Entertainment management is a new discipline in management being offered at Master’s level. There are several programs at Associate and Graduate level alongside diplomas catering to this field. These are termed as Fine Arts like BFA and allied education. The purpose of this post-graduate management discipline is to equip aspiring students to transition smoothly into management careers within the entertainment industry.

Managing facilities like sports, theaters, museums, live music locations, art galleries, broadcast media companies and night clubs is a critical theme of entertainment management. The Master’s degree prepares students in gaining in-depth understanding of industry along with knowledge of business standards and practices. A sizable portion of the course work is through practical exposure to the industry by way of field work and lectures by industry leaders. The discipline requires high level of creativity, idea generation, effective communication, networking, marketing and problem-solving skills.

As per Bureau of Labor Statistics, growth is expected to be equal to national average until 2014. Hence, job prospects are bright especially for those with right qualifications and throw up opportunities as consultants, executives and other attractive positions in this field. The average starting salary in 2004 for individuals with an entertainment business management diploma was $60,059 as per BLS.Possessing a Master’s degree can only mean higher remuneration than that.

Entertainment Management programs are offered at several institutions including International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes and Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America. The former offers host of programs across multiple locations whereas the latter provides current courses well suited to changing needs of students. Joining its peers are Le Cordon Bleu International and The French Culinary Institute offering world class instructors imparting incomparable training through practical exposure. Completing the list is The Culinary Institute of America that has set standards of excellence for the group.

The culinary profession has several branches like baking and pastry arts, chef training and general cooking techniques. Students and staff working in this industry may go for higher education for career growth. An example is culinary management. Several institutions offer culinary management programs like Bachelor in Culinary Management. Other programs are also available based on student’s convenience and need.

Culinary management deals with core functions of kitchens and dining rooms management. Though they are available through campus and online modes, the former may make more sense for beginners into this field. A key requisite expected from culinary management professionals is being generalists. They are expected to be aware of different roles and what they do in the institutions they serve. The program covers dining room operations, nutrition, current cuisine, food service management, employee turnover, shrinkage, food costing and hospitality managerial accounting.

The outlook is bright for culinary management professionals. The food service industry is progressing well in growth and job openings as per Bureau of Labor Statistics. Culinary management professionals are in demand as growth of hospitality industry spearheads innovation in fine dining establishments. Salaries are wide ranging with middle 50 percent of workers making between $30,000 to $50,000 per year.

The International Culinary Schools at The Art Institutes is a preferred destination for culinary management degrees offering quality education. Following it closely is Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America which has constantly kept its programs updated to the needs of students. Not far behind is Le Cordon Bleu International with an established track record of long standing excellence in imparting education. Interestingly, The French Culinary Institute is a chef school that focuses on practice oriented programs that enrich students knowledge. Lastly but not the least is The Culinary Institute of America which continues to set high standards in imparting quality programs.

Catering Management is not about providing food to people and organizations. It involves individuals who love business and immerse themselves in the flavors of food they work with. Hygiene, speed of service, pricing, quality and customer delight are key prepositions. It covers purchasing materials, menu development, food preparation, storing and serving food, and sales and marketing. Catering Management programs equip students with necessary business skills to rise to higher positions like Catering Manager. Importantly, if you are inclined, you could start own catering business in future. The discipline teaches managing people, materials, money and customers. Learning is through theory, simulations and practice.

In terms of careers for those who have pursued Catering Management programs, there are several opportunities beginning from entry level jobs and transitioning to Catering Managers or even starting own businesses. Though the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that employee turnover rates are higher in this industry, yet positions such as Catering Managers provide stability and a sense of job security. Importantly, salary levels are also higher at this level and range from $30,180 to $57,611 based on experience, region and employer as per statistics provided by salary.com [as of Nov., 2009].

The International Culinary Schools at the Art Institutes leads the group with a variety of programs in this discipline. Le Cordon Bleu Schools North America is a close second with adaptability and flexibility inbuilt into its host of programs. Not to be left far behind is Le Cordon Bleu International that designs and implements its programs in such a fashion that they are acknowledged world-wide. The French Culinary Institute is unique in it being a chef school that teaches programs through world class faculty. Completing the list nicely is the The Culinary Institute of America that focuses on setting standards of excellence in the field. Its programs are second to none.

Do you have people literally eating out of your hands? If making desserts, pastries and breads is your thing, then you are just perfect to become a Pastry Chef!

If you have a flair for baking up pastries and desserts, then you might want to consider becoming a Pastry Chef. In any restaurant, bistro, large hotel or bakery, the Pastry Chefs are responsible for handling the pastry kitchen.

Depending on the size of the eating establishment, a restaurant may have several chefs handling the different aspects and parts of the kitchen. As a Pastry Chef you will be responsible for the creation of desserts, pastries and such delectable goods. You will also be responsible for interacting with the other chefs while planning out different menus. Your job will also entail testing and evaluating new recipes.

In larger restaurants, Pastry Chefs are also involved with ordering for supplies, preparing and managing the budget of the Pastry Kitchen. In bigger eating establishments, you may also find a main Pastry Chef having several assistants.

As a Pastry Chef you can see yourself being employed with restaurants, bistros, large hotels, and bakeries.

Typically, Pastry Chefs have to be up early in the morning to start baking before the bakery section of the restaurant opens up for business. So you can see yourself waking up as early as 3 in the morning, and getting started! Breads, croissants, pastries, cakes, bagels, donuts, danishes, cookies – these are staples for many! So every morning, just before the ‘work day’ begins, you may see yourself dishing out bagels, donuts, croissants along with coffee to go for the morning breakfast session.

Afternoons may see much of the lunch business. And evenings start looking up with the desserts business – where you will spend your time with creating fresh desserts like cheesecakes, pies, cakes, caramels, fudges and candies – and even some desserts with exotic sounding names like flans, Blanc Manges, sherbets (or sorbets).

Many successful Pastry Chefs say that their work is the most rewarding aspect of their lives. Many have started out at smaller establishments, and moved on to working with larger hotels and restaurants. Some have even started their own specialty shops and bakeries.

So how do you go about becoming a Pastry Chef and cooking up these delectable goodies? Its really simple.

Join up for a Bachelor of Science degree course in Hotel Management, Restaurant Management or Culinary Management. There are also Masters Degree programs offered in Food Service Management. Some schools even offer Certificate Programs, Diploma Programs and Associate Degree Programs in these Culinary Arts. Many of these programs begin with teaching you the basics, and then you may choose a specialization that trains you to be a Pastry Chef.

Turn your delectable mouthwatering pastries and cakes into profit and fun!