Welcome to my blog everyone! I’m glad you’re here. No, really I am, I promise. I am starting this blog as a class project for my Internet Marketing and Web Optimization class at Full Sail University, where I am pursuing my Master of Science in Entertainment Business Management. I plan to use this blog to talk about my favorite topics, which include, but aren’t limited to theatre, theatrical design, teaching theatre, and the very limited time I get to spend outside of a dark theatre with my family.
For this first entry, I’d like to fill you in on a little bit about myself. I was born and raised in Detroit, MI where I attended Catholic school from kindergarten through high school, the former being St. Scholastica and the latter being University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. U of D was an all-boys school, which is a topic for another entry at another time, but suffice it to say, those 12 years of Catholic school provided me with great friends and a great education.
It was during my high school years that I was introduced to the theatre by my mom. I worked with my local community theatre group, The North Rosedale Park Players, and then began to work professionally at the Jewish Ensemble Theatre, again courtesy of my mom’s connections. I made the most of it though, by working hard trying to prove that I had earned my place and had not just had it handed to me.
The connections I made working professionally led me to Wayne State University in Detroit, where I received my BFA in Theatre. I have lots of great memories and stories from my time at Wayne, working as a student assistant in the Theatre Department, which again will come up in later entries. After graduation, I had a failed attempt at grad school, having attended California State University Long Beach for one semester before I decided it was crap and moved back to Detroit. Again, another story for another time.
It was that decision to bail on CSULB that led to my finding the best job ever. I work at a private high school in the Detroit area, where I am the Technical Director and Resident Designer for the Performing Arts Center. I also teach classes on Stagecraft and Design and run the school’s Digital Filmmaking Club on top of that. I have had this job for almost 10 years and I love it! I get to work with great people and great students every day. The hours are long, but the job is rewarding and that’s what makes it special. Not every person is cut out for a job like this, but apparently I’m wired that way, so it works out well for both the school and me. Oh, and I still get to work professionally around town, although not as much as I’d like since my schedule at the school is demanding, but at least I still get to get out and flex my creative muscles from time to time.
So you may ask me, “Jim, if everything in your life is so perfect, why are you taking classes for a business degree? Are you planning on leaving the school?” To which I’d reply, “First of all, my life isn’t perfect, but whose is these days?” But seriously, I have no intentions of leaving the school at this time. Believe me, I’m in it for the long haul especially since I want my kids to graduate from this school. That means I’ll be around for another 15-16 years, barring any unforeseen circumstances. My reasons for pursuing this degree are simple: My job is a young man’s job. The hours are tough and so is the work. Ultimately, I’d like to succeed my boss as the Director of the Performing Arts Center when he retires in a few years, and by pursuing this degree now, I feel like I am securing that position and giving myself the tools to help shape the business plan of the theatre to make it as successful as possible.
So that’s me in a rather large nutshell. Feel free to leave comments if you’d like, and if you want me to discuss any topic in particular, just let me know…
See you next time,
Jim
