Guest Speaker Spotlight: Don Kronberg

      ​On September 9th, the Public Relations Student Society of America chapter at Illinois State University invited Don Kronberg, the President of NiteLife Promotions, to speak with its members about his experience in the entertainment industry, how the coronavirus has changed the world of entertainment and answered a few questions.
      Kronberg attended Columbia College in Chicago. Then in 1989 he became a DJ for WZOK radio. As an air personality he hosted various shifts and radio station concerts and events. He began working for NiteLife in 1990, where after 30 years he manages the Concert Promotions and the Event Management Company that has put together nearly 1,000 concerts throughout the United States. 
      NiteLite Promotions is an independent concert and event promoter. Bringing all aspects of live entertainment events. They cover music ranging from classic and active rock, to adult contemporary, jazz, blues, country and urban. They also host comedy shows.
      Kronberg shared experiences with working different artists shows'. From his first show with Jerry Seinfeld, to artists that have performed at ISU, such as Snoop Dog. His development of skill sets improved as shows went by.
      A few of the most desired and needed skills in the marketing business are communication and computer skills. Kornberg share, “when you are able to find something that is really interesting and that appeals to other people changes your direction on how you converse with someone…it is important to me to put my best foot forward to end up with a positive experience. If they remember me and remember the show, chances are they will book another show.” Computer skills come into play when working with multiple offers. With the transition of paperless, making excel sheets and generating documents are the largest tasks.
      The Coronavirus pandemic has had a great impact on the entertainment industry. With show cancellations concerning the artists health and the general publics’, the entertainment business has come to a halt. Unfortunately, seeking jobs in the entertainment business right now is not ideal. As someone within the industry, Kronberg recommended, “that the best thing to do, is to establish relationships with anybody and everybody that you can… not forcing yourself onto anybody because right now is not the time to be doing that.”
      Kronberg finished off by talking about how the unprecedent is no excuse to not develop ideas and work behind the scenes. Having an unpaid internship with minimal hours can help in allowing your knowledge in the industry to grow. Thinking positively will bring good to you, the entertainment industry and every other industry affected.
      Thinking about, “what can I offer when the opportunity comes to me?” will prepare you for the future. The entertainment industry affects us whether it is on a professional level or just as a consumer. Attending shows, concerts, events are a huge part of our lives, because such experiences guide us personally and professionally. His final recommendation, if interested in the concert business is to join the TV and Concert Committee on campus. 

By: Yasmin Carrillo