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Entertainment Business Masters Reflection
Journey…The Final Act
By
Tara C Harris
“Just thinking that in twelve months I will have
accomplished another major goal in my life and that’s earning my Master’s in
Entertainment Business. I have been on this journey for a very long time, over
20 years gaining experience by working with artists, record labels, songwriters,
producers and authors. The things that I have learned thus far have been
crucial to my development and career.”
This was the very first paragraph from my first course. It has been twelve
months and indeed I have learned, struggled, paced and almost drove myself
crazy over thinking on what was needed in order to succeed in the EBMS
program. Personal Development and Leadership showed me what was really
inside of me and what I could accomplish. I had to have an open mind to
receive what was given to me and most certainly I succeeded.
My Mastery: Personal Development and Leadership Timeline PowerPoint
Presentation
(Double Click Pic)
“This month’s course is all about executive leadership and
studying two different styles of leadership. On one hand you have Robert
Greene’s “The 48 Laws of Power” and on the other you have John C. Maxwell’s
“Developing The Leader Within You”. Both of these readings have great points
but different views and I understand both because I have been in the presence
of them and been both. Being in the entertainment industry is most definitely
Greene from what I have witnessed in the over 20 years I have been in it. I have
never seen a Maxwell leader who has not turned into a Greene leader in little to
no time from what they have gone through or been faced with. I myself have
been both Greene and Maxwell but in the end I’m a Maxwell type of leader.”
Executive Leadership pretty much gave me a look at the 2 types of leaders that
were already inside of me. I have used both types of leadership but I was only
comfortable with one. In my opinion, Robert Greene is more of a cut throat type
of leader and even though I have used his ways, John Maxwell’s leadership
type is who I am today. This course brought back so many memories that I
thought I had buried but when it all boils down to it, I had to do what was
needed at those times. Realizing who you really are in leadership makes a
significant difference in how your company will be ran and how you will be
viewed.
“What I have learned is that in order to manage, you must be
in tuned to each person’s strengths and needs and align that with the project
that you all are working on. You must take notice of the specific jobs that are
assigned and make sure that that particular job fits whom it is delegated to.
There is a chain of command and everyone has to play their part and step
forward when it is their turn to present/add to the project at hand. Each
person is assigned a specific job and that person has to be on top of their
duties at all times so that things go as planned. There is no way that a project
can come out successful if all players are not in sync with their roles or the
project is in disarray.”
Project and Team Management was the coolest class to date. Learning how to
work with your team on a project gave insight as to who you are and whether
or not you’re/others are difficult to work with. This course showed me that not
only could I work with others but I could enjoy working with others who may
have different views than I. Managing projects are not hard if you have the
right team behind you and this is exactly what I wanted to know.
“In a world of economic uncertainty, I do believe that there is
room for my story, my business and my brand. I have to offer what is wanted,
what is needed and what is desired and not “skimp” on the quality or quantity
of my product. Creativeness and the desire to give others what they want to
make a better life for themselves and their business is one of my goals. This
course pointed me straight to what I will need to become successful and stand
out from the rest of the crowd. I have to research other businesses and see
what they have done to become whom they are as well as how their brand has
stayed on top for so long. Even if the field is saturated, there is room for fresh,
new and different. What will it be that makes my company stand out from
others? How does my logo tell my company’s story? How does my company’s
motto stand out from the rest? What is my Brand Identity? What colors can
zero in to my customers and make them see my company as a stand out from
the rest? How will my company play on its customer’s emotions? These are all
valid and much needed questions to have answered when it comes to my
company and its brand.”
I had not realized that every company has a story. From beginning to end, each
business has a way that it was started, whether thought out or not. Business
Storytelling and Brand Development gave me “the eye” for research. Exploring
a company’s beginnings and following thru to their “to date” was tiresome but
well worth it. I found myself researching other avenues along with a company’s
history. This is what set a spark off in me to pursue other ways and avenues to
focus my interest.
