---
title: ‘Big Time’ Manager Comes Full Circle
date: 2023-03-14T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/big-time-manager-comes-full-circle"
section: Articles
---
# ‘Big Time’ Manager Comes Full Circle

*March 14, 2023* — by [Karen Shih ’09](/author/karen-shih)


> Alum Credits SEE for Jump-starting Entertainment Career With New Kids on the Block, Lea Michele and More

*Big Time Rush 06800 1920x1080 — Boy band Big Time Rush, who performed at the University of Maryland in February, is one of many artists that former SEE president and entertainment manager Jared Paul '99 represents.*

Jared Paul ’99 was still learning the ins and outs of sound and lighting when he helped produce his first SEE concert at Stamp Student Union. The sold-out 1997 show by the ska punk band, the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, was an “exciting and terrifying” day one for him in the music industry, he recalls.

Last month, he stepped into the Grand Ballroom for another sold-out performance—by Big Time Rush (BTR)—but in a very different role, as manager of the boy band and other major acts and tours.

“It was amazing to be back,” Paul said. “That’s a really big full-circle event.”

Today, Paul manages not only the former Nickelodeon stars, but also New Kids on the Block and former “Glee” star Lea Michele through his company, Faculty Management and Productions. He’s also the mastermind behind the touring productions of “So You Think You Can Dance” and “Dancing With the Stars” (DWTS), and created the viral and endlessly Instagrammable Happy Place, a whimsical pop-up experience.

His artists have played in some of the biggest venues around the world—but when he was searching for a more intimate performance space for BTR before they embarked on their summer tour, he turned to his alma mater.

\[*[What It Takes: Art Attack](https://today.umd.edu/what-it-takes-art-attack)*[](https://today.umd.edu/what-it-takes-art-attack)\]

“It was one of those, ‘What are you doing in a week?’ situations,” he said, when he contacted Student Entertainment Events (SEE). The surprise concert was free to UMD students, and more than 800 enjoyed the acoustic show, where the band even pulled him on stage.


*Jared Paul ’99 headshot — Jared Paul*




**Topics:** [People](https://today.umd.edu/tags/people)


**Tags:** [Alumni](https://today.umd.edu/topic/alumni), [Music](https://today.umd.edu/topic/music), [Theatre, Dance & Performance Studies](https://today.umd.edu/topic/theatre-dance-performance-studies), [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience), [Arts](https://today.umd.edu/topic/arts)


**Units:** [College of Arts and Humanities](https://today.umd.edu/topic/college-arts-and-humanities), [Division of Student Affairs](https://today.umd.edu/topic/division-student-affairs), [Student Entertainment Events (SEE)](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-entertainment-events-see)