BELMONT UNIVERSITY

MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS

COURSE SYLLABUS

Course #/Title: 

MBU 4830.01/ Concert Promotions

Course Credit Hours:

3 Hours

Semester:

Spring 2009  

Instructor:  

Dr. David Herrera

Instructor Contacts: 

(615) 460-6908/herrerad@mail.belmont.edu

Instructor Office Hours:

Office: 34 Music Sq. East (Not on campus! Call--doors are locked) Mon 10-12am/2-4pm; Wed. 12:30-2:30pm. Other hours by appt.

Class Location:  

MC 203B

Meeting Times:

Wed. 3:30-6:15pm

Final Exam: 

Wed. May 6th 2PM

Course Description: MBU 4830. Concert Promotion and Booking (3). Prerequisites: MBU 3520 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.). Gen. Ed. Designation: EL (I – Internships, Clinicals, Practica).

(http://www.belmont.edu/catalog/undergrad2008jun/cemb/courses.html)

Course Outcomes: At the end of this course, the student will be able to demonstrate the ability to identify, analyze, and apply the elements required to set up, budget, market, and execute concerts in both a small and large setting.

Performance Tasks (PT): Students will demonstrate their understanding of class content through class assignments, quizzes, team projects, and live concert/show presentation. The final live project will demonstrate the application of course concepts applicable in a creative application of actual concert set up, marketing and execution.  During this course, the student will:  

1. Identify terminology common to the concert promotion industry

2. Compute profit/loss scenarios through the use of budget spreadsheets.

3. Document and timeline the component parts needed for executing a concert in both a club and major concert level

4. Document the forecast, set up, promotion, and execution of live events or concerts/shows, including project break even, cost estimates, and net percentage splits per deal constructs typical in the industry

5. Research, analyze, and design a sponsorship proposal for a concert, activity, or event/festival

6. Design and apply time management schedules for concert project management that include set up, forecast, break-even analysis, and execution of promotional strategies at an actual local venue with local talent 

Assessment Tools: During this course, the understanding of course concepts and terms will be evaluated by a combination of quantitative and qualitative testing using multiple choice, short answers and problem solving spreadsheets, calculations, and documentation and execution of a live concert events.  

Testing & Assignments:
Comprehensive Exams/ Quizzes 20% (PT: 1): Multiple choice tests/short answer exams will be based on the lecture and periodic assigned readings. Quizzes will focus on terminology and key identification of basic concepts relating to topics covered in the course. An effort will be made to provide a review sheet; however, students will be expected to have attained the analysis skills to discern key content from their readings and lecture notes. Students are responsible for all material presented in class from lecture, readings, and guests speakers. It is expected that notes will be kept and reviewed periodically.

Written Proposal/Press Kit 10% (PT 5): Students will write a short proposal for an event proposed and approved by course instructor. More detail to be delivered in class: however, typical content includes 1) Event overview, 2) Target market/audience segment/projected audience size-box score history, 3) Event details, 4) Marketing specifics and market reach (ad exposure), 5) Event Budget, 6) sponsor participation level, 7) Sponsor outcomes-verification, and 8) Benefits to sponsor. The proposal must be well written with substantial research and content evidenced in a professional layout within the final product. Additionally, students are expected to create, as needed, an EPK or PDF for submitting artists to artist buyers.

Assignments 25% (PT: 3& 4): Assignments that replicate set up and execution of live events. Spreadsheet calculations will involve both student-developed templates, as well as instructor delivered templates. Students are expected to be able to calculate any problem presented without the aid of a spreadsheet if needed as well as know the basic elements of agreements utilized in the set up and execution of live events from the following:

 i. Weekly Status report from team for team project

 ii. Offer Sheet-talent acquisition

iii. Offer Confirmation-documentation of deal points for both venue and artist

 iv. Contract Budget / Settlement Sheet-projection of expenses

v. Performance Contract: confirmation document negotiated with Artist-Tech/Hospitality Rider (as needed)

vi. Expense Sheet: Projection for complete Show/venue of students choice

vii. Production timeline” Load in / Load Out specifications: applied to Artist (Fall); Artist/Vendors (Spring).

