Course # / Title / Credit:  AET 4590/ TOUR PRODUCTION/  3 Hours

Instructor: Chris Lisle    Contacts: (615) 330-6008, lislec@mail.belmont.edu

Semester:  Spring 2007; Class Location:  Massey Building, Room B19

Meeting Time(s):  M,W 3:00-4:15 PM  Final Exam:  TBD

 

Educational Objectives of the Mike Curb College of Entertainment & Music: 1) To provide a personalized, career-oriented and practical education that emphasizes leadership, innovation, private enterprise and entrepreneurship.  2) To equip students with the tools to think critically, communicate effectively, accept responsibility, make successful decisions, and prosper in diverse work environments. 3) To emphasize quality classroom instruction within the parameters of ethical Christian principles.

 

Course Description:  A practicum based study of tour-support personnel and their responsibilities including pre-production planning, technical coordination, transportation logistics, and the associated contracts and organizational paperwork. Special emphasis is placed on the role of the "Production" and "Tour" manager. Lab hours required.

 

Learning Outcomes:  

  1. To analyze and evaluate how a touring production functions.
  2. To identify, interpret, and classify the major roles within a touring concert production.
  3. To define and design a touring production including the technical and manufacturing perspective.

 

Performance Criteria:

 

The student will be able to:

  1. Recognize the processes involved in touring within the entertainment industry.
  2. List and demonstrate the job responsibilities of a Tour Manager.
  3. List and demonstrate the job responsibilities of a Production Manager.
  4. Define and distinguish the various sub-roles of a Touring Production (i.e. – lighting designer, audio engineer, video director, tour rigger, and others)
  5. Interpret the physical creation of custom touring equipment, including lighting systems, video systems, and set pieces.

 

Honor Code:  It is the responsibility of each student to abide by the Belmont University Honor Code.  “In affirmation of the Belmont University Statement of Values, I pledge that I will not give or receive aid during examinations; I will not give or receive false or impermissible aid in course work, in the preparation of reports, or in any other type of work that is to be used by the instructor as the basis of my grade; I will not engage in any form of academic fraud. Furthermore, I will uphold my responsibility to see to it that others abide by the spirit and letter of this Honor Pledge.”

 

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 the Office of the Dean of Students located in Beaman Student Life Center (460-6407) as soon as possible.

 

Course Requirements:

 

1.  Attendance: 

Your participation in this class is of the utmost importance to me. By missing even a lecture, you are missing a piece of a very big puzzle. I do, however, recognize that there are certain circumstances that may require you to miss a class. These include, but are not limited to:

ú         Absence to attend an official campus activity (as designated by the Dean’s Office)

ú         Absences for personal or family emergencies (as verified by the Dean’s Office)

ú         Absences for medical reasons (as discussed with instructor)

 

If you miss a class, please see me about missed lectures and/or assignments.  Please try to get any missed notes from a classmate.

 

Your participation and attendance in the “Showcase” series of concerts is also important. I will notify you in advance as to your need for each Showcase

 

2.  Materials: 

We will be working with one book during part of this semester:

“Concert Tour Production Management” [Paperback]  by Vasey, John

 

3.  Assignments: 

There will be several textbook reading assignments during the semester. There will also be an individual “mock tour” project that will evolve over the semester. Assignments will be delegated during class time, along with expectations of due dates.

 

4.  Testing:  

There will be 4 tests given during the semester: two quizzes, one mid-term, and one final exam.  Absolutely NO “MAKE-UP” TESTS ARE ALLOWED.  The final exam will be comprehensive.

 

5.  Basis of grade evaluation: Grading scale as per the current Undergraduate Bulletin. 

For this class, I will use a basic letter grade system. For testing purposes the points will convert into grades based on the following:

                   A+ = 97-100          B+ = 87-89            C+ = 77-79            D+ = 67-69             F = 50-0

 

                   A  =  93-96            B = 83-86              C   = 73-76            D   = 63-66

 

                   A- = 90-92             B- = 80-82             C- = 70-72             D-  = 60-62            

 

Your final grade will be based on an average of the following:

                        10%                  Lab Participation

                        20%                  Mock Tour Project

                        30%                  Tests during semester (3 total)

                        40%                  Final Exam

 

 

6.  Class Schedule: 

Although my goal is to keep as close as possible to the schedule below, inevitably it will change on occasion. Also, due to my current touring schedule, there will be several occasions where a guest lecturer will be present.

 

Week Of                       Monday                                                 Wednesday                              

1/07/07                                                                                     Introduction

1/14/07                         The Tour Concept                                   Management to Booking

1/21/07                         Tour Manager Pt. 1                                Tour Manager Pt. 2

1/28/07                         Tour Manager Pt. 3                                Tour Manager Pt. 4

2/04/07                         Tour Manager Pt. 5/Test             Tour Manager Pt. 6

2/11/07                         Tour Manager Pt. 7                                Production Manager Pt. 1

2/18/07                         Production Manager Pt. 2                       Production Manager Pt. 3

2/25/07                         Production Manager Pt. 4                       Mid Term Exam

3/04/07                         Spring Break                                         Spring Break

3/11/07                         Production Manager Pt. 5                       Lighting Design

3/18/07                         Audio Design                                         Video Design

3/25/07                         Set Design                                            Band Support/Technician

4/01/07                         Tour Rigging/Test                                   Stage Management

4/08/07                         Production Assistant                              Special Effects

4/15/07                         Other Touring Roles                               Production Design for TV

4/22/07                         Project Review/Analysis                         Spinal Tap!

4/29/07                         Exam Prep/Review

5/06/07                         Final Exam