• This module is about creating a Final Music Project that is self-directed with content research and findings.

  
  

  In level 5 the academic expectations were to be led with the learning and outcomes. In level 6 this has changed to making your own decisions and how you will fulfil the expectations of the learning outcomes

  
  

• My final music project may be starting a record company for struggling artists who haven't or wouldn't have a chance at their own version of success.

  
  

  TalkBass.com. (2019). Covers to Originals Ratio In Your Total Playing? [online] Available at: https://www.talkbass.com/threads/covers-to-originals-ratio-in-your-total-playing.1389153/ [Accessed 5 Feb. 2025].

  Nazir, F.N.M. 2024. The sound debate: Pros and cons of original vs. Acoustic music versions. Culturess. [Online]. [Accessed 5 February 2025]. Available from: https://culturess.com/posts/the-sound-debate-pros-and-cons-of-original-vs-acoustic-music-versions-01hzkdhsh5bf.

Welcome to level 6 introduction

To do (1.10)(a)

To do (1.10)(b) SWOT Analysis.

To-do (1.10) (c) Initial notes on research

To-do (1.10)(d) SMART Targets.(effective research)

To-do (1.10)(e) SMART Targets.(creative)

To-do (1.10)(f) SMART Targets.(academic score)

(g)initial thoughts on the module

(h)Looking forward

Chapter 2

Career planning and goal setting

WBO300 2.6 (a)To Do: Draft Career Development Plan and FMP

(b)Gannt chart

(c)intro

(d)tear it up sample

(e)Hello sample

(f)Human sample)

(g)its all about you sample.

(h)Rocket man sample

(i) she will be loved sample

(j)Reflection

(k)Reflection 2

(L)Weekly diary

(m)Tips for performances

Chapter 3

Identifying and developing transferable skills

(a)WBO300 to-do self - assessment and personal development

(b) 2.6 Skills gap analysis

(c) practice diary

(d) Weekly diary

Chapter 4

How to create your brand LO7

(a)WBO300 4.7 to-do conceive a brand that represents you and your goals.

(b)My brand picture

(c)facebook post start of project

(d)Post insights Facebook

(e)poll on best song message

(f)Comments on best songs

(g)Comments on best songs

(h)comments on best songs

(I)Comments on open night video from facebook friends

(J)Questions for performers to answer

(K)Kirsty Brannan answers

(L)Kirsty Brannan gig dates.

(m)Dog train duo /Talent lab promo

(n)Dog train talent lab answers

(o)Scarlett answers.

(p)Scarlett promo facebook

(q)video from open mic night

(r) Observation of songs

(s) Reflection of open mic night

(t) Weekly diary

(u)Dynamic set list Gary Shaw Music

Chapter 5

Industry standards and best practices.

(a)To do WBO300(5.7)LO1

(b)Ashleys set list

(c)Risk assessment 1

(d)Risk assessment 2

(e)Personal practice plan

(f)I cant promise you tomorrow acoustic

(g)I cant promise you tomorrow reflection

(h)you do something to me acoustic

(i) you do something to me reflection.

(j)Amazed acoustic

(k)Amazed reflection

(l) My songwriting process

(m)Tracy Chapman fast car song and reflection of progress.

(n)Musicians union contact for performer.

(o) I cant promise you tomorrow lyrics and chords.

Chapter 6

(a)Network and relationships building

To do (6.7)WB0300 OUTCOME 6

(a1) Marketing emails

(b) Open mic night Al's Mars bar

(c)free website

(d)blue host

(e)open mic nigh fleece own composition

(f)open mic nigh fleece human song

(g)list of songs played by other performers.

(h)Feedback for Al's Mars bar

(i) Feedback from the fleece own reflection

(j) baby I love you

(k) week 6 feedback

(l)Monday marketing plan.

Chapter 7

Digital Literacy and Industry tools

(a)to do(7.6)LO3 WB0300

(b)When you say nothing at all

(c) Feedback week 7

(d)Ziggy

(e)Feedback Ziggy and when you say nothing at all

(f)Feedback weekly session

(g)Weekly diary.

Chapter 8

Financial Literacy

Budget planner.

(a)To do 8.7 (WB300)resources

(b)To do 8.7 budget planner excel

(c)Have you ever seen the rain recording

(d) Have you ever sen the rain feedback

(e) Weekly feedback

(f)Weekly diary

(g)Have you ever seen the rain new key

week 9

Legal and organisational responsibilities(LO1)WB0300

(a) To do 9.7 summary report on relevant legal aspects

(b)knocking on heavens door

(c)knocking on heavens door feedback

(d)Weekly feedback

(e)Risk assessment

(f)Contract

(g)Technical rider

(h)Weekly diary

(i)Musicians union

(j) Code of practice agents association

WB0300

Week 10

Reviewing and refinement

(a) Portfolio of evidence

(b)Industry facing proposal

(c)Reflection of project

(d)Chapter 10 reflection

(e) O Carol song

(f) O Carol feedback

(g)Rag and bone man video.

