Five Town’s Music & Entertainment Industry Studies (MEIS) Conference seeks to inspire and empower artists
Business division hosts the full-day conference on Thursday, November 14th for students and alumni.
By Isabella Escobar
The Five Towns College Business Division will host the 2024 MEIS [Music and Entertainment Industry Studies] Conference on Thursday, November 14th, from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm in the Downbeat. The main goal of the conference is to “provide insights to students regarding the types of companies that provide various artist services to empower independent artists, producers, and songwriters as they navigate their careers,” said Barry Heyman, Program Coordinator for MEIS Conference.
Register here:
https://www.ftc.edu/meis-2024/
Five Towns students from all majors are invited to attend, and some classes will incorporate the event into their lessons. College alumni are also welcome. The full-day event coincides with class schedules and boasts a group of well-connected and esteemed industry professionals. “I am looking forward to meeting professionals with big names in the industry and seeing how things are run,” said Business Audio major Gregory Cutrone.
See the full schedule and panelist bios here:
https://www.ftc.edu/meis-2024/
Keynote speaker Jerry “Wonda” Duplessis, a Grammy Award-winning music producer and owner of Platinum Sound Recording Studios, will share his experiences from 12:25 pm to 12:40 pm. His vast catalog of songs he’s produced includes hits like Shakira’s “Hips Don’t Lie,“ Whitney Houston’s “My Love is Your Love,“ and Justin Bieber’s “U Smile,“ among many others. Widely regarded as one of the most influential and accomplished producers of the 1990s, Duplessis has earned three Grammy Awards and received over 16 nominations throughout his renowned career.
Business Audio student Nathan Hernandez is excited to hear from Duplessis, saying, “It’s going to be really interesting. I did some research on him, and his connection with the college will matter.”
Additional panels will address the music industry’s current state and discuss artist services for independent artists. Attendees will also hear about the career paths of FTC alumni working across the music industry and learn strategies to find opportunities in the broader entertainment job market. Complimentary drinks and food will be provided during the networking sessions.
“For my first MEIS (conference) as an audio student, I’m very excited to hear what professionals have to say about the music industry because it changes so frequently, and I think it’s important to hear from people who are actually in it,“ said Mass Communication Audio major Stephanie Schneider.
The music industry can be stressful, and the MEIS Conference will present a “Health and Wellness“ session from 12:40 pm to 1:40 pm. During this panel, students will learn about “the professions who support the community and entertainment industry professionals by helping them with stress management, dealing with adversity and burnout, discussing managing a work/life balance, and maintaining a healthy mind and body,“ said Heyman.
Students are encouraged to engage with the panelists by requesting business cards or connecting via a professional platform such as LinkedIn and sending a follow-up thank you note.
The 2024 MEIS Conference promises to inspire the creative Five Towns community. “I am looking forward to learning new things and be able to really understand more about my potential career path,” said Business Audio major Yliana Naranjo.
