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In this week's diary I have been looking at what I did previously, in terms of planning and the resources as on-going development.

I am looking forward to finishing my degree and getting the best mark I possibly can , but the most important thing for me is to gain the experience , so that I can use this in the future.

I am feeling apprehensive as usual at this stage because of the importance of the project and I want it to go well, so that I can pass and move forward in the future.

I have made many mistakes long the way and these have been highlighted as mainly around analysis, research and academic work.

Each time I have tried to change something for the better and with each project, have improved albeit in a small way

With the help of my tutor and mentor I have been able to cope with the work on a weekly basis ,however time is always a constant threat to me, because of other work commitments.

In the future months I will be trying to look more in depth at all aspects especially the social media side of things, which is a big weakness of mine and will try and get help to collaborate to achieve this task.

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Reflection topic

In this weeks diary I have been creating an altered cover version of the song Give a little respect by Erasure. I will also use this for my main artifact.

Thoughts/feelings

I am feeling very accomplished with this part of the project and have really enjoyed the whole process. I am thinking this should get me a good mark

Evaluation

The song went very well I think and I included a lot of feeling and some falsetto notes with a very laid back type of feel.

The aspects that didn't go well was having to match up the voice to the guitar, as it was done separately.

Analysis

On analysis of this week's reflection I think the song went very well because the recording was straight forward , and because it was an acoustic guitar and one voice, and I Think that is why it worked , because of the simplicity of the arrangement.

I think the reason it was difficult in parts was because of space, and time restrictions. I had to record separately and then lineup after., which wasn't ideal.

Conclusion

In conclusion I have learnt that even the simplest of arrangements, can't be overlooked and need as much attention as any recording.

Action Plan

In the future I will plan the recording accordingly and leave enough time, even though I still consider this to be a good job.

Reflection topic

I have also been working on my 12 month post graduation plan.

Evaluation

I think this generally went well and I have everything in place for where it should be.

I think I possibly could have taken on too much in the timeline.

Analysis

I think this generally went well because I had a clear path and understanding of what I want to do, and maybe I have taken too much on because I don't really know what is possible not having done this thing before.

Conclusion

In conclusion I think all plans can change and all you can do is put the information in what you think at the time.

Action Plan

Keep on planning and changing, keep developing in the future

Taking one last look at the schedule for success I can see that most of the plan is working apart from the website which has been put on hold due to time restraints of getting the FMP to the up and running stage. This part of the process is definitely a priority, and will be done by the end of September.

The 18th Of August is the next stage of the plan, and that involves contacting venues, however I feel that this may be slower than anticipated, and may need some more work with the audience and the inception of new and existing songs.

Creating an another altered version of a song shows versatility in this instance because it is done without the backing track, just voice and guitar, which shows a level of creativity.

The social media side of things has been a constant battle because of other commitments. This is still on my pan and will give it my upmost attention, when the time is right.

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Chapter 1  (b)To do 1.9 Reviewing and refining project goals

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Chapter 1  (b)To do 1.9 Reviewing and refining project goals

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This chapter is all about reviewing goals we already have in place, and checking if they are still fit for purpose, if the still fit the FMP brief and if they are effective.

The ones that are should be kept , built on and refined , and the ones that don't serve the purpose should be discarded as been important at one time but not any more.

First, we want to Revisit Initial Objectives:

What were the original goals of the project?

Improve my academic score.

To be more effective at research.

To be more creative in my compositions.

Are these goals still relevant and feasible?

These goals are still feasible and relevant because my project of being an acoustic guitarist doing a mixture of originals and covers still rings true because I would need to maintain these skills in the future to make my cover versions more interesting

The effective research in turn should improve my academic score, so this is still a priority and relevant.

Have new objectives emerged that should be integrated?

Work on analyzing information.

Being effective with social media and branding.

Showing cohesion with the Padlet.

Try to innovate with technology and also visual.

Have external factors (such as technological advancements, industry trends, or mentor feedback) influenced the original goals?

Has the project’s scope expanded or shifted beyond the initial plan, and is this beneficial?

The projects scope has shifted slightly because i want to find a way of presenting the show better both visually and by using innovation with the acoustic guitar.

Next we want to Measure Milestones and Achievements

Have key milestones been met within the expected time frame?

The milestones have been mostly met

What has been completed successfully, and what remains outstanding?

Out of the 10 steps that have been logged 8 out of the 10 have been completed

1.create a financial business plan has not been completed but elements of the financial side has such as getting together equipment.

2 .Contacting the tax office and the accountant has been actioned and completed

3.Researching typical songs for an acoustic night has been actioned and completed

4.Researching ways of creating a website has been actioned.

5.Compile a list of covers and originals has been actioned and completed

6.Practicing songs is an ongoing thing and regular practice is been maintained

7.Performing at jam nights has been completed , but again is a ongoing event

8.Set up social media accounts has been actioned and completed

9. Setting up gigs and local venues has not been actioned as yet

10.Creating a website has been actioned and near completion

Are there any areas where progress has been slower or more challenging than expected?

The social media side of things, understanding how it works and looking at how analytics improve Prescence

Also the setting up of the website has taken some time to jell together.

Have achievements matched the intended quality and depth, or is further refinement required?

In most they have met the intended quality of the product apart from the above mentioned social media which needs extensive work

How do current outputs compare with initial projections?

Current outputs do not fully match predicted initial projections, however 8 out 10 are either completed or ongoing as a natural projection.

Finally, we want to Assess Challenges and Setbacks:

Have there been unforeseen obstacles?

One of the obstacles have been challenging i.e. the website challenge which has been challenging because of the slow dialogue

How have these challenges impacted the project’s progress?