“This month Entertainment Business Finance has totally
gotten on my last nerve but I am so thankful and grateful that it is a part of the
curriculum for the Entertainment Business Master’s program. Net Profit Value
and Profitability Index and some of the terms that will make a difference in
whether or not to pursue getting loans for a business and whether or not I
should be interested in going for a project. Knowing how to calculate
depreciation into items that you may purchase will help you decide if it is
worth the purchase. Understanding amortization and calculating interest are
all a vital part of buying a home or purchasing property. There is so much
information that I had not known that is connected to starting and running a
business that can make a difference in all of my decisions as a business owner.
Finance is vital and critical in starting, running and owning a business that it
is necessary to know more than the basics. I don’t think I could just let my
financial department/accountant/advisor handle all of this without knowing
what it is that they are doing or computing. Assets, liabilities and expenses can
make or break you in your personal life and in business if you do not
understand what is going on. The idea is to have/gain assets that produce
enough that you acquire wealth without having the need to worry about
whether or not you can pay your mortgage or the next set of bills that are sure
to come. Out of all the courses that I have taken so far and will take in the
future, Entertainment Business Finance has prepared me to go much further
and secure my understanding of it all and expand on what I have learned
within this month. Finally, one of the biggest lessons that I have learned comes
from Robert Kiyosaki, “Work To Learn—Don’t Work For Money”.
I still stand by Entertainment Business got on my last nerve but guess what? I
made it through it and conquered a great fear…finance and numbers plus I
know how to do a Pro Forma.
“My original goal for this course was just to understand the
art and walk away knowing what should happen and what should not happen
when negotiating but it was so much more than I anticipated. You must take
into consideration all sides that are present no matter how bad one side may
be. The best outcome is the goal for either side and it is my job to make sure
that that happens. I’ve learned that even if a side is difficult, there is hope for a
successful negotiation. My willingness to overlook the negative and keep the
positive in circulation during talks is the key to gaining success. Research and
facts play a major part in negotiating a deal and you must come prepared and
focused to show your strength.
There were a couple of tactics that stood out to me and one was “Game
Theory”. Even though in game theory it’s all about successfully getting what
you want, you must anticipate others who are involved moves. Knowing how
they will/may operate will place you in a solid position and get you what you
want out of the deal. Anticipating someone’s moves isn’t an easy job but if you
know the person and how they usually go about things, it can make for a great
outcome on your behalf.”
“This month’s course Product & Artist Management has
given me new life. Even though I think this could have been Advanced
Business Management, it certainly made a few more things clear business
wise. SWOT Analysis is so important in your quest to having your own
company and does the work of not having to figure out later what you have to
take care of in the now. The strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
all matter and should not be taken lightly in running your own business. You
must know who your competition is and not fall into the trap of doing the
“same old” thing that has been done. Look for new and exciting ways to run
your business, look for the silver lining that no one else has bothered to give
thought to. Whatever it is that you are attempting to sell needs to be that niche
that has never been presented and/or looked over so many times.
Your product represents you and your company. It represents everything you
have ever wanted accomplish and make people understand that you ARE the
best at what you do. What is it that separates you from others? What do you
have that no one else has? How does you company outshine the rest? Why
does your product or service even matter? Why should anyone purchase your
product or service? And why should I give you my money, time, air or space?
These things matter and will become your reason for existing in business. What
you are and whom you represent are factors of importance and you should
already know WHO you are.”
This course wasn’t what I expected but I
gained new insight and learned how to assess my
company.
I really wanted this course to focus more on Artist Management & the products
that go along with Artist Management but I absorbed information business
wise that I had not previously known.
“This month in Advanced Entertainment Law has been a
great one. Reading and summarizing actual cases and realizing the extent of
the law can be exciting. Studying cases can place you in the mind of someone
else whether it’s for good or for bad. Seeing how things can be viewed as
intentional or not gives better insight in reviewing. Also, seeing how a case may
be headed one way but turns out a totally different way is now understood. The
burden of proof is where the judgment lies but you also can see where
persuasion takes its stand. Trademarks, copyrights, liability, use of likeness,
fraud, intentional torts and other things that can rear its head when
conducting business can be the best or worst of being in business. You must
be careful with whatever you are a part of when liabilities are concerned.
