2019 SAEM Graduate Working the Box Offices for Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra Alumni Profile
Meet Emily Kelly
- Job Title & Employer
- Subscriber & Ticketing Services, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
- Job Title & Employer
- Subscriber & Ticketing Services, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
- Major/Program
- Sports, Arts & Entertainment Management
- Graduation
- April 2019
- Hometown
- Oakmont, Pa.
- High School
- Riverview High School
- Now Living In
- Pittsburgh, Pa. (Lawrenceville neighborhood)
- Dream Job
- CEO of my own concert/festival promotion company
"Personnel, professional, positive and dependable are qualities all employers are looking for, but we require those to remain consistent, even when our environment can become stressful, hectic and chaotic at times. I could tell Emily was equipped with these qualities from the very first time meeting her. Point Park University’s sports, arts and entertainment management program took an extremely motivated, quality student to the next level and continues to lead her in an upward direction."
"As an SAEM student at Point Park, I gained such a strong background of knowledge concerning the way that performing arts organizations are managed, and currently working in the revenue center of a performing arts organization has reinforced that knowledge."
Tell us about the work you do for the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
I handle ticketing and subscriptions in the box office for all of the different companies who perform out of the theaters in Downtown Pittsburgh such as Heinz Hall and the Benedum Center. This means I work with the Pittsburgh Opera, the Pittsburgh CLO, the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and other touring companies such as Broadway Across America.
We sell hundreds of different subscriptions and packages to our events/programs with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, so I help patrons decide on a subscription that works best for them. I also help to keep single ticket orders organized so that everything runs smoothly on the day of the event. Additionally, I collaborate with my colleagues to efficiently handle large on sales for shows such as Hamilton and The Lion King while ensuring that every patron gets exceptional customer service in the box office.
How have your SAEM classes helped you succeed in these roles?
There was such a variety of classes for me to take that pertained to the sports, arts and entertainment management major that I really was able to customize my experience at Point Park and explore different aspects of my field. A lot of the projects I completed mimicked real-life scenarios which gave me hands-on experience, and in turn, more confidence at work.
As an SAEM student at Point Park, I gained such a strong background of knowledge concerning the way that performing arts organizations are managed, and currently working in the revenue center of a performing arts organization has reinforced that knowledge.
Tell us about the people at Point Park who impacted you.
David Rowell was my professor for the Introductory to SAEM class. He was so incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about the industry that it sparked something in me and motivated me throughout the next four years of my college career. He took me on two school-sponsored trips, once to the Association of Performing Arts Presenters conference in New York City, and the other to the Performing Arts Exchange conference in Orlando, Fla.
Both trips provided me with job opportunities, networking experience and kept me up to date with current industry trends. I feel like the experiences that I gained on these trips put me ahead.
Professor Ed Traversari impacted me, quite frankly, because I wanted to be him. He had all of the jobs that I’d dreamt of having. I’ve always wanted to become a concert promoter, so listening to his real-life stories working in the industry fueled my passion and prepared me for scenarios that I am now beginning to see as a professional in the music industry.
Professor Teresa Gregory gave me realistic expectations that are extremely relevant to my career now. Although her classes were the toughest of my entire academic career, I learned the most from them. I have all of my notes from her classes and I reference them regularly.
What recommendations do you have for our students interested in arts management careers?
If it feels like you’re so busy that your head is spinning, good! Stay active in your local sports arts and entertainment communities. Volunteer your time, attend as many events as possible and treat all of these experiences like job opportunities.
Most importantly, don’t compare yourself to other students. Your journey is unique. Even if you didn’t get the internship or job shadow that you wanted, all of your experience is valuable.