After graduating from Full Sail with degrees in both Recording Arts and Entertainment Business, Matthew Schievella dove right into the entertainment industry – he interned at Platinum Sound Studios under hip hop artist/producer Wyclef Jean, immersed himself in New York City’s nightclub scene, and began eyeing a career as a booking agent. But for Matthew, continuing his education was just as important as – and in fact, an integral part of – advancing his career in the music business.
“I wanted to continue my education even further, so I started looking into business schools in NYC,” Matthew explains. “Then I received a flyer in the mail from Full Sail about their online Entertainment Business Master’s degree. There was very little questioning involved at that point; the fact that I had the opportunity to benefit from Full Sail’s education without having to relocate made the decision really easy.”
Today, as a graduate of Full Sail’s online Entertainment Business Master’s Degree Program and a booking agent for On That Note Entertainment talent agency, Matthew is quick to note that his role in the industry was greatly aided by his online education.
“It was really good timing for me. I started at a young company that had young executives running it, and with that dynamic I really had the ability to have an influence on how things were steered,” he says. “In my interview, I actually used the fact that I was getting my Master’s degree online as big-time leverage to try and sell myself to them. I remember sitting there saying, ‘Listen, right now I’m in a program where I’ll be able to take classes and share the lessons that I learn with you guys in real time.’ They really responded to that, and that definitely gave me an advantage in getting the job.”
Starting off as the assistant to On That Note’s President of Booking, Matthew found himself using concepts he learned the night before on Full Sail Online the next day when he came into work. “I was in Search Optimization class and I would come into work each week sharing all the new stuff I’d learned, and we’d immediately start developing and implementing those ideas into the business,” Matthew continues. “That led me to become an irreplaceable asset to the company.”
At On That Note, Matthew is constantly dealing with the various logistics of managing the itineraries for touring artists, as well as handling radio promotions, college/international bookings, and other aspects of artist management. “I love being part of a creative industry where you have the opportunity to develop things from scratch and test them out,” he adds. “I love working with artists, and I know it sounds weird but I love the fact that most artists don’t really have a lot of business sense; I’m able to help them with both my creative and business skills. To help a lost artist get to their dream and be a huge part of their career is just amazing. I’m an artist too, so I’m able to speak both languages – that’s a huge asset for me.”
And Matthew definitely asserts that learning those ‘languages’ was a huge part of his experiences at Full Sail. “When you go to Full Sail, it’s all business. It’s intense and it’s a challenge. I really like to be involved as much as I can. You’re really just eating and sleeping and breathing entertainment, just like how it is for me now that I’m actually working in the industry. I loved going to Full Sail – actually, let me put that into the present tense,” he laughs. “I love going to Full Sail. I might come here for a fourth degree, who knows?”
