Film, television, music, radio, and increasingly internet platforms are all part of the entertainment industry. There are numerous positions available in each of these industries, from manual labor positions like roadies in the music industry or stagehands in the film industry to technical positions like sound engineers and digital animators. High-powered positions such as public relations managers, agents, and TV producers are also available. The entertainers themselves, including actors, musicians, sports figures, and news anchors, are available in addition to the support staff.
What is it like working in the entertainment industry?
Because entertainment professionals work a variety of hours and locations, working in the industry is typically different from working in many other professions. They often work long hours, sometimes overnight. Work in the entertainment industry may require long-term travel and living away from home. Jobs in the entertainment industry, such as touring with a musician or working on location at a movie set, are different from regular jobs in terms of the required hours and workload.
What is the entertainment industry?
The entertainment industry includes jobs in the fields of theater, film, television, and music. Any production or artistic endeavor that amuses an audience through works like songs, plays, or television broadcasts is referred to as entertainment. Performers and people with technical skills who create elements for entertainment productions are both employed in the entertainment industry.
Entertainment industry skills
The following are a few of the qualifications that can aid job seekers in the entertainment sector:
How to get a job in the entertainment industry
Finding employment in a more conventional field versus the entertainment industry is frequently a different path. Many entertainment jobs don’t require a specific level of education or experience, and people frequently find jobs through contacts who already work in the industry by working their way up from entry-level positions in entertainment production and persevering through the early years to find a place in the industry. Here are some actions you can take to aid in your search for employment in the entertainment industry:
1. Consider educational programs
Some entertainment jobs require specific training. You can acquire the knowledge and skills required for an entertainment career by enrolling in film school or taking courses at trade schools that cater to your industry. Students have the opportunity to learn skills from a variety of industry specializations through both on-campus and online programs. These courses may also provide you with the chance to network with business people and establish long-lasting relationships with other students who are also pursuing careers in the entertainment industry.
2. Be willing to take entry-level work
The entertainment industry is very competitive, so getting started might involve taking on lower-paying jobs in order to advance to more senior positions. Many assistants are frequently required in production environments to complete tasks for various departments or professionals. Many professionals need help before, during, and after a production, including producers, costumers, and set designers.
3. Get a start in performing as an extra
Work as an extra in movies or television if you’re interested in acting in the entertainment industry. Working as an extra regularly can help you develop your resume and network with casting directors, agents, and movie directors. You can use the downtime between jobs to schedule other jobs, take online courses, or work on your own media content. Extra work typically pays you a fair wage.
4. Intern or volunteer
An excellent way to network in the entertainment industry is to work as an intern. Interns take on tasks wherever they are placed for little to no pay, or occasionally for school credit. Additionally, interns are seen as learners and frequently have more opportunities to work with professionals in high-level positions within the industry.
Volunteering can be another way to get started in entertainment. If you simply show up and ask how you can help, you might make the connections you need to find a job with benefits. Until you can find a more permanent position, try volunteering on your days off if you are making money from a different job.
5. Network
Any career can benefit from having a variety of contacts, but the entertainment industry is frequently thought to be harder to break into without connections. First, see if any of your family and friends have any connections in the industry. Next, try signing up for networking groups through local chapters or online. Attend entertainment industry events if you can so you can speak with people who are already employed in the industry.
6. Go where work is plentiful
Some regions of the world serve as production hubs for entertainment, where a network of inventive people collaborate in studios and other settings. Theatrical arts historically have been centered in California and New York in the United States. If you’re serious about getting into the entertainment business, you might want to think about moving to a region with lots of productions and industry professionals.
7. Cultivate your passion
By pursuing their own creative passions and talents, many people find their dream job in the entertainment industry. Before they get the chance to display their own artistic abilities, they must overcome obstacles and occasionally rejection. Continue your own projects and creative development as you pursue a career. It could lead to a position in the future.
35 entertainment industry jobs
Jobs in entertainment are varied and numerous. Those who are willing can find work in a variety of areas, from technical skills of highly skilled professionals to creative performers who share their emotions and abilities on stage. Here are some career ideas across entertainment:
Camera operators’ main responsibilities include recording performances or filming live broadcasts for a range of purposes in the entertainment industry. For instance, some camera operators work at live concerts, controlling the digital cameras that broadcast a performing artist’s live feed. Others capture multiple angles on a film or television set. Getting a job as a camera operator can help you on your way to becoming a director or cinematographer.
Producers’ main responsibilities are to handle the more logistical aspects of entertainment. A producer hires talent and oversees the financial aspects of a production, in contrast to a director who is in charge of the creative aspects of a movie. A producer’s primary responsibility is to serve as a business manager who facilitates the completion of the artistic work, even though they may have some input into some creative decisions.
A production coordinator’s main responsibilities include a variety of tasks for the production of entertainment. To coordinate the various aspects of a production, they collaborate with producers and assistant directors. These experts might be in charge of a stage’s construction, including the sound and lighting wiring, during live events. Production coordinators aid in organizing every aspect of a production for work in film and television.
A choreographer’s main responsibilities include creating dance and movement for stage, screen, musical, and even television productions. Typically, choreographers are skilled dancers who are familiar with a wide range of musical genres and dance styles. Some choreographers plan fight moves for theater, television and film.
Primary responsibilities: Animators create animated scenes, characters, and sequences for films, video games, and television productions by combining artistic talent with digital tools. Animators receive training to incorporate visual arts methods into computer software applications, choosing colors, shapes, and the organization of a project on a digital canvas.
Musicians use instruments to perform live, either as a soloist or as part of a group. They work for a range of entertainment companies, including orchestras, music studios, television shows, and concerts.
Main responsibilities: Makeup artists collaborate with costume designers and directors to develop a character’s appearance in a production. These cosmetology professionals, with opportunities to work in almost all areas of the entertainment industry, use makeup products to draw attention to an actor’s features or prosthetics and paint to create a character look for a production.
Audio engineers, also known as sound engineers, are responsible for adjusting the sound during live performances and recorded productions. They aid in sound quality control by combining sound channels to amplify a performance’s overall tonality. To produce a more well-balanced sound for a movie, television performance, or even a video game, they also combine prerecorded dialogue and sound effects.
More jobs in the entertainment industry
Here are some additional entertainment-related careers you could pursue:
How to find a job in the Entertainment Industry!
FAQ
What is it like to work in the entertainment industry?
Because entertainment professionals work a variety of hours and locations, working in the industry is typically different from working in many other professions. They often work long hours, sometimes overnight. Work in the entertainment industry may require long-term travel and living away from home.
What is the highest paying job in the entertainment industry?
- Bureau Chief. …
- Financial Writer. …
- Technical Director. …
- Radio Engineer. …
- Design Manager. …
- Video Engineer. Salary range: $77,500-$119,000 per year. …
- Newscast Director. Salary range: $41,500-$116,500 per year. …
- Travel Journalist. Salary range: $38,500-$116,500 per year.
What types of job are there in the entertainment industry?
- Actor.
- Film crew.
- Animal trainer.
- Caterer.
- Personal assistant.
- Theatre manager.
- 7. Entertainment marketer.
- Booking agent.
How hard is it to work in the entertainment industry?
The entertainment industry is renowned for being challenging to break into. It’s full of incredibly talented, competitive, and hard-working people, so standing out can be difficult.
