Brunner, Butler, McCue Initiate Spring 2009

Core Instructor Maria Brunner of InSight Management, longtime Guest Instructor Jim McCue of Arena Network, and newcomer to UMEM Larry Butler of Bill Silva Entertainment kicked off the spring 2009 semester. They instructed students of MGMT 402/403 on Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14.
Larry was a tour manager at the start of his professional career, then moved to Warner Bros. Records, where he became a Senior Vice President. He is now the General Manager at Bill Silva Entertainment.
Friday evening the class discussed the hardships and sacrifices you have to make when going on tour for fifty weeks a year. On Saturday the class participated in a role playing session. Larry played the role of tour manager, Jim the role of venue owner, and Maria played a marketing stimulator. During this role playing session the students received insight into what kinds of requests bands have and what kinds of marketing and sponsorship strategies they allow venues and promoters to employ.
Principles and theories taught in class were applied to the marketing of the students' upcoming annual festival, Spring Thaw.
Spring Thaw will take place at the end of this semester.