Question 10: Funding for Arts And Culture

International Funding
Organisations

It may be possible for you to make applications to the Arts Council or Arts Foundations in your home country to offset some or all of the cost of your residency at the International Ceramics Studio. Should you wish to make applications to the funding organisation in your home country then we will be pleased to offer any assistance you may require in the way of acceptance or invitation letters, price lists and any further details you may need. Please contact us for assistance.
Here are the main funding organisations in many countries, just click on the name and you will be directed to the organisations website for further information.

The Hungarian Scholarship Board also assists foreign students and artists wishing to study or take short courses in Hungary. See the website of the Scholarship Board for more information.

Australia
Australia Council

Belize
Belize National Arts Council

Brazil
National Foundation for the Arts

Canada
Saskatchewan Arts Board

Chile
Fund for Development of Art and Culture

Denmark
State Arts Foundation

Domincan Republic
Presidential Council for Culture

Ecuador
Ecuador National Council for Culture

England
Arts Council of England

Estonia
Estonian National Culture Foundation
Cultural Endowment of Estonia

Finland
Arts Council of Finland

Hong Kong
Hong Kong Arts Development Council

Hungary
Hungary National Cultural Fund
Hungarian Scholarship Board

India
India National Culture Fund

Ireland
Arts Council of Ireland



Japan
Japan Arts Council

Mexico
National Council for Culture and Arts of Mexico

Norway
Norwegian Council for Cultural Affairs

Panama
Panama National Institute of Culture

Philippines
Philippines National Commission for Culture and the Arts

Romania
Romanian Cultural Foundation

Scotland
Scottish Arts Council

Singapore
Singapore National Arts Council

South Africa
National Arts Council of South Africa

South Korea
Korean Culture and Arts Foundation

Switzerland
Pro Helvetia – Arts Council of Switzerland

USA
Lighton INternational Artists Exchange Program.
NCECA Residencies Program.
Iowa Arts Council
Regional Arts Organisations resource page
Fulbright Scholar Awards
Arts and Healing Network resource page

Wales
Arts Council of Wales
Wales Arts International

Zimbabwe
National Arts Council of Zimbabwe

Question 2:Management and the Arts and Cultural Industries be unified

http://esthergriffithcanv1005.blogspot.com/2010/02/questions-2-how-can-management-and-arts.html
Response:
Too often Governments place little emphasis on the arts and its importance in teh overall development of the country. However governmental bodies guilty of this must bear in mind that a culture is a peoples identity and without an identity there is room for outsiders to enter and choke the natives with external foreign culture. and as such we could lose ourselves and forever be lost as to who we are as a people. Until emphasis is placed on the cultural industries the we stand teh risk of having that happen to us and woe be unto the generations that come after us.

Question 7: SLEPT ANALYSIS OF TRINIDAD

Sociocultural Factors
• Great emphasis on content depicting foreign popular culture and lifestyles is being used. The music is being influenced by American and Jamaican cultures such as the emphasis on getting rich quickly, sexist ideals about the roles of men and women.
• Soca music which is primarily part of popular culture can be seen as a genre which all classes of people enjoy now. While it is not considered part of high culture it is now an aspect of popular culture which all classes enjoy.
• More emphasis is placed now on training young upcoming aspiring artists in the musical industry. The need for education spawned the creation of the National Academy for the performing Arts .
• Greater emphasis is now being placed on searching for and honing talent of individuals hence the creation of shows such as Digicel rising stars, Synergy Soca Star

legal and Political Factors
• The Copyright Amendment Act (2008) seeks to protect local content producers
• Considerable emphasis is now placed on copyright and intellectual property rights involving music publishing and composer’s royalties with Copyright Organisation of Trinidad and Tobago (COTT) acting as the custodian for these rights. The advent of COTT has led to some degree of formalisation of the music industry.

• Thrust to crackdown on sale of illegally acquired content store fronts

Economic Factors

• Recorded Audio Compact Discs amounted to $1,348,000 US and at an average cost of $8.00 US it is estimated that 168,500 units are imported.
• Steel band Musical Instruments show an import value of $53,000 US.
This is surprising given that Trinidad and Tobago is considered the home of the Steel Pan where it is manufactured in great quantities.
• The only significant musical instrument exported from the country the Steel Pan. A total of $505,000 US is recorded showing that this could develop into a lucrative industry. Recently the Electronic steel pan was created thus usering the dawn of yet another lucrative industry.

Technological Factors
• The creation of the electronic steel pan has birthed a new era in steel drums. This instrument takes advantage of all the electronic enhancements available today such as inability to go out of tune and inability to rust.
• Websites such as youtube.com and vimeo.com allow upcoming artists to debut their works and upload to an international audience.
• Development of studio software e.g. Virtual Dj, Adobe sound booth by international companies allows for digital editing.
• The advent of the CD and by extension the mp3 formats have led to easy access of material both through online means and offline means.
• The accessibility of the internet for the purposes of reproduction, marketing and distribution for either the sale of CDs and/or access to MP3 downloads.

Question 3: Culture and GDP

I decided the best way to show this was to draw a specific society. So i researched Europe.
Culture contributes to 2.6% of EU’s GDP and employs at least 5.8 million Europeans, says a study published today in Brussels

In a study presented to the EU’s Ministers of Culture on 13 November, the European Commission shows the importance of the culture sector for the EU economy, and underlines its potential for creating more and better jobs in the future. With its 5.8 million employees, the Culture sector employs more persons than the total employed in Greece and Ireland put together. Further, the culture sector accounted for 2.6% of EU GDP in 2003, and experiences higher growth rates than the average of other sectors of the economy.

