COLUMBIA — Quick. Think of your favorite song. Think of the best concert you’ve ever experienced. Think of the best movie you’ve ever seen.
None of those moments would have been possible without the hundreds — or sometimes thousands — of people who work behind the scenes of the sound and visual entertainment industry.
On Aug. 16, the first Plugged In: Music Industry Job Fair was held at the Richland Library Main branch in downtown Columbia. The event was the brainchild of Jay Matheson, who’s clocked in 40 years in the music industry as a musician, founder of The Jam Room recording studio (and Jam Room Music Festival), as well as a graduate and teacher at The Midlands Audio Institute through Midlands Technical College.
“I’ve been teaching audio engineering for more than 20 years, and I want to show people in the Columbia area that a career in the industry is a viable idea.” Matheson said. “I came up with this idea of a job fair because many people who would like to get into this business just don’t see a pathway. I wanted them to see that there are real opportunities to make a living in this industry.”
A crowd listens to a panel of industry professionals during the inaugural Midlands Audio Institute Job Fair at the Richland Library on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025.
Matheson assembled a diverse group of industry professionals, each representing a unique career and educational path, from audio engineering to stage production and video production. These professionals, including those from renowned venues and production companies like the Colonial Life Arena, The Koger Center for the Arts, New Brookland Tavern, Coal Powered Filmworks and ACS Sound and Lighting, were there to showcase the vast array of career paths in the entertainment industry.
Business agent for the local Stage Workers Union I.A.T.S.E. 347, Jacob Cosentino, and ACS Sound and Lighting production company team lead and lighting director Denise Simpson were two professionals on hand to answer questions and explain what it is like to work in the industry. They shared their own inspiring stories of starting from the bottom and working their way up in the industry. Both Cosentino and Simpson had the same advice for someone wanting to go down this career path: ” You have to be willing to work long hours and commit to this career as a lifestyle. But it is rewarding and you can make a living.”
Hundreds of people attended, including students, aspiring professionals and music enthusiasts. The attendees were able to connect with a wide variety of industry professionals, many of whom work full-time in the Midlands.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.postandcourier.com ’
