IF YOU GO
What: Rob Brenner
Where: Room 007, Martin J. Whitman School of Management
When: Today, 6:45 p.m.
How much: Free

Syracuse University alumnus Rob Brenner, touring director for the Jonas Brothers, will speak Tuesday about his experiences working in the music industry as part of the Bandier Program for Music and the Entertainment Industries’ Soyars Leadership Lecture Series.

The lecture will begin at 6:45 p.m. in Room 007 of the Martin J. Whitman School of Management and is open to all students. Brenner is also currently the head of touring for Jordin Sparks and Demi Lovato. In the past, he has managed acts such as Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Mary J. Blige.

The Soyars Series invites speakers from the music industry, including artist managers, booking agents, music publishers, marketing executives and even artists themselves, said David Rezak, director of the Bandier Program.

Based in management, Brenner’s job focuses on coordinating the musician’s live tours, Rezak said.

In the past, touring managers were extremely detail-oriented, organizing artists’ notebooks and setting itineraries for each member of the tour. But with newly advanced technology, Brenner’s job in the touring industry is evolving, Rezak said.

“The management company is the hub,” he said. “What Rob does is he liaisons for the management company out to the live touring piece of the revenue stream.”

Some students said they find the potential insights of the music industry Brenner offers to be advantageous.

“I know the Jonas Brothers are kind of teen-based, which obviously isn’t most college students,” said Alex Barker, a senior film major in the College of Visual and Performing Arts. “However, (the tours are) still run by professionals. I think you can appreciate what the people have to do to make that work.”

Rezak said he tries to avoid micromanaging what the speakers talk about and wants to let Brenner take the discussion in any direction he wants. The one thing he does encourage speakers to talk about is their background, especially those who are SU alumni. Many of the younger speakers who have just recently entered the music industry provide an example of success to students, he said.

“That fires students up. They think, ‘I could do that. That could be me in five or six years,’” Rezak said.

He said many speakers in the Soyars Series, which is held weekly, are valuable networking opportunities for students.

“It’s not just about the information that the speaker passes,” he said. “Sometimes it’s information, inspiration and networking opportunities. There’s just a lot of reasons why we find it relevant for our students.”

Published on March 22, 2010 at 12:00 pm