The independent study, commissioned by the European Commission, was published on 13 November. In presenting the results to the EU Member States' Culture Ministers, Ján Figel’, European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture, and Multilingualism, said: "This study helps break the conventional wisdom on
the culture and creative Sector. It confirms that the arts and culture are far from being marginal in terms of their economic contribution. Indeed, they are a major employer, and as a sector, the culture and arts contribute to innovation and the economic and social development of the EU, its regions and cities. The culture sector is the engine of creativity, and creativity is the basis for social and economic innovation. As such, I firmly believe that the EU's arts and culture are a dynamic economic and social driver for achieving more growth, and more and better jobs.”

The document highlights the direct (in terms of GDP, growth and employment) as well as the indirect (links between creativity and innovation, links with the ICT sector, regional development and attractiveness) contribution of the cultural and creative sectors towards the Lisbon Agenda. The main findings of the study include:

In economic terms:

the sector contributed 2.6% of EU GDP in 2003, exceeding the contribution of the chemicals, rubber and plastic products industry (at 2.3%)
it is performing well by increasing its share of economic activity;
the sector’s growth between 1999 and 2003 was 12.3% higher than the growth of the European economy in general;
its turn-over was more than € 654 billion in 2003.
In social terms:

5.8 million people - in 2004 - worked in the sector, equivalent to 3.1% of total employed population in EU-25, more than the total employed in Ireland and Greece put together;
whereas total employment in the EU decreased in 2002-2004, employment in the sector increased (+1.85%) over the same period.
The study proves therefore that spending money on culture is a sound investment.

The study also calls for a coherent strategy for the creative sector and includes a set of policy recommendations intended to unleash the "Lisbon potential" of the cultural economy in Europe.

The proposed future strategy is composed of three main strands:

to improve intelligence gathering of statistical evidence on the importance of the cultural sector in Europe;
to increase its contribution to the Lisbon strategy's goals through a more intensive use of the EU's programmes, fostering creativity, clustering technology and creation in joint platforms, promoting investment in cultural industries, and integrating the cultural dimension in international cooperation agreements between the EU and third countries;
structural reform via strengthened coordination of activities and policies impacting on the cultural and creative sector within the European Commission.
The study will feed into the Spring European Lisbon Summit in 2007.

This document will also be a key input in the forthcoming Communication on the role of Culture in Europe to be adopted next year

The concept is simple. Think about another common mix - a cake mix. All cakes contain eggs, milk, flour, and sugar. However, you can alter the final cake by altering the amounts of mix elements contained in it. So for a sweet cake add more sugar!
It is the same with the marketing mix. The offer you make to you customer can be altered by varying the mix elements. So for a high profile brand, increase the focus on promotion and desensitize the weight given to price. Another way to think about the marketing mix is to use the image of an artist's palette. The marketer mixes the prime colours (mix elements) in different quantities to deliver a particular final colour. Every hand painted picture is original in some way, as is every marketing mix. If you'd like to see the marketing mix applied to a real business - then take a look at our Ryanair marketing mix.

Some commentators will increase the marketing mix to the Five P's, to include people. Others will increase the mix to Seven P's, to include physical evidence(such as uniforms, facilities, or livery) and process (i.e. the whole customer experience e.g. a visit the Disney World). The term was coined by Neil H. Borden in his article The Concept of the Marketing Mix in 1965.
Price
There are many ways to price a product. Let's have a look at some of them and try to understand the best policy/strategy in various situations. More . . .
Place
Another element of Neil H.Borden's Marketing Mix is Place. Place is also known as channel, distribution, or intermediary. It is the mechanism through which goods and/or services are moved from the manufacturer/ service provider to the user or consumer. More . . .
Product
For many a product is simply the tangible, phsysical entity that they may be buying or selling. You buy a new car and that's the product - simple! Or maybe not. When you buy a car, is the product more complex than you first thought? The Three Levels of a Product . . . More . . .
The Product Life Cycle (PLC) is based upon the biological life cycle. For example, a seed is planted (introduction); it begins to sprout (growth); it shoots out leaves and puts down roots as it becomes an adult (maturity); after a long period as an adult the plant begins to shrink and die out (decline). More . . .
The Customer Life Cycle (CLC) has obvious similarities with the Product Life Cycle (PLC). However, CLC focuses upon the creation of and delivery of lifetime value to the customer i.e. looks at the products or services that customers NEED throughout their lives. More . . .
Promotion
Another one of the 4P's is promotion. This includes all of the tools available to the marketer for 'marketing communication'. As with Neil H.Borden's marketing mix, marketing communications has its own 'promotions mix.' Think of it like a cake mix, the basic ingredients are always the same. However if you vary the amounts of one of the ingredients, the final outcome is different. More . . .
Physical Evidence
Physical Evidence is the material part of a service. Strictly speaking there are no physical attributes to a service, so a consumer tends to rely on material cues. There are many examples of physical evidence, including some of the following: More . . .
People
People are the most important element of any service or experience. Services tend to be produced and consumed at the same moment, and aspects of the customer experience are altered to meet the 'individual needs' of the person consuming it. More . . .
Process
Process is another element of the extended marketing mix, or 7P's.There are a number of perceptions of the concept of process within the business and marketing literature. Some see processes as a means to achieve an outcome, for example - to achieve a 30% market share a company implements a marketing planning process. Another view is that marketing has a number of processes that integrate together to create an overall marketing process, for example - telemarketing and Internet marketing can be integrated. A further view is that marketing processes are used to control the marketing mix, i.e. processes that measure the achievement marketing objectives. All views are understandable, but not particularly customer focused.
For the purposes of the marketing mix, process is an element of service that sees the customer experiencing an organisation's offering. It's best viewed as something that your customer participates in at different points in time. Here are some examples to help your build a picture of marketing process, from the customer's point of view.
Going on a cruise - from the moment that you arrive at the dockside, you are greeted; your baggage is taken to your room. You have two weeks of services from restaurants and evening entertainment, to casinos and shopping. Finally, you arrive at your destination, and your baggage is delivered to you. This is a highly focused marketing process.