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 a song gaining new skills in improvisation and innovation. This was mentioned in the last block that I didn't quite innovate to the maximum that I could have done.

My opinion of that is that I gave the song what it needed and although I could have done more like different time signatures I hit the brief. This is probably an area for further development in the future

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.

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.

Identify and define for yourself what you learned and how you improved. Also reflect on  areas where you might not have progressed as you hoped.  In the form of SMART Targets, prioritise areas that you wish to improve this Study Block.

Record label

how would I start?

What skills do I need?

What backing do I need?

what are the advantages and disadvantages of setting up a company?

What are the tax implications?

Can I achieve this on my own and if not who will I need for it to succeed?

What equipment will I need and how professional does it have to be for me to operate

Is there a place in the market for my product and who are my competitors?

What am I doing that is different to everyone else, what is my USP?

What marketing strategy will I need to make the product work?

Will I be able to earn a living from this product and how successful can it become?

An acoustic touring musician

All the above would be relevant to both of the above sectors

Dittomusic.com. (2025). Ditto Labels | Start a Record Label & Sign Artists. [online] Available at: https://dittomusic.com/en/labels?msclkid=0b868a735604169b837eedfd23ee1de3&utm_source=bing&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=2024%20uk%20%7C%20search%20%7C%20generic%20%7C%20labels&utm_term=start%20your%20own%20label&utm_content=labels%20%7C%20uk [Accessed 20 Jan. 2025].

Edney, C. (2021). A Guide on How to Start Touring as a Musician - RouteNote Create Blog. [online] RouteNote Create Blog. Available at: https://create.routenote.com/blog/a-guide-on-how-to-start-touring-as-a-musician/ [Accessed 20 Jan. 2025].

‌

‌

My key takeaway from this weeks session is the creation planning and execution on how to complete, with all the various parts of goal setting and execution of a Final major project.

There are various avenues that can be explored for example setting up a record label to setting up a website.

With clearly defined goals, resources and steps , we can plan, research find the best way to connect and different ways of promoting the product, to effective execution.

My draft FMP

My Final music project is going to be setting up a business touring the clubs pubs and festivals within the Uk and then in the last part of the project, I will connect and support a major artist and tour the Uk with my own material and covers.

My FMP from last week mentioned this aspect and also the creation of an online record label. While I still have the record label as strong idea I think at this stage it is more practical and makes more sense to be an acoustic singer songwriter, because I possess most of the skills needed to execute this plan and I feel it could be more successful and more achievable within the time frame and more achievable from a financial aspect also.

StartUp Mindset (2023). StartUp Mindset. [online] StartUp Mindset. Available at: https://startupmindset.com/7-key-actions-that-will-help-your-business-thrive/ [Accessed 5 Feb. 2025].

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2021). Make a Career Plan. [online] Career Advising & Professional Development | MIT. Available at: https://capd.mit.edu/resources/make-a-career-plan/.

‌

The reason why we need these essential skills is because we need to lend ourselves to multiple situations where these skills will keep cropping up and if we are competent at these skills we can apply them to a variety of situations, especially music.

Ben (2024). Transferable skills. [online] ben.org.uk. Available at: https://ben.org.uk/how-we-help/for-me/articles/transferable-skills/.

‌

This week's subject matter is all about branding

the importance of branding and the effectiveness of branding.The reasons why we need branding and what it says to the public customers and competitors what you do and what you stand for.A brad brand will not do any of the above so it is worth looking at it properly and deciding on the best format .This must also be used consistently against all platforms i.e website business cards ,posters and social media

Goldstein, K. (2024). How to build a brand in 10 simple steps. [online] Wix Blog. Available at: https://www.wix.com/blog/how-to-build-a-brand?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=13774768257.

‌

‌Aggarwal, S. (2024). Boost Your Social Media Engagement With Influencer Collaborations. Powr.io. [online] doi:https://doi.org/10060559/1582196081823.

‌

Morris, R. (2025). 10 Ways To Dominate On Social Media In 2025. Forbes. [online] 31 Jan. Available at: https://www.forbes.com/councils/forbesagencycouncil/2025/01/31/10-ways-to-dominate-on-social-media-in-2025/.

FSB (2020). The seven most popular ways to promote your business. [online] www.fsb.org.uk. Available at: https://www.fsb.org.uk/resources-page/the-7-most-popular-ways-to-promote-your-business.html.

