AUSTIN, Texas — This year, C3 Presents – the company that puts on the Austin City Limits Music Festival (ACL) – has partnered with Austin Community College (ACC) to give students hands-on experience in the industry.
Students in music management, sound engineering and video production can take part. They'll get to work with live artists and production staff during Weekend 1 of the festival, starting Oct. 4.
The program is called "Festival University," and it has already been implemented at other festivals like Bonnaroo in Tennessee and Lollapalooza in Chicago.
The production students have done the business side of things, including marketing, artist promotion and development and working with agents. But giving them experience on the sound boards and video production is something new at ACL.
"It's life-changing important. I mean, the importance of this cannot be overstated at all. What's unique about our dynamic here at Austin Community College is that the arts and digital media division is in the workforce area," said Perry Crafton, ACC’s Dean of Arts & Digital Media.
The students will take the knowledge they've learned in their classrooms about music management, sound engineering and video production and put it to use. They will work in the press lounge with the bands and artists performing, getting that hands-on experience.
Some students will get a chance to see live sound engineering up close for things like artist sound checks, while others can even take part in making videos.
"The experience I'd be getting from like, going to this event as like, a student and getting to put that on my resume – I really felt like this opportunity would be a great thing to separate myself from like, other students who might be pursuing employment," ACC student Joy Randolph said.
This will also be a good opportunity for the students to not only learn from industry professionals, but also network with them and establish connections as they look for jobs in the business.
ACL is scheduled for Oct. 4-6 and Oct. 11-13. Top-billed artists include Dua Lipa, Chris Stapleton, Reneé Rapp and more. For more on what you need to know about the festival, check out our guide or head to KVUE.com/ACL for the latest news.