Booking a flight on the Internet - the process begins with you visiting an airline's website. You enter details of your flights and book them. Your ticket/booking reference arrive by e-mail or post. You catch your flight on time, and arrive refreshed at your destination. This is all part of the marketing process.
At each stage of the process, markets:
Deliver value through all elements of the marketing mix. Process, physical evidence and people enhance services.
Feedback can be taken and the mix can be altered.
Customers are retained, and other serves or products are extended and marked to them.
The process itself can be tailored to the needs of different individuals, experiencing a similar service at the same time.
Processes essentially have inputs, throughputs and outputs (or outcomes). Marketing adds value to each of the stages. Take a look at the lesson on value chain analysis to consider a series of processes at work.

Question 6:Outline the essentials of a basic marketing plan and their benefits to a cultural good/service

Everyone knows that creating a marketing plan is an important element to the overall success of a company or a new product introduction. But what exactly is a marketing plan and what elements should a comprehensive plan include? Here is an outline for a basic marketing plan for a publishing company.

Section I
Background

Discussion of the recent history of the company, its products and services, staffing etc. Writing this section gives you an historic look at where you've been and what initiatives have been established during the last few years. Some examples of major events would include the hiring of a sales staff, the establishment of a new distribution system, major increase in marketing budget, major new product introductions, newly established joint ventures, creation of company web site, etc.

Section II
Revenue History and Forecast

Chart showing revenues for past 5 years and 2 year projections into the future. Segment by market niche if possible. Add marketing expenditures, expenditures as a percentage of gross sales and pre-tax company profit. This section will give you a good understanding of your company's past performance as it relates to your marketing investments. This section should be as detailed as possible because as you work with the numbers, various strategies will be suggested for the future. An example of this would be the realization that sales to a particular market are growing at a faster rate than other markets and yet has received very little marketing investment. Therefore, a strategy might be to increase the marketing investment in this segment.

Section III
Strategic Issues

Discussion of current business environment, internal and external issues which are or could affect next year's business. This section covers important factors which place limits on the marketing plan or detail opportunities which should be exploited in the coming year -a major new product introduction, new competitor, industry consolidation or expansion, new distribution outlet, major change in industry pricing, etc.

Section IV
Competition

Detailed analysis of competitors including strengths and weaknesses. This section should include an overall competitive analysis : "How do you stack up" as well as complete profiles of your top 5 competitors. You should try to assess market share of your own company as well as the competition.

Section V
Pricing

Discussion of past pricing trends and next year's pricing strategies. This section should tie in with your analysis of the competition and the industry as a whole. You should also include your strategy for how you want to be viewed in the marketplace - "Low-Price Provider" vs. "High-Price/High-Quality" provider.

Section VI
Positioning Statement

Considering all the information above, describe the company's positioning for the next year. This positioning statement should be one sentence long. Something that can be used as a tag line on your advertising and promotion and something that your sales staff can say quickly and concisely. An example would be "XYZ Publishing Company: Calendars and Books for Outdoor Enthusiasts".

Section VII
Marketing Objectives

3-4 measurable overall objectives. Usually, it is impossible to accomplish more than three to four major objectives in a given year. It's important to keep your eye on the ball and these objectives should represent the key objectives for growing your business. They should be easily measurable on a monthly basis and you should have specific reports that measure each of these objectives. An example would be: Increase revenues by 10%.

Section VIII
Marketing Strategies

Discussion of the strategies you will use to achieve the above objectives. The difference between an objective and a strategy is that the objective states what you will do and a strategy states how you will do it. Using the example above, there are several strategies which could accomplish the objective of growing revenues by 10%: Increase the number of customers, increase the average dollar order, increase pricing, enter a new market, hire more sales people, increase the number of catalogs and mailings, etc. Your mission here is to choose the strategies which fit your company and your products.

Section IX
Marketing Budget

Chart showing past 3 years of marketing and sales expenditures plus your forecast for the coming year. This section should be broken out by specific marketing channel: catalogs, direct mail, publicity, exhibits, advertising, sales force, collateral materials, web site, etc. You should analyze results as well. How much business resulted from your investment in direct mail? Some channels will be easier to measure than others but you should try to attribute as much as possible to get a clear picture of how the allocation of your marketing resources affects the ultimate outcome.

Section X
Marketing Channels

Take each channel included above and write an overview of each channel, set objectives and strategies, be specific about how you will allocate the budget within this channel.

Section XI
Monthly Calendar and Expenses

Chart showing every activity and expense for every month with a total for the year.

Summary

Creating a written marketing plan is only the first step to improved sales. Once completed, this plan should be shared with the entire company so that everyone understands the strategies and why resources are being allocated the way they are. Everyone in the company should have some input into the plan and be involved in the measurement or execution of the plan.

But perhaps the most important reason to have a yearly, written marketing plan is that it becomes an important tool for improving your plan year after year. The essence of marketing is to do more of what works and less of what doesn't. Without having clearly established and measurable strategies, you will never learn from your successes and failures.

Question 9: Role of Copyright

This was pretty interesting...Its an article from WIPO. Its in pdf so....get your adobe and acrobat programs up and running. :-)
http://www.wipo.int/arab/en/meetings/2003/ip_tip/pdf/wipo_ip_tip_03_8.pdf

Question 8:Identify the essentials of a basic working contract for the Cultural Industry.

