Business Careers in Entertainment Club

News

Student group combines business with entertainment

by Dion Hazelbaker
Indiana Daily Student

Published Thursday, February 28, 2008

One of IU’s student groups now offers a place for different aspects of the entertainment industry, including movies and music.

The Business Careers in Entertainment Club provides a place of common ground for students interested in various types of multimedia.

The club currently consists of about 100 active members involved in committees focusing on music, film, sports and video games. Created in 2002, the group tries to find ways to address what they see as the Kelley School of Business’ lack of focus on business and entertainment, and seeks to help students learn ways to become involved and succeed in the industry.

Events the club sponsors include Spirit of Sport, Bowl for Kids’ Sake and the locally popular Rock For Kids’ Sake – an event in which local artists perform to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

Junior Scott Hubiak, co-director of the music committee, said that through these events, club members learn the essentials of working in the music industry: “booking, promoting, setting up sponsorships – that’s everything you do.”

“Someone that’s looking to be in the entertainment business, I feel like, why would you not want to be in this club?” said John Ringer, vice president of club events. Ringer said benefits of club involvement include networking opportunities, hands-on experience and trips to various entertainment corporations.

“When you walk in and sit down at an interview ... you say that you did A, B, C for a benefit that raised a thousand dollars for Big Brothers Big Sisters,” Ringer said.

In addition to the work of the music committee, the group’s film committee recently finished filming its first feature-length film, which will be shown in April at the Indiana Memorial Union. The film is a product of the club’s screenwriting competition, ScriptTease. Senior Jason Feffer won last year’s competition, and received $250 for his work.

“The message of the BCEC is not to give up on your dream,” said senior Nate Ingles, the president of the club, adding that the hands-on experience one gains through the club is what will continue to attract new members.

Ingles said the majority of group members are involved in the three main committees – music, film and sports – while other committees – gaming, performance and publishing – have a much smaller membership. He said the need for additional involvement in these endeavors will be addressed by a campus-wide advertising campaign.

The club will sponsor various events in the near future and urges those who want to become involved and obtain experience in the entertainment industry to check out what it has to offer. Students can join the club by filling out an application at www.indiana.edu/~bcec/membership.php.