Comm profiles MT

Jody Ballou

Director of Marketing and Public Relations
Billings Symphony Orchestra & Chorale
Billings, Montana
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Time in current position: 5 months
Years in the field: 1.5

Majors:
International Relations, minor in journalism

Additional Training:
Certified teacher, English as a Second Language
Self-trained graphic artist

Career Path:
Retail Graphic Designer, Billings Gazette Communications
Production Artist, The Billings Outpost
Freelance Designer, specializing in newsletters

What are the most surprising, interesting or challenging aspects of your day-to-day work?
The most challenging aspect is the workload. I am a one-woman marketing department, designing all of our print and web promotional materials while writing all of our press releases and many of our community communications. My days are never dull or routine.

What inspired you to work for an orchestra?
I love music. All music. In the small town where I live, the music scene is not a major employer. I feel fortunate to work in the industry. My skills as a graphic artist and writer got me here.

What advice would you offer to someone considering the orchestra field?
Go for it! An orchestra requires many of the same job skills as any other business, non-profit or not. On-the-job learning and refining has been critical for me and I’m fortunate to work with an executive director who has been in the orchestra industry for nearly 20 years. I’d like to start attending industry-related seminars and training. . . that’s the advice I’d offer: Mix with your peers in the industry and be generous with the information you share.

Any other advice?
Music feeds the soul. The “product” you help produce has far-reaching implications that greatly shape people’s lives and our society in general.