Gabbert(2021) Word Stream Social Media Marketing for Businesses. [online] WordStream. Available at: https://www.wordstream.com/social-media-marketing.

Tan, R. (2021). Ethics of Social Media Marketing: Transparency and Authenticity | Vista Social. [online] Vistasocial.com. Available at: https://vistasocial.com/insights/ethics-of-social-media-marketing/.

i am working on the website with this branding which is proving a bit difficult because of the way the picture lies and i need to find a way to reduce the picture to fit all areas, so I have decided to come up with something a bit more simpler that fits all eventualities.

English, G. (2022). The 5 Cs of Songwriting. [online] Graham English. Available at: https://grahamenglish.com/the-5-cs-of-songwriting/.

‌‌

howtowritesongs.org. (2011). About - How To Write Songs. [online] Available at: https://howtowritesongs.org/about/.

performancehigh303 (2010). How to Engage Your Audience: Two Types of Eye Contact. [online] Performance High Voice and Music Studio. Available at: https://performancehigh.net/how-to-engage-your-audience-two-types-of-eye-contact/ [Accessed 10 Apr. 2025].

‌ 

Q1 How long have you been playing and singing?

Q2 What was it that made you want to do this type of performance?

Q3 How did yoou promote your product?

Q4.What is the reason for your song choice whilst doing this type of performance?

Q5 How would you decribe your uniques selling point?

6.How do you connect with your audience?

7.Can you give me some song choices which you think work with the audience?

‌

1.I use formulas from the below keppie Coutes and do little exercises that she shows for example breaking down songs into formulas that other artists do like the Beatles or homing in on the emotion of the lyrics and using cliches to an advantage

The second method is my own and i use spidergraphs to plot a song and write a title in the middle of the page and write anything i can think of that relates to that subject

I will ask further questions like where what and so forth.Once I have done that i will look at a story plot and put it into sections of rough order. Next

I will work on the hook and create the chorus .Then onto the style I want for example a country song.

That will then give me some idea of bpm and I will try various chords to fit the lyrics and change where necessary.

The below speed songwriting method works on a similar method of arranging 250 words from a title and adding emotions and places and people.

Then a song plot and build it up in 7 sections very fast.I have tried this several times and although very good is not as fast as is made out but a solid foundation to start

English, G. (2013). About Speed Songwriting. [online] Speed Songwriting. Available at: https://speedsongwriting.com/about/ [Accessed 15 Feb. 2025].

‌

howtowritesongs.org. (2011). About - How To Write Songs. [online] Available at: https://howtowritesongs.org/about/.

‌

Sven NilsenFri, Feb 14, 9:19 PM

Hi Garry, This is Sven, the Lead Developer from The Free Website Guys. We really liked the concept behind your website and would like to offer to build a free w

Garry Johnson-CrabtreeMon, Feb 17, 11:31 AM

Hi I wondered if you had time to look at the questions I sent you yesterday it was basically asking once I had paid for hosting what are the ongoing costs I.e m

Sven NilsenMon, Feb 17, 12:40 PM

Hi Garry, The costs would be for web hosting (which is as low as $35/year with Bluehost with our discount code). In terms of other costs, that's it. You can buy

Garry Johnson-CrabtreeMon, Feb 17, 3:33 PM

Thankyou sounds great I will get on with the blue host domain thanks for your help I’ll let you know once it’s done and I’ll stick with the free maintenance pac

Sven NilsenMon, Feb 17, 7:37 PM

Great, Garry. Sounds good! Looking forward to you signing up for web hosting! We'll then be able to slot you into our development schedule for the next few days

Garry Johnson-CrabtreeSat, Feb 22, 10:01 AM

Hi Sven can you resend me the link please for the hosting I seem to have lost it for some reason regards Garry Sent from my iPhone On 17 Feb 2025, at 19:37, Sve

Sven NilsenSat, Feb 22, 11:07 AM

Sure, Garry! Here it is: https://thefreewebsiteguys.com/bluehost Let me know once you've signed up or if you have any questions. Best, Sven

Garry Johnson-CrabtreeMon, Feb 24, 11:17 AM

Hi Sven, I have blue hosting I await further instructions, regards Garry

Sven NilsenMon, Feb 24, 3:04 PM

Perfect, Garry! You're off to a good start here. We're nearly ready to get started setting up the back-end infrastructure of your website. Here are the next ste

Sven NilsenTue, Feb 25, 3:50 PM

Hey Garry, Did you get my email about the next steps? No rush at all, by the way. Just wanted to make sure you got the email (since we've had a few cases recent

Garry Johnson-CrabtreeTue, Feb 25, 9:22 PM

Sorry can you send here again regards Garry Sent from my iPhone On 25 Feb 2025, at 15:50, Sven Nilsen <hello@thefreewebsiteguys.com> wrote: 