This challenge has impacted the project slightly but because the project for the songs is still at the final practice stage it has been acceptable, as when it is finally ready I will launch and in the meantime I will keep on honing the set

Have any assumptions made at the outset proven incorrect?

I assumed that the website would be a lot easier to complete, but because of the nature of the website i.e its free nature a lot has had to be done by myself , which has slowed down progress.

I assumed also that the songs would take longer to remember and get together.

What strategies have been used to overcome difficulties, and have they been effective?

Regular emails for the first one and working on the various parts off the project and they have been effective because the project is near completion

The strategies' I have used for the set list is visualization techniques watching the chord structure go through a pattern in my mind

Have alternative methods or solutions been considered?

Yes getting someone to build the website with a high cost involved and also starting from scratch, but I felt this was the best wat because the free website guys are experts in their field which has led me at every stage.

Inglis, J. (2022). Refining SMART goals to achieve results. [online] Career.io. Available at: https://career.io/career-advice/refining-smart-goals-to-achieve-results [Accessed 28 Jul. 2025].

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Chapter 1(c)Professional Project Portfolio SWOT Analysis.

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Chapter 1(c)Professional Project Portfolio SWOT Analysis.

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This SWOT analysis has been looked t and revised where necessary to accommodate any changes from the last module.

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This Diamond 9 exercise gives you pause for thought and gets you to look at your priorities and what is really important to you in your life ,prioritising from the top most important to least at the bottom in a diamond shape.

My biggest priority is making a difference closely followed by family.

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Chapter 1 (e)Professional Project Portfolio SMART Targets. Effective research

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Chapter 1 (e)Professional Project Portfolio SMART Targets. Effective research

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Above is my SMART targets for effective research

Reflect on your coursework and feedback from Level 5.

The areas that I have improved from the last block are

My academic skills even though are not yet where I want them to be but have improved and continue to improve with each block, however I still need to improve my score by at least 15 points per module, this was mentioned in the feedback and it seems I am still missing the mark when it comes to explaining things in detail but within the word count

My song writing skill have improved and the way I construct

My musical physical skills have improved by using a formula for practice.

My research techniques needs to be more concise and more effective this term ,highlighting exactly what I have found and how I will use that to hit the brief and explain in a more structured way my thoughts and findings, which is still apparent and I need to keep working on this.

my thoughts on the feedback are that they are very valid and are constructive enough for me to move forward and keep improving at every stage. This block will be a real tester for me I will really have to focus and concentrate on the important facts and figures and present them in a more easy to read structured way, which is still apparent

Another aspect of change is working on a business plan and also looking at the media side of things more closely including branding.

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Smart targets Research skills LEVEL 6 PART 2

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Chapter 1 (f)Professional Project Portfolio Smart Targets creative compositions

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Chapter 1 (f)Professional Project Portfolio Smart Targets creative compositions

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My SMART targets for being more creative in compositions.

Boogaard, K. (2023). How to write SMART goals. [online] Atlassian. Available at: https://www.atlassian.com/blog/productivity/how-to-write-smart-goals.

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Chapter 1 (g)Professional Project Portfolio SMART targets Various goals

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Chapter 1 (g)Professional Project Portfolio SMART targets Various goals

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The above is a more concise change to the last goals highlighted below with various factors stated

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Smart targets - several goals LEVEL 6 PART 2

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Chapter 1 (h) Professional Project Portfolio SMART targets Academic work

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Chapter 1 (h) Professional Project Portfolio SMART targets Academic work

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These are my SMART targets for improving my academic score

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Smart_targets__academic_work LEVEL 6 PART 2

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Above is my schedule for success, highlighting the stages that I have to complete in various time frames. The last one from the previous module Gannt chart highlighted a spectrum of events, and was useful but I feel this is a better way to make a clear straight forward plan that I can easily follow.

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The practice diary I developed last module was effective and is still being worked on and getting more fluent day by day

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This is my example of what I think is a dynamic set list, based on previous accounts of other people's opinions and also by my own experience of singing these songs in clubs.

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The below and across risk assessments ,highlights an risk factors when practicing and playing live.

Powell, J. (2022). Your Essential Guide to Health and Safety for Events - Eventbrite. [online] Eventbrite UK Blog. Available at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/blog/guide-health-and-safety-for-events-ds00/.

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This is a plan I have used for some time and is effective in keeping my skills good

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This Gannt chart was used to some success ,but I prefer a more straightforward approach like in the schedule for success.

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Description

In this weeks diary I have been working on my business plan which includes everything I need to plan forward apart from a schedule of dates, but it does include SWOT analysis and finances, strap lines and elevator pitch .There are still parts of the plan that will need re-visiting at regular intervals to make sure it is working as it should. I am well on schedule for my plan. I have given myself till the 30th of June to complete

Feelings/thoughts

I was feeling quite confident with this weeks entry , however on close examination I felt that there was quite a lot more than I initially thought and was more complicated, intricate than I thought.

Evaluation

The good parts were the straight forward information like the business aims and SWOT analysis, but I had to dig deeper into the finances and do research on elevator pitches and had to go back into previous modules to provide financial information that took some time.

Analysis

I believe that the reason that this was because of my lack of insight. I knew that all the parts existed and had come across them countless times before but when faced with them all at once , became overwhelming, albeit very important at the same time. I believe that the parts that did go well were because of thorough research an investigation, and also because I had experienced them in some form.

Conclusion

What I learned from this is experience is that you can never take for granted eve the smallest part of information or indeed slight it or overlook it , because like a machine if one cog is missing, he machine will stop. Thorough investigation is always key.

Action Plan

In the future when doing this type of project I will be more thorough and expect it to take a while until all the pieces are in place. The business plan and the SWOT analysis fit in with project because they form the foundation of finances and planning.