Definition:
Voluntary, deliberate, and legally enforceable (binding) agreement between two or more competent parties. A contractual relationship is evidenced by (1) an offer, (2) acceptance of the offer, and a (3) valid (legal and valuable) consideration. Each party to a contract acquires rights and duties relative to the rights and duties of the other parties. However, while all parties may expect a fair benefit from the contract (otherwise courts may set it aside as inequitable) it does not follow that each party will benefit to an equal extent. Existence of contractual-relationship does not necessarily mean the contract is enforceable, or that it is not void (see void contract) or voidable (see voidable Contract). Contracts are normally enforceable whether or not in a written form, although a written contract protects all parties to it. Some contracts, (such as for sale of real property, hire purchase agreements, insurance policies) must be in writing to be legally binding and enforceable. Other contracts (see implied in fact contract and implied in law contract) are assumed in, and enforced by, law whether or not the involved parties desired to enter into a contract. (http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/contract.html)

Definition of the cultural Industry
Cultural industry refers to the various businesses that produce, distribute, market or sell products that belong categorically in creative arts. Such products could include clothing, decorative material for homes, books, movies, television programs, or music. Cultural industry is a very large category for certain types of businesses.


Contracts
Just as a businessperson scans the corporate environment for
potential legal pitfalls within the organization, so too, he or she
must similarly judge the potential liability of decisions involving
outside individuals or businesses. While a written contract is not
necessary for every action and decision taken by a businessperson, it
can prove invaluable when:

* Disputes arise over delivery dates or option terms;
* Clear, precise written proof is required to resolve litigation;
* Complex details are anticipated and dealt with on paper instead of
in the courtroom.

There are several instances when it is in an executive's own best
interests to have a simple written agreement on file. First, a
boilerplate model of a basic agreement should be kept on file and
used when a company hires a consultant or independent contractor.
Second, a letter of agreement should be used when an executive wants
to create a "written handshake" which states the essntials of the
agreement without becoming mired in details. Such an agreement
states the simple facts in writing, and is confirmed and accepted
when signed and returned to the sender.

This simple document should:

* Identify both parties and the role of each in the agreement;
* Describe the nature of the agreement;
* State payment terms, time expectations and other elements of the
agreement;

An early warning system of liability sensitivity requires prudence
rather than panic. It isn't necessary to call an attorney before
making every decision. Such hesitation affects the spontaneity of
business agreements. Yet it is wise to have boilerplate documents
reviewed by counsel prior to being used for the first time. When in
doubt regarding a simple agreement, it is worth the peace of mind to
consult an attorney. Counsel should be sought when complex situations
are involved, such as incorporation, partnership, lease agreements,
real estate agreements, debt collection, litigation, and
labor/management relations.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) provides useful information
through Business Development Specialists who can provide useful
information and direction in response to telephone queries. To find a
nearby District Office call (800) 827-5722.

Contract Overview

A contract is an agreement that is enforceable by law. Modern
business could not exist without such contracts. Most business
transactions involve commitments to furnish goods, services, or real
property; these commitments are usually in the form of contracts.

Use of the contract in business affairs ensures, to some extent, the
performance of an agreement, for a party that breaks a contract may
be sued in court for the damages caused by the breach. Sometimes,
however, a party that breaks a contract may be persuaded to make an
out-of-court settlement, thus saving the expense of legal
proceedings.

A contract arises when an offer to make a contract is accepted. An
offer contains a promise (for example, "I will pay $1,000") and a
request for something in return (a person's car). The acceptance
consists of an assent by the party to whom the offer is made, showing
that the person agrees to the terms offered.

The offer may be terminated in a number of ways. For example,the
party making the offer may cancel it (a revocation), or the party to
whom the offer is made may reject it. When the party to whom the
offer is made responds with a different offer, called a counteroffer,
the original offer is terminated. Then the counteroffer may be
accepted by the party making the original offer.

REQUIREMENTS OF A VALID CONTRACT

For a contract to be valid, both parties must give their assent. They
must act in such a way that the other people involved believe their
intention is to make a contract. Thus a person who is clearly not
sincere in saying that he or she accepts an offer usually is not held
to a contract by the courts.

On the other hand, a person who secretly has no intention of making a
contract but who acts in a manner that leads people to believe he or
she had, may be held to a contract. Legally, it is the external
appearance that determines whether one is held to a contract

Consideration

A contract results from a bargain. This implies that each party to
the contract gives up something, or promises to, in exchange for
something given up or promised by the other party. This is called
consideration. In the example given above, the consideration on one
side is the promise to pay $1,000, and on the other, the promise to
deliver a car.

With rare exceptions, a promise by one party, without some form of
consideration being extended by the other party, does not result in a
contract or other enforceable obligation, regardless of the sincerity
of the promise. Although each party must extend consideration to the
other in order to form a contract, the value of the consideration
need not be equal.

Determining how good a bargain is becomes the responsibility of the
parties involved. Otherwise, the courts would be in the impossible
position of having to appraise the relative value of millions of
promises made every year

Competence

For a contract to be enforceable it must be between competent
parties. A contract with a person who has been adjudicated insane is
likely to be declared void. A contract involving a minor--in most
states of the United States a minor is now a person under 18--may be
enforced or voided by the minor, unless the contract is for
necessities such as food, lodging, or medical services, in which case
he or she may be held responsible for the reasonable value of what
was purchased.

Persons suffering from a disability such as intoxication from drugs
or liquor, or insane persons not adjudicated insane, usually may void
a contract if the other party knows or should have known of the
disability and if the consideration received is returnable

Legality

The last requirement of a valid contract is that its provisions be
legal. If a purported contract requires an illegal act, the result is
a void contract. Parties to an illegal contract have no standing in
court. If one party receives money or property under an illegal
contract, the other may not sue to recover what was paid under the
contract. Not only are contracts requiring criminal acts illegal, so
are contracts requiring commission of a TORT (a breach of civil law
such as misrepresentation or trespass) or those in breach of public
policy. Although public policy is difficult to define, it includes
some serious breaches of conventional morality or ethics.

It is commonly assumed that an enforceable contract must be in
writing. This is usually untrue. Most oral contracts are enforceable,
but written contracts are easier to prove.

