On August 16, 2025, Columbia, SC, took a major step toward building a sustainable local music ecosystem with the inaugural Plugged In: Music Industry Job Fair held at the Richland Library. This landmark event brought together hundreds of aspiring music professionals and fans eager to explore real career pathways behind the scenes of live entertainment.
Created and organized by Jay Matheson, veteran musician and founder of Jam Room Recording Studio, the fair showcased a broad spectrum of roles in South Carolina’s music and entertainment industry. Attendees connected face-to-face with audio engineers, stagehands, video producers, and lighting specialists representing key employers like Colonial Life Arena and ACS Sound and Lighting.
Speakers such as Stage Workers Union agent Jacob Cosentino and lighting director Denise Simpson provided invaluable advice, emphasizing dedication, hard work, and professionalism as critical to success in this demanding field. Their insights peeled back the curtain on what it takes to thrive in often overlooked but essential music careers.
The event’s hands-on exposure introduced students, local musicians, and music lovers to tangible job opportunities that do not require leaving the Midlands. This initiative clearly signaled that Columbia’s music scene is primed to nurture talent with viable employment options.
Adding to the momentum, the Art Bar hosted the Plugged In After Party – Music Industry Mixer, extending networking opportunities beyond the fair in a casual setting. These combined efforts underscore the growing commitment within Columbia to cultivate the local music industry as a career destination, not just a hobby.
Plugged In sets a precedent for future annual job fairs aimed at bridging the gap between passion and profession in music, energizing the Midlands’ cultural and economic landscape with sustainable entertainment careers.
Source: Music industry job fair aims to plug Columbia locals into dream careers