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Chapter 2 (b) to do 2.7 Analyse Career Threats and Plan Appropriate Safeguards.

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Chapter 2 (b) to do 2.7 Analyse Career Threats and Plan Appropriate Safeguards.

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The main purpose of this chapter is to highlight the risks that an artist is or may be taking in terms of contracts ,with record companies , venues and what we can do to protect our self legally ,stay ahead of the game in terms of being pro -active and not waiting till the worse happens. By ensuring we are ahead of the curve , it ensures piece of mind and can also protect from monetary loss.

Safeguards to protect my business

1.Protect my own compositions by registering with the PRS and emailing my self for proof of ownership. Intellectual property rights. publishing and recording rights .

2.Contact a music solicitor to ask advice on which are the best contracts I can use for live work etc.

3.Find the best contract and start using this when I am not working through an agent and getting freelance work such as weddings ,venues and make sure it highlights the cancellation policy to protect my income.

4. Make sure all riders and health and safety considerations are in place to ensure legality and safety for the audience performers and team.

New understanding and reflection

1.Draft contract in the event of any co-writing credits

stating exactly who is involved and. what their involvement is or was on a particular project.(NDA'S)

2.Make sure red-lining has been carried out in the event of an negotiation to ensure both parties are happy

2.Protect the brand of the artist by contacting the relevant agencies for trademark

4. Revise your WBO300 work on legal and organizational knowledge to incorporate any new understanding and insights from this chapter.

tmc.ac.uk. (2025). Career planning in times of uncertainty | tmc.ac.uk. [online] Available at: https://www.tmc.ac.uk/employers/blog/career-planning-in-uncertainty/ [Accessed 28 Jul. 2025].

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The first section of my new schedule highlights the completion of a business plan, which I feel is extremely important as it sets the scene for the other aspects to follow in the chart and gives a good solid basis from which to work

from.

Gov.uk (2012). Write a business plan. [online] GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/write-business-plan.

McCormick, K. (2024). 13 (Really) Good Elevator Pitch Examples + Templates. [online] WordStream. Available at: https://www.wordstream.com/blog/ws/2022/08/16/elevator-pitch-examples-templates.

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www.marketingnerd.co.uk. (2025.). The essential guide to writing a marketing strap line. [online] Available at: https://www.marketingnerd.co.uk/brand/writing-a-marketing-strap-line-that-means-something/.

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Description

This week I have continued to work on my business plan as this is scheduled for a full month up to the end of June. I have to cross reference all the information I have in all the different plans and put it into one, and keep the others for reference, also I have been working on a new song for the dynamic set list ,which is entitled picture on the wall. This will feature as one of the main 5 songs that I will perform of my own material

Feelings/thoughts

My thoughts and feelings about the above is I am feeling accomplished in the sense that it is a long project and I am getting near the end of it, but also that there is still a lot of information to process that must be correct. I am feeling confident about the new song content.

Evaluation

I feel that the song it is going really well, is quite upbeat and should go down well, also because it tells a story and should connect on a personal level, I feel if I explain the content , it will resonate with the audience. Although the song is doing well, it needs more development with some keyboards.

The business plan is going well and I believe that this could be used to apply for finance in the future especially if it is in one handy document, but needs clarity across all documents i.e. business plan to commercial strategy etc.

Analysis

I believe the song is going well because I have honed my craft over the last 2 years creating light and shade and also a dynamic chorus for the audience to sing along to ,tap their feet and a strong story. I believe the business plan is going well because of my insistence for x checking and making sure everything is going well, but also that it is daunting and have never done this type of plan before.

Conclusion

In conclusion I have learned that even though things seem complete it never hurts to look again with a fresh pair of eyes, just in case you can see a different approach.

Action plan

Keep on developing and checking trying the song out with different people and asking their opinion, also asking for proof reading from other persons.

The dynamic set list is instrumental to the project because it provides information that will be synthesised and evaluated as the project proceeds.

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Chapter 3(b) Analyse Industry models.(3.6) Business model

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Chapter 3(b) Analyse Industry models.(3.6) Business model

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My key takeaways from this session are

Making sure you have short and long term goals

Having Patience is definitely a virtue

Finding out what your USP is and how you fit in the market.

Ridged thinking will stifle productivity, being flexible means you can adapt to changing situations and challenges

Being in charge of your finances and having a good plan is key, getting out of debt is harder than getting into it and with a structured plan you can plan for all eventualities.

Connecting with competitors and customers on a personal level is crucial.

The Organisational steps I need to follow are

I need to finish my website

I need to finalise my business plan

I need to create a booking sheet to go on my website so it allows customers to book the bespoke songwriting company for  experience.

I need to reach out to venues to do a 30 minute slot to test out the product

I need to create a professional video  by myself or another expert in the field

I need to contact a about optimising a website.

I need to look deeper into social media and maximise my potential.

The commercial strategies that resonate with me are not expecting the whole picture to come to. you if you are just doing it by social media, you need to connect personally.

Going out to the community to shops and businesses and connecting and Using a hybrid model of traditional and nontraditional should work the. best and in the first instance identifying your audience is crucial

The Insights I found most interesting was when he talked about the connection between you and the customer/competitors and how you should connect on a personal level and with your competitors, who are doing a similar thing , ask them for advice. This at first seemed strange that your competitors would help ,but it makes perfect sense.

The business model most akin to my business is the Service-Based Model, which relies on providing a service to a customer. In my particular instance I am offering a nights of entertainment for a fee, which fits the service model perfectly

The other business model that touches on my FMP is the D-T-C model and that would rely on selling merchandise to a customer with no middle person involved I would reap the profits , pay for the merchandise and get a mark up from the sales which some of which would go back into buying more stock.

