Senior Project Reflection

PART I: Two-Hour Presentation
(1) Two-Hour Presentation Student Assessment

AE

I believe I should get an AE because of the amount of work and thought I put into my activities. Also, I have worked very hard during my service learning and interviews to be able to give extra, anecdotal information that an article or book could give me. I believe I made my presentation as compelling as much as I could, and after talking to students in my presentation, all of them have learned a lot from my presentation. Also, I believe my delivery was well done, clear, and elaborate. 

(2) What are you most proud of in your 2 hour presentation and why? I am very proud of my delivery. I was very worried that I would not mention things or start stuttering. I knew my information, I spoke well. And that is what I am most proud of. 


PART II: Overall Senior Project Experience

(3) What do you think you did well on in the project? What could you have done better? Please explain.
I think I did very well on my second independent task. It was a great milestone in my musical career. It was a professional show, and it went off without a hitch. I wish I could have done much better on my science project and my research. My science project because, I think I could have planned it better so I would not run into so many inconveniences. Research, I wish I would have began earlier margin noting articles because I had a lot more than 62. Haha.
(4) What is your EQ and what is the best answer to your EQ? 
What is most important in becoming a successful music tour manager?
Living Life on the Road
(5) How has the last month of culminating events (e.g I-Search, Two-Hour, Exit etc) affected your answer to your EQ? Has it changed? Why or why not? 
It changed a lot! At first my best answer was Logistics and Book keeping. But as I started reading through my articles, writing my iSearch, I decided that my answer should change to Living Life on the Road. While re reading my information, I was able to process it again, but in a different way. And Living Life on the Road made more sense to me as a best answer.
(6) What suggestions do you have in order to improve the senior project?
I really enjoyed the creative expression project. If it would be more organized, I believe it could be a very helpful and fun component. The creative expression allowed me to answer my EQ in a way that I couldn't with any other component. 
(7) Overall Senior Project Assessment

AE-
I think so because I have done very well in many components in my senior project. I have dedicated more time to my project than core, grudgingly. I know, that's not how its supposed to go. But I love my project. It means a lot to me and it has given me knew experiences, perspectives, and improved me as a person.

Service Learning

(1) LIA Response to blog:


Literal


• the Glasshouse in Pomona, CA 

• 11/27 3-7 pm
• 12/13 3-9pm 
• 12/17 5-9pm 
• 12/11 3-9pm 
• 1/15 5-9pm 
• 1/29 3-9pm 
• 2/12 3-9pm 
• 2/26 5-9pm 
• 5/13 5-12pm 
• 5/14 2-5pm


• Dennis Thorbourn (818)720-2945


Interpretive


The most important thing I've gained from this experience were contacts. I've met countless people of different professions in the same industry. My senior project was ultimately to get me into the music industry and that is exactly what my service learning provided. My service learning mentor Dennis Thorbourn always encouraged me to talk to anyone that came through the venue. Not only had I become well acquainted with the staff, but I was also able to talk to tour managers, technicians, merch people, band members, etc as well. I now know who to contact to reach anywhere in the industry. Networking is key for anything. And by being at the Glasshouse, meeting so many people, I feel like I can now advertise myself to the right people and become what I've planned to be after my senior project; a music tour manager.


Applied


My service learning helped answer my EQ through all three answers. However, it really helped me with my third answer, which is stage production, a big chunk of tour management. It is vital to know stage production, especially as a beginning manager. Rookie TMs start out on smaller tours with no crews and must know at least how a stage is set up. On larger tours, it is still vital for the TM to know because it could make or break a show. My service learning has also helped me develop my second answer which is logistics and book keeping. Every day that I would go to service learning, I kept a journal of everything I learned and information for the show we were setting up. Without that information, I would have been completely lost. And I was only there for one show. My SL has shown me the importance of being organized and recording as much information as possible.

(2) Dennis Thorbourn (818)720-2945


2 Hour Presentation Rough Draft

(1) What is your sponge activity?

Students will be divided into groups of four. Each table will have a genre of music and popularity level taped to the desk. Based on the genre of music, the group will have a poster and markers to draw and name their act (band or artist). This relates to the EQ by showing that depending on the genre the look and theme of a tour is different.

(2) What do you plan to do and say in the introduction?*

Hello my name is Shazia Mian and senior project topic is Music Tour Management. My essential question is What is most important in becoming a successful music tour manager? Today I will take you through the process of managing any kind of music tour. We will begin with the planning of the tour, to life on the road, and to set up and tear down at the concert venue.

