Arts Management Alumni Profile: Deidra Sibila '00
Contributed by Brendan Reynolds '07, Arts Management Alumni Network
Deidra Sibila, a native of Massillon, Ohio, has always loved music. “Music has the power to bring people together,” says Sibila. And that is what initially attracted Sibila to Baldwin Wallace. “I started as a music education major,” explained Sibila, “At that time, the sports, dance and arts administration program was still relatively new and somewhat experimental.” Eventually, Sibila became a double major in business and music and she began working in Cleveland concert venues like the Odeon. “It’s amazing to see how far the arts management program has come,” expressed Sibila, “It’s great to see the program grow.”
Sibila’s first job after graduation was with Stan Hywet Hall and Gardens in Akron. She worked with Susan Van Vorst, now director of BW’s Conservatory of Music, who at that time was Stan Hywet’s director of development. In her role at Stan Hywet, Sibila worked on capital campaigns, special events, membership programs and other fundraising activities. “Stan Hywet was an incredible experience and I learned so much while I was there,” says Sibila. While working with Stan Hywet, Sibila continued to pursue her love of music by “moonlighting” at the Odeon. She worked in ticketing and promotions and she credits these early opportunities to the network that Baldwin Wallace provided. “BW’s tremendous network through Career Services and through faculty connections helps so many students find internships and work.”
Her evenings and weekends at the Odeon led to a full-time position in the Odeon’s box office. There she not only worked on a myriad of concerts but also with the Cleveland Browns and the Gravity Games (now known as the X Games). During that time, management of the Odeon’s activities transitioned first from Belkin Entertainment to SFX Entertainment, next from SFX Entertainment to Clear Channel Entertainment, and finally from Clear Channel to Live Nation. Working for a locally-owned concert and event production operation as it morphed into a company with a national network had its challenges and opportunities. One prime opportunity for Sibila came in the form of the chance to manage the box office at Cricket Pavilion in Phoenix. Cricket Pavilion is a 20,000 seat outdoor amphitheater that has played host to many concerts and a line-up of impressive artists including Roger Waters (Pink Floyd), Aerosmith, Dave Matthews Band and Kelly Clarkson. In addition to her responsibilities for overseeing ticketing at Cricket Pavilion, Sibila also traveled around the country to train other Live Nation staff members.
In 2007, the call from Live Nation’s corporate headquarters came. They were searching for someone to be the National Director of Ticketing for their touring division, and Sibila had the experience necessary to fill that role. She went from overseeing Cricket Pavilion’s 20,000 seats to hundreds of thousands of seats around the country for some of the industry’s biggest tours, including the 45-show North American tour of New Kids on the Block. She also went from Phoenix to Los Angeles. “One of the coolest things for me was seeing bands that had started their careers at small venues like the Odeon go on to major national tours,” said Sibila, “Bands like Coldplay started at the Odeon and ended up headlining major tours that I was working on.”
In 2013, Sibila was recognized by her industry peers with a “Generation Next” award from Venues Today magazine. “It was truly gratifying to be recognized by my peers,” said Sibila. “Being recognized along with marketing professionals and general managers made it even better, because ticketing professionals aren’t always recognized.”
2013 also brought a new professional challenge as Sibila left Live Nation for a new opportunity with C3 Presents. C3 Presents is primarily a festival-based concert and event production company, and Sibila is responsible for ticketing for Lollapalooza and Austin City Limits, among others. To take the new position, she moved from Los Angeles to Austin, Texas. While still far from campus, Sibila has stayed in touch with her alma mater, recently attending an alumni event in Austin.
In the YJ4L spirit, Sibila credits a lot of her success to her experience at BW, as well as being introduced to some of her very best friends. “The liberal arts education that I received was a great precursor for the real world,” said Sibila. “It makes you well-rounded, no matter what career you pursue.”