Reference list

Healy, P. (2016). 8 Types of Business Models & the Value They Deliver. [online] Business Insights Blog. Available at: https://online.hbs.edu/blog/post/types-of-business-models.

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Strategyzer (2025). Business Model Canvas. [online] www.strategyzer.com. Available at: https://www.strategyzer.com/library/the-business-model-canvas.

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Chapter 3 (c)Commercial Strategy plan To do analyse industry models.(3.6)

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Chapter 3 (c)Commercial Strategy plan To do analyse industry models.(3.6)

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I have highlighted the ones I feel are relevant to my project.

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Chapter 3 (d) Competitor matrix  Analyse business models(3.6) 

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Chapter 3 (d) Competitor matrix  Analyse business models(3.6) 

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Description

The above is one of my ideas that developed from the song writing part of my FMP to deliver a bespoke song writing service for special event

Feelings/thoughts

I feel like this is a good move because it gives an opportunity for the customer to describe and explain exactly what they want. That way then I can give them the right price for the job.

Evaluation

I think the form went well on most of it and it has the standard logo that I will use on all platforms, however I feel it could still do with some tweaking on the format and the questions to make it look more professional, before it goes on the website.

Analysis

I think t went generally well because I am used to things on paper looking right and it usually throws me off if its not right, but on the other hand i have never done this type of thing before that seems ultra important to get right.

Conclusion

In conclusion i think it has the potential to be good and it should serve it's purpose of being functional and attractive

Action plan

Look at each section, break down the wording does it make sense? is it in the correct order? Am i asking the question in a direct way that does not lead to confusion?

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Booking form for bespoke songwriting experience

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This is a sample of a new song I am working on to put into the show as a compliment to the cover versions, I have been putting together .The song in y opinion s a radio commercial song and are very exited about how it is developing.

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Chapter 3(g) Innovative sample Give a little respect

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Chapter 3(g) Innovative sample Give a little respect

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this is an attempt at innovation for me I have never tried changing the tempo of a song before ,probably because i have always played to backing tracks where the tempo is set .This gives me an opportunity to do so./

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Description

This week I have been getting ready for an unexpected gig, and will be trying out the first spot from my dynamic set list. The set is well rehearsed and I will continue to do this until the day of the gig ,so it is second nature. The contracts have been sent gig arrangements and communication has been sent also. Initial marketing has been set up and will continue to the day of the gig.

Feelings thoughts

I am feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves for the event to go well. I have been working on my stage Prescence at our usual gigs every week more smiling ,more eye contact etc.

Evaluation

I think that most of what I did this week has gone well apart from the marketing part and rushing to get the info out. The contract part was taken from the musicians union and the technical rider etc was used from a previous project ,so that went quite smoothly

Analysis

I think the contract and communication part of it went well, because I had gone through this process but I feel the marketing part is not going well because of not really been prepared.

Conclusion

In conclusion I need to be more prepared especially with the marketing which was flagged up on my previous feedback as well as the branding.

Action Plan

The action plan for the future is to be prepared and follow the schedule, which gives me a specific time frame to look at such activities and thoroughly action and iron out any problems.

Contracts are important to the project because it provides continuity, legality and a sense of stability ,knowing all documents are in line.

PRS for Music (2025). Join PRS for Music. [online] www.prsformusic.com. Available at: https://www.prsformusic.com/join.

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Chapter 4 (b)to do 4.7 Sustainability Plan

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Chapter 4 (b)to do 4.7 Sustainability Plan

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In your own words describe what your key takeaways from this chapter are.

In this chapter the subject sustainability i.e. sustaining a career for a period of time ,looking for things that might stop you from sustaining your career, like financial planning, like your mental health, like making connections with other people ,artists and competitors.

Making your carbon foot print also sustainable by creating merchandise that fits with sources that are good for the planet and are ethically resourced, this could also mean using digital means rather than physical copies of cd's and using green energy for tour buses and equipment.

Informed by the content, live sessions and the discussion page, create a Sustainability Plan - outlining your views on:

Work/life balance.

My views on work life balance is that it is very important to maintain this balance, it is very easy to get drawn into a work situation where you get lost in what you are doing, are enjoying it ,but your family and other people in your life are suffering, and even if you live alone it's not healthy to be working continuously without looking after your physical and mental health.

Emotional and physical well-being.

My plan for emotional and physical well being is to

1. Always be kind to myself even though things may seem serious at times ,take a step back and re-evaluate

2.Get plenty of sleep at least 7 hours

3.Plan activities so that I'm not doing activities at the last minute, rushing and making mistakes.

4.Get ting plenty of sunlight and walking around as much as possible in the sun and at regular intervals.

5.Make time for myself where I can reflect and think of things ,to make sense of the situation.

6.Make sure I exercise as early in the morning as possible to feel good all day.

Social, environmental and economic strategies.

From social point of view ,my strategy would be to always advocate and promote renewable energy

Maintain, that through my own practices using various methods

Merchandise,

Equipment etc,

From an environmental stance I would use

Digital means rather than physical cd's and covers,

LED bulbs, rather than the standard type

Eventually electric vehicle ,rather than fossil fuel.

Recycled material for merchandise, ethically sourced

Solar energy and equipment which is super efficient

Eliminating single use plastics and a recycle policy at events.

From an economic point of view I would

Re-use anything I possibly could ,rather than buy new repair fix ,change to fit the economic strategy.

Selling eco friendly merchandise.

Possibly not changing strings on the guitar as often where not necessary to cut down on cost and packaging.

The below reference has information about green touring and sustainability.

REVERB (2025) About Us. Available at: https://reverb.org/about/ (Accessed 19 June 2025).

Rees, H. (2024). How to make the music industry more sustainable? [online] Groover Blog. Available at: https://blog.groover.co/en/tips/make-the-music-industry-more-sustainable-en/.

