Entertainment Management students rocked the rally! The motorcycle rally in Sturgis, SD became the backdrop for this summer’s practical learning experience. Students enrolled in the Entertainment Management Program were invited to participate in the production of Rock’n The Rally, a three-day festival at the Glencoe Amphitheatre in Sturgis, SD.
Students joined a group of professional stagehands and riggers to build a major stage (3 days), load in sound and lights (2 days), prepare the KISS concert (2 days), work the John Fogerty concert (1 day –canceled due to 70-mile-an-hour winds hitting the stage during the opening act), work the Kenny Chesney concert (1 day), and then take the stage down again (2 days).
Students were also members of a street team responsible for marketing the events, assisting with the VIP events, and event management. These students then became part of the load-out crew after the Kenny Chesney concert.
Rock’n The Rally provided a professional immersion experience to the students. They were able to experience the rigors of the road, from lobby calls at 7:00 AM, to 3 hours of sleep at night. The students worked alongside professionals of the industry, providing them each an opportunity to ask questions and put into practice some of what they learned in class.
