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Course #/Title: |
MBU 3360.01/ENTERTAINMENT CAREER DEVELOPMENT |
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Course Credit Hours: |
3 Hours |
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Semester: |
SPRING 2009 |
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Instructor: |
Sarita Stewart, B.S. Business Administration; MBA |
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Instructor Contacts: |
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Instructor Office Hours: |
Office: Massey 247; M 12 pm – 2 pm, 5 pm – 6 pm; T 10 am – 12 pm; W 11 am – 2 pm; by appointment |
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Class Location: |
Massey 204 |
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Meeting Times: |
TR 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm |
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Final Exam: |
Friday, May 11, 2009 |
Course Description: A study of personal entertainment career development and management including educational, promotional, and financial concerns of the professional entertainer. Various unions, guilds, and associations are studied from the entertainer's viewpoint.
Learning Outcomes: At the end of this course, each student be able to demonstrate the following: 1) Develop, execute and present a career development and business strategy based around an aspiring performing artist. 2) Be able to write and execute a career plan incorporating each student’s individual goals. 3) Develop and build a website around a chosen artist. 4) Be able to write an artist biography. 5) Students will be able to compile and present the different components of a press kit. 6) Be able to compile and prepare label copy for an album.
Performance Tasks: During this course, the student will demonstrate their understanding of the process of an artist’s career development through the use of individual and group projects. The final presentation will outline the planning and execution of the various strategies used in the launch and support of the chosen artist’s career. The goal of the class exercises is to provide each student with various experiences in the strategy planning and execution around an artist’s career development plan.
Assessment Tools: During this course, outcomes mastery will be evaluated by:
1. Short quizzes consisting of multiple choice, true/false and short answer questions.
2. The preparation and submission of various assignments and papers related to the business of building and developing an artist’s career.
3. Class presentation of class assignments and projects.
Testing & Assignments:
Quizzes: Two quizzes will be given through the course of the semester. The quiz dates are scheduled for 2/17 and 3/26. Each quiz counts as 5% of the student’s overall grade, for a total of 10%.
Material for all quizzes will be taken from a variety of sources, including assigned readings, discussions, assigned and all other materials presented. Quizzes may not be “made up” if absent, unless it is excused through an official university function. Quizzes will consist of a variety of question types including multiple choice, true/false, short answer, matching, or essay questions. Quiz grades are final and are graded on a traditional scale of 0 to 100%.
The final exam is scheduled to be held in class on Friday, May 11 at 11 am. The exam is final and will be graded on a traditional scale of 0 to 100%. It is worth 5% of the student’s overall grade.
Assignments: (30%) A combination of individual and group assignments designed to demonstrate competence are due on the assigned dates given in class and listed on Blackboard. Assignments are due at the start of the class period unless alternative arrangements have been made with the instructor. All assignments will be returned to the students graded with comments. Points will be deducted for late assignments as well as projects with missing segments. Assignments are expected to be typed and turned in via “hard copy.” It is your responsibility to print, staple and turn in your assignment. NO EMAILS WILL BE ACCEPTED.
Students are expected to keep up with all assignment due dates, and not being present at the time of a class assignment is not considered an excuse for a late completion. No assignments will be accepted after the final course grade has been turned into the registrar unless previous arrangements are made with the instructor. Assignments include:
1. The preparation of an initial artist development memo detailing why your group chose to develop and work with a certain artist – 5%
2. The preparation of a report detailing how a chosen artist’s image integrates with their overall look, music and career goals – 5%
3. The preparation and writing of an artist biography – 5%
4. The design of an effective tour and publicity strategy plan around a chosen artist – 10%
5. The compilation of label copy around a complete album – 5%
Individual Entertainment Career Development plan: (10%) The goal of this individual paper is to allow the student to focus on a specific area of their career focus (touring, publishing, publicity, studio work, recording, etc.). More details to follow at a later date.
Journal Assignment: (5%) Each student will keep track of their individual career plan activities throughout the course of the semester. All assignments will be due through Blackboard.
Group Website Project: (20%) Each group will build a website around the chosen artist. Each group will write a paper that details their experience in the update or creation of a website. More details on this project will be handed out at the beginning of the semester. The paper is due at the beginning of class on 4/21.
Group project/presentation: (15%) Students will be placed in assigned groups. The team will engage in a variety of exercises throughout the course of the semester that are designed to take the student through the process of artist career development. Each group will give a class presentation that outlines the strategies and work that the group undertook in order to develop a strategic artist development plan that incorporates the artist’s career and business goals. An executive summary will capture these activities in written form. Presentations will take place 4/28, 4/30 and 5/5.
Class participation: (5%) While class participation is not an “assignment,” it is very important element of your grade in that it accounts for 5% of your overall grade. It is recommended that each student come to class prepared to discuss the various class topics highlighted for the day. At the instructor’s discretion, there may be a confidential team evaluation given upon final project completion. The combined average team contribution score (0 – 100%) may be applied to the individual part of your team grade as well as the peer evaluation/participation percentage (5%). If used, the Peer Evaluation will rate participation, meeting team deadlines, overall cooperation, work quality and amount of contribution. These assessments will reflect 5% of each student’s overall grade.
