Hey everyone! I’m Alex, and if you’re reading this, chances are you either’re a student at Arizona State University (ASU) digging into music and performing arts, or maybe you’re someone who wants to know what ASU’s doing to support those fields—plus, I’ve got a little insider tea since I work as a vendor with their performing arts departments. Let me break down what opportunities exist for students here, straight from the perspective of someone who’s in the mix regularly, no stuffy admin speak. ASU
First off, let’s get real: ASU doesn’t treat music and performing arts like some afterthought or a “nice-to-have” for their campus. I’ve been supplying gear, tech, and supplies to their Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts for three years now, and I’ve watched their performing arts programs blow up—way more than just the traditional theater or music degrees. Let’s start with the obvious stuff: their degree programs, because that’s the base. If you’re an undergrad or grad student, their Bachelor of Music has tracks in everything from commercial music (super hot right now, like songwriting and producing for TikTok, Spotify, not just symphonies) to music therapy, which is a whole other ball game. Their theater program? They do everything from classic plays to immersive site-specific stuff—last semester, I helped supply sound gear for their production of Hamilton (yep, that one) at the Gammage Memorial Auditorium, which is their big, iconic campus venue. But here’s the thing most students don’t always hear: the Herberger Institute has these “pathway” programs that aren’t just sitting in classrooms. They’re built for hands-on work, and as a vendor, I see how that translates to real opportunities.
Wait, let’s talk about internships first, because that’s a huge one for students who don’t want to just get a degree and then scramble. ASU doesn’t just pair you with any random internship—they tie it directly to their industry partners, and guess who’s one of those partners? Me, my team, and my company. Last year, we took three ASU music tech interns, two theater stage management interns, and one dance production intern. The music tech kid was helping us test new wireless mics for live events; the stage management intern was helping coordinate set builds for our client shows; the dance intern was assisting with choreography tech. The best part? Half of those interns got full-time offers when they graduated. That’s not a fluke—ASU’s got a whole network of over 200 performing arts industry partners, and they actually follow up with them to make sure internships are meaningful, not just coffee runs. I make a point to tell their internship coordinator every year what we actually need: people who can troubleshoot audio, work backstage in fast-paced environments, handle lighting tech. And they send us students who’ve already been trained in those skills, not just book smart people. That’s a win for everyone.
Then there’s the student-run groups, because not everyone wants to do a traditional degree path. I’ve helped fund or supply gear to like a dozen student performing arts clubs on campus. There’s the ASU A Cappella groups—they have like five different ones, from pop to jazz to classical. Last semester, I supplied them with portable mixers and microphones for their campus tours and local shows. They even performed at a vendor event my company hosted last fall—super talented kids, and a lot of them are using those groups to build their own brand, posting covers on YouTube and TikTok. Then there’s the ASU improv troupe, which does weekly shows at a tiny venue off-campus, and the Black Music Student Collective, which centers African American music and culture—they’ve had local artists come collaborate with them, and I helped print promotional materials for their recent showcase. Oh, and don’t sleep on the dance groups! They have everything from hip hop to ballet, and they perform at campus events like Convocation and Sun Devil Welcome. What’s cool about these groups is that they’re not just for fun—they lead to professional opportunities too. One dance member from last year is now working as a choreographer for a local music festival, all because she met people at a showcase that my company helped sponsor.
Now, let’s get into the tech side, because that’s where a lot of underrated opportunities are. ASU’s performing arts programs don’t just teach you how to play an instrument or act—they teach you how to use the gear that makes performances happen. Their School of Music, Dance and Theatre has this huge tech lab that’s open to all students, not just majors. I’ve dropped off audio gear there a hundred times, and I’ve seen students of all majors (even engineering and business kids) using it to build their own sound systems, edit music for student films, and design lighting for small shows. They also have these “tech workshops” every month—last month, I led one on wireless mic troubleshooting for students, and there were 40 people there, not just music majors. That’s stuff you can’t learn in a textbook; it’s hands-on, and it translates directly to jobs. For example, a theater tech student I worked with last year now works at a major concert venue in Phoenix, running sound for national acts. He told me his ASU tech lab experience was the reason he got the job—he’d already built and troubleshooted so many systems before graduating.