Some types of contracts must be in writing, for example, contracts
for the purchase or sale of any interest in real property, contrats
to pay debts of others, and contracts that require more than a year
to perform. Contracts for the sale of personal property--that is,
movable property--as distinguished from land, at a price above a
specified sum set by law must be in writing unless payment or
delivery has been made or unless the goods were specially
manufactured.

Although only a few types of contract must be in writing, the terms
of a written contract ordinarily may not be contradicted in court by
oral testimony.

REMEDIES FOR BREACH OF CONTRACT

In the event of a breach of contract, the injured party usually sues
for money damages (the award of a sum of money designed to compensate
for losses stemming from the breach). Damages are measured by what
may reasonably be foreseen as financial losses; unforeseeable losses
may not be collected. If an award of money is not compensatory
because something about the promised performance was unique, the
party who breaks a contract may be ordered by the court to perform as
agreed. This is called specific performance. For example, real estate
is always considered unique. Therefore, when a party has contracted
to sell real estate but changes his or her mind, the court may grant
specific performance and order that the deed for the real estate be
delivered to the agreed buyer. Most contracts are formed with an
implicit understanding that neither party need perform unless the
other has completed his or her promised performance. Anexception to
this understanding occurs when a party has performed most of his or
her obligation and the part not performed is relatively immaterial.
The doctrine of substantial performance provides that in such a case,
the opposite party must perform, although he or she may secure money
damages to the extent that he or she was damaged by lack of complete
performance.

TYPES OF CONTRACTS
What Is a Simple Contract?
A simple contract in legal terminology is an oral or written agreement made by two parties. This is never a legally recorded or officially sealed contract, but breeches are still often ruled on by a judge in court. A breech of contract means that one of the parties ignored one or more terms in the agreement — at least in the opinion of the other party. A judge rules whether the contract was indeed breeched and may award damages. Oral contracts are difficult to prove, however, since the judge may have only the contrasting testimony of the two parties and no other evidence on which to make a fair decision; for this reason, courts encourage a written simple contract.

What is a Speciality contract
A speciality contract is a legal document that must be written or printed and signed by everyone involved in an important agreement. A speciality contract may have witnesses and a seal. It must be sent to both parties or all involved (that is they must each have a copy). They must be in written or printed form. The contract must be signed by all the people who are involved.

Question 4: Presentation to young hopeful

Magic Formula?
In fact, I think as Human beings, we are addicted to self-help books and formulas for success. What is lacking in our day-to-day lives that makes us run out to buy the latest personal improvement manual? Could it be that there is a difference we detect in the attitude of successful, well-known people, and the attitude of the average working Joe? When it comes to music, why do some musicians make it big, while other equally talented songwriters and musicians never get their music heard by the masses? What specific skills and/or inherent talents do the successful artists embody that so many ‘wannabees’ do not? Is it charisma? That special something that many artists seem to exude the minute they walk into a room? I think that is part of it, but many successful acts have as much charisma as a pitcher of milk, and yet do quite well for themselves.

Deep Pockets?
How about a lot of money? Yeah that seems to be the one sure thing behind every star. There are always major labels with deep pockets that know how to spend the money to push their acts into the hearts and minds of the public. Well lets talk about that for a moment. Money can only push something out to the public for their acceptance or rejection…that’s all it can do. Nobody reaches into their wallets and purses and spends their hard earned money on anything….unless there is some real value in what is being offered to them. Today there is a lot of what some observers call ‘shallow and immature’ lyrics and disposable pop music out there on the charts… yet, no one who bought that music would cop to that criticism. The people who buy the latest sounds on the pop charts bought that music because it gave them some kind of pleasure. It meant something to them. I think it all comes down to two essential things…creating and performing great songs, and a having a savvy business mind that can figure out clever ways for people to hear your great songs. Lets look more closely at these two observations.


Music That Fulfills
First, we should look at what sells and what is successful from this standpoint; music fulfills the needs, wants, and desires of any group of fans because they identify with it. and they like a song because they can hum it in the shower. The one thing that all successful acts have in common when they cross over to mass appeal is great songs! This is true as well for the more edgy artists who seem to eek out a living from smaller fanbases. They still write compelling songs that touch the hearts and minds of their fans. (Whether or not you personally ‘like’ hit songs or not has nothing to do with it.Secondly, what other thing is it that successful artists and bands have that separates them from those that struggle? My answer is business savvy. Yup…that’s it. Somebody, somewhere, in every successful act’s history had enough business savvy to make them the stars that they are or were.

That Certain Something
NOW….listen up! It isn’t as simple as you think. Historically that business savvy may have been solely the talents and skills of a weasel-like manager, or record label executive. It may have been the unscrupulous business practices of shady lawyers and booking agents, as well as greedy club owners, or money hungry publishers. My point is that no matter what the behavior of a particular music business gatekeeper may have been…they got a certain part of the job done…they broke on through to the other side of the competition, and got their act’s song into the ears of the thousands of music fans. And to do that, I can assure you they had a business plan. There are no short cuts to success, and there just isn’t enough room at the top for everyone who makes music to a living from their music. But there is a balance that can be obtained in ones life. With a combination of old school ‘analog’ marketing, and the new ‘digital’ marketing tools available on the Internet and through the technology of downloadable music, no musician who writes great songs should have that much problem realizing (at least) modest successes with their music.