Instructor reserves the right to make changes in the syllabus as needed.
Grading:
Peer Evaluation/Class Participation 5%
Quizzes (5% each) 10%
Individual Career Plan Paper 10%
Individual Journal Assignment 5%
Assignments – Individual/Group 30%
Website Project 20%
Group Presentation 10%
Executive Summary 5%
Final Exam 5%
Final Grade 100%
Course & Classroom Policies:
Attendance & Participation:
This course follows the attendance policies as stated in the current Belmont University Bulletin. Class participation is expected, including outside class activities; attendance and absence will be noted. If you miss more than eight classes, you may be involuntarily dropped from the course with a grade of “WF.” Absences are considered excused if the instructor is given prior notice, and for reasons such as family emergencies, extremely sick, etc. Additional accepted excuses are official university sanctioned events with an excuse from the Provost’s Office. Attendance will be taken each class period through the use of a class signup sheet.
Attendance is critical during the duration of this course, due to the nature of the individual and group projects incorporated throughout the semester. Each student is expected to attend all of the class meetings for the best possible learning experience. Every lecture will cover material necessary to a thorough understanding of the concepts.
Materials:
Make Me A Star (Anastasia Brown/Brian Mansfield, Thomas Nelson) (Required)
The instructor will assign additional readings as necessary. Online downloads and PDF’s are expected to be brought to class on laptop or hardcopy. All additional readings and handouts will be posted on Blackboard as directed by instructor. If PDFs are assigned, students are expected to bring a copy to class.
Grade Evaluation: As per CEMB policy, the grade assignment scale for this course is:
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Grade |
Percent (GPA) |
Grade |
Percent (GPA) |
Final grades below 70% will not apply to the major |
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A |
94 (4.0) |
C |
74 (2.0) |
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A- |
90 (4.0) |
C- |
70 (1.7) |
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B+ |
87 (3.3) |
D+ |
67 |
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B |
84 (3.0) |
D |
64 |
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B- |
80 (2.7) |
D- |
64 |
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C+ |
77 (2.3) |
F |
<60 |
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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.
Class Schedule: (Subject to change at instructor’s discretion)
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Week |
Date |
Topics |
Reading Assignment |
Assignments Due |
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1 |
1/15/09 |
Class Introduction |
Introduction |
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2 |
1/20/09 |
Current Industry Trends |
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1/22/09 |
Career Building Blocks |
Chapter 15 |
Journal #1 |
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3 |
1/27/09 |
The Audition Path |
Chapters 1, 2, 3 |
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1/29/09 |
Cottage Industry |
Chapters 4, 5 |
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4 |
2/3/09 |
Cottage Industry |
Chapter 6 |
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2/5/09 |
Class Artist Auditions |
Artist Memo #1 |
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5 |
2/9/09 |
Business Basics |
Handouts |
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2/10/09 |
Business Basics |
Journal #2 |
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2/12/09 |
Class Speaker |
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6 |
2/17/09 |
Artist Image |
Chapter 10 |
Quiz #1 |
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2/19/09 |
Artist Image |
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7 |
2/24/09 |
Promotional Packages |
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2/26/09 |
Promotional Packages |
Journal #3 |
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8 |
3/3/09 |
Artist Biography |
Handouts |
Artist Image #2 |
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3/5/09 |
Artist Biography |
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9 |
3/10/09 |
NO CLASS- SPRING BREAK |
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3/12/09 |
NO CLASS- SPRING BREAK |
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10 |
3/17/09 |
Live Performance/Touring |
Chapter 15 |
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3/19/09 |
Live Performance/Touring |
Chapters 7, 13 |
Artist Biography #3 |
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11 |
3/24/09 |
Live Performance/Touring |
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Journal #4 |
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3/26/09 |
Booking Agents |
Chapter 9 |
Quiz #2 |
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12 |
3/31/09 |
Songwriting/Publishing |
Chapter 11 |
Touring Strategy #4 |
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4/2/09 |
Songwriting/Publishing |
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13 |
4/7/09 |
Songwriting/Publishing |
Career Plan due |
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4/9/09 |
NO CLASS- EASTER BREAK |
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14 |
4/14/09 |
Marketing Chapter 14 |
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4/16/09 |
Producers |
Chapter 10 |
Label Copy #5 |
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15 |
4/21/09 |
Artist Managers |
Chapter 8 |
Websites due |
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4/23/09 |
The Record Deal |
Chapter 12 |
Journal #5 |
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16 |
4/28/09 |
Class Presentations |
Handouts |
Outlines due |
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4/30/09 |
Class Presentations |
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Outlines due |
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17 |
5/5/09 |
Last Day of Class |
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Final Paper due |
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