BELMONT UNIVERSITY

CONCERT PROMOTION AND BOOKING

Spring Semester 2006

MBU 4830.01

Instructor David Herrera

Phone: 460-6908 / Cell-419-2954 Office RM 227 MBC

MBU 4830.01 Concert Promotion & Booking MC203A 330 PM 600 PM Wed.

Course Desciption

Concert Promotion and Booking (3). Prerequisites: MBU 352 or permission of instructor. A study of the role of the concert promoter and the organization of concert promoting, including contracts, riders, venues, audience projections/demographics, and finance (budgets, corporate sponsorships, gate receipts, etc.).

Course Objectives

Gain insight/define and gain practical applications concert promotion/promotion
Understand the process and gain insight into the ongoing study of contemporary issues and problems relating to the concert promotion/touring both as an independent artist and as a buyer recording industry.
Understand the fit and relationships within concert promotion/touring

Text and Materials

1) How To be your Own Agent, Jeri Goldstein 2^nd or 3^rd Ed. Available at Bookstore or online

2) Optional—Performing Musicians should purchase Billboard Musician's Guide 23rd Edition: available online ASAP, Price: $ 15.95 See Billboard .com and click “directories” or try Davis Kidd Bookstore. This is a cheap and useful tool for tour design at the indie level.

3) Additionally, please bookmark http://www.starpolish.com/advice and print and read these sections before discussed in class

Section “Booking Shows And Performance Marketing”

22. Booking Local / Club Shows

23. Case Study: Increasing Club Draw

24. Booking College Shows

25. Case Study: Booking College Shows Without Using NACA

26. College Performance Contract

27. Booking Non-Traditional Shows And Events

28. Booking Agents and National Touring

29. Performance Marketing / Tour Support

30. The Art of Showcasing

4) Christian Music: Tips on promotion of concerts. Jeff Roberts and Assoc. http://www.jeffroberts.com/promoter.html

5) Tour management http://starpolish.com/advice/print.asp?id=92

6) Additional supplementary material (contracts-agreements-spreadsheets) will be provided as at campus.belmont.edu/herrerad Please check frequently for updates

COURSE PROCEDURES AND POLICIES

Attendance: Due to time lines, class attendance policy is more critical than Belmont Policy. Attendance will be taken at each class and is 15% OF YOUR GRADE. .Additionally, we will also follow the guidelines presented in the current Belmont University Catalog. However, due to timeliness of class, attendance is expected—especially if teams are meeting. Occasionally class will be cancelled for team preparation: Check web site for notice.
No test or quiz will be “made up.,” Excused absence per official University Function of activity with Norte from Provost. Excessive unexcused absenteeism will result in a reduction of the course grade at the instructor’s discretion—with warning to student prior to action. Guest Speakers may be used, and students are responsible for all material presented in class from lecture, readings, and guests for testing purposes. If you want to receive a respectable grade in this class, you will need to make it a point to be present for every session.
Prepared Assignments/class projects: The student will be given written assignments and projects to complete weekly and throughout the semester. If material is due for team projects and team member does not attend—individual receives a zero for the class and material.
Class Notes: All exams and work assignments will be given on the material presented in class and readings, so it is expected that detailed notes will be kept and reviewed periodically. Student should read assigned reading before class, as well as keep a log or notebook for projects.
Exams and Quizzes: In addition to mid-term and final exams, pop quizzes may be given at the discretion of the instructor along with work to be completed outside the classroom.

Grading:

A. 15% Attendance / Participation in class

B. 40% Assignments and weekly reports

C. 10% Quiz / tests

D. 20% Off Campus Concert Project--teams

E. 15% Final Exam

Assignments

TBA. Projects will survey various application driven assignments and presentations. Will most likely incorporate producing the following:

1. Offer Sheet

2. Offer Confirmation

3. Contract Budget / Settlement Sheet

4. Performance Contract

5. Tech/Hospitality Rider

6. Expense Sheet projection for complete Show/venue of students choice

7. Production timeline

8. Marketing plan/timeline and cost sheet

Class Concert Activity

Small teams will be formed for the set up/booking/promotion and settlement of actual concerts in local venues. Details will be delivered in class. All class members are expected to detail their involvement, participation, duties, and attend each others concerts—as well as assist all teams in street level promotions. Grading will be split between the set up/promotion of the event and the execution of the event. Students are expected to PAY door fee (30 MAX fort semester). If profit is generated—students should be reimbursed for admittance fee.

Promotion of Event

Class will develop each team project and discuss during class. These are real event with actual responsibilities, so the seriousness and evaluation of performance will be at the highest level. Students will form teams and groups that will coordinate into activities for the event in relation to the class material. Possible categories are:

· Press coordination

· Development of radio/TV spots

· Development of activities

· Solicitation/booking of participants

· Research into Permits

· Sponsorship-prize solicitation

· Signage-Poster Coordination

COURSE TOPICS AND CLASS SCHEDULE

All dates/activities subject to change—please be flexible.

Accommodation of Disabilities: In compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act, Belmont University will provide reasonable accommodation of all medically documented disabilities. If you have a disability and would like the university to provide reasonable accommodations of the disability during this course, please notify Tammye Tanksley, Director of Counseling & Developmental Support in the Office of the Dean of Students (460-6407) as soon as possible