Trumpets playing and other instruments jamming near a brick wall

MUSIC BUSINESS

Making music and connections

Sara Horishnyk is definitely a self-promoter. Just ask, and this gregarious Auggie will tell you about her latest adventures and where her band, Bigbody Applehead, is playing next. Last spring the Augsburg College senior pitched herself and the idea of taking on an intern to Dakota Jazz Club co-owner, Lowell Pickett. “It took him a long time to decide,” she said, but eventually Sara got the job.

At first the Dakota staffers didn’t know what to do with their intern, the first the club had ever had, so Sara was assigned ticketing work in the office. Soon her organizational skills and enthusiasm landed her the responsibility of booking hotels and transportation for nationally known artists such as Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Hugh Masekela, John McLaughlin, Toumani Diabate, Booker T. & the MG's, and many others. She continues to work part-time for the club, even taking phone calls from a musician’s frantic stage manager while she was on tour with the Augsburg jazz band this past year.

Sara also interned with event promoter “Mr. Chan Presents” which she says was a completely different experience than the Dakota. She coordinated all email blasts for shows, designed posters, and worked with local radio stations to promote events. One of the highlights was working with indie band “Brand New” and booking shows at Twin Cities venues like the Varsity Theatre and the Fine Line Music Café.

“It was better than any class I’ve ever taken…” Sara said, because the hands-on experience taught her about the music business and also about herself. She learned that being assertive was essential to the pursuit of her goals. “My internship taught me a lot more than just going to a business class: knowing what you want, planning it out, and actually achieving your goals.” she added.

Now that she internships are complete, Sara continues to work part-time at the Dakota and is assisting a local jazz artist with his management company. Her insight into the music business will help Sara create contracts and manage promotion for the artist’s various music groups.

Why study music business at Augsburg?
Sara says if you’re into the music scene and want to know more about how it’s actually run and how people “make money” in it, the Augsburg degree is a great path. “I am making connections with people in the business, people I met through Augsburg, and those connections are helping me get a job in the industry,” she said.

Music Business Dept. Contact Info

MUSIC BUSINESS

Making music and connections

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Kasidy Moore '06