Industry after Graduation

 It’s been a long 12 months and I’m finally almost at the finish line, but what’s next? Where do I go from here? What is the plan? It’s a proven statistic that on the struggle many college graduates go through to find a placement in their field of expertise after graduation. The entertainment industry can be very tricky when it comes to finding placement but the key is NETWORKING! Networking throughout your degree is something I strongly suggest. People notice someone whose always asking questions and wanting to know and learn more.

            I found an article entitled Four Tips to Get Hired for Entertainment Jobs by Brian Clapp. Brian shares that “It’s easy to feel helpless in a job search,” statement that I 100% agree with. In my undergrad I had no type of experience so trying to prove myself to others was my biggest challenge. Now being in my graduate program the whole time the key into my placement was networking. Although I started late I still learned so much just by talking to others. Brian four tips are:

1.     Begin With The End In Mind

If you imagine where you will be in the end it is easy to chase after that dream. Knowing where you want to end up will make beginning seem easier. Most people don’t know where to start because they are still unclear where they want to end up.

2.     Build a Digital Portfolio

Sorry to say but with this industry as important is it to know who you know it’s also important for those who aren’t privilege to know people to have work to speak for them. You portfolio should answer any doubts one may have about your work.

3.     Critique your Interview Technique

Many people walk into an interview just hoping they will say the right things. Brian Clapp says “Sometimes being completely honest, or overselling your soft skills can hurt you in the process, despite it feeling like the right thing to say”

4.     Job Shadow

I have to say the easiest way for me to learn is by following the footsteps of those who are already accomplishing what I want to accomplish.

It’s hard to secure a job in the industry, no one said it would be easy but applying yourself to task showcases you as a person. Never allowing yourself to think you are too good to do anything. My mind set at first was that way I would think because I had a degree I shouldn’t be doing something someone who doesn’t have a degree should be doing. It’s not about that though it’s about the experiences, networking, and the relationships you build in the early stages. Never look down on someone who you might think is on the same level or beneath you because they might be the very same person whose expertise you might need tomorrow.

Tim Berry & Angelo Meneguzzi

Expert Business Planners  

No great Business being without a Business Plan, but What is a Business Plan?  Understanding how to build and complete a successful business plan is the first step in the direction of overseeing a business idea. I took the time to research some great business plan experts who I would like to recognize and share with you. Expert Tim Berry and expert Angelo Meneguzzi have set a new bar and meaning in orchestrating a business plan. A Business plan “is a guide a roadmap for your business that outlines goals and details how you plan to achieve those goals.” (bplans.com)

1. Expert Tim Berry is the founder and Chairman of Palo Alto Software, founder of bplans.com, and co-founder of Borland International. Berry is also an author of books and the software LivePlan. Tim Berry holds a Stanford MBA degree, degree with honors from the University of Oregon and the University of Notre Dame.  Tim hasn’t written several books including The Plan as you go Business Plan, principal author of Business Plan Pro, co-author of 3 Weeks to Startup, Sales and Market Forecasting for Entrepreneurs, and Hurdle: the book on Business Planning. Between reading and reviewing Tim Berry on average reads and reviews about 50 business plans per year. He’s taught Starting a Business at the University of Oregon for 11 years. (Berry) Tim Berry is one of the top business planners in today’s industry. “Good business planning is 9 parts execution for every 1 part strategy.” (Tim Berry)

2. Expert Angelo Meneguzzi has over 10 years of experience. Meneguzzi received his Bachelor of Science from San Francisco State in Business Administration/Marketing.  “Angelo says that, “benefits include: a heads-up to changes in the environments, better forecasting, opportunities to analyze situations before they become problematic,” Angelo Meneguzzi used his extensive marketing, technology, media, and networking know-how to identify and leverage worldwide opportunities worth millions of dollars in product and company exposure, resulting in dramatically increasing global brand awareness and sales.

There are 10 components according to a Forbes article written by Patrick Hull that investors are looking for in a plan, these components include:

1. Mission statement and/or vision statement so you articulate what you’re trying to create;

2. Description of your company and product or service;

3. Description of how your product or service is different;

4. Market analysis that discusses the market you’re trying to enter, competitors, where you fit, and what type of market share you believe you can secure;

5. Description of your management team, including the experience of key team members and previous successes;

6.  How you plan to market the product or service;

7. Analysis of your company’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threat, which will show that you’re realistic and have considered opportunities and challenges;

8. Develop a cash flow statement so you understand what your needs are now and will be in the future (a cash flow statement also can help you consider how cash flow could impact growth);

9. Revenue projections; and

10. Summary/conclusion that wraps everything together (this also could be an executive summary at the beginning of the plan).

