Work hard.”
Do your best.”
Make good connections.”
All of these phrases can be heard in a career panel for college students or read in a “how to land a job” article, but have you ever wondered what happens if you actually follow through and do those things? Do they allow you to advance in your career and land a pivotal role in the entertainment industry?
Maxwell Losgar ’12 is living proof that if you take these pieces of advice to heart, they work! He moved his way up from being a costume design major at Shenandoah Conservatory to the entertainment director for Hearst Magazines where he oversees editorial bookings for Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire. He has also contributed to Delish, Men’s Health and Seventeen magazines. Losgar, who previously worked at Condé Nast with brands like Vogue, GQ, and Vanity Fair magazines, says that “through trial and error, I realized I was missing my calling all along.”
After graduating from Shenandoah, Losgar worked as a costume designer and co-ran a clothing line with the dream of moving to New York City. When the clothing line dissolved and Losgar was looking for new opportunities as a new resident of the Big Apple, a connection with a past customer landed him a job at GQ as a closet assistant. From then on, “yes” was his answer until he found something he was good at and rose through the ranks.
I said ‘yes’ to any opportunity that came my way and in doing so, I very organically realized my true interest lay in the entertainment space. I was someone who grew up watching ‘Access Hollywood’ and ‘Entertainment Tonight’ and reading People and Us magazines, but it never dawned on me that there are people behind the scenes who pull the strings and decide who gets press, what projects to talk about and who gets air time.”
Maxwell Losgar ’12
Losgar finds that he thrives and feels secure in his position in one of the world’s fashion and entertainment capitals by having an “extensive rolodex of publicists, managers and agents on speed dial” that he calls to cast and secure talent for Hearst’s magazine covers, spreads, videos, events and more. Even so, his next entertainment industry goal is in front of the curtain.
When he is not booking people like Nicole Kidman and rubbing shoulders with Missy Elliot, Losgar is a drag queen and goes by the name of Dorothy “Dot” Deville. He hopes to make drag his full-time job one day, and he views this pursuit in the same way that he views his progress at his day job.
Do as much as you’re comfortable with in order to find your voice. The only way to get out there is to be out there. The only way to learn is to do.”
Maxwell Losgar ’12