Knowing your business and what your business consists of is the great
knowledge you could ever have. Be very cautious and know the laws that
pertain to your business so that you have a clear understanding if an issue
may arise. Considering that people are suing for just about anything these
days, you must know the laws as it pertains to you and your business.”
Advanced Entertainment Law was a true highlight of the EBMS program.
Contracts, trademarks, copyrights, liabilities and Intellectual Property are must
know in the entertainment field. There is no way one can say that they are in
the “Industry” and don’t know anything about these. There are so many little
bits of information that one must know in order to operate in the truest form of
the law when it comes to entertainment and this course gives much more than
one could expect. I knew that this would be one of the classes that I would love
because I came in the industry not knowing certain parts of entertainment law.
This course filled in the blanks for me and I can’t wait to go deeper in depth
with entertainment law. I truly enjoyed this course.
“I have been a songwriter for over 30 years, I have a nephew
who is an excellent author/writer and I have another nephew who writes and
produces music. Considering that the majority of my immediate family are
talented individuals who are embarking upon the field of entertainment, I
found this course to be a “breath of fresh air”. Learning how to write a Query
Letter and doing a Made for Television Treatment provided me with the
necessary tools to help and guide myself and my family in their entertainment
careers. Now I don’t know everything there is to know but this course has given
a path to starting and later on mastering. Hearing the joy in both of my
nephew’s voices when I tell them what I am learning and have learned is the
greatest joy for me.
Receiving knowledge from Professor Craft and her course book “Entertainment
Media and Publishing Distribution” 2 edition lists very critical information to
show you what is needed to self-publish or go the route of getting an agent. The
samples and examples gives me an clear understanding of what is looked for
and expected when you are in the business of publishing and distributing for
the public. It is necessary to research how others have done it with success
also to get an idea of what and how things need to be presented at the present
time. There are so many websites, associations, guilds and blogs that can give
you the information needed that can help on your journey to success.”
I have heard so many people say, “What you don’t know can’t hurt you” but
this is the farthest from the truth for me. What you don’t know can and will
hurt you when it comes to business especially. I have authors in my family that
depend on me to know what they don’t. I in turn prep them for what could and
may come so that they will know what to expect. My family and I are preparing
to self-publish one of my nephews’ books. The vital information that I received
has shown me what I can do and what to look out for in self-publishing.
“I did not know what to expect in DMK and had no idea that
it would show me how to set up web analysis and connect people to any of my
various sites through SEO (Search Engine Optimization). I just figured that it
would be more marketing information that was to be added on to what we have
already studied. Even though it is adding on to our previous knowledge in prior
to courses, it is the heightened elevation of marketing into showing us how to
collect data by infusing our various sites into the main stream web. DMK is
showing us how to creating direct portals to our online information about who
we are and what we do in this journey of obtaining our Master’s degree and the
company that we represent in business. I understand the saying “Saving the
best for last” with this course. It is truly the best coming in the last stage of
knocking on graduations door.
Divine Royalty Productions Group is the company that I am a part of and we
are already using what I have been taught so far in DMK. We are connecting
Google Analytics to our company’s website and infusing SEO also. This is going
to be a ride that I will never forget because DMK is helping to make our
presence felt in social media as well as the World Wide Web. When we present
of our company to the world in a few months, we will have DMK and a few
other courses to thank for it. Divine Royalty Productions Group is built on
respect, trust and honesty with a huge dose of respect for the people that we do
business for and with. DRPG will never take the job that is done lightly and we
are a confident company. Thank you once again DMK for helping this company
get to the “world.”
The joy of Digital Marketing…The Marketing Plan!
Yes I did it! Sixteen pages of how my company plans to market our business. I had no clue at first
but once we got started, it all came together.
“As much as I hate math and doing financials, this class was
one of the best throughout these last 11 months. Business Plan Development
gave me exactly what I was looking for. I have always feared writing a business
plan because it looked difficult to put together but when you have the right
tools and Instructor guiding you, it becomes a piece of cake but not without
challenges. Dr. Burhoe is so awesome in his feedback of what was needed
inside my business plan and when I thought that I had truly messed up, he
returned feedback that showed me that I was on the right track. The research,
financials and marketing information may have been the most challenging but
I got through it.
