Graduate embarks on career in live entertainment production

Benjamin Glende didn’t know his path right away when he arrived at College of Lake County (CLC). It took him a few years to find his perfect fit, but the moment he discovered a new live entertainment production program in the theatre department, he recognized his career passion and potential.

Glende grew up in Gurnee and started studying real estate and even earned his realtor license, but then he became pulled to study philosophy. After realizing it wasn’t for him, his timing lined up with the new live entertainment program CLC offered to students starting in fall 2023.

“I was walking to CLC, and I saw an advertisement for the live entertainment program on the outdoor marquee,” Glende said. “I decided to look into it.”

Concerts, shows and the effects used during them have always been an interest of his, but he didn’t think it could be a potential career.

In the program, Glende learned about a variety of potential skills, among them lighting, sound and theatre costuming. With many different aspects making up the live entertainment industry, he was able to try each one to see what he enjoyed.

Part of the program involves a summer internship. Talking to his academic success advisor, Glende learned about an opportunity with program partner Upstaging Inc. in Sycamore, Illinois. Upstaging is a live entertainment company that works with entertainers ranging from local groups to some of the biggest performers in the music industry. Upstaging became a workforce partner that participated in the program research phase with CLC and helped offer guidance on making the training relevant to the current industry.

“Providing opportunities for anyone, like Ben, who have ever dreamed about being part of the big show to have a career in audio and visual technical roles is the reason our team helped develop this curriculum,” said Andrew Abrisz, who works in labor resources and recruiting at Upstaging.

For Glende, working with Upstaging gave him a chance to put his skills to the test in a real work environment.

“Working with Upstaging was the next step up from learning in the classroom,” Glende said. “The equipment is amazing, and CLC definitely prepared me for the things I was doing. It was like getting into the professional league.”

And now Glende officially works with the pros. He was hired full time after proving himself capable of the job during his internship. Glende looks forward to the future opportunities to go on the road with a show, and he’s had plenty of different experiences in the shop.

“There are a lot of positives working here,” Glende said. “One of them is just being of use. It's simple to say but being able to help my coworkers and my bosses, and being able to put these shows on, it’s amazing. Knowing people have great times at live events, and that I helped make that happen is a great feeling.”

What Glende does depends on the day, though he is most experienced with lighting. He’s done different tasks including programming light sequences and testing equipment. Along with lighting, Glende also helps prep shows before they leave for their tour.

Working on shows can be a fun career, but live entertainment is a business that requires a lot of time and commitment as shows can be on the road for a long time. Glende hasn’t felt that yet, but his dedication and positive attitude help set him up for success.

“What excites me about this opportunity is being able to travel and just to do a good job,” Glende said. “I love to learn new things, use tools, I love it all. Finishing school and having job security is also a great feeling.”

To learn more about the program, visit https://www.clcillinois.edu/programs/comdv/theatre/live-entertainment-production-certificate-career-certificate.