From the smaller city of Oak Grove, Missouri, to the bright lights of Nashville, Tennessee, Emily Zirkle’s journey to associate director of events administration and entertainment at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum highlights her rise in the music industry.
A Missouri State University alumna, Zirkle’s path was shaped by her roots, a deep love for music and a commitment to making her mark in the entertainment world.
“I wanted to find a job that touched people’s lives but also allowed me to have fun every day. Entertainment management – music and events – gave me just that,” she said.
Zirkle’s connection to Springfield, Missouri, where her mom grew up, influenced her decision to attend Missouri State.
“It was comforting to know even though I was moving three hours away from home, I had family right down the street from campus if I ever needed something,” she said.
Finding her fit
She came to MSU in 2014 as an undecided major, leaning toward marketing.
“Luckily, I found entertainment management my first week of college and never looked back,” she said.
Zirkle met the then Entertainment Management Association (EMA) president at the Student Organization Fair during move-in weekend. Their conversation convinced her to major in entertainment management, setting her on a path toward a career in the field.
The program offered Zirkle the perfect combination.
“The opportunity to receive a full business degree while working in music, sports and events was exactly what I had dreamed of,” she said.
While at MSU, Zirkle got involved in EMA. She gained invaluable hands-on experience, including volunteering at the International Entertainment Buyers Association Conference in Nashville for three years, beginning in 2015. It was at this event, held at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, where she had her first taste of the magic of entertainment management, sparking her career.
“I was blown away by the event space and the experience,” Zirkle said. “I knew Nashville was where I was meant to be.”
The road to her dream job
She secured a summer internship at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum as an event administrative assistant in summer 2017. She returned to MSU for her senior year, but the connection to the organization never waned.
While completing her degree, she applied for an open position as an events administrative coordinator, and she got it.
“I moved to Nashville the day after I finished finals in December 2017,” Zirkle said.
Since joining the organization, she has advanced through roles as an events administrative coordinator and events administrative manager. This February, she was promoted to associate director of events administration and entertainment.
“In my new role, I’ll continue overseeing event budgeting, billing, invoicing and reporting, as well as managing the building booking system and the Events Internship Program,” Zirkle said.
She will also train two new staff, manage bookings and live entertainment for private events and grow revenue from publicly ticketed events.
A star-studded career
Zirkle’s work at the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum has seen her involved in some legendary events. She has helped execute a one-of-a-kind residency show for Eric Church, set a Guinness World Record with Kacey Musgraves for the largest display of coloring pages and witnessed Taylor Swift’s guitar travel from the museum to Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City for the Eras Tour.
And the list doesn’t stop there. Zirkle has had the privilege of working with some of the biggest names in country music, including Post Malone, Joe Diffie and Scotty McCreery.
“Sometimes I have to pinch myself to make sure all this is real,” she said.
Her advice for aspiring entertainment manager includes:
- Get to know as much as possible about the field. Learn Microsoft Excel, watch a YouTube video, just learn it! It makes life so much easier.
- Stay involved in EMA – it’s the fun part of college learning.
- Pursue internships. Whether you do one or five, put your all into it. It is the quickest, easiest way to find out what you like, what you are good at and meet people who will help you get where you want to go.