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This document is technical details for the upcoming gig on the 29th of June and also communications between myself, he promoter and the venue owner. A contract will be added to this document.

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Chapter 4 (d) Contract. venue and artist

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Chapter 4 (d) Contract. venue and artist

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This is a contract between myself and the Crackenedge pub in Dewsbury. This is a standard contract used from the musicians union and serves as a protection for both parties. The contact includes details such as date ,people involve start time annd pricing for the event.

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Chapter 4 (e) Initial marketing                                                      

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Chapter 4 (e) Initial marketing                                                      

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Description

In this weeks diary I have been gathering the various bits of paperwork ,that I had set out to bring together in reference to the writing, recording and producing the song Boy to a Man ,written for LG Lingard a local singer/performer , who wanted a custom made song about his relationship with his mum and dad, and I have been working on this for some time now.

Feelings /thoughts

My feelings and thoughts about this project are feelings of recognition , euphoria and accomplishment, because I have a skill that I can use, have used it to the best of my ability and have earned some money in the process ,in professional way, that has given me confidence for the future.

Evaluation

On evaluation of this weeks work I consider that it went very well in most instances i.e. I have got all the documents in order and they are complete, but i think the the parts that didn't go well was the documents ,took a lot to put together, to find and to action, plus all the communication for one song.

Analysis

I think the weeks work did go well because of my insistence to try and make everything fit into place, but also didn't go well because of the time element of doing the above task, and my in-experience.

Conclusion

In conclusion to this weeks work it is obvious that the above task can not be rushed, must be as thorough as it needs to be because of the importance and the legality of the situation.

Action Plan

In the future I will try and condense the time it takes, o collaborate with someone who is good at checking details and more experienced in his type of activity.

The process of writing and creating paperwork is relevant to the project because it falls in line with one of my outcomes of creating custom made songs for the customer, which is evident in this particular chapter.

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My key takeaways from this weeks chapter is that teamwork is essential and you shouldn't work alone because you could be missing out on another's opinion , that may give you a different perspective.

That the road to success is not always and easy one and that there will be disagreements, it usually follows the same pattern of starting out being polite then the disagreement stage and eventually when everyone has listened to each other a compromise should be reached.

That listening skills are essential as well as keeping calm.

Having a leader or a facilitator is a good idea when negotiating the project to bring it all together.

With my project so far I have devised a dynamic set list which has been collaborated on by my wife.

I have tried out various songs, with my wife collaborating on and harmonising on the cover versions and original material.

I have collaborated with my producer on the production and the stripping down of certain tracks, so that I can use them in a live situation, collaborated on what instruments to use and where and the producer musician has played some parts to go towards

I still need to finish the website, which I collaborated on ,giving information to the team to complete and set up the website.

I still need to collaborate on my dress sense, which isn't very good with my wife and also come up with a solid marketing strategy.

My insights to best practice is to keep calm, listen to all opinions ,weigh up all the evidence and decide on the best path.

Listen to experience and keep throwing ideas back and forth until the right path is chosen ,which may take a while , but at least it has ben thorough.

Mixed In Key. (2025). 10 tips for music collaboration. [online] Available at: https://mixedinkey.com/captain-plugins/wiki/10-tips-for-music-collaboration/.

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COLLABORATION REFLECTION TEMPLATE team Gaz

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Booking form for bespoke songwriting experience graham whittle

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This is a contract between Graham Whittle and myself ,for the song Boy to a man.

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T4-Contract-for-Services-2024_1 boy to a man

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Chapter 5(c)(2)Boy to a man communication between Gary Shaw and Graham Whittle.

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Chapter 5(c)(2)Boy to a man communication between Gary Shaw and Graham Whittle.

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Chapter 5 c(3) Communication between Graham Whittle and Gary Shaw

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Chapter 5 c(3) Communication between Graham Whittle and Gary Shaw

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Graham Whittle communications to gary shaw

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Chapter 5 (c)(4)Communication replay to Graham Whittle

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Chapter 5 (c)(4)Communication replay to Graham Whittle

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Chapter 5  C (5)final reply comms to Graham Whittle

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Chapter 5  C (5)final reply comms to Graham Whittle

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Chapter 5 C (6)final reply graham to Gary Shaw

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Chapter 5 C (6)final reply graham to Gary Shaw

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Graham Whittle communications to gary final reply

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Chapter 5(d) Boy to a man Instrumental sample

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Chapter 5(d) Boy to a man Instrumental sample

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Chapter 5(g)Marketing close to the event

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Chapter 5(g)Marketing close to the event

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Description

For this weeks entry have been trying out an acoustic set n front of an audience guitar and voice. I have now completed the first stage of my plan which is the business plan and move onto the next section which is 7 days to contact the tax office. In reality this is already done but it gives me time to make sure everything from a tax point of view is up to date and my books are ready to be sent to the accountant.

Feelings /thoughts

The way I am feeling and thinking about this project is a mixture of anxiety and accomplishment. Anxiety because of the performance, although better than last time and accomplishment, because I have completed a goal of mine.

Evaluation

The things that went really well was the planning, the set up the list I had put together with the songs although on reflection some of the comments related to the set list as not been "everyone's cup of tea and some commented "a good range of songs." The audience were complimentary. I played and sang well, although missed a couple of beats and chords on one of the songs.

The place was busy

The aspects of the show that didn't go well was

The guitar kept dropping of the strap.

The noise of the crowd was distracting so much that it was hard to concentrate on the show.

Because of the proximity of the speaker the volume could only be lifted to a certain amount without feedback.

I didn't interact as much as I would like with the audience and there was for me awkward gaps.

The sound of the guitar seemed thin and not natural when strummed.