Sven NilsenWed, Feb 26, 10:51 AM

Hi Garry, Thank you for sending over the form! We have received the info you submitted through the form and based on the current workload it looks like we shoul

Sven NilsenSun, Mar 2, 5:18 AM

Hi Garry, Hope you're doing well! We have been trying to find the invitation for your Bluehost account, but we can't seem to find it. Can you let me know which

Garry Johnson-CrabtreeSun, Mar 2, 1:59 PM

Hi Sven , should be good to go now regards Garry Sent from my iPhone

Sven NilsenMon, Mar 3, 12:49 PM

Hi Garry, Great, thanks for letting me know. I will keep you posted regarding our progress. Best, Sven

Sven NilsenMon, Mar 3, 6:10 PM

Hey Garry, I wanted to give you a progress report on what we've done so far in setting up the back-end of your website. We've logged a number of hours and have

Sven NilsenMon, Mar 3, 6:10 PM

Hi Garry, Okay, on to the next step! Your next task is to pick a theme (or “template”). This part is always fun to do! Take some time to watch the video below a

Sven NilsenWed, Mar 5, 5:01 PM

Morning Garry, Just wanted to double check that you got my email about picking a theme from a few days ago. There's no rush to go through it. We've just had a f

Garry Johnson-CrabtreeSun, Mar 9, 10:48 AM

Hi Sven this is really hard because I don’t really know which one will suit my product maybe I kinda like the one with the future theme I will need a section fo

Sven NilsenMon, Mar 10, 8:51 PM

Hey Garry, Can you please send me a link to the theme you're referring to? Thanks, Sven

Garry Johnson-CrabtreeWed, Mar 12, 7:56 AM

Sent from my iPhone On 10 Mar 2025, at 20:51, Sven Nilsen <hello@thefreewebsiteguys.com> wrote: 

Sven NilsenThu, Mar 13, 11:12 AM

Hi Garry, Sure, we can definitely do that. Just a couple of things to keep in mind are that the basic themes are more limited in terms of their functionality an

Garry Johnson-CrabtreeSat, Mar 15, 10:16 AM

Hi thanks that’s fine Garry Sent from my iPhone On 13 Mar 2025, at 11:12, Sven Nilsen <hello@thefreewebsiteguys.com> wrote: 

Sven NilsenSun, Mar 16, 9:56 AM

Hey Garry, Sure. So there's one other option here, which may be a good fit for you and also get you access to a premium theme. We can get you either Astra Pro o

Garry Johnson-CrabtreeWed, Mar 19, 8:57 PM

Hi Sven ,I like this one Sent from my iPhone

Sven NilsenThu, Mar 20, 11:51 AM

Hi Garry, We've just created a payment link in Stripe that you can pay with a credit card, which you can find here: https://buy.stripe.com/4gw2bTgKze0MeDm6oC Pl

Sven NilsenMon, Mar 24, 2:20 PM

Hey Garry, Did you get our email from a few days ago? See below. :-) Thanks!

Garry Johnson-CrabtreeMon, Mar 24, 10:08 PM

Hi yes I’ll get straight on it thanks Garry Sent from my iPhone On 24 Mar 2025, at 14:20, Sven Nilsen <hello@thefreewebsiteguys.com> wrote: 

Sven NilsenWed, Mar 26, 9:21 PM

Awesome, Garry! Keep me posted!

Garry Johnson-CrabtreeThu, Mar 27, 9:50 AM

Hi can you tell me what happens now Garry Sent from my iPhone On 26 Mar 2025, at 21:21, Sven Nilsen <hello@thefreewebsiteguys.com> wrote: 

Sven NilsenThu, Mar 27, 3:35 PM

Hey Garry, Okay, great. Let’s keep moving then! Here are the next steps: 1.) Logo. Do you have a logo already? If not, an easy option is to buy something from t

Garry Johnson-CrabtreeFri, Mar 28, 8:50 PM (13 days ago)

Hi please use this log thanks Garry

Sven NilsenSun, Mar 30, 6:02 AM (11 days ago)

Hi Garry, Great, thanks for sending that through! Please let me know once you have submitted the form. Best,Sven

Garry Johnson-CrabtreeThu, Apr 3, 1:09 PM (7 days ago)

Hi. Sven,before I do the video I want to make sure I can upload music and video content to the one i have selected.its gonna be pretty useless if I can't unless

Sven Nilsen

Sun, Apr 6, 3:56 PM (4 days ago)

to me

Hi Garry,

Yes, it's possible.