The Driven Artist
Most ‘artists’ in the truest sense of the word are narrowly focused people who never take no for an answer. No matter what challenges come along, they find a way of staying alive. More and more as the decades roll by, these artists are entrepreneurial musicians who grab a hold of the business reigns and find away to get the job done. We live in a capitalist, consumer driven society. The successful musicians of tomorrow will be those people who either attract dedicated, knowledgeable business men and women to do the marketing and promotion for them, or take that responsibility on themselves. Give it a try. You may learn, as many are learning, that success can be defined in several different ways. You don’t have to sell millions of records to be considered a successful musician. You just have to sell enough records, concert tickets, and merchandise to pay the bills…do that, and I think you are a very successful musician.Being an entrepreneurial musicians means you have to be able to write and perform great songs, and produce them with a contemporary sound, AND you have to take the time to read about the music business and stay on top of the evolving marketing and promotional opportunities popping up all around you. Read the music business trades and tip sheets, (Billboard, Radio and Records, Hits, CMJ etc.) Cruise the internet for the tons of free information at sites like www.musicbizacademy.com, www.musicdish.com, www.4frontmusic.com and many others. Also, find time to call club bookers (over and over), read bad and good music reviews of contemporary releases, stay in touch with your fans on a regular basis, AND still put on a great show when you're exhausted or sick. (The show must always go on, you know.)

Entertain Always
When it comes down to it, being a professional musician is really all about entertaining people. Entertaining the public as a life commitment involves getting yourself into a deep sense of personal commitment to your art, and the business of your art. It seems to me that artists who are able to do that have come to grips with the notion that success is more an internal experience, and not necessarily one that will be satisfied by a money-hungry music industry that defines success only in dollars and cents calculations.Looking at the work habits of most big stars, I think they all have an entrepreneurial entertainer inside them. That's what allows them to succeed in all areas of the business. That is what keeps them going during the fifth press interview of the day, and all the other crap that has nothing to do with music and everything to do with the business of music marketing. Should the day come when you sense you have made it, know that the pressure to keep producing sellable music is huge. So you need to find a balance inside yourself. A sense of timing that lets you know when you have to take a break, or eat and sleep right. Successful musicians have to be healthy and ready to create/perform on demand. For example, you may have to hit the road for nine straight months, then make a world-class album immediately following the grueling tour, followed by endless media encounters along the way.

On Top of Your Game
What it all boils down to is that stars have to be on top of their game, both artistically and business-wise. It is essential to create a balance between music and business early on. Make sure your psyche is in the right place. You know, screw your head on right! Be honest with yourself regarding what things you are and aren't willing to do to be successful with your music. Map out how you will improve your skills in both business and art. Put it on paper. Try living the 50% business - 50% music rule. Make sure you honor your business commitments and always act professionally. Again, make sure you keep your artist side healthy and creative. Take days off, take nature walks, and take time to noodle around that new song idea that just popped into your head. Such activities will help keep the artist inside you healthy and able to nourish your creative juices. Should you ever become a successful musician (by your own definition) making money strictly from your music, remember that being a famous musician is not a "normal" life. To survive and thrive in the public eye requires a special set of skills. The good news is those skills can be learned and developed. Every little bit you learn now will benefit your career plans down the road. Believe in yourself, and never stop improving. Your hard work will pay off, if not always at the cash register, at least with a sense of personal satisfaction for having done the best work creatively and business-wise, that you could.


Ok Guys Rock on!!!!

What are the essentials to be considered when trying to maintain a career in the cultural industry?

The cultural industry may be categorised as the combination of works. These works would involve the creation, the production and the distribution of goods and services that possess some artistic value. Cultural Industries or creative industries generally include textual, music, television, and film production and publishing, as well as crafts and design. Architecture, sport, the visual and performing arts as well as cultural tourism have been seen as contributing significantly to the terminology cultural industry and have added value and is continuing to generate value for individuals and societies. The creative and cultural industries sector is a fast-expanding and economically strong one.
Within recent times talent competitions such as: Digicel Rising stars, Bmobile dance off and Synergy Soca Star have been held with the intention of grooming undiscovered individuals with talent for the cultural industry. This aims to the eventual rejuvenating of the cultural industry in Trinidad and Tobago. Art forms such as calypso/Kaiso has been seen within recent years as a dying art form and as such efforts are being made to revive it. However many persons enter the cultural industry and is eventually trampled by the lack of knowledge. One must first be aware the essentials to maintaining a career in the cultural industry. One should have the competencies to organise and manage the information and as such utilise it to develop and advance oneself and ones career in this dynamic, ever-changing, unstable industry.
When trying to maintain a career in the cultural industry, one must consider the following:
1. The Nature of the industry as it pertains to Markets; whether it possesses a niche market or not.
2. Adaptation and Versatility:-
• Adaptation of one’s art.
• Adaptation of one’s image.
• Adaptation of ones art to suit popular culture.
• Crossover appeal.
• Bridging the gap.
3. Technology and how it affects the artist/industry.
Topic One- The Nature of the industry as it pertains to Markets; whether it possesses a niche market or not.
Definition of Terms:
Industry- An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent, industrious") is the manufacturing of a good or service within a category. One may consider it an aggregate of manufacturing or technically productive enterprises in a particular field, often named after its principal product: the automobile industry; the steel industry the cultural industry or the creative industry
Market- A market is any one of a variety of different systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby individuals are able to trade, and goods and services are exchanged, forming part of the economy. It is an arrangement that allows buyers and sellers to exchange things. Market participants consist of all the buyers and sellers of a good who influence its price
Niche Market- A niche market is the subset of the market on which a specific product is focusing; therefore the market niche defines the specific product features aimed at satisfying specific market needs, as well as the price range, production quality and the demographics that is intended to impact.
When trying to maintain a career in the industry one must consider the market and whether the market is large enough to generate income. However some creators choose to enter into a niche market in an attempt to eliminate some competition and help focus on a smaller consumer audience. The concept of niche marketing can be well understood by the following example: A number of television channels cater to the need of a particular niche; for example, sports channels like STAR SPORTS, ESPN, STAR CRICKET, and TENS SPORTS target a niche of sports lovers. In the Television industry for instance the market for sporting entertainment is large. As such the channel ESPN was created, however more focus was paid to individual sports and thus began the emergence of ESPN’S niche marketing strategy. Local Individuals like Joey Lewis and Kenny J who play jazz in Trinidad and Tobago are examples of persons who have maintained a career in the niche market.
However two questions arise that must also be considered.
Question One: Is there a niche market for your particular craft/art?
Answer: While the market may be considerably large and focusing on a particularly small sector of the market may be profitable, one should also realise that creation of a niche market does not necessarily hold the same financial profit. One cannot hope to create a niche market as this is time consuming and it offers the creator of the art very little. One must identify what the population wants and if it is significant enough to financially cushion the artist then that artist may decide to enter that particular market.
For Example: A recording manager in Trinidad (Kenny Phillips) said that small church groups come to him to do recordings. However, he refused to take their money because it made no sense in his view simply because radio stations would not play it. He recognised that the market for small churches singing hymns or traditional worship songs was minor and as such would have profited the artist very little.
Question Two: How long shall this market exist?
Answer: The cultural industry is an extremely volatile one. It is dynamic in nature simple because consumer tastes change. It is somewhat impossible to say whether or not a specific niche market would be permanently in existence however for this reason versatility is encouraged. In that way, the artist would no longer confine himself to a small sector of the market but would extend and broaden his possibilities.




