Personal Statement

Music has been part of my life for many years and ever since I can remember I always enjoyed the atmosphere that I got from listening to it. As I became a bit older it became clear to me that I wanted to pursue what I always enjoyed. I first became familiar with the engineering side of music at the age of 12, I was chosen to manage the sound in my church because back then I was the only person available that had enough responsibility to do the task. At first it was very complicated because I did not know what I was doing. But after I started to pay more attention to how music sounded and how I could make it sound good instead of getting worked up about what buttons to use. In my own way I tried my best to learn how to play instruments like: electric guitar, bass, acoustic guitar, once I started to learn about these instruments I started to realise how they actually worked within a song and I started to really get addicted to music that had a great quality sound to it.

At the age of 18 I realised that I needed to be bold and realistic about my decision to do music and the reality of the music industry, so I applied to do a level 2 course at Westkings College where I am currently study. When I was initially interviewed I was very honest about my situation and I also explained what I wanted to get from the industry and I told my teachers that I wanted to be in a course that could have a wide range of aspects that I could learn from, especially the business side of it and she told me the course was perfect for me and that was 3 years ago, I have progressed onto level 3 and this is my last year and I can honestly say that it was the right move for me I am 20  and I have a realistic view of how the music industry works and what I would have to do to get a career within it. At Westking College they also offered me help from people who actually worked within the industry themselves, they offered me work experience in which I had to sell merchandise for one of the tutors band, they offered me facilities and a good knowledge of how the equipment works. One of our technician who also happens to be a sound engineer explained to us in a very unique way how sound actually works. He gave us a basic but clear way of understanding sound and now I want to gain a stronger understanding of how to mix and master the ways in which you manipulate sound and also learn many more things that I have not learnt yet.    

I am devoted about what I do, I demonstrated this by working in environments that had a similar atmosphere to the future career I want to fulfill. My first experience was in church as a cameraman, as well as being a cameraman I was also the one that dealt with the sound in live situations, this made me aware of how sound works and it also gave me an understanding of different skills that I needed to learn in order to be good. Having had experience as a cameraman I had the chance to film live performances, I have managed to see how bands interact in live situations, how sound engineer mix, and how effective the positioning of all the equipment is.

Even though I was not interested in media I have gained a lot of personal friends within the media industry, this is because I have had a chance to work as a cleaner in a video production company called hatrick, there I gained connection to people that eventually offered me work experience there and I felt honoured because they only expected post graduates to do work experience. My week there was very interesting they talked to me about how the media industry works about how the technical side is actually done, how they work as freelancers and they also gave me a few tips for me to be a successful in the future. 

In Westking College I have had many opportunities to work with artists throughout the college, this happened because I made myself available for help to make their portfolio the best it could be that meant that I had to work with other producers to get the best quality songs we could out of the recording. 

Before I got into production I was a performer and I had a chance to understand what a performer needs, what a performer wants, how to speak to them, and also how to get the best out of them. In my spare time i like to compose my own songs to keep my creativity alive. I have had a lot of different jobs that gave me different skills, I started out in cleaning which gave me the skills to be organised then I went to work as a part time technician installing Internet for a company that worked for virgin media and I also worked in a cafe which gave me communication skills.

My current course has a lot of privileges in terms of giving me skills and making my practical work better but I am looking for a course that can take me to the next level on my insight. I also chose this course because in some ways it is related to my current course. Even though the academic work is vital in the career that I want I am also looking to expand my network and going university is going to give me a wider connection and closer connection to the music industry then my current course. I believe that I have within me what it takes to take myself to the next level and choosing audio engineering and production to study at this university will surely get the best out of me.I did some research and I came to a conclusion that audio engineering and producing is my chosen course at this university and if I was to be accepted I would work to make a start in my chosen career and I will use the skills I have gained in the university to do so. I would look forward to making new friends in the university so I could create a wider network for myself in the future, this would help my career choice because to get a job in the music industry you need to know the right people.

Smart Target

What to do

These are the targets that I need to complete by March 20.

• compose songs for the EP Project for myself.
• produce for other singers.
• work on a plan for EP.
• I need to record with artist/player in The college studio to help them create a portfolio.

(I need to hand in the files to show my work with artist and my produced track as evidence.)

Events Management 2

Stadium Gig (Hillsong Conference)

I have chosen to talk about hillsong conference.
hillsong conference is mainly christian they are also very athletic on views which means that they don't have a specific look and they don't have a extreme doctrines making the church and the venues appeal to every one, which is a controversial aspect of the church.

The Hillsong conference is also known for it's professional structure, as a member you are allowed to do volunteer work and that involves singing, dancing, media, filming, lighting and sound, software design, almost all the areas in media industry and performance industry is covered by volunteers, but what makes it work for them is that they also have a specific entry requirement for each area wether its getting a degree in filming or having a trial to see if you can sing well enough.