Best,
Sven

Alive Network (2024). Acoustic Singer Guitarists For Hire - Alive Network. [online] Alive Network Entertainment Agency. Available at: https://www.alivenetwork.com/bandsearch.asp?style=Acoustic%20Singer%20Guitarists [Accessed 5 Feb. 2025].

rok.kroflic@gmail.com (2021). The Best Tools For Building Fan Engagement for Music Artists - HyperTribe. [online] HyperTribe. Available at: https://hypertribe.com/post/the-best-tools-for-building-fan-engagement-for-music-artists/ [Accessed 5 Feb. 2025].

‌

‌dittomusic.com. (n.d.). How to Build a Fanbase from Scratch in 2023. [online] Available at: https://dittomusic.com/en/blog/how-to-build-a-fanbase-from-scratch/.

Website Creation

‌Schäferhoff, N. (2025). How to Make a Website: The Complete, No-Code Beginner’s Guide. [online] WordPress.com News. Available at: https://wordpress.com/blog/2025/01/29/how-to-make-a-website/ [Accessed 5 Feb. 2025].

‌

Elementor. (2025). How To Create A Website From Scratch: 5 Steps Guide (2025). [online] Available at: https://elementor.com/blog/how-to-make-a-website/ [Accessed 5 Feb. 2025].

FSB (2020). The seven most popular ways to promote your business. [online] www.fsb.org.uk. Available at: https://www.fsb.org.uk/resources-page/the-7-most-popular-ways-to-promote-your-business.html.

‌

Goldie, S. (2023). Best practices for business and personal finances - Smailes Goldie. [online] Smailesgoldie.co.uk. Available at: https://www.smailesgoldie.co.uk/best-practices-for-business-and-personal-finances/ [Accessed 9 Apr. 2025].

‌‌

PRS for Music (2019). What we do at PRS for Music. [online] Prsformusic.com. Available at: https://www.prsformusic.com/what-we-do.

GOV.UK (2023). Set up a Business. [online] GOV.UK. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/set-up-business.

Smith et al(2025) musicnt.com.au. (2025). Chapter 15: Working with musicians – Music NT. [online] Available at: https://musicnt.com.au/resources/best-practice-guideline/working-with-musicians/.‌

Leeds Conservatoire. (2025). Venues: What they do and how to work with them as a performer. [online] Available at: https://www.leedsconservatoire.ac.uk/about-us/progression-portal/musicians-survival-guide-articles/venues-what-they-do-and-how-to-work-with-them-as-a-performer/ [Accessed 9 Apr. 2025].

‌

I picked hello Lionel Ritchie, human rag and bone man, its all about you by McFly rocket man Elton John and my own composition which is a song called tear it up. This is a song I have written recently and has a country commercial poppy sound to it.

The chord structure is straight forward 1645 progression the verses and pre chorus 4 1 5 and in the chorus 2 6 and a major F chord where a dim should be so a substitution.

my thoughts and feelings At this time of trying these songs,was a feeling of being overwhelmed and thoughts that I would never get 30 songs together but at the same time a sense of satisfaction that I was on my way and it was a good start, probably due to how anxious i was feeling about the whole thing.

The positive parts of this weeks recording was the fact that i knew and remembered the majority of the songs ,they flowed ok and was quite fluent, the not so good parts were the hesitation the missed chords and missed words leading to mispronunciation of certain words, probably due to me not fully knowing the parts.

The positive parts were due to having played these songs before in some context the negative side of the songs was the fact that i hadn't played them for some time and was a bit rusty with the changes,probably due to switching from electric to acoustic.i have learned to be patient in in future songs I will slow down the process and devise a plan which highlights aspects to work on.

Blue means I have got all the pieces together but not fully learned the song and yellow coding means I have the song down and are fluent and could perform the song.

The rehearsal of the six songs went well but still with problems of a few chords and words missed out I have had to bring in the lyrics in some instances like on the song tear it up but only for a few singular words, probably due to being under rehearsed at this stage

The practice diary is constructed well and it shows goals to dates, but I feel that I may go past the dates and have to reflect on the mistakes before i go further. This could be due to been over zealous or over cautious.

The reason why the songs still need work is because it needs time to break down the mistakes and really nail each part slowly at first and then the correct speed.

I have learned from this experience that you can't rush and things need to be thorough, that may be a way of telling me to slow down and get the quality over the quantity. I will bear that in mind for the future, and look at aspects more carefully.

I am feeling positive about this experience and although it will be challenging I will endeavour to get the best possible mark I can.It has been a learning curve for me, so far, the work I have put into this degree and it has been challenging, probably due to time restrictions.

I have learned quite a lot from the other modules especially the academic writing and compilation of the padlet.

This module will be more difficult because it is level 6 ,however, the help that I have received and the tools to get to this point ,will help me navigate the course to its conclusion.

