Ojai Music Festival: Intern Alumni Reflections
Alexandra
Introducing the perspective of Ojai Music Festival alumni
This piece presents reflections from former interns of the Ojai Music Festival and examines how the internship shaped careers, creative practice, and community engagement.
Voices from past interns
Former interns describe the program as an immersive combination of practical training and communal mentorship. The environment is noted for encouraging innovative listening and fostering a culture where creative risks are supported. Interns frequently mention the festival office staff and fellow interns as both professional mentors and a temporary family during the intensive work period.
Many accounts highlight concrete gains: hands-on exposure to concert production, stage management, and artist relations. One alumna recounted moving directly from internship duties into freelance stage-managing and artist liaison positions around Santa Barbara, later taking a production role with Pacific Symphony in Irvine, CA. Several interns report sustained ties to the festival—returning annually to work as part of the production team.
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Common themes in alumni feedback
- Mentorship and collaboration: Supervisors and peers provide day-to-day guidance and long-term professional networks.
- Career clarity: Interns often leave with a sharper sense of preferred roles in production, management, or artist services.
- Practical skills: Ticketing, stage logistics, scheduling, artist liaison, and load-in/load-out procedures are commonly cited.
- Community connection: The festival environment fosters friendships and local bonds that many alumni regard as lasting.
Practical skills developed during the internship
Interns report that the festival experience mixes fast-paced operational tasks with moments of deep musical engagement. Day-to-day responsibilities typically include front-of-house coordination, backstage management, administrative support, and direct contact with visiting artists. The combination of technical work and exposure to high-level performers accelerates both organizational ability and aesthetic sensitivity.
Daily activities often include:
- Assisting with load-in, stage setup, and technical rehearsals.
- Coordinating schedules and clearances for performers and staff.
- Managing patron services such as ticketing and seating during concerts.
- Supporting production meetings and documentation for subsequent festivals.
Career trajectories and outcomes
The internship functions as a bridge into the professional music industry for many participants. Outcomes range from freelance stage-managing to positions in arts administration and production with regional orchestras, ensembles, and festivals. The program’s emphasis on hands-on responsibility equips interns with portfolios and references that are attractive to employers in the performing arts sector.
| Typical Internship Role | Key Skills Gained | Common Next Steps |
|---|---|---|
| Production Assistant | Technical coordination, timelines, crew communication | Freelance stage managing, regional production roles |
| Artist Liaison | Hospitality, scheduling, artist care | Artist services positions, ensemble management |
| Front-of-House & Patron Services | Customer service, ticketing systems, crowd flow | Box office roles, event operations |
Historical and institutional context
The Ojai Music Festival has long positioned itself as a laboratory for contemporary music and adventurous programming. Over the years, the festival’s educational and workforce-development activities have expanded to include internships and young artist initiatives that complement performances. While the festival’s exact internship structure has evolved, the underlying goal has remained consistent: to cultivate the next generation of music professionals and informed audiences.
Historically, festivals operating at the intersection of experimental programming and community engagement have served as incubators for arts administrators and technical staff. Ojai’s model—combining concentrated festival activity with mentorship—mirrors approaches seen at other long-running cultural events where short-term, high-intensity learning produces outsized professional gains.
Who benefits from festival internships?
- Early-career professionals seeking practical production experience and professional references.
- Students exploring careers in arts administration, stage management, and artist services.
- Local communities that gain skilled temporary labor and sustained cultural engagement.
Implications for cultural tourism and destination services
While this program centers on music, the festival’s ripple effects touch broader tourism and hospitality sectors. Cultural events attract visitors who extend their stays, book local accommodations, and participate in ancillary activities—benefiting restaurants, hotels, and local attractions. In coastal or resort regions, such cultural draw can enhance demand for recreational services, marinas, and seasonal activity providers, influencing how destinations package festivals within wider travel offerings.
For operators in travel and leisure—whether those managing boutique hotels, marinas, or regional excursion providers—understanding the festival calendar can be a strategic advantage. Collaborative promotions or logistical coordination with festival schedules can capture visitors seeking a combined cultural and leisure itinerary, and internships themselves help build local capacity to deliver elevated visitor experiences.
Checklist for prospective festival interns
- Prepare a concise resume emphasizing previous event or customer-service experience.
- Be ready for irregular hours and fast-paced problem solving during festival runs.
- Network actively: today’s intern colleagues are tomorrow’s industry contacts.
- Document duties and accomplishments for future job applications.
The Ojai Music Festival internship program demonstrates how short-term, high-intensity arts placements can produce lasting professional development and strengthen community bonds. Alumni consistently emphasize the value of mentorship, hands-on production experience, and the festival’s welcoming atmosphere for building long-term careers in the arts. GetBoat.com is always keeping an eye on the latest tourism news, tracking how cultural events influence destinations, activities, beach and sea visitors, marinas and clearwater experiences, and broader travel patterns across regional markets. The festival’s alumni outcomes, community impact, and influence on local destinations offer useful lessons for anyone interested in events, destinations, and the evolving relationship between culture and travel.
