5 min Presentation Reflection

What would you say stood out about your presentation performance and what was most challenging to do and why? 


For my presentation, though it was only five minutes, it took a lot of planning. I found it sort of difficult to find a sort of ice breaker in the beginning, at least one to keep within the given time. I think after that it was easy. I was still nervous because I get nervous for any presentation. But because I was presenting on a subject that I knew like the back of my hand and loved so much, towards the middle, I felt it came out more naturally. And I tend to babble, so the five minute mark was always in the back of my head. I think the check for understanding was a little slow. I felt that maybe I could have emphasized on the answers during the presentation, so that the audience knew them when I asked the questions. I really enjoyed playing a sample of their music at the end. I felt that was a nice way to close up the five minute presentation.

Interview 1 Reflection

What is the most important thing I learned from the interview and why?


The most important thing I learned from this interview, is how crucial it is to be able to deal with people. Not only as a tour manager, do you have to deal with promoters, venue owners, or crew but you also have the most important people. The band. On tour, most people think its just the band that sticks it out. While for newborn bands it may be true, but the tour manager is the one who makes sure the web is still weaved. Being on a bus or van for most of the day can have strenuous effects on people. If the tour manager cannot help a situation, they will only hinder it. So learning different social skills to deal with the industry and the band personally would be ideal for a tour manager.

5 Minute Presentation

Objective: My objective for this presentation is to inform the class about indie rock scene by telling them about a well known band called, blessthefall.

Procedure:
1. I will begin by asking who their favorite band is. Or if there is any band, whose music has impacted them in any way.
2. Then I will briefly explain that it is crucial for any person pursuing a career in the music industry to actually what kind of music is out there. Then will lead into the band's background information, from the very beginning to their success now.
3. Through the band's story, I will connect how important it is to know about the industry and scene.
4. After I would like to mention how they inspired me to choose Tour Managing as my senior project topic.

Check For Understanding: After I have spoken for hopefully three minutes, I will ask the class if the band they like has had any hardship and persevered through it because of knowledge of the music scene.

Resources/Material: I will use a poster board displaying a roadmap of the band's progression.

Interview 1- Tour Manager, Matthew Luvisi

  1. What is your name? And what do you do for a living?

a.     Matthew. I work retail, at Pac Sun. And I go on tour for a hobby with my friends.

2. I am interested in studying music management. What can you tell me about it?

a.     First of all have a well-rounded interest in music. Don’t listen to one genre. ‘Cause you’re going to run into many different bands that are different genres. You need to be stubborn. Because there’s going to be promoters that don’t want to pay you that amount that they agreed to.  Just to get that done would be pretty tough. Uhm, just have fun. Just be a goofball. ‘Cause all those guys are going to stress out. You have like eight people in one van. You need to be the person to make it fun.

3. Have you/are you studying in college that would help getting a career in this industry?

a.     No. Nope.

4. Who did you get a career in this? How did you start?

a.     Like the first band, was called, In for the Chase. They would just be local. And I’d help them out, help them book. And then we went up north to San Francisco for like a weekend. And that’s just how it started. It just started doing little places, like [in] Texas, then Arizona, then Colorado, and then we did a whole two-month tour. Which was like that last one that they’re ever going to do.

5. Who mentored you or helped you get into this industry

a.     Yeah! Like the lead singer of the band [In for the Chase], he’s like twenty-six. They kicked him out. But he used to be a tour manager for other bands. That’s how he taught me how to do it. [Like] how to be a meanie, but nice at the same time.

6. How did you become a band manager?

a.     Just a bunch of great friends.  Like they’re my best friends from high school and asked me to come tag along, take care of the finances, and just have a good time with them.

7.  Have you worked closely with any bands? How was your experience?

a.     I’ve worked with the first band, In for the Chase, Falco Does it Dirty, Weaker than None, I’ve helped them out. Then my brother just started a band called Take Me. Then I help them out, which is pretty fun. Pretty cool.  [My experience] was awesome, it’s fun. Get to get into shows for free like, you can’t complain.

8.  Have you seen/heard of any band horror stories? Where something went wrong with money, venue, another manager or band mate, person from the crew ,etc?

a.     Yeah like uhm, what’s it called? Well we didn’t see it go wrong, but this other band we went on tour with, called The Greenery, told us that last tour they went on, they almost hit a dear. So our friend Will fell asleep [in the van], pretty much everyone was awake. It was 3:00 o’clock in the morning. We took the van and slowed it down on the side of the street and breaked really hard and yelled. He woke up scared. Nothing really went wrong; it was just a prank from what happened of what we heard. Financially, yeah. Like there was hard times where like we were supposed to get guaranteed three hundred dollars and they’d pay us a hundred bucks. So we’d have to fight, push, and maybe get lucky; one fifty out of it. Then we’d end up sleeping in the van and not shower for three days straight. [Venues wouldn’t pay] just because there were no signed papers. It was all ‘he said she said’ stuff.  Its better to have signed documents and stuff.