The logo above was created by Canva free and was suggested by the free website guys. I am feeling apprehensive because I have never done this before and want to get it right

This logo I think is classy elegant ,simple and says all it needs to say without being too complicated.,this coud be seen as being too basic .

I will use the former picture of myself in section (b) as one of the pages to Show what I do, and the logo will be consistent throughout for my branding and the website also.

This went well and was relatively simple to make although i had to trawl through countless pro versions to get one that fit what I was looking for. The writing just needed to be changed and also. the size of specific letters. I did a good job ,because I am used to looking at things when they look right and when they don't due my training a a decorator.

I have learned from this experience that patience is needed and with that patience , you can achieve a good result.

In the future I may employ someone professionally to not change but enhance the brand

I also have been looking at some primary research and have devised 6 questions to find out certain facets about my competition performers.. I gave this questionnaire to 3 different acts that do something similar to me and they were more than willing to help me.All three are successful in their own right, and I wanted to see how they became that way.The questions were conducted by whatsapp and messenger as above I felt really empowered ,because they gave me the opportunity and did not feel threatened in any way but wanted to help,

I felt the questions themselves maybe could have been more extensive, in the sense of more questions however they got straight to the heart of what I needed to know.

What I have learned is that performers are usually straightforward people who just want to get on, but most of all want to welcome and help.

In the future I will probably turn up at their gigs and support them and ask further questions.

I also had the opportunity to do 3 songs at a open mic night ,which feedback is in section 4(s)

they went quite well without many mistakes. I was feeling very nervous at the time, and I may need to research performance anxiety,however, I took the experience in my stride and completed the songs without stopping.

I have learned that this is a process that I an everyone else needs to go through to achive the best results.

I was thinking this is the start of a great journey,because it's what I want to do, and it feels good to perform. Repetition and exposure in front of the audience can only make it better.

Canva (2025). Canva. [online] Canva. Available at: https://www.canva.com/.

Youthmusic.org.uk. (2023). Embrace the Spotlight: Understanding and Conquering Performance Anxiety | Youth Music. [online] Available at: https://www.youthmusic.org.uk/news/embrace-spotlight-understanding-and-conquering-performance-anxiety?gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwtJ6_BhDWARIsAGanmKchyuAMkWvc9cRNCWZPPNqGF-IEU8Pn-0ZOjZ8OyOEB2ogMZphHUcIaAqEdEALw_wcB [Accessed 29 Mar. 2025].

‌‌

O f the above songs I was feeling accomplished apart from fast car, which I will probably leave for now probably due to the complexity of singing and playing,but the other 2 including my own went well.

I have learned that you can't take even the simplest song for granted.

In the future I would probably persevere more with the difficult ones.

This is a country style ballad, which tells a story of a person who loves another but at the same time ,the love could end tomorrow and there are no promises.

When writing this song I was thinking about my own experiences and how time moves on and there are no definites no absolut promises.I was feeling emotional writing the song because it brought up memories.The good parts of this song are the meaningful words and the melody due to me really diving in to how things occur in a relationship,and maybe the thing that didn't go so well is the chord structure ,which could have been more complex,but definitely works.

I was thinking that this song would encapsulate all my feelings about the past and the future and also show raw emotion.

The feedback for each song ,my songwriting process and inspiration are listed chapter 5 g,i,k and l

The reason why my songs have emotional content is because of the way I link them to real life situations.

In will continue to try and write meaningful lyrics in the future that are story related,and also look more in depth. for the more simplest of songs,and at the same time not taking them for granted.

I have also been working on my website with the free website guys,who after paying for hosting and templates is not free but I hope it is worth it in the end.

I am feeling confident that it will be good when it is finished , however it feels a bit disjointed at the moment,probably due to not having any experience in this area.

I have learned that sometimes a professional needs to be called in to make the right decisions, and in the future I may employ someone to do that.

I felt that the open mic night did not go as well as planned and I was extremely nervous heart beating fast and palms sweating. I felt slightly overwhelmed and intimidated,due to being an anxious person.

I think it didn't go as well as planned because i was nervous and maybe because i hadn't played these live before in front of an audience,however I did get through it without stopping,which was a positive step,due to being determined to see it though.

I have learned that preparation is the key even with practicing without nerves.

I think that if I try them out in a few places before I launch my product I should be ok

I have also been doing a test check on one of my songs human.I think overall it went well and the chords and the words flowed nicely,however the only real test in in from of a noisy audience,and more practice ,but I am two thirds the way there with it.I am feeling confident about the whole project and i look forward to performing more that the 3 songs at an upcoming venue.I will continue to practice on a daily basis and hone my skills to also be confident at not be too nervous.

Right at the beginning of the module I wasn't sure what I was going to pick it would be between setting up a record company,which I still may do , or setting up as an acoustic singer songwriter.

