with long hours that shows demand can be tricky at times if not scheduled properly.
Referring to your limited staff, does this mean there are student jobs currently available?
Yes, we rely heavily on student workers. We have Scene shop positions as well as box office workers. We also recently have a newer position which is hospitality and marketing coordinator.
What are you hoping to improve while working here? Like goals you wish to achieve that will help the school.
That is a long list. I would like to get the facility updated. A lot of the things here are as old as the building itself which means outdated for an entertainment venue.
I want to bring entertainment people want to come and see, get our ticket sales up consistently. I want to bring more shows to the Performing Arts Center as well. Along with bringing a more diverse audience. Currently, our audience is primarily older and we wish to bring all ages.
I would also like to bring ICC students to the PAC and make it somewhere they want to come and host events and want to attend such events.
What do you enjoy most about your job?
That’s a hard question because there are so many things I love about my job. If I were to pick I’d say the diversity of it. I get to do multiple jobs in one and meet people from all walks of life. I am constantly learning from it all too.