BGSU alumna lands dream job in music industry

Camryn+Joyce%2C+BGSU+alumna+is+pursuing+her+passion+of+working+on+the+production+team+of+major+music+tours.+Photo+courtesy+of+Bowling+Green+State+University

Camryn Joyce, BGSU alumna is pursuing her passion of working on the production team of major music tours. Photo courtesy of Bowling Green State University

Andrew Kish, Falcon Media reporter

A Bowling Green State University alumna landed her dream job in the music industry and said she encourages others to work toward doing the same.

Camryn Joyce recalled attending concerts when she was younger and being fascinated by the stage design, lights and production of the show.

“I knew I wanted to do that professionally one day,” said Joyce in a university press release. “I would dream about what it would be like to be backstage, helping to create this massive production.”

These concert experiences led Joyce to pursue a media productions and studies degree at BGSU in hopes of working on a music tour.

After Joyce graduated from BGSU in 2021, she worked as a freelance director for several companies as well as a stagehand at Nationwide Arena in Columbus. Joyce said she is grateful for these experiences as they led her to fulfill her dreams.

“Sometimes you feel like you’re the bottom of the barrel when you’re working as a stagehand,” said Joyce. “But that’s the kind of job you have to take to network and get where you want to be. You’re not going to meet people who can put you on tour unless you’re around people who are touring.”

While working as a stagehand, Joyce had the opportunity to shadow directors of major artists’ music tours, including one that opened the door to opportunity by providing her the phone number to Solotech Inc., an audiovisual entertainment company that works with some of the biggest stars in the music industry.

According to its website, Solotech works with artists such as Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, Paul McCartney, Céline Dion and others.

“I called [Solotech] the same day, and they needed a camera operator for a big music tour they were doing,” said Joyce. “It was perfect timing.”

From there, Joyce began immediately traveling on the tour as a camera operator with the artist and production crew.

Now, she is preparing to embark on another music tour and has been in rehearsals since the beginning of May. Joyce will be building LED walls that project the artist on the main screens.

Jasmine Crighton, an associate teaching professor in the School of Media and Communication  at BGSU said she often uses Joyce as an example in class of the career possibilities in the media production industry. She said Joyce’s story can encourage students to set the bar high for their own futures.

“It’s a grind and really hard work but working on live music tours is also one of the most exciting jobs I can imagine,” said Crighton. “I think it’s so cool that Camryn is living her dream.”

Crighton also said Joyce constantly challenged herself as a student, proposing new and creative ideas for productions she created.

Knowing how difficult it can be to build a career in the production industry, Joyce said she’s doing what she can to make the industry more accessible and establish herself as a resource for BGSU alumni interested in live video production. Joyce said she knows it is challenging to get into the music production business, so she sends Crighton the contact information of people she’s worked with to share with students.

“This is absolutely my dream job,” said Joyce. “I’ve been dreaming about this since I was 15 years old.”

For more information about the media production and studies degree available at BGSU, visit the university’s website.