(3) What do you plan to say in your foundation?

I will explain what a tour is; the basics, how it helps promote the artist, and the different kinds.

(4) What will your 2 or 3 answers be for your 2 hour?

Book and Intinerary Keeping

            -Finances

            -Travel logistics

Living life on the road

            -Mediating

            -Tour life

Stage Production

            -Set up

            -Crew roles

            -Importance of stage production

(5) What activities will you do for each answer and why?

The activities will be a series of role playing exercises. Each group, or band, will now have to plan their own tour. After each answer explanation, the band will have to make decisions tours managers would make while on the road. Halfway through the activity, they will receive chance cards, which will hinder their plan, and they may possibly lose money. The point of the activities is to see which band can retain the most money through out the ‘tour’.

(6) How do you plan to conclude your 2 hour?

I plan to conclude my presentation with talking about my best answer, which is living life on the road. Then talk about my three best sources. After my three best sources I will talk about how I got my product from those sources. Then I will have each group tell the class their profit from the tour, and I will award them with ‘You are now certified tour managers’ certificates.

(7) How do you plan to decorate the room?

I will get several instruments and gear (drum kit, guitars, amps, microphones, and stands) and have them at the front of the room. And  on the walls will be posters of concerts. As the students walk in, I hope to get wristbands to put ont heir wrists, like they would at an actual concert.

(8) What supplies/resources will you need to make your 2 hour possible? 

Laptop, projector, papers, markers, pencils, instruments, gear, posters (blank and concert).

Independent Task 2

  

1. Log: Mr. Ogden's Elective and Time Spent for iPoly Variety Show 3/18, 3/22, 3/25, 3/28, 4/1, 4/15, 4/16, 4/17, 4/18, 4/19, 4/20, 4/22, 4/26 for one hour and a half and 1-5 hours. Total- 30 hours

2. Posted Evidence 

3. Complete the LIA:

Literal

(a) “I, Shazia Mian, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.” 

(b) For Mr. Ogden's elective I am acting as a manager and tour manager. I helping Mr. Ogden organize an end of the year recital for the Performance Elective. We will book a recital hall and showcase the event to family, friends, and iPoly. All the students will perform a number of different musical stylings with their fellow classmates.

For the iPoly Variety Show, I acted as a promoter rep and tour manager. A promoter rep finds the bands, books a venue and makes sure that the crew and bands are comfortable and promote the event. They also deal directly with the venue. The tour manager, makes sure everything goes well, and that everyone is doing their job. I've been at Cal Poly Pomona several times speaking to people about having the event about time, cost, equipment, health and safety precautions, and food handling permits. I also spent a lot of time making flyers, posters, and backstage passes on photoshop. I posted them all around the school, and made announcements everywhere. Also, I had to mediate one of the bands performing. They were having trouble finding a way to transport their equipment. I spoke to other bands and one them were able to lend some equipment. 

They day of the show, I went to the Cal Poly commons, met with the sound technicians and began to work. The bands began showing up and loading in their equipment. I hired underclassmen to help bounce the event. They came at call time (1pm) and helped bands with their equipment and set up a media barrier. The media barrier was in front of the stage. People with cameras and passes were able to go in front of the barrier to get exclusive shots of the bands performing. Only three passes were issued to three people, two of which are from ROP. I had someone bring pizza for the bands and crew for lunch. Everyone was happy. Also, I had a pack of water for the band and crew. Once 3pm came, I helped Travel and Drama club set up their booths at the venue and were ready to sell. Everything was going perfectly, except for on thing. Patrick's band, On Wings of Eagles only had one of their band members present. They had missed call time and their sound check and only arrived 5 minutes before they were scheduled to perform. We all rushed to put their gear on stage. After that everything went smoothly.

After the show, I helped take down everything and cleaned the venue. I waited for all the bands to take their gear off stage. My henchman helped the iPoly clubs bring their things back to school. I thanked all the bands for coming. I also personally thanked the sound technicians for all their help. Around 6:30pm I finally started going back to school with equipment and unloaded it into a classroom. 

