Business club holds fall call-out meeting

One way to get 200 students interested in a business club is to entice them with networking trips to New York City and Los Angeles. Another way is to have a cappella group Straight No Chaser perform at the organization's call-out meeting. \nThe Business Careers in Entertainment Club, now in its fifth year, had its fall call-out meeting Monday night where students of all majors learned about the networking trips and other opportunities the club offers.\n"We're the only resource for people interested in this industry," said BCEC President and senior Ashley McPherson, who interned last summer for MTV and VH1 production events. \nNetworking trips allow selected members to visit companies such as Jive Records and Time magazine.\nThe more involved members are, the better chance they have to participate on the trips, McPherson said. \n"The No. 1 thing we provide you with is a network," said student Nate Ingles, executive vice president of the group. "We'll connect you with whatever industry you're interested in." \nAbout 500 students actively participate in the club and make up the eight different committees that students can join to coincide with their interests and help plan different events, including television, publishing, performing arts, sports, gaming, radio, music and film. \nLast year's sports committee started the King of the Court basketball tournament, and this year's co-director Matt Kesten designed official Kelvin Sampson T-shirts, which the group will sell to benefit its networking trip funds. \nRock for Kids Sake produced by the music committee is an all-day concert in the spring that includes a Battle of the Bands. Last year the event raised more than $3,400 for Bowl for Kids Sake, a charity event. \nSophomore Andrew Garcia said attending the meeting made him realize the club would help him network in the future.\n"They incorporate school with something everybody would like," he said. "It's pretty tough to network in the entertainment business." \nWhen Straight No Chaser showed up for the meeting's entertainment, most students' eyes widened for the three-song performance, which included a blues song leading the audience in clapping. \n"It's awesome how much people like them, you know what I mean?" said junior Matt Evans during the performance. \nAbout 120 new members signed up at the meeting, paying their $20 annual fee that McPherson said goes to guest speakers. \nMcPherson said BCEC got her on the right track in her career.\n"If I hadn't heard about BCEC, it probably wouldn't have even crossed my mind to do the business end of the entertainment industry," she said. \nInterested students who missed the meeting can find out more at www.thebcec.org.