Jasmine Effner's choice to pursue an online master’s degree at Full Sail University was fueled by her lifelong passion for music and aspirations for breaking into the entertainment business. She was looking to parlay her enthusiasm for music into a profession and decided that higher education would provide the necessary preparation and insight into the industry.
“I just felt a special difference [with Full Sail University] than with all the others," Jasmine says. “This was a place where I could build upon my experience as musical performer and now learn the business side of things.”
Since graduating from the Entertainment Business Master of Science Online Degree Program, Jasmine has begun the process of jumpstarting her artist management company. She aims to combine her intimate insight as a former artist with her business education to represent and foster other entertainers’ careers. Before finding her niche, Jasmine wore many hats on the path to her desired profession.
Jasmine trained to be an opera singer and also learned early on how to play the violin and piano. She received a bachelor’s degree in music and hosted a morning radio show in Germany for three years. At the radio station, Jasmine was exposed to the business dealings of the music industry, and she discovered her excitement and natural inclination for working in a behind-the-scenes role.
With a desire to take her career to new heights, continuing education was the immediate next step for her. Jasmine researched many programs and found that Full Sail's Entertainment Business Online Master's Program was where she could combine her musical past with a business future.
“The online courses filled in the gaps of my previous education. And with the accelerated pace of the program … I found each course prepares you for the details and obstacles,” Jasmine says. “My favorite course was the Business Plan project. It gave me real-world strategies, templates, and a newfound self-confidence.”
As part of the program's leadership and development project, Jasmine joined the GRAMMY® University Foundation (GRAMMY® U) to echo her passion for music. Through GRAMMY® U, Jasmine “met other students and professionals in the entertainment industry [she] would never have been able to meet otherwise. This provided the chance to be apart of the inside community of music professionals.” She’s gained a real-world perspective on the industry and knows this involvement will help her to build her business.
While she is excited starting her long-anticipated career as an artist manager, Jasmine also feels that her pursuit of higher education has given her a competitive edge. She notes that the Full Sail creative environment provided her with a seamless transition from being “the talent” to serving on the management side.
“I know what it means to be an artist, and that will make me a great manager. My goal is to lead other artists – who don’t know the ins and outs of the music business – in an honest and supportive way,” Jasmine says. “I have fought hard to lay the professional groundwork with music and business degrees, and I am now ready to put this knowledge into practice.
“My advice is for creative people to step out and pursue education. If you have a passion, you have to just get out there and make things happen,” Jasmine says. “Don’t leave any room for regret.”