viii. Marketing plan/timeline and cost sheet (design of promotional activities off campus)

 ix. Creative design of artwork/posters

Events and Lab Projects 40% (PT: 6&7): Local /Festival /Touring
Small teams will be formed for the set up/booking/promotion and settlement of concerts in local venues using artists primarily from indiebandhub.com.  Coordination of artists is expected for joint appearance, as well as efforts for out of town placement. A lab room will be available at 34 Music Sq. east (Rm. 222) for the use of database and event tracking, as well as hard copy fax/email, etc. All activity and time spent in teams and team projects must be documented with weekly status reports delivered at the beginning of each class—once projects are assigned. All class members are expected to book a minimum of least two local appearances for selected artists, as well as assist in street level promotions for all groups. Street postings will be delegated throughout all of class for each show.

TBA: Special Events (Latin Street Fair, event development, Spring special concert, or larger Indiebandhub.com concerts). Class will be directly involved in the set up of the Nashville Latin Music Street Festival or other special project TBA. Group teams will be distributed and managed by students’ team leaders. Class time will be utilized for this activity as well as lab time.

Grading of all Events /Projects will be averaged equally between

                (8) Set up:  Successful completion of all needed documentation (artist/venue contract) , budget-P&L
                (12%) Promotion: Set up & execution of promotional strategy/timeline/artwork, media buys, delegation of activities
                (16%) Execution: Advance the show (venue/bands/load in) settlement
                (4%) Final report: Summary of event, event status reports, final group evaluation
                (40%) TOTAL
Further, the final scores FOR ANY PROJECT may be deducted by instructor event money loss. Full credit given on any project for break even. Expenses are to be recouped from revenue and any net profit may be retained by student team.

Lab Time (10%): Students will be expected to meet a minimum of one hour a week in lab environment for In Design/Photoshop training, database activity, misc. assignments, planning and execution of projects. Lab time can also be used for developing artwork, artist packages, replication of CD’s, PDF’s, phone calls/fax, or submitting artists electronically. The lab will serve as a team office  for team meeting which are to be scheduled early in the semester and held regularly by the third week. Team must document attendance in a log book to be provided in the team room. Lab location is 34 music square east—second floor Rm. 222.  

Make Up / Late submissions
NO MAKE UP for any quiz/exam! At the instructor’s discretion, students with an exam/quiz absence will have the final exam count double, triple or more: depending on the number of missed exams. Excuses are only made for official Belmont University Absences. There is NO policy for not taking the final exam for this class. Excessive unexcused absenteeism will result in a reduction of the course grade at the instructor’s discretion—with warning to student prior to action. Late homework may be submitted within three days after which it MAY be accepted at instructor discretion. 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

Summary:
                                        Comprehensive Exams Quizzes               20% 

Written Proposal                                          5%

Assignments                                                 25% 

Lab Time                                                      10% 

Events and Lab Projects                            40%

                                                                        100%

Course & Classroom Policies

Attendance:  Class attendance follows university policy as stated in the current Undergraduate Bulletin.  Class and lab participation is expected; attendance and absence will be noted.  Due to time lines, class attendance policy is more critical than Belmont Policy. 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.

Materials: 1) The Business of Concert Promotion and Touring: A Practical Guide to Creating, Selling, Organizing, and Staging Concerts. By R. Waddel, R. Barnet, and J Berry. Billboard books. 2007 Available at Billboard.com and University bookstore. 

a. Performing Musicians should purchase Billboard Musician's Guide 23rd Edition: available online at Billboard.com. 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.

b. Additional supplementary material (contracts-agreements-spreadsheets) will be provided in lab room at 34 music Sq. East and campus.belmont.edu/herrerad   Please check frequently for updates

Grade Evaluation: As per CEMB policy, the grade assignment scale for this course is: 

 Grade

Percent (GPA)

Grade

Percent (GPA)

Final grades below 70% will not apply to the major.

      A

94 (4.0)

 C

74 (2.0)

 

 A-

90 (3.7)

 C-

70 (1.7)

 

 B+

87 (3.3)

  D+

67

 

      B

84 (3.0)

D

64

 

B-

80 (2.7)

D-

60

 

C+

77 (2.3)

F

<60

 

 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: 

**Additional readings at instructor’s discretion--TBA.

Instructor reserves the right to modify this syllabus as well as assignments, tests, and readings as needed.