Topic Two: Adaptation and Versatility.
Definition of Terms
Adaptation- Can be considered the evolutionary process whereby the art is improved or altered to suit a specific market whether it is to enter the market successfully, or to maintain some level of standing as time moves on.
Versatility- Capable of doing many things competently; Variable or inconstant; changeable
Crossover appeal-
The creator can adapt his/her art to be better able to market him/herself in such a dynamic industry. Adaptation is defined as the activity of adjusting to varying contexts. Adaptation is needed when there is a mismatch between the quality of the services provided by the application and the user needs, or between the application needs and the context. Adaptation may lead to a degradation or enhancement of the quality of the provided services For instance, the functional richness of an application may be modified, or the response time of a service may be reduced.
For example: The Book “Animal Farm” was written by George Orwell and published in1945 during the period when reading was of significant importance. However as time passed and as technology developed the book was adapted into the form of film and as such was able to reach a new audience.
One can adapt ones image in the industry to reflect the product being marketed at that particular time. Adaption of one’s image is not solely limited to the change in one’s fashion choices but may extend to a change in one’s lifestyle.
For Example: Britney spears has changed her image from the conventional “catholic school girl” to a somewhat raunchy symbol of sensuality. Some have argued that this is beneficial to her because sex and sensuality sells and it shows her transition from teen, to woman. Machel Montano’s image has also changed over time along with his name.
Being able to dominate the market allows one several privileges. One of these privileges is being able to set the trend. In the fashion industry brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci have a significant influence on the market. Brands like Roca wear, House of Derion, have been setting the trends for males and females. Over time the groups were able to adapt to what their target audience wants and have developed credibility and as such would be able to dictate what is fashionable and what is not fashionable while satisfying the consumers wants.
When considering adaptability and versatility one must also think about crossover appeal. Being able to successful enter into another realm of the art form requires a level of versatility. Recording artists such as Beyoncé have been able to conquer and dominate for a period of time the pop, r&b, slows, Rock billboard charts or Jennifer Lopez and Shakira broke the language barrier by releasing English and Spanish albums. While being versatile and entering into another sector is risky it can have benefits because now the fan base is widened along with the prospects for that artist/creator.
Lastly one must remember that the cultural industry would be in existence for a long period of time and as such bridging the generation gaps would be of significant importance when trying to maintain a career in the cultural industry that would have spanned a lengthy period of time. Madonna is the greatest example of a timeless performer. Her lyrics, image, and marketing strategies have all been adapted to suit the generation of the last 50 years.
Topic Three: Technology
Technology has been seen within recent times as the foe of the music industry. With particular attention being paid to online piracy and loss of income due to online piracy, technology has been seen in a negative light. However the creator can use the technology to his/her advantage, because now it aids in terms of mass producing. As such it costs less to produce more. Carnival costumes no longer are created by hand but are shipped from china and Taiwan to Caribbean countries. In recording studios it has become easier to create a beat with the aid of keyboards and synthesizers. The individual can also now pay attention to the storage media for the creative pieces. With the introduction of the internet and ipods,itunes,blue ray discs, creators are now able to store their works and sell their works electronically which can prove to be less time consuming.

Question1: What are the essentials to be considered when trying to maintain a career in the Cultural Industry?

