Jazz professional talks about the business behind the music

“Inside the Business of Music”

Nov. 5, 7 p.m

Lecturer: Charlie Fishman

Heinz Memorial… “Inside the Business of Music”

Nov. 5, 7 p.m

Lecturer: Charlie Fishman

Heinz Memorial Chapel

Not everyone can be a musical superstar, but there is always the business side of things for less prodigious music afficionados.

In honor of Jazz Week, Pitt welcomes jazz industry veteran Charlie Fishman for his lecture, “Inside the Business of Music,” to tell students just how this is possible.

Fishman has been a producer, festival organizer and manager to famed jazz trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie. He intends to share his wealth of knowledge and experience with the next generation of music industry insiders.

“It gives those people —­ students, mostly —­ insight into the business side of music,” he said.

The lecture will detail how the music industry works, said Fishman. Anyone who hopes to become a personal manager, promoter, booking agent or publicist or wants to learn how to build a festival should attend.

“If you want to promote a concert, what does it cost? What do you do if you want to sell enough tickets to pay for the concert? It’s something a publicist needs to know,” Fishman said.

Although the lecture focuses on the behind-the-scenes elements of music, that does not mean musicians can’t learn a thing or two from Fishman.

“Musicians can come too. It’s important for them to understand the role of a manager or booking agent,” Fishman said.

He has the credentials to speak about any and all of these roles from personal experience.

“I’ve done all off it. I’ve been a producer, I organized the D.C. Jazz Fest, I was Dizzy Gillespie’s manager until the day he died,” Fishman said.

He knows how to successfully run a festival or even a one-day special event. If you are looking to do the same, Fishman is the man to hear.

“I know how to deal with sponsorship and the Department of Parks and Recreation in Washington,” Fishman said of his experience with music festivals.

Fishman will detail the “function of each of these” in his lecture. With a résumé like his, you can bet he knows how it’s done.