Analysis

On analysis of the above I think the planning stage went well , because I had worked there many times and to a certain extent knew what to expect in terms of where I would play and the volumes I could reach, and also the set up of the guitar went well ,because of the space available to me, doing the best with the room I had.

I think the guitar kept dropping , because the strap was too slack, my nervousness and the fact I felt under pressure.

The reason the crowd was noisy is because of the proximity to the bar, and to the performer.

The speaker was in that position , because that was the only place available at that time.

I didn't interact with audience, because of the noise.

The place was busy probably because of the Facebook posts and the fact we had played there before, many times.

I think the guitar sound wasn't great because lack the knowledge to set it up

Conclusion

In conclusion , even with careful planning , you can't always know how busy a place will be.

You don't know how it will make you feel with proximity of the audience.

You don't know how they will react to your song choice even though you have tailored it to that particular demographic.

Action plan

The action plan would be as follows.

Get strap locks.

warm up by some exercise to reduce anxiety.

Ask the landlord for another spot if possible away from the bar and a place where the speaker's volume can be lifted.

keep up the good work on planning but lean more towards contingencies.

Keep up the good wok with planning and continue to adjust where applicable.

Do some research on a good set up for an acoustic guitar.

Sandy, D. (2023). How To Make Acoustic Guitar Sound Better Live. [online] Sandy Music Lab. Available at: https://sandymusiclab.com/how-to-make-acoustic-guitar-sound-better-live/ [Accessed 1 Jul. 2025].

Regular trying out of performances is crucial in front of an audience because it evaluates any future decisions.

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I have set up a quick file account as per the weekly to do list and will start to use this on a weekly basis and try out the functions to make sure it is fit for purpose

Business Registration:

Decide on your business structure:

My business structure will be a Sole Trader

Choose a business name:

My business name will be Gary Shaw entertainer

Register with HMRC:

I have already registered with HMRC

Consider registering a domain name and social media handles:

I have registered my domain name for the website.

Key takeaways

There are several tax business models and not everyone is suitable for everyone

The use of one business account is a good idea because it is easy to reference for yourself and the accountant ,whereas several accounts can get messy and can be timely looking around for entries relating to the business.

Registering your business in a timely fashion is essential if you earn over a 1000 pounds, because if you register too soon, the tax office will expect a return regardless.

4.

List of safeguards to protect my business.

.

Make sure I keep accurate accounts on a weekly basis.

.Transfer all business income and outgoing expenditure to one account ,so the accountant only has to deal with one bank account

Make sure I send in the return to my accountant in  timely fashion.

.Make sure all deductions are valid to save time.

.Make sure I pay my tax by the correct date to avoid a fine.

Financial Literacy

How my thinking has changed from WB0300

I use several bank accounts for the one business

I don’t do bookkeeping eery week and usually leave it till the last minute. I always collect receipts and mileage, but don’t always do it on a regular basis.

I have registered my domain name for the website.

Yellowbrick (2023). Exploring Successful Music Business Models: A Comprehensive Analysis. [online] Yellowbrick. Available at: https://www.yellowbrick.co/blog/entertainment/exploring-successful-music-business-models-a-comprehensive-analysis.

Vance, J. (2025). Exploring different financing options for business expansion - preferred CFO. Preferredcfo.com. [online] Available at: https://preferredcfo.com/insights/exploring-different-financing-options-for-business-expansion.

I have tried out the functions and it very good,but I feel there are more straightforward ways of doing this task using the templates in word.

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The essay for the S1 project is almost ready to hand in and also the PowerPoint Presentation is on track for completion no later than the 22nd of August.

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Description

In this weeks diary I have been preparing a track with an alternative feel for my portfolio which consists of bass ,drums guitar and piano. The track is a more upbeat version of the pop classic.

Feelings /thoughts

I was feeling very confident about this because I knew it could be accomplished in the time frame, and I was thinking it will turn out successful

Evaluation

The track went really well and it was done in a very short time span as a collaboration between myself and the producer friend who quickly ran with it starting with the drums,

Analysis

I think the reason this track went so well was because of the skilled craftsmanship of the producer as a musician and my added skills on the bass to finish the track off.

Conclusion

In conclusion I think that this could be a good way to fuel the project from a unique point of view. A bit of though is needed but can be put together quite speedy

Action plan

The action plan in this case will be to create more of these type of tracks as an alternative to the originals to give the audience more dynamics.

Creating the above track is important to the project because not only is it one of my outcomes i.e. to produce different versions of songs but also shows creativity and versatility.

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Chapter 7 .7(b)To -do Best Practices' That Can Improve Your Portfolio.

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Chapter 7 .7(b)To -do Best Practices' That Can Improve Your Portfolio.

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In your own words describe what your key takeaways from this chapter are.

The key takeaways from the session are

The importance of how to a ssemble and design a portfolio.

This is important because you need a clear path to what what it will look like and the contents and if you don't the result will be less than adequate.

The format of the portfolio and the correct content is what makes a great portfolio, the order in what it comes in and what you are presenting.

Portfolios can come in different formats and the correct ones need choosing for the project you are undertaking such as video, pitch deck, live presentation etc

A portfolio of works can be funded by the arts council. If you have a quality product ,you are more likely to achieve funding status ,because they will be able to see what they are investing in.

Make sure I have a clear structure.

Make sure my content is at the best quality it possibly could be.

Make sure my content  has a logical sequence , which showcases my best work.

Make show I show clear hyperlinks to my work where necessary.

Make sure I choose Quality over quantity.

Start implementing these best practices in a way that enhances your Portfolio to its fullest potential.

Milone, R. (2023). The Music Portfolio: 8 Tips for Showcasing Your Best Work. [online] Blog | Splice. Available at: https://splice.com/blog/how-to-prepare-your-music-portfolio/.

