From Springtime of Youth to the Music Industry

Submitted by Garrett Skrovina

Garrett Skrovina (B.S.I.B. 2015), Headliners Concert Committee chair for 2014-15 who spearheaded the formation of Springtime of Youth, now works as a booking agent for Paradigm Talent Agency.

When Garrett Skrovina was a student at the University of Arkansas, he had a vision for something fun: Bring a music festival to the University of Arkansas. He didn't know that in the process he would discover an unexpected career path as a music booking agent for a major talent agency.

Skrovina, originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, came to the University of Arkansas in the fall of 2011 as a double major in Finance and International Business, with a minor in Chinese. Passionate about concerts and music festivals, he volunteered for the University Programs Concert Committee. That led to an appointment as a member of Headliners Concert Committee and then to becoming the Chair for Headliners.  

Lindsey Hastings grew up loving and playing music, and knew she wanted to work behind the scenes in the music industry. As she researched schools, she was drawn to the University of Arkansas in part because of the opportunity to be part of the Headliners Concert Committee and bring great music to campus.

Lindsey Hastings (B.S.B.A. 2017), Headliners Concert Committee chair for 2016-17, assisted with the formation of Springtime of Youth and helped expand it to the Washington County Fairgrounds in 2016. She currently serves as a contracts coordinator for Paradigm Talent Agency. Photo submitted by Lindsey Hastings.

Hastings, from Little Rock, came to the university in the fall of 2013 and quickly jumped into the music scene on campus until her graduation in 2017 with a bachelor's degree in business focusing on economics and finance. She served on Headliners Concert Committee when Skrovina was chair.

Skrovina and Hastings helped to bring the first Springtime of Youth music festival in 2015 to the Baum Stadium parking lot — a memory that both cherish. Skrovina graduated just a few weeks later but remains proud that the festival has continued and expanded. "We started something from nothing and I still talk about that," Hastings said.

"Wiz Khalifa's 'See You Again' went #1 worldwide the week of our show and I believe it was his first live performance outside of a studio for that song and our crowd knew every word," Hastings recalled. "I think he was a little surprised! It still gives me goosebumps to see the videos." Hastings also is proud of the 2016 Springtime of Youth, when the show moved to the Washington County Fairgrounds and hosted Diplo as the headliner of a sold out show.

Over time, Hastings worked with Headliners in all areas, from hospitality to working with graphic designers and local businesses, eventually becoming committee chair — all part of her long-term plan to break into the industry.

"As many of us in the industry will say, it's not easy finding a job," Hastings explained. "I tried to immerse myself in every part of the industry so I could narrow down which part I wanted to be in. After that, I narrowed down the companies that were the best in their lane and applied to them. Thankfully I had an internship at Paradigm Talent Agency so when I went back to apply they were familiar with me."  Today, Hastings is a contracts coordinator in the music department at Paradigm's Nashville office, drafting contracts and serving as a liaison between the agency and the show's purchaser. 

Skrovina's path to a music career was more gradual. "I began to realize that there is a legitimate avenue to make this a career path," he said. Through his work with Headliners, Skrovina met promoters, artists, managers, and agents. Those relationships helped him find his niche in the live music business where he currently works for Paradigm in New York City.

Skrovina's days are filled with coordinating bookings and performance opportunities for agents. He communicates constantly with promoters, managers and other people associated with the live music business. "It's a lot of work, but I also get to attend a lot of concerts and festivals which is why I got into this in the first place," Skrovina said. Highlights of his career so far include The xx at Forest Hills Stadium in 2017 and Kanye West's "Life of Pablo" Tour at Madison Square Garden.

For students interested in the music industry as a career, Skrovina's advice is simple: Work hard and get to know the local music scene. Additionally, while his business and language studies at the University of Arkansas were not directly connected to music, they have served him well in the music industry. But it was his experience on Headliners Concert Committee that stands out to him as a stepping stone to his success.

"Working with a diverse group of people to achieve a common goal has served me very well in life after college," Skrovina said. "The world is full of all kinds of people and in order to make great things happen, you need to find ways to work with people that have different views and opinions. I think Headliners helped me in that aspect."

Hastings echoed the benefits of serving on Headliners.

"It gave me an incredible sense of responsibility that has given me a lot of confidence to tackle tasks now," she said. "I'm not intimidated by something because I remind myself that there were so many things that myself and the committee were responsible for that resulted in thousands of people coming to a festival. Having to pitch your ideas and reasoning as to why your committee deserves student fee money was so great in preparing me for various things in my job now."

For students wanting to break into the music industry, she advises getting a broad understanding and following up regularly. "There are a lot of people that want to work in the music industry and not a lot of jobs," she said. "I believe diversifying yourself and following up is key."

Whether students get involved with Headliners or some other opportunity on campus, Skrovina and Hastings both highlight the importance of involvement. "Getting involved is the best way to get to know yourself and the people you're at school with," Hastings said. "Arkansas is a massive school and I likely would have never found the friends I made through Headliners. There are not many schools that have the amount of groups that we have but even more importantly the amount of dedicated faculty and staff that want you to get involved. Time management is SO important in your adult life — I wouldn't be where I am now without learning how to balance everything so getting involved on campus allows you to do that early on. I can't begin to explain how thankful I am for my years on Headliners, it has brought me so much - friends, memories, mentors."

The annual Springtime of Youth Music Festival, slated for this weekend at the Washington County Fairgrounds, is Skrovina and Hastings' legacy. The inspiration for the name Springtime of Youth comes from the second verse of the University of Arkansas' Alma Mater. The student-run Headliners Concert Committee plans the Springtime of Youth Music Festival. The festival is funded through the student activities fee and tickets are free to students who went through the reservation process earlier this month. Public tickets are available through the Walton Arts Center for $30 plus taxes and fees.

For more information about Headliners Concert Committee or Springtime of Youth, contact the Office of Student Activities at 479-575-5255 or email osa@uark.edu.