9.  What would you say is key for a band in becoming well known or successful?

a.     Just promoting them, playing shows every weekend. Even if it’s a little house show compared to like a venue show. You have to do pre-sales. Do whatever you can do to get your name out there. Internet, MySpace, all that stuff really helps a lot. Facebook these days is getting a lot better too. There’s all sorts of stuff you can do.

10. What would you say is the majority of the income?

a.     Merchandising. Shows, sometimes you just play shows for free to get your name out there.  But merch is where you do it. That’s where we would get most of our money. Like we took bundles and buckets of merchandise t-shirts and stuff and we’d go around malls [split up] in little groups and hustle them to people. We’d just say, ‘Hey! You want this shirt for ten bucks? Get the CD and we’ll give you both for fifteen.’ ‘Cause they’d be ten dollars each. And we’d leave with like a thousand dollars, so we had a lot of clothes. Mainly, that’s where it did come from, was merch.

11. Are there girl tour managers?

a.     Yeah! I’ve seen a couple girl to- well not like tour managers, but they took care of the merch. Like merch girls, kind of like helping them [the band] out. But there’s some girl tour managers out there, like promoters, stuff like that. Its usually guys, ‘cause you’re on the road with guys. [Would the band get weirded out with a girl?] I don’t think so.  Just go in there, and act tough but nice at the same time. Know their boundaries.

12. Who else would you recommend I talk to?

a.     Some band members, that have experience. Tours too. See what their point of view is being that they’re someone that helps on what to do. Probably like a tour manager. I have friends that I could talk to for you. I have friends from different bands that would be down. I could talk to The Greenery; they’ve been on like bigger tours.

. 13. Where would you recommend I volunteer at for my Service learning?

a.     Try to find a local venue. Even some churches these days to some venue stuff. I’m not too familiar about the stuff around here, but I do know about the Glasshouse, House of Blues. I toured at Smart City, in like ’04, ’05. It was a good venue, it was right there in like Azusa.

14. Which books should I read regarding this field? What other resources are there?

a.     I haven’t read a book since the 6^th grade, haha. I would say the AP Magazine [Alternative Press Magazine]. It’s not a book but that’d be a good thing to read. You could see which local bands are playing. Look at those little ads to see where the little local bands are playing, go se them play and that’s how you could get connected that way. ‘Cause not too many people would go and show up at their shows. So there’d only be like ten, fifteen kids half the time. That’s when you could get really close to the band. When they’re getting big, but not big yet. That’s a really good way.

15. From your perspective, what could I study or do that would be significant in helping people or helping in this industry?

a.     Well with the AP [Alternative Press] thing I was talking about. Just doing online chats too. Like sometimes bands would go online and have little chat groups. A bunch of that stuff, reach out in any way possible.  It’s a little bit harder these days. Not too many people on MySpace. [Sometimes] its not even run by the band, they have people running it for them. Shows are like the only way. It’s the easiest, even though it’s still hard. But like if you show up two hours earlier, before the band plays, band members are walking around outside, bummin’ in. That’s when you can go up to them and talk to them. ‘Cause I remember when we were on tour, we’d show up to a venue three hours ahead of time, for hours and had nothing to do. If you find someone local that lives really close, we’d go over their house, let the band shower, let us shower there. But for like little local bands, that aren’t big yet, it’s more spontaneous. It doesn’t happen until you get there [to the venue].

16. Thank you so much! Do you have any last words of advice?

a.     No, just don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t do it. Just do it, stick it out.

Summary/ What I learned

I learned a lot from Matt. I have to admit, there were a few things I knew about already, but to hear them from a person whose experienced it is a lot better and impacting than reading it off a paper. I’m glad I got to ask him questions like ‘are there girl tour managers?’ or ‘how did you become a tour manager?’ Even though they seem like simple questions, there are some things the Internet or a book can’t answer. And he was able to do that for me. I’m also glad that he was willing to introduce to me other people in the industry. Especially, because he explained that it’s mainly just talking to people and getting your own name out there. If he can help, then, I’m already a step ahead of the game. 

Career

Exit Interview

I-Search

Independant Study 1

Independant Study 2

Interview Check

1) Who are you interviewing and why?

I have decided to interview tour manager, Matthew Luvisi. He has been on many tours with many different bands. I believe that he has enough experience to help me answer my essential question.

2) You’ve been assigned 5 questions, what other questions would you like to ask your interviewee?

  - What are you studying in college now that would help towards getting a career in the music industry?

  - What would you say are some disadvantages or cons, business wise, in this industry?

  - Have you worked closely with any bands? If so, how was your experience?

  - Who mentored you, in regards of finding a place for service learning, searching for resources, during your senior project?

  - Have you seen or heard of any band horror stories where something went wrong financially or had issues with a venue, manager, a person from the crew etc?

  -What would you say is key for a band becoming well known and/or successful?

Also, I would develop more questions based on what his answers are. 

Math

Product

Research Semester 1

Music Industry- Marketing Rock sub-Genres
I chose this topic because I am very passionate about music, but I also enjoy organizing events and spreading the word about them.
I hope to accomplish more knowledge of the industry, so I'm not completely blind when going in for a career. I want to be able to be a competitive opponent when looking for a job.

Research Semester 2

Science Fair

Service Learning