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Chapter 7(c)Altered version of Rocket Man 

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Chapter 7(c)Altered version of Rocket Man 

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Description

In this weeks diary I have been creating the video for the main artifact which includes an altered genre of the song "Rocket man" an original composition "I can't promise you tomorrow" and a cover version of the song It's all about you by McFly. Two out of the 3 was done with acoustic guitar and rocket man with backing track

Feelings/thoughts

I am feeling very nervous about this track and thinking I may not get it done in time, because my nerves might get the better of me.

Evaluation

I feel generally the session went well, was recorded well and the initial results were pleasing, however because of the magnitude and importance of the project end I was very nervous and took a while to calm down.

Analysis

On analysis of the above evaluation I think the project went generally well because we had rehearsed several times before the day and we knew the parts. I think the reason It didn't go as planned because of time being uptight and rigid, without properly relaxing.

Conclusion

In conclusion being nervous is part of any performance, but controlling that nervousness is the key.

Action Plan

I think in the future to combat the above I need to put myself in as many situations of pressure that I possibly can.

The above is crucial to the project not only because it underpins the project by being effective in the final instalment visually, but can also be used as a selling tool for future gigs.

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Chapter 8.6 To Do: 'Best practices' That Can Improve Your Presentation

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Chapter 8.6 To Do: 'Best practices' That Can Improve Your Presentation

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Best Practices that Improve my presentation

1.Make sure the content is planned using a template or following your own including the learning outcomes and assignment brief.

2.Make sure the content is in a logical order, is not overcrowded, makes sense and has been spell checked

3.The use of a commentary is a good idea because it allows the listener to be drawn into what you are presenting

4,Speak in a confident tone with light and shade to your voice so you don't sound monotone and boring,

5.Include the wording of the learning outcomes in the presentation.

https://plusai.com/blog/10-tips-for-more-effective-presentations

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10 tips for more effective presentations - Plus

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How to actually get better at presentations

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This is a track I did on the first module in waterbear and I have cleaned it up and revamped the drums

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establishing and sustaining a career as a an acoustic guitar singer songwriter 1 

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This shows part of the song writing process after the 250 words have been dialled down tis sample shows, where I have inserted them into the song

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Chapter 8(d)Communication between Gary Shaw and Kirsty Brannan

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Chapter 8(d)Communication between Gary Shaw and Kirsty Brannan

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Communication between Gary Shaw and Kirsty, involving a shared interest in passing on work to each other

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This is my personal method of writing starting with the mind map and title

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Chapter 8 (e)You complicate lies  similes and metaphors                               

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Chapter 8 (e)You complicate lies  similes and metaphors                               

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Chapter 7(f) The other side emotional response and story telling aspect (Coutts 2021)

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Chapter 7(f) The other side emotional response and story telling aspect (Coutts 2021)

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This is a song that uses emotional response and also a story telling aspect as in the method how to write songs Coutts 2021

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Chapter 1

(a) Weekly Diary.

(b)To do (1.9)Reviewing and refining project goals.

(c)SWOT Analysis.

(d) Diamond 9.

(e)SMART targets effective research.

(f)SMART targets creative compositions.

(g) SMART targets various goals.

(h)SMART targets academic work.

(i)Schedule for success.

(j)Practice Diary.

(k) Dynamic set list.

(l) Risk assessment 1.

(m)Risk Assessment 2.

(n)Personal Practice Plan.

Chapter 2 LO4/LO9

(a) Weekly Diary.

(b) To do 2.7 Analyze Career Threats and Plan Appropriate Safeguards.

(c) Business plan.

Chapter 3

(a)Weekly diary

(b)To do 3.6 Analysis industry models. Business models.

(c)To do 3.6 Analysis industry models commercial strategies.

(d)To do 3.6 Analysis industry models competitor matrix.

(e) Booking form for website.

(f) new song for show.

(g) Innovative sample.

Chapter 4

(a)Weekly diary.

(b To -do 4.7 Sustainability plan.

(c) Gig arrangements.

(d)Contract.

(e)Initial marketing.

(f) Further marketing.

(g) Marketing close to the event.

(h)Marketing one day before.

Chapter 5

(a)Weekly diary.

(b) To do 5.6 Collaboration.

(c) Order form.

(c)1 (a) Contract.

(c)(2) Comms between Garry and Graham.

(c) (3) comms between Graham and Garry.

(c) (4)Comms reply.

(c) (5) Final reply to Graham.

(c) (6) Final reply to Garry.

(d) Sample instrumental.

(e) Sample vocal.

(f) Full track Instrumental boy to a man.

(g) Full track Vocal boy to a man.

(h) Invoice.

(i) Full track of "The other side."

(j)Pitch deck establishing and sustaining a career as a acoustic singer songwriter guitarist.

Chapter 6

(a)Weekly Diary.

(b)To -do (6.6)evidence your tax Strategy.

(c)Audience comments.

(d)Audience comments.

(e)Audience comments.

(f)Audience comments.

(g)The white room song.

(h)White room lyrics.

Chapter 7

(a)Weekly diary.

(b)To do 7.7 Best Practices' That Can Improve Your Portfolio.

(c)Alternate version of Rocket man.

(d)Boy to a man lyrics.

(e) Mind map.

(f) Emotional response and story telling Coutts (2021)

Chapter 8

(a)Weekly diary.

(b)8.6 to-do best practices that can improve your presentation

(c) Videos of recording snippet from Danny.

(d) Comms between Gary Shaw and Kirsty Brannan.

(e) You complicate lies  similes and metaphors.

Chapter 9

(a) Weekly Diary.

(b)To do 9.6 Reflect on your journey and destination.

(c)New research into songs for the show.

(d)Tear it up stripped.

(e)C.V.