Interpretive

Planning a tour takes a long time. I honestly thought that they don't take too much time, but this experience opened my eyes. I was very surprised. I dealt with so many people, some easy some not as much. I dealt with a lot uncertainty. I only booked the headlining band one week before the actual show. And that was a very scary experience. I almost had to cancel the show. I also was in constant contact with Cal Poly about the sound technicians and equipment and venue and protocol. I also spoke to Mr. Purther a lot about planning. I spent 4 hours at kinkos printing the posters and passes. Most important part would be the show. It was very stressful, but completely worth it. I was always worrying about if something would happen, how could I deal with it, etc. I was very happy that it all came together and that it was received very well. I only heard good comments from people that attended.

Mr. Ogden, I spend so much time with the acts. When we began to plan what they were going to perform, it was easy to pair people with each other because I knew their strengths and what their style is. We have very interesting and fun acts for the recital. I also am researching different venues for the recital. 

Applied

It just proved that all my answers are good answers. But I also have more faith in my new best answer, which I just changed a few days ago. Comfortable with traveling. Though I didn't travel anywhere for this task, I had to deal with a lot of people. If I found that somewhat 'interesting', I imagined wow, I'd have to do it everyday for 3 months, while under the stress of traveling. On Wings of Eagles gave me a run for my money because of their uncertainty of making it to the show. I had some trouble dealing with Cal Poly in terms of the venue because we were both on spring break at different times. So the two days before the show I was up there all the time confirming, signing papers, etc. As a tour manager, I can't a hot mess. If I was at school the week before, I believe I would have been more on top of things and not take so long to confirm everything. But, I do think I solved issues very well. Everything went smoothly the day of the show, everything worked out, and everyone was happy and comfortable. To me, that was very important because it just makes their performance better. Overall I know it was a success.

So for Mr. Ogden, I feel a lot more prepared and I know that I wont wait for confirm or plan everything. I also plan on getting a lot more support from school for the elective.

Art Rationale

Why do it this way?

The only way to see a live performance is to actually be there. Or, now, we can watch recordings of it. I am making a music video to show emotional aspects of touring. Everything from it being glamorized, to being on the road most of the day, and leaving your loved ones behind. I had the iPoly Variety Concert filmed so I can have footage of a live performance. Then I will film the bands off stage. Like at school, at home, with friends, in a car driving somewhere. The song I will lay over it is called Hearts Burst Into Fire by Bullet for my Valentine. This song is about being away for long periods of time, and missing their family. I think that this is a good idea because everyone assumes that touring is so fabulous, not hard work. Anyone on tour is working 24/7, dealing with people constantly, don't get to shower every day, and have to make the best out of every situation.

Creative Expression Ideas

• Film and edit a music video representing different aspects of touring. I would also like to lay a specific song over it.
• Gather photos of friends and family, and of concerts, and traveling. Make a collage, and cut it out to be the outline of the United States. To represent touring nationally.

These ideas connect to my EQ in a way that my answers don't. My answers were found through lots of research making tour managing almost like a science. A scheduled, precise but lenient science. If that makes sense. I hope. Anyway, these ideas show the emotional aspect of touring. What not only the band, but the crew has to go through while away from their homes for months at a time.

Song:

Example of second idea:

Interview 4 Questions

I hope to interview tour manager, Jenny Douglas. I am still in the process of contacting her. Her resume includes tour managing, sound and guitar techs, and selling merchandise for New Found Glory, Stick to Your Guns, In this Moment, and Walls of Jericho.


1. What in your life made you decide to be in this business and how long have you been doing this for?
2. Who mentored you or helped you get into this industry?
3. How do you balance personal life and tour life? Or is it not really difficult?
4. What is the hardest thing you have to deal with on a day to day basis on tour?
5. Would you say knowing sound is a key part in being a tour manager?
6. Do you have any band horror stories? Where something went wrong with money, venue, another manager or band mate, person from the crew, etc?

7. For aspiring female tour managers, do you think there is a reason as to why there are less female tour managers than males?
8. What are some qualities that set you aside from other tour managers being that you're a woman?
9. Is it harder or easier being a woman in the industry?
10. What are some tips or pointers you can give that would really help girl out on the road? 

11. Did you find it easier working for a tour management company or freelance?

12. What were some necessary things you took on international tours?

13. What was the visa and work permit process like?

14. How did you deal with equipment and language barriers?

15. Has any tour been canceled due to inconveniences with embassies or disputes in the country?
16. Do you find yourself peer mediating a lot between band members or crew?

17. What would you say is key for a tour manager in becoming well known or successful?

18. Which companies have/ are you worked for?
19. How did you connect with them?

20. May I have the contact information of someone in industry you know who can help me get on my feet?