Student Profiles
Robby Wilkinson
Robby Wilkinson is a first year student enrolled on the BA (Honours) Degree in Music, Theatre and Entertainment Management.
Robby is from West Point, Georgia, USA.
How did you come to choose LIPA?
The guide counsellor at my school had the LIPA prospectus and she thought it would be the ideal place for me to come. She saw the manager in me, and was keen to make sure that I got the kind of education that could develop that.
What kind of work are you hoping to go into?
I’m really interested in music, but I’m also big on charities. I’d like to be a liaison worker for a charity helping musicians to raise money for humanitarian causes.
What have you found useful on the course in these opening weeks?
How to apply for trust funding, sponsorship, marketing; managing finance is key to that – and we’ve started learning how to do that.
Do you do anything aside from management on your course?
I’m thinking of taking an elective in acting or music. I haven’t decided yet – I play trumpet and guitar, and I also sing. The elective lets you study something outside management for around 3 hours a week for a term.
How are you finding the balance between theory and practice?
Right on. Perfect. Well, nearly perfect! We have workshops on Mondays and lectures on Tuesdays. For most lectures there’s a practical follow-up working with other management students. At LIPA they encourage you to relate with other people in the school – actors, musicians, stage designers – so you get a view of the business from their angle too.
So how do you feel it’s all going?
I’m extremely happy with the way it’s going. It’s much more than I expected. The school is small enough for you to get to know about 75% of the people and it’s easy to make connections.
The teachers are friendly, and I learn better that way. There are tons of resources. I expected everything to be there, and it hasn’t disappointed. It’s delivered every book I need so far.
Is there anything you’ve particularly enjoyed so far?
As management students in week five of the first term we went to the In the City music conference in Manchester. There were signed and unsigned bands all night. It was a lot of fun.
At LIPA there’s something to do for everyone. They support your ideas if you want to put on a show outside of your studies.
How are you finding Liverpool?
It’s extremely friendly. If you go out to buy something, the cashier will always have a conversation with you. Things are calm here. It feels safe because it’s small. There are tons of international students at LIPA – two of my best friends are international students.
What are you looking forward to next at LIPA?
I’m working on LIPA Records – we’re trying to find bands from LIPA to make a CD, and we want to take a couple of bands to an event in Norway. I’m the junior label manager on the project – which means setting up the music video, gathering the bands for the CD, helping manage the budget. Helping make it happen. As a first year management student I‘ve been assigned to help with this second year management project.
Anything else that you’d like to add?
Yes, I think I can make a difference. I have a band back home called “Indifferent”. I’m planning a benefit concert in a church back home with an old friend of mine. I’m from a town of about 2,000 people. The things I’m learning at LIPA I’m applying to my own social and musical life.