(f)Essay 6.2.

Chapter 10

(a) Weekly diary.

(b)To do 10.6 submit FMP

(c) Facebook analytics.

(d)Instagram analytics.

(e)Post 12 month Graduation plan.

(f) Industry engagement.

(g) Recorded sample of "Give a little respect"

(h) Industry facing proposal.

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Reflection topic

In this weeks diary I am looking at the schedule for success, and what has been accomplished, what needs to be accomplished and anything that needs adjusting, i.e. dates etc.

Re- evaluating the success of the songs has to be put back a couple of weeks originally from 10th July to 8th of august period to 15th Of August, although I was still working on the project.

Thoughts/feelings

I am feeling hopeful that the project will come to a great conclusion and thinking I'm nearly at the end.

Evaluation

The project was going well up to the media section which was to re-establish and check on all media connections, this was done by going in each one ,checking that the account details was correct and there are no violation issues.

The above task is quite a long task to do but should be effective when executed correctly

Analysis

Generally the schedule has gone well in the past ,because I have been active , but because of burn out I have had to leave that task for another week or too probably the 20th of August, when it will give me enough time to both try out some of the later songs and put my set list on Facebook for opinions.

Conclusion

In Conclusion burn out is a real thing that can creep up on you unexpected and looking after yourself is paramount. There is only a certain amount of tasks you can do in a day and you need leisure time to balance .

Action Plan

The action plan for the future is to try and stick to the schedule as near as possible and not get too wound up if it doesn't go to plan. After all it is a plan and plans can change daily or weekly, the main thing is that this is realized and acted upon.

A re-evaluation of all sections is crucial because it means that progress through reflection can be checked and acted upon.

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Chapter 9 (b)To-do Reflection on your journey

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Chapter 9 (b)To-do Reflection on your journey

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In your own words describe what your key takeaways from this chapter are.

One key takeaway from this session is about reflection and future career planning, which is one of the most important aspects of any journey or project. Evaluating at regular intervals what went well,and what didn't, analysing why these changes happened and then acting on the information it presents. If reflection doesn't occur then progress is stunted, if planning and changing plans doesn't occur, the project will have no direction.

A valid key takeaway from this session is the career advancement through a higher qualification like the master's degree. I think I would have considered this path ,if it wasn't for the fact that I need a rest from education and also the student finance aspect. I'm sure this path could advance ones career quite well, but at this stage at 59 years old I feel I have come to the party quite late even for the degree ,which I have just undertaken.

Another key takeaway about job interviews is a very valid skill for the future. The tendency is to get complacent within your existing roll, thinking it will always be there, but the world is unpredictable and things can change overnight, with world finances. Having these skills and trying them out at regular intervals is a great idea for keeping current ,especially if you are looking to change to a more music type career

Richardson, J. (2025). The Art of Reflection: How to Reflect on the Past Year for Growth. [online] Medium. Available at: https://jeremirichardson.medium.com/the-art-of-reflection-how-to-reflect-on-the-past-year-for-growth-3ac8e5f7c90a [Accessed 28 Jul. 2025].

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Informed by the content, live sessions and the discussion page, Identify three key learning moments from your degree so far

Key learning moments

1. How to collaborate and work with a team

2. Planning for finance and budgets.

3. Marketing a product

Reflect on a challenge you’ve overcome in your FMP.

Reflecting on overcoming or starting to overcome stage fright.

Stage fright or performance anxiety has always been a problem for me especially when playing an instrument. dry mouth the fingers that wont move ,sweaty palms, talking too fast or not at at all clamming up.

The good things about my performance on this subject are that I keep going, and don't give up, forever trying new things to try and make myself accept it and keep calm like practicing for ages before a performance, which helps a bit, exercising which helps a bit,

Aspects that don't go well are the unpredictability of how I will feel on the day and if my mind is relaxed or overworking showing me scenarios of things that could go wrong but not what can go right. I have been through this processes many times with just vocals and it is much better and I think in general I have overcome this particular challenge in my FMP

In conclusion to this fact I think it is just going to take more time .

I think this happens because I am a generally anxious person who sees what should be a pleasure as a threat

The cation plan for this would be to continue putting myself in every situation of playing I possibly can and that way there will be no surprises, nothing I haven't seen and nothing I haven't felt before

Write an entry examining where you would like to be in five years - and how your FMP might facilitate this.

In five years time I see myself as a an accomplished singer songwriter,

Teacher of guitar and vocals. also to

Setting up a record company and learn how to set up guitars correctly as a sideline.

Becoming a counsellor and would like to look at opportunities with water bear well being team.

My FMP will facilitate the singer songwriting project above but could also facilitate guitar and vocal teaching and research , as skills I have attained on the full degree journey

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Chapter 9(c)New research into songs for the show.

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Chapter 9(c)New research into songs for the show.

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This set list was compiled by watching another performer and noting down any similarities and differences. On the whole all the songs are ones I haven't yet performed or though of with one or 2 of the ones on my list like ain't know sunshine bill withers.

The above fits in with my re-evaluation of my set list and attempts to keep it current with trends of songs that the audience might like to hear.

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This is a stripped down version of a song I wrote called Tear it up, which on occasion will perform ,to show dynamics.

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Above is my professional C.V which will need updating when relevant planned activities present themselves.

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This is Facebook analytics

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This is Instagram analytics

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Chapter 10 (e)12 post months graduation Plan

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Chapter 10 (e)12 post months graduation Plan

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This is my post graduation plan for at least the next 12 months, highlighting events and dates

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Above is my nearly completed essay 6.1

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This is a sample of Industry engagement working for an agent a as a duo with my wife, in Soul Provider

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Chapter 10(g) Give a little respect sample

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Chapter 10(g) Give a little respect sample