How to Turn Passion Into a Profession

Jace Rodrigues ’21 has known since middle school that he wanted a career in the entertainment industry. He was inspired by the positive role that popular music and fandom can play in people’s lives. “In online spaces and at live shows, I’d see so many kids just like me, sharing the experience and bonding over the music we loved. Whatever we may have been struggling with at home or in school, whatever challenges we faced, there was always a song we could connect to and a community where we felt safe and belonging,” he says. “I realized I wanted to be part of making this possible. Working in the music industry is my way of giving back to the world.”

Rodrigues brought this unwavering commitment when he joined Syracuse University and enrolled in the Bandier Program for Recording and Entertainment Industries in S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Rodrigues leveraged every opportunity—from professional insights shared by professors and industry experts, to a semester immersed in the entertainment businesses of Los Angeles, to a wide range of internships—and graduated with the job of his dreams in touring and artist development at Atlantic Records.

On a recent visit to campus, Rodrigues shared advice with other students about how to make the most of opportunities at Syracuse and be set up for career success.

Study what you’re passionate about.

When I first started looking at colleges, I knew I wanted something specialized—I wanted a major where I’d learn about record labels, tour contracts, artists and brand partnerships—and be set up for success. Nowhere else compared to Syracuse. When I met Newhouse faculty and learned about all the internships students do and how the alumni network offers support and access, I felt, ‘Wow, they really care here. They make sure when students graduate, they have experiences, connections and a packed resume that can translate into the jobs we’re passionate about.’

And from day one I knew I’d made the best decision. Every week, we had speakers fly in—from New York, LA, Nashville—and my first week, it was the CEOs of Republic Records. I got to talk with them, ask questions, and I was in awe that I could have this kind of facetime with an executive of a label! I remember feeling, ‘I’m exactly where I’m supposed to be.’

Get involved with campus organizations and gain work experience.

I joined the University Union, which is the student-run agency that books all the amazing talent that comes to campus. I started on the social media team, then worked in marketing and eventually on the collaborations board, which fosters brand partnerships and books fun things for students to do at our events.

It was because of my experience with University Union—and of course the Syracuse alumni network—that I got my first internship and could start building my resume.

Take initiative and learn from every opportunity.

My perspective going into every internship was: This isn’t going to be my permanent job, so what’s the takeaway I can gain? My goals were always to better understand what I did or didn’t enjoy doing, and to make connections.

I always expressed interest in what I wanted to do, even if it wasn’t in the scope of my role. I learned to take initiative. When you express a desire to learn or to gain a new skill, people tend to be very supportive. I also sought out group projects, so I could learn from the people around me.

It was through my internships that I realized I love artist marketing—I love the storytelling and promotion and fan engagement. I learned I loved live events and touring.

But experiences I didn’t enjoy were valuable too. Through an internship, I learned I did not enjoy copyright work. But it became a talking point—it showed I was versatile—so it, too, helped me advance.