On reflection I am glad I chose that path because it have been very interesting and a practical thing for me to tackle.

My three smart goals were

Effective research which I feel on reflection is an ongoing thing but improving all the time.

On reflection Improving my academic score has took a bit of a knock the last module,and I decided I would get all the help i could to make this a better score.This will be decided by the receiving tutors in the near future but I am confident,because I believe I have done the necessary work at being more creative with my compositions,

On reflection I am still Improving and thinking more of story based songs that bring in the listener.

On reflection the planning of the project has been carried out effectively and ready for when I put it into action.

I have already taken steps to do start the branding ,websites and. some social media presence.

My Gantt chart lays out the whole project quite nicely.

On reflection of my The transferable skills ,the ones I use the most are communication,teamwork and problem solving

These set of skills come from life experience and working with young adults.I can and have transferred these skills to my project.

On reflection my Communication has improved with my peers and other performers,teamwork also and working with my partner, looking at the right songs to play at an open mic problem solving also has improved by looking at ways to find a practical solution,to problems like websites and images.

On reflection Budgeting is an aspect I have always struggled with in terms of planning and executing plans.I am not great with money,but on this project I hope to stick to the plan and carry it out confidently and without too much hassle.I will seek advice and get someone to check my balances,to make sure they are on point.I could also look at getting a grant from the arts council.

On reflection I believe that my brand is a good one and will stand up on a website against others.I also believe that the picture will draw in the audience, because it is classy and a great image.Branding is one of the most important aspects for me because it sets the picture,the mood and the thought .

On reflection of the subject of Industry practices I found this both very interesting and useful, because staying within the law is very important and also satisfying to know that all parties are safe and legal,especially from a health and safety situation.

On reflection I don't consider my networking skills to be great ,however I have carried out some networking on social media and also have been in contact with other performers about how they do their performance and the aspects that they use to promote etc.Once the project is ready

I will ramp this up to daily and weekly entries on the 3 main platforms,when the time is right

For a long while i have considered myself pretty good at digital literacy,but on reflection however I struggle with the social media part,probably because I want it to be sound good in words and message.

I will ask someone to check each entry before I send it out there.

On reflection of my legal responsibilities I consider them adequate but will need to do further research on registering and what is involved with paying.

On reflection I consider that I have a good grasp of running a business as i have a lot of experience in that area.

my feelings now I are at the end of the project are ones of accomplishment and I feel ready to take on the challenge to the end of my FMP.

There are many areas of development ,that I will need to look at such as communication,social media,and stage presence ,but they are all at the development stage and will improve as time goes on .I think this is probably due to me not been exposed to these areas as much as I thought I was and this on occasion has led me to second guess myself.

If i was to repeat this process again I would look deeper into social media and nail that and probably use professionals for graphics,and even though the cost would be higher,would be well worth it.

Ziggy and when you say nothing at all are generally going well and there are a few hesitations along the way,probably due to not knowing the songs,but all the same I like these songs a lot and it will be well worth the effort.

I have learned that by visualizing the chord changes it helps the process,being able to see them in your mind cements the process.

More regular practice and homing in on mistakes will sort out the problems to make it more fluent.

I am feeling pretty confident about the set list it is coming together nicely and there are some really good choices in there which have been shared with friends on facebook etc,including my own compositions .

At this stage I am probably 2 thirds of the way through this week.

I think that I need to video myself to see if they sound as good as I think they do.

I think the songs are going well because of the above visualization of the chord structures and the words also.

Another technique when practicing is to imagine myself playing in a bar.

In the future I need regular practice as a continuation and gigs to make me part of the performance.

I will have to work on dynamics with the list to make sure it builds up throughout the set,so eventually the sets will change shape in terms of order and dynamics.

I have been working on "have you ever seen the rain "this week.

I was feeling positive about this as one of my favourites.

The words and the chords are quite easy to play as they are a 145 in C,so that bit went well, however the key seems a little high for me to do it justice,due to it being slightly at the top of my range.

I have tried knocking it down to G and that seems a lot better and flows better without me being at the top of my register.

I have learned that you need to try all possibilities sometimes ,just to get it right in terms of key and projection of your voice.

I am feeling good about this song because it is a classic and i have always wanted to sing and play it.

I love the words shining down like water ,very poetic

The new key went better than the old key however it doesn't seem as sharp and cutting and i will have to revisit it later.

I think the reason the first version did not work is because I am at the top of my key and the second one did work but may need to be changed again,possibly using a capo.

In the future I will play about with keys till I get it just right.

I have started to slow down progress,but still progress all the same.I will still be hitting my target of 30 songs including research by a 12 week period so I am on track so far and if that changes for any reason I can alter the timeline from chapter 2 Gantt chart 2 (b).