The original goal for BPD was just to understand what it was that I was
supposed to do as far as putting together a business plan but in the end it
became so much more than numbers and a new company. Learning how to put
together your own vision of what it is you want in your company made me
think about so many things like when would people start to get paid and what
if you make no money in the first three years of business? These things made
me view the way I would setup my business and how could I operate a
business without going broke and having funds left over to continue to running
this business. Yes starting a company can be difficult but if you keep at it there
could be light at the end of the tunnel as well as a rainbow with a pot of gold.
You must know all aspects of running a business and what you need to do to
run it. If the funds aren’t there, there are ways to get the funds you need with
Angel Investors, Crowd Funding Projects and other capital fund raisers.”
BPD was another top course but not without challenges on my part. Here we go
again with research, numbers and statistics, the very thing that I hate but
made it through. I have never been a math or numbers person but now that I
know I can do it, I have an ease about it all. Your business has to be
thoughtfully and carefully planned out. It’s not like you can just wake up one
day and say, “Oh I think I’ll start a business today”, no that’s not how it works.
You need to know how much will it cost to start, what legal issues if any can
and will arise or who will give me money to do this if I don’t have enough to do
it myself. Your plan for your business has to be developed and carefully
thought out. BPD gave me the necessary tools to do all of this and possibly
succeed if I stick to the plan.
DIVINE ROYALTY
PRODUCTIONS GROUP
LLC.Divine Royalty Productions Group, LLC better
known as DRPG, is a music production, publishing and songwriting company.
Tara C. Harris
Final Business Plan Presentation
(Double Click Picture)
Well this is the end of the line. The actual Business Plan is the final project and
it seems like it was just yesterday that I started the program (well okay not
really). Every course that I have taken has led up to this project. The project
that when I began I was so afraid of, the project that intimidated me and made
me doubt myself. What I have learned in this final month is that I could do it
all the long. It was nothing to fear and nothing to get all twisted up about. I
remember breaking out in a sweat when it came time for the Marketing Plan. I
was so unsure if I would do it right but I did. I read and re read everything that
was needed and prevailed. What was different about the business plan?
Nothing really just a little more information with some graphs and statistics.
More detail was needed with an in depth look at my company from the top to
the bottom, inside and out.
The Business Plan is just a collection of what I have learned in the previous
eleven months, condensed into a compact project that could net financial
freedom for my company and I. An overall look into what I love to do and a view
of how I would present what I love to do to others. This final project is a
collection of work that showcases if I understood what the last eleven months
have been all about and if the public could accept what I have learned and
possibly pay me for my talent and knowledge on it.
References
Godin, Seth. “Seth’s Blog.” Seth’s Blog. Seth Godin, 2 Mar. 2015. Web. 15 Mar.
2015.
Sinek, S. (2009, September 1). How great leaders inspire action. Retrieved
December 7, 2014,
fromhttp://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_how_great_leaders_inspire_action
Allen, P. (2011). Artist management for the music business (2nd ed.). Oxford:
Focal.
Anuzis, M. (2007, April 24). How to Negotiate a Pay Raise with Game Theory.
Retrieved November 11, 2014,
from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ikE1pn034WA&feature=related&nor
edirect=1
Fisher, R., Patton, B. M., & Ury, W. L. (1991). Getting to yes: negotiating
agreement without giving in (2nd ed.). New York: Penguin Books.
Kiyosaki, R. T. (2011). Rich dad, poor dad: what the rich teach their kids about
money– that the poor and middle class do not. Scottsdale, Ariz.: Plata Pub..
Adelman, P. J., & Marks, A. M. (2009). Entrepreneurial finance (5th ed.). Upper
Saddle River, N.J.: Prentice Hall.
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Books.
Maxwell, J. C. (1993). Developing the leader within you. Nashville: T. Nelson.
All pictures are from Google Images 2015
Whitney Houston Rider. (n.d.). Retrieved May 28, 2015, from
http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/whitney-houston-rider?page=1