The cultural industry may be categorised as the combination of works. These works would involve the creation, the production and the distribution of goods and services that possess some artistic value. Cultural Industries or creative industries generally include textual, music, television, and film production and publishing, as well as crafts and design. Architecture, sport, the visual and performing arts as well as cultural tourism have been seen as contributing significantly to the terminology cultural industry and have added value and is continuing to generate value for individuals and societies. The creative and cultural industries sector is a fast-expanding and economically strong one.
Within recent times talent competitions such as: Digicel Rising stars, Bmobile dance off and Synergy Soca Star have been held with the intention of grooming undiscovered individuals with talent for the cultural industry. This aims to the eventual rejuvenating of the cultural industry in Trinidad and Tobago. Art forms such as calypso/Kaiso has been seen within recent years as a dying art form and as such efforts are being made to revive it. However many persons enter the cultural industry and is eventually trampled by the lack of knowledge. One must first be aware the essentials to maintaining a career in the cultural industry. One should have the competencies to organise and manage the information and as such utilise it to develop and advance oneself and ones career in this dynamic, ever-changing, unstable industry.
When trying to maintain a career in the cultural industry, one must consider the following:
1. The Nature of the industry as it pertains to Markets; whether it possesses a niche market or not.
2. Adaptation and Versatility:-
• Adaptation of one’s art.
• Adaptation of one’s image.
• Adaptation of ones art to suit popular culture.
• Crossover appeal.
• Bridging the gap.
3. Technology and how it affects the artist/industry.
Topic One- The Nature of the industry as it pertains to Markets; whether it possesses a niche market or not.
Definition of Terms:
Industry- An industry (from Latin industrius, "diligent, industrious") is the manufacturing of a good or service within a category. One may consider it an aggregate of manufacturing or technically productive enterprises in a particular field, often named after its principal product: the automobile industry; the steel industry the cultural industry or the creative industry
Market- A market is any one of a variety of different systems, institutions, procedures, social relations and infrastructures whereby individuals are able to trade, and goods and services are exchanged, forming part of the economy. It is an arrangement that allows buyers and sellers to exchange things. Market participants consist of all the buyers and sellers of a good who influence its price
Niche Market- A niche market is the subset of the market on which a specific product is focusing; therefore the market niche defines the specific product features aimed at satisfying specific market needs, as well as the price range, production quality and the demographics that is intended to impact.
When trying to maintain a career in the industry one must consider the market and whether the market is large enough to generate income. However some creators choose to enter into a niche market in an attempt to eliminate some competition and help focus on a smaller consumer audience. The concept of niche marketing can be well understood by the following example: A number of television channels cater to the need of a particular niche; for example, sports channels like STAR SPORTS, ESPN, STAR CRICKET, and TENS SPORTS target a niche of sports lovers. In the Television industry for instance the market for sporting entertainment is large. As such the channel ESPN was created, however more focus was paid to individual sports and thus began the emergence of ESPN’S niche marketing strategy. Local Individuals like Joey Lewis and Kenny J who play jazz in Trinidad and Tobago are examples of persons who have maintained a career in the niche market.
However two questions arise that must also be considered.
Question One: Is there a niche market for your particular craft/art?
Answer: While the market may be considerably large and focusing on a particularly small sector of the market may be profitable, one should also realise that creation of a niche market does not necessarily hold the same financial profit. One cannot hope to create a niche market as this is time consuming and it offers the creator of the art very little. One must identify what the population wants and if it is significant enough to financially cushion the artist then that artist may decide to enter that particular market.
For Example: A recording manager in Trinidad (Kenny Phillips) said that small church groups come to him to do recordings. However, he refused to take their money because it made no sense in his view simply because radio stations would not play it. He recognised that the market for small churches singing hymns or traditional worship songs was minor and as such would have profited the artist very little.
Question Two: How long shall this market exist?
Answer: The cultural industry is an extremely volatile one. It is dynamic in nature simple because consumer tastes change. It is somewhat impossible to say whether or not a specific niche market would be permanently in existence however for this reason versatility is encouraged. In that way, the artist would no longer confine himself to a small sector of the market but would extend and broaden his possibilities.




Topic Two: Adaptation and Versatility.
Definition of Terms
Adaptation- Can be considered the evolutionary process whereby the art is improved or altered to suit a specific market whether it is to enter the market successfully, or to maintain some level of standing as time moves on.
Versatility- Capable of doing many things competently; Variable or inconstant; changeable
Crossover appeal-
The creator can adapt his/her art to be better able to market him/herself in such a dynamic industry. Adaptation is defined as the activity of adjusting to varying contexts. Adaptation is needed when there is a mismatch between the quality of the services provided by the application and the user needs, or between the application needs and the context. Adaptation may lead to a degradation or enhancement of the quality of the provided services For instance, the functional richness of an application may be modified, or the response time of a service may be reduced.
For example: The Book “Animal Farm” was written by George Orwell and published in1945 during the period when reading was of significant importance. However as time passed and as technology developed the book was adapted into the form of film and as such was able to reach a new audience.
One can adapt ones image in the industry to reflect the product being marketed at that particular time. Adaption of one’s image is not solely limited to the change in one’s fashion choices but may extend to a change in one’s lifestyle.
For Example: Britney spears has changed her image from the conventional “catholic school girl” to a somewhat raunchy symbol of sensuality. Some have argued that this is beneficial to her because sex and sensuality sells and it shows her transition from teen, to woman. Machel Montano’s image has also changed over time along with his name.
Being able to dominate the market allows one several privileges. One of these privileges is being able to set the trend. In the fashion industry brands like Louis Vuitton and Gucci have a significant influence on the market. Brands like Roca wear, House of Derion, have been setting the trends for males and females. Over time the groups were able to adapt to what their target audience wants and have developed credibility and as such would be able to dictate what is fashionable and what is not fashionable while satisfying the consumers wants.
When considering adaptability and versatility one must also think about crossover appeal. Being able to successful enter into another realm of the art form requires a level of versatility. Recording artists such as Beyoncé have been able to conquer and dominate for a period of time the pop, r&b, slows, Rock billboard charts or Jennifer Lopez and Shakira broke the language barrier by releasing English and Spanish albums. While being versatile and entering into another sector is risky it can have benefits because now the fan base is widened along with the prospects for that artist/creator.
Lastly one must remember that the cultural industry would be in existence for a long period of time and as such bridging the generation gaps would be of significant importance when trying to maintain a career in the cultural industry that would have spanned a lengthy period of time. Madonna is the greatest example of a timeless performer. Her lyrics, image, and marketing strategies have all been adapted to suit the generation of the last 50 years.
Topic Three: Technology
Technology has been seen within recent times as the foe of the music industry. With particular attention being paid to online piracy and loss of income due to online piracy, technology has been seen in a negative light. However the creator can use the technology to his/her advantage, because now it aids in terms of mass producing. As such it costs less to produce more. Carnival costumes no longer are created by hand but are shipped from china and Taiwan to Caribbean countries. In recording studios it has become easier to create a beat with the aid of keyboards and synthesizers. The individual can also now pay attention to the storage media for the creative pieces. With the introduction of the internet and ipods,itunes,blue ray discs, creators are now able to store their works and sell their works electronically which can prove to be less time consuming.