“Business plans are critical to the success of any new venture.” (Hull, 2013) For my own business plan I plan on incorporating all 10 components listed by Patrick Hull and utilizing his key points to develop a successful business plan. “Be sure to keep in mind that potential investors might not be as familiar with your industry so you have to clearly explain your concept and where it fits in.” (Hull, 2013)  In taking that thought from Hull, I’m learning that it is very important to state clear what you are trying to accomplish because not everyone will understand your goals, ideas, and concepts.

The Music Industry and its Digital Future

As generations go by individuals and corporations evolve, they evolve to the newest thing around. Digital landscape includes social networks like Instagram, Facebook, twitter, and more. As well as the Internet, smart phones that practically do it all, websites, and gaming consoles all in which are constantly evolving and will never stop. Whether you understand how it works or not digital landscape plays a major role in people’s lives in any area field we go into. The entertainment has the biggest impact within the digital world of them all, in this present age especially in the music industry.

An article published on TheWeek talks about how David Bowie a late musician predicted the 14 years ago the change that the music industry would encounter.  Bowie stated “"Music itself is going to become like running water or electricity,'' he continued. "You'd better be prepared for doing a lot of touring because that's really the only unique situation that's going to be left. It's terribly exciting. But on the other hand it doesn't matter if you think it's exciting or not; it's what's going to happen.''

Take a look at the chart below. From the chart below you see that from ’08 to ’20 physical recordings dropped and will continue to decrease in sells as streaming rises. It is not a shock to most due to the fact that technology i.e. smartphone and tablets became a tool where everything you need was on a screen and there was no need for multiple devices or sources.  Streaming sources like Pandora, Spotify, Sound cloud, etc. became a liable source where consumers could obtain a free subscription or pay as little as $5 a month for unlimited access in music, which for most makes more sense then paying $9-$15 for one CD by one specific artist.

           

If we take a look at social networks i.e. social media like Instagram, twitter, Snapchat, and Facebook over the years have became the number source of networking and catching consumers attention. In researching I came across an article entitled How Social Media And Mobile Technology Has Changed Music Forever by Zachary Evans, he highlights the idea that “ Social Media Week is a leading news platform and worldwide conference that curates and shares the best ideas and insights into social media and technology's impact on business, society, and culture.” Believe it or not social media has made a 360 impact in the way people interact. For artist social media connects fans with their daily lives working and professionally.
Jay Cooper is a music lawyer who is based in Los Angeles, CA in the video below he talks about the different stages distribution of music from piano rolls, 78ths, 45s, wire, tape, LP, CD and so forth. In his 3:45 video he shares a lot click the link and listen.

I Finished But... What's Next...?

So you've written a book, wrote a song, maybe even wrote a movie or play treatment, but what's next? might be your question. How do I get it noticed, viewed, played? How do I get it noticed? There are many ways to get your work noticed and out to the public, the number one key is RESEARCH!!! Many people make the mistake in looking up a company and not doing extensive research on the company and end up finding themselves in a bad deal or with a company that isn't treating them well.

Key facts anyone should look up when searching are:

1. What services does the company offer?

2. Who has the company worked with?

3. What are the company’s accomplishments?

4. Will the services provided fit your needs

In my opinion are the top valuable questions to ask yourself, before getting into a deal that you will ultimately be stuck in. Now whether you are an independent (meaning you work for yourself) or under some kind of contract with a company that represents you it is always important that you know when it comes to your career the last and final decision should be what you feel is the best decision with support guidance.

Your work (creative content) is completed and you've done research on how you would like to get it out, but wait let's take a step back. Have you gotten your copy-written? Well that is step two after work has been created. Once you’ve gotten your work (creative content) copy written you now know your content is protected from others stealing your ideas. You can protect your work (creative content) as an artist through many Performing Rights Organizations such as: ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC who takes cares of all your publications as well as royalties or you can publish your work yourself though a POD (Print-On-Demand).

Now, from the standpoint as an independent artist, you do not need a label in order to get your music published. These can be websites like CD Baby or TuneCore and many more where you can distribute as well as publish digitally and physically. When publishing yourself you have more control and say on how you want it done and what you want done plus saves you the hassle of figuring out how you’re going to pay the third party. Both CD Baby and TuneCore distribute your music to iTunes, Amazon, Spotify etc.  So what’s next? Well next is letting the world hear and listen to your creative content.

Until Next Time…