Wait, what about off-campus opportunities? ASU isn’t just a Phoenix campus—they have locations all over the state, and they partner with regional arts organizations too. I’ve helped ASU host a performing arts showcase at the Phoenix Symphony Hall, and students from ASU were playing in the orchestra, acting in plays, even running the tech for the event. They also have study abroad programs in music and performing arts—last I checked, they have a semester in London where students can train with West End performers, and a program in Brazil for music students to work with local samba schools. But here’s the vendor secret: a lot of those study abroad programs also work with local suppliers, so when ASU brings gear or materials over, they have students helping coordinate that, which is another networking opportunity. And for students who want to stay local, Phoenix has a booming arts scene—from indie music venues to professional theater companies, and ASU students are regularly hired for gigs there. I’ve hired three ASU grads for freelance work at my company, all of whom got their start through connections at campus events.
Now, let’s talk about the little things that make ASU stand out, because a lot of schools skip these. They have these micro-grants for student performing arts projects—last year, a group of theater students got a $5,000 grant to put on a production of a new play about mental health. My company supplied them with sets, costumes, and lighting gear for half price, and they performed it at a local community center for free, plus streamed it online. That’s not something every school offers—most would make them fundraise or pay out of pocket. They also have performance spaces that are accessible to students, not just professional shows. The Nelson Fine Arts Center has a black box theater that students can book for $20 a night, and the Gammage Auditorium (that big iconic one I mentioned earlier) has a student matinee program where local schools can bring kids to see shows, and ASU students can volunteer as ushers or backstage help—way more hands-on experience than just watching a show.
Wait, but let’s be real—no post is all sunshine. I know a lot of students worry about funding, but ASU has work-study opportunities specifically for performing arts students. A friend of mine works in the costume shop at ASU, getting paid to sew costumes for shows, and that’s his work-study. It’s not just making coffee or filing papers—it’s actual, relevant experience. And as a vendor, I can tell you that ASU is good about connecting students to jobs that pay, not just internships that are unpaid. A lot of the student tech positions I post on their job board are paid $15-$20 an hour, which is huge for college kids.
Now, if you’re a student reading this, what’s the next step? Don’t just scroll and think “oh, that’s nice.” Hit up the Herberger Institute’s website (yes, it’s real, no links needed—just search Herberger Institute ASU) and sign up for their monthly events. Go to a student a cappella show, stop by their tech lab, attend one of those workshops. And if you’re interested in working in the industry side of things (like gear, tech, event production), reach out—wait, that’s me, right? I’ve partnered with ASU for years, and I’m always looking for motivated students to connect with about internships, freelance work, or even just learning about the field. Whether you’re a music major, theater major, dance major, or even just a student who loves performing arts and wants to get involved, there’s a spot for you here at ASU. Don’t sleep on the opportunities that are right in front of you—they’re there, and they lead to real careers.
Wait, let me make sure I didn’t leave anything out. Oh! The Sun Devil Athletics performance programs—they have a marching band, a dance team, a pep band, all of which are open to students from any major, not just music or kinesiology. I supplied the marching band with new drumline gear last year, and they do shows at every home football game, plus national competitions. That’s another way to get experience, perform, and be part of a huge campus community.
And for the students who want to do something more experimental? ASU has the ASU Digital Culture Center, which works with performing arts students to blend technology—like virtual reality dance, or interactive music installations. I helped supply gear for a VR dance project last semester, where students created a dance performance that could be experienced through a VR headset. That’s the future of performing arts, and ASU is right there on the cutting edge.
Look, I’ve been in this industry for 10 years, and I’ve worked with a lot of universities. ASU is different because they don’t treat performing arts as a siloed program. They integrate it with tech, business, community outreach, even athletics. That means students get a well-rounded experience, not just being a musician or actor. And as a supplier, I can say that the students who come through ASU are some of the most prepared I’ve seen—they show up, they know their stuff, and they’re ready to work.
If you’re a student at ASU interested in music and performing arts, or you’re a prospective student, don’t hesitate to connect with me to chat about internships, work opportunities, or just how to get involved on campus. There’s no pressure—just a real conversation about how to turn that passion into something tangible.
Outdoor Fiber Optic References: Arizona State University Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, ASU School of Music Dance and Theatre, Phoenix Arts Commission, ASU Digital Culture Center.
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