Target Audience - Any age group

Because the hillsong conference has not got a age limit it is also very easy for them to reach out to young and old. At the conference they have a special facility for children to stay while the parents watch the main event, so you would usually see big family's joining in.

Venue - o2 Arena

The o2 arena is a venue which hosts major events in the capital of england, it is known to be the pinnacle point for performers.

Location: - East London

The location is in The O2, Greenwich peninsula, South-East London.

Duration - 3 days

This conference goes on for three days and each day there is a different set list and there is different performers. The reason why it goes on for three days is so they can get more performers to get a chance to perform and to give people a chance to watch the conference on a different day. Also because they have loads of different things to talk about and sing about. Also for different bands to perform because they cannot fit in the whole event in one day.

Capacity - 20,000

Recurrence - Every year

In 2007 hillsong conference Sydney begun in London at the excel exhibition centre, it was known at the time as hillsong conference Europe. Now the event became a yearly event that is hosted every year in london.

Spatial requirement -

Equipment:
- Instruments
- Stage Equipment
- Smoke machines
- Lights
- Screen + Projectors
- Sound Equipment

Need for service companies -

Lighting and special effects:

They had special effects that went along with the music, lots of different lighting effects. Also a spotlight on the main performer/act.
Accessibility - very easy to get there because it is a well known stadium and when you come out of the station the stadium is infront of you.

Type of music - contemporary rock/ gospel

Staffing:
- lighting engineers
- sound engineers
- Stage Manger and assistants
- Performers
- Musicians
- Guides - people to guide the audience around the venue
- Media - People filming the event to make it a DVD to sell it as a DVD
- Nursery - to look after the parents kids while the parents watch the show
- Aid - for any injuries.
- Bar tender
- Food Restaurants - to sell people food.

Open Mic:

Location - The Bull Theatre, High Barnet High Road

Age Limit - The age limit is suitable for 10 year olds to any age because there was a lot of lighting effects and loud music so that could effect small children or really old people who could not handle it. 

Tickets -  Tickets were only available at the door for £6, that was the fixed price. £6 is a good price because it is affordable and is fair for the event being held. Once you pay £6 pounds your ticket is a stamp on your hand and a paper wrist band where you can walk in and out of the venue.

Dressing Room - There was a dressing room available for performers only but because the manager of the event did not want a lack of audience, the manager made a rule for everyone including the performers have to stay in the audience so there would be a full audience. So a performer has to remember the person performing before them so they can go to the dressing room to prepare and then go on stage. 

The dressing room has mirrors for people to get ready and make sure they look alright, there was toilets, water spread out in trays incase people got thirsty, a big white board where the set list was written down and it was easy to notice. There was sofas, comfy chairs and a lot of space to prepare. 

Duration - 3 hours

Open mic night is an open event for any singer or dancer that wants to perform, so depending on the number of acts and their length of their performance is how long the event will be. Usually open mic night would last for 3 hours. 

The event was held on a Saturday from 19:30pm - 23:00pm, this was good timing because the theatre was full and it was the first week back from school so it was a good time for everyone to catch up and bring all the students and parents together and enjoy a good show. 

Capacity - The capacity of the theatre is 150, This capacity is good enough for this kind of event because it is enough to fit all the students in the school, the parents of the students, old students, and few other people from the public. 

Success - The venue was full from the start of the night to the end of the night, after the event everyone went to the bar downstairs. This event was so successful because it was a saturday and most people are free on a saturday night and the timing was good because it finished at a good time where people can get home because transport finishes at around 00:00pm - 00:30pm. If the event was on a week day it would not work out as good as a saturday because in the week people have work and are usually busy so it is not comfortable and also not a lot of people would show up. 

Recurrence - Every month or every 2 months

Open mic night is held every month because open mic night is a charity event so they save money for charity and because open mic night is held in a theatre school the event helps the school earn something they desperately need. Every open mic night has a different event based on a holiday like: christmas, valentines day, easter etc so this allows more people attracted to come and watch the event. 

Spatial requirement -

Equipment:
- Instruments: At open mic night people usually perform as soloist's, duets or bands so they would need instruments like: acoustic guitars and keyboards. The performers would need to provide these instruments mostly because they need to perform with an instrument they are used to and have practiced with. 

- Sound Equipment: The sound equipment used was: microphones, amplifiers, wires to connect from an instrument to an amplifier, sound desk, speakers.

- Lighting Equipment: lights, lighting desk, spotlight. 

- Most equipment was already at the venue but instruments, discs and jack leads was needed to be provided from the performers. 