I am still feeling confident about this project, and believe job is in my grasp to secure my business on the circuit.

The song knocking on heavens door is going well and is a crowd pleaser and also the audience can sing along to the chorus,however I feel may be too simple and boring to. some people.

I believe the reason why the project is going so well is because of planning and also regular practice with the Instrument every day,coupled with finger exercises and following my practice schedule and diary.

This tells me exactly what to practice and when.This process , has really helped me make sense of it all.

I have learned that with the right practice schedule , you can move reasonably fast through the songs to acomplish yopur goals.

In the future I will hone my skills and create a good audience experience.

Pinck (2024). About Us | Be Natural Music. [online] Available at: https://www.benaturalmusic.live/about-us/ [Accessed 19 Feb. 2025].

Ottewill, J. (2021). Essential Live Performance Tips for Musicians. [online] ICMP. Available at: https://www.icmp.ac.uk/blog/essential-live-performance-tips-musicians.

‌ Equity (2019). Equity. [online] Equity.org.uk. Available at: https://www.equity.org.uk/.

1. Membership of The Entertainment Agents’ Association Ltd shall be conditional upon members accepting the rules and regulations of the Association.

2. All members are expected to maintain the highest ethical standards and to comply with all current regulations and rules of conduct under the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Businesses Regulations 2003 and the amendments contained therein.

3. All engagements negotiated via a member will be in accordance with the Variety & Light Entertainment Council (VLEC) ‘Act as Known’ contract and standard Entertainment Agents’ Association Ltd documents and commission agreements unless otherwise stated at the time of the verbal agreement.

4. The agent booking for any hirer or artist is ethically and morally bound to mediate in any dispute between the hirer and artist.

5. No member may claim or advertise or have the authority to offer the services of, or in any way represent another member’s artist(s) except with the written consent of that artist’s agent.

6. Enquiries for solely represented artists must be made ONLY through the artist’s agent and not direct with the artist.

7. An agent approached by an artist for representation should ensure that:

• the artist has no current representation agreement with another agent.

• they inform any current agent of the artist’s approach if considering representation.

• in the case of a new representation agreement being entered into, an arrangement is made for all commissions for existing contracts and other liabilities to be paid to the former agent.

• the artist honours all already negotiated future engagements, declared by the former agent and agreed by the artist, at the time of the new representation agreement.

8. Members acting as Employment Agencies must have (a) separate bank account(s) for client(s) monies.

9. Monies received on behalf of artists should be paid to the artist or to the artist’s representative by the contractually agreed payment date and must, in any case, be settled within the legally required period of 10 days from receipt of cleared funds unless specified by prior written agreement.

10. Commission is an agreed payment between the artist and artist’s agent. A split commission is an agreed payment between the artist’s agent and the hirer’s agent agreed by the artist’s agent at the time of the negotiation of the engagement. The split commission or payment due to the hirer’s agent will be paid by the artist’s agent no later than the 28th day of the month following the contracted engagement date unless by prior written agreement irrespective of whether the artist’s agent has received the relevant commission from the artist.

11. On a ‘buy & sell’ or ‘nett deal’ the buying agent becomes an Employment Business with a contract between themselves and venue / hirer and a separate contract between themselves and the artist. Settlement of ‘buy & sell’ or ‘nett deals’ must be made no later than 21 days after the completion of the contract unless specified by prior written agreement. Should the venue / hirer or the artist cancel or renege on its agreement with the buying agent, the buying agent’s contractual responsibility to the venue / hirer or the artist is still legal and binding and any wording on the contract form purporting to disclaim responsibility by the buying agent is null and void. The buying agent may not take commission on ‘buy & sell’ or ‘nett deals’.

12. Members must refrain from making derogatory comments about other agents, artists, hirers, venues and suppliers, in writing, verbally or on any form of social media.

13. Members must not make any statement concerning the policy of the Association to any person in the press or media and should refer any such enquiries relating thereto to the President of the Association.

14. Where an agent has a written agreement to exclusively supply artists to a venue it is expressly forbidden for members to approach that venue to offer their own artists. Where a member appears to have sole booking rights members must offer their artists to the venue’s sole booking agent first. Any artist not booked by the venue agent may then be offered directly to the venue by the artist’s agent.

15. A member who believes that another member is in breach of the Code of Conduct may complain either to their local Association branch official or to the Administrator who will refer the matter to the Council of the Association. Complaints must be made in writing and should be accompanied by any documentary evidence available.

16. Members agree to treat the affairs of the Association as private and confidential.

In the event of any disagreement between Members, the rules and regulations contained within the Association’s Memorandum and Articles of Association shall prevail.

The Code of Conduct Committee
October 2018