BELMONT UNIVERSITY

MIKE CURB COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS

COURSE SYLLABUS

 

Course Title:  Entertainment Career Development

Course #:  MBU 3360.01           Credits:  3 Hours           Spring 2006

Class Location:   MC204

Meeting Times:  TR 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm

 

Instructor:  Sarita M. Stewart

Phone:  615-661-0271    Email:  sarita@fidumanagement.com

 

Course description:  A study of Entertainment Career Development from an artist’s point of view.  This involves management, education, promotion and financial considerations as they concern the professional entertainer.  Various unions, guilds and associations are studied.

 

Course objectives:  To provide students who wish to be entertainers an overview of the music industry and practices that will help them become successful performers with an understanding of the business aspects of the music industry.

 

GOALS OF THE MIKE CURB  COLLEGE OF ENTERTAINMENT AND MUSIC BUSINESS

·         To provide a personalized, career-oriented and practical education that emphasizes leadership, innovation, private enterprise and entrepreneurship.

 

·         To equip students with the tools to think critically and communicate effectively, accept responsibility, make successful decisions and prosper in diverse work environments.

 

·         To emphasize quality classroom instruction within the parameters of ethical Christian principals.

 

Honor Code:  As a member of the Belmont community, students, faculty, staff and administrators are all responsible for ensuring that their experiences will be free of behaviors which will compromise value.  In order to uphold academic integrity, the university has adopted an Honor System.  Students and faculty will work together to establish the optimal conditions for honorable academic work.  The following is the Student Honor pledge that guides academic behavior:

 

“I will not give or receive aid during examinations.  I will not give or receive false or impermissible aid in course work in the preparations 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 type of academic fraud.  Furthermore, I will uphold my responsibility to see that others abide by the spirit and honor of this Honor Code. 

 

Course Requirements: 

  1. Attendance:  It is my recommendation that you attend all of the class meetings for the best learning experience.  Makeup work is at the discretion of the instructor.  Absence is permitted only in cases of family illness, family emergencies or other legitimate causes.  For a complete explanation of the attendance policy see The Belmont University Bulletin. 

 

  1. Class Materials: 

“How To  Be Your Own Booking Agent” (Goldstein, New Music Times) Required

“Making A Living In Your Local Music Market” (Weissman, Hal Leonard)   Optional

 

  1. PREPARED ASSIGNMENTS

 

Students will be placed into groups of four students each, for a total of nine groups.  There will be several team projects due during the course of the semester.

 

Entertainment Icon Paper/Presentation:  The goal of each group will be to pick an entertainment icon and study the history behind their career development from their early years through the end of their career.  Each group will give a formal half-hour presentation on the artist closer to the end of the semester.  Specifics to follow in separate handout. 

 

Entertainment Career Development Final paper:  The goal of this individualized paper to focus on a specific area of career development (touring, publishing, publicity, recording, etc.).   Students can write the paper on their own career goals, or that of another artist.  Due 5/2.

 

4.  TESTING

The midterm will be the only formal test given.  The Entertainment Career Development paper will serve as the class final.  Midterm will take place in class on 2/23.   

 

Additional Reading: 

The Professor may choose to assign additional reading.  Articles may be placed on reserve in the Library or web articles assigned and each student will be responsible for the reading.  Test questions may be taken from the assigned reading.

 

5.  Basis of Grade Evaluation:

 

Grading Scale:

(97–100) = A+      (87-89) = B+    (77-79) = C+    (67-69) = D+

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

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

 

Grading:

Class Participation                      5%

Team Project #1                       10%    

Team Project #2                       10%                

Midterm                                    10%

Group ICON Presentation          15%

Group ICON Paper                   25%

Final ECD Paper                       25%

Total Final Grade:      100%

 

  1. Class Schedule:

 

Week   Date                             Topics                                                  Reading Assignment

 

1          1/12                              Class Introduction                                  Foreword/Introduction

                                                                                                            Acknowledgements

 

2          1/17 – 1/19                    10 Rules of a Successful Indie Musician  How To Use This Book

                                                NO CLASS ON THURSDAY,

JANUARY 19 (Suggested activity – Group get-togethers)

                                                                                                             

Week   Date                             Topics                                                  Reading Assignment

 

3          1/24 – 1/26                    Making a Living as a Musician               Chapters 1, 2, 3, 12

                                                Developing Your Talent                         23

 

4          1/31– 2/2                     Packaging Your Talent                          Chapters 5, 13, 14, 15

                                                                                                           

5          2/7 – 2/9                       Booking/Touring                                    Chapters 4, 6, 7, 8, 9

                                                                                                            10, 11 (optional)

                                                                                                            Team Project #1 due 2/9

                                                                                                                                     

6          2/14 – 2/16                    Songwriting/Music Publishing                 Supplement

                                               

7          2/21 – 2/23                    Performing Rights Organizations            Supplement

                                                    MIDTERM – 2/23   

 

8          2/28 – 3/2                     Film/TV Opportunities                           Chapter 16

 

9          3/7 – 3/9                       SPRING BREAK

 

10         3/14 – 3/16                    Unions and Guilds                                  Chapter 7                     

                                                Producing A Record                             

 

11         3/21 – 3/23                    Marketing                                             Chapter 18

           

12         3/28 – 3/30                    Record Distribution                                Chapter 17,

                                                New Technologies                                 Team Project #2 due 3/30

 

13         4/4 – 4/6                       Management/Agents/Attorneys              Chapter 19, 20, 21, 22

                       

14         4/11 – 4/13                    Sponsorships                                         Chapters 12

Easter Break – April 13

 

14         4/18 – 4/20                    Group Presentations                              Epilogue

 

15         4/25 – 4/27                    Group Presentations     

 

16         5/2                                Group Presentations                              Last Day of Class

                                                Entertainment Career Development Papers Due

           

ACCOMODATION 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 & Development in the Office of the Dean of Students (460-6407) as soon as possible.