On one of only seven tour stops in the country, comedian Jay Mohr and Live frontman Ed Kowalczyk joined eight other celebrities to discuss alternative careers at the first annual “What’s Your Focus Forum” at the Technological Institute on Thursday afternoon.
More than 200 people gathered in Ryan Family Auditorium with the panel of 10 celebrities and entertainment-industry veterans who provided inspirational advice on careers in film, television, music and journalism.
“When I was in college, I would have liked for someone in my field to come and make it real for me so that I could pursue my own dream,” said Marisol Nichols, star of Showtime’s “Resurrection Blvd.”
Combining his comic side-comments with moments of celebrity wisdom, Mohr hosted the panel, which also included MTV personality Dave Holmes, “Roswell” actress Shiri Appleby, Spin magazine Editor Alan Light, Rolling Stone music editor Joe Levy and fashion designer Andy Hilfiger.
Holmes told students that their jobs would consume much of their time, and that if they weren’t careful, they could lose sight of their dreams. The panelists agreed that a backup plan was important.
“All of the people on stage stopped doing the safe thing,” Holmes said to students after the event. “When I was in college I was panicked about getting a job. I could have gotten to (where I am) a little earlier if I had listened to someone who had been there.”
The panelists mixed tidbits of their pre-fame reality with stories of their current success to provide a range of opinions and examples on how to approach the entertainment industry.
Mohr fielded audience questions ranging from serious concerns about entertainment careers to invitations for the panel members to smoke pot after the event.
“They made an effort to be personable without being condescending,” said James Fenner, a Weinberg freshman. “It wasn’t like they expected the audience to respond to them because they were celebrities. We responded to them because they are talented.”
Replying to a student question about sacrificing artistic integrity for monetary gain, Mohr asked the audience, “Why would you ever not do something that would make you happy?”
Levy’s story about his days as a furniture mover contrasted with Kowalczyk’s story about the band he joined in middle school that went on to produce hits such as “Lightning Crashes” and “I Alone.”
A&O Productions produced the free event, sponsored by Ford Focus and promoted by ClearChannel Entertainment. The “What’s Your Focus Festival” opened Oct. 25 at the University of California at Los Angeles and is scheduled to wrap up its tour, which has featured the forum and a Live concert, on Nov. 16 at the University of Miami.
Many students came merely to see Kowalczyk or Mohr, and others came for career advice or a chance to talk to someone about an internship, but others said the event was little more than a star-studded advertisement for the new Ford Focus.
“It would have been cooler if there hadn’t a been a big banner saying, ‘We have celebrities, buy our car,'” said Jake Szymanski, a Speech sophomore.
