Vibing with Your Career

Overview

We turned a typical guest speaker night into a DJ-led experience. Emerson alum Jasmine Solano started with a 30-minute set, then moved into a live interview and audience Q&A. This new format drew our department’s largest crowd yet and set a new standard for future events.

Creating an Event That People Can’t Miss

The program’s arts and entrepreneurship students had plenty of reasons to skip another sit-and-listen talk about career advice. We needed a format that earned their attention, made the career advice more personal, and was fun to attend.

Build the Night Around the DJ

The Ugly Baby: Build the night around Jasmine’s real craft. We paired a DJ set with a live Q&A about her path as an artist-entrepreneur, then offered students an immediate mentorship application with Jasmine, who wanted to pursue a similar path.

To boost attendance and set the right expectations, we created a consistent promotional style that highlighted the event's interactivity. We invited campus dance clubs directly and worked with theatre staff to make sure the lighting and stage setup fit each part of the night.

Record Turnout

More than 80 students attended, setting a new department record. We received more mentorship applications than we had spots available. Both students and faculty said the event had great energy and struck the right balance between learning and fun.