- The stage was middled sized not massive and not small it was a perfect size for dancers to move around and enough space to fill in a full band without looking squashed. The stage was filled out and there was a lot of space for instruments and up to 30 - 50 performers. 

Need for service companies -

Lighting and special effects - There was no special effects but there was lighting effects that went along with the specific song and mood given in the song and performance. 

Accessibility - Very easy to get there, on high road, 5 minuet walk from high barnet station, the venue is on the same side of the tube station and you just walk straight up. 

Type of music - All types

Staffing:
- Sound Engineer: There was a sound engineer who started soundchecks from 14:30pm - 18:00pm a good few hours for all the performers to have a chance to have a sound check. The sound engineer also used the sound desk to control the sound, set up the speakers and sound equipment on stage. There were a few people helping the sound engineer so there were about 3 people as sound engineers. The sound was good quality but there was a few problems with the microphones where it would stop working completely and also there would be a loud noise which would hurt everyones ears and would distract the performer. 

- Lighting Engineer: There were 3 people working the lights, there was a lighting box which was built to be in the ceiling so they can look down on the stage and see every detail. There was also sound equipment in the lighting box so the lighting engineers could help with the sound but had more focus on the lighting. They had a big spotlight, a lighting desk and a computer which connects to the lighting desk and they control the lights through the desk and through the computer. 

- Receptionist: There was a receptionist that managed the tickets and the money and let people in to the theatre.

- Bar tender: There was a bar tender downstairs who was giving out soft drinks and snacks to any age and sold alcohol beverages to over 18's.

- Presenters: The presenters had to be chosen a week in advance and the presenters had to be 2 people that had a good connection with each other and could work together and could make people laugh and entertain people. Also hold a good mood before a performance and after a performance.

- Performers: Performers had to call the manager of the event to let the manager know they are performing they had to call a few weeks in advance so the manager could keep track of a set list of performers so by the time of the event there would not be to many people performing and there would be a good variety of people performing. 

Organisation - The event had good organisation, there was posters all over the area of barnet and was put up a few weeks before the event which gave enough time to get peoples attention. The set list was done smoothly and the event went smoothly without any suspense's and mistakes.

Target Audience: There was no target audience, this event was targeted to anyone who wants to watch a show, This open mic night is not meant to be hugely known it is just meant to get the theatre full, save up money for charity, and give people good entertainment and a good night out. Good enough for people to come back to the next one. 
The venue fits in well with this event because the theatre has seats and people can sit, relax and watch the show relaxed. This open mic night is more like a show so that is why the theatre is good for the event because people want to sit and lay back to watch a show. 

Venue: To pick a good venue for a specific event you need to watch out for the capacity, spacial requirement's and size. Example if you wanted a to book a venue for a gig for an upcoming artist you would not book a small venue for 50 people as a capacity because you want a lot of people to come and get to know the artist so you would book a venue for 300 - 500 capacity so a lot of people can join the event and get to know the music of the artist and also there would be promoters, managers, people from the music industry so there would be a lot of them coming. There would be a lot of social media people coming to document the gig. But for an open mic night like this would you need a capacity of 100 - 150 where that is a good amount of people where you can get everyone you know together and it is more like a show so you would need a smaller venue then a venue for a important gig for an upcoming artist. There has to be seats, in a gig it would mostly likely be a standing gig so because open mic night is more of a show you would get people sitting to relax because it is a long show. So thats why for this open mic night event the theatre is a good venue because there is 150 seats and everyone can watch and relax. 




Gig @ small venue (300 Cap.)

Location - Barfly (Camden)

Duration - 3 hours

Capacity - 200

Recurrence - One off

Spatial requirement -

Equipment:
- Dj set
- Instruments
- Computers
- Lighting
- Sound
- Mixer

Need for service companies - Security guards

Lighting and special effects - Lights

Accessibility - Not very easy

Type of music - Hip hop, R&B, Folk, Dance

Staffing:
- Security guards
- Bar tender
- Lighting
- Sound
- Performers


Gig @ large venue (300 – 5000 + Cap.)

Location - KoKo (Morington Crescent/Camden)

Duration - 4 hours

Capacity - 1410

Recurrence - One off

Spatial requirement -

Entire Venue Capacity: 1410
Theatre Style (Auditorium): 300
Banquet Style (Auditorium): 210
Reception: 1000

Equipment:
- Lights
- Sound
- Instruments
- Massive Mixer
- Lighting Mixer

Need for service companies -

Lighting and special effects - Yes

Accessibility - Easy to get there, next to station

Type of music - Pop, R&B, Soul

Staffing:
- Equipment Keeper
- Sound Engineer
- Lighting Engineer
- Bar Tender
- Secuirty Guards