Pitchers and Pros

As any aspiring arts professional knows, networking is key to building your contacts and eventually acquiring a job.  And the Emerging Museum Professionals, a career group created by the American Association of Museums, is a great place to start.  There are EMP chapters in major metropolitan areas across the country, each with their own events and members.  Participation in many, if not all, of their events is free, and information is available on Facebook and LinkedIn.

In September, I attended EMP-NYC's happy hour meet-and-greet, regularly held on the second Tuesday of the month, and had a marvelous time chatting with staff from dozens of local museums, as well as people like me who were trying to break into the field.  The atmosphere was relaxed, the attendees were friendly, and everyone was willing to give advice and commiserate.

The next event takes place tonight from 5:30-8:30 pm at Molly Pitcher's on the Upper East Side.  It promises to be a great evening, so take a break from sending out resumes for a few hours and join the group!