302 Final Project Guide

This course offers students a unique opportunity. And that is the opportunity to do a project that could be a lasting one, and to build the framework for an actual endeavor. Unless you are independently wealthy, many times in your adult life you will be dealing with banks, investors, and other money sources. You will be asked to see a business plan. You will have to do a number crunch and convince people who possess funds the knowledge that you actually know what you're doing, and that some money that is currently in the hands of others should find its way to you.

This project is about that endeavor. You get to do the pre-planning for an album.

What you will turn in...

* A two-page Overview informing me:

1. The exact nature of the project. Explain as much about the project as you can,

2. Where did the money come from that you used to make the album?

3. If you lost money, what would you have done in order to create a different outcome?

*Then, a copy of the planning sheets found in the back of the book. You'll fill them with numbers. You’ll derive the numbers both from the book and other sources, such as the internet and local, state and national suppliers. Turn in photocopied pages only.

*What you will turn in shall be neat &, either typed or by hand, in ink.

*I also strongly suggest you make a photocopy of the planning pages photocopy and do a rough draft in pencil. Numbers are liable to change, and you want your project to look as professional as possible.

*Extra credit is given for photography, graphics, press kits, promotional materials, etc. You don't have to actually write the music and record the actual CD.

*In some cases, depending on the type of production you are crunching numbers for, you will not be forced to fill out every item on the planning sheets. For instance, perhaps you producing CD’s but no vinyl. For those lines in your planning sheets that are not applicable, just write “N/A”.

How to begin...

*Many projects I see are personal projects involving creative composition, arranging, or individual performance. Produce yourself

*Sometimes it can be difficult to find something in a void where nothing seemingly exists. That’s exactly when you use imagination and creativity.

*Invent a concept of a faux musical organization, group or individual you would like to record. Teachers of writing often tell students to stick with that subject they know best and I suggest that as well for this project.

*Also, for those of you who have never done anything remotely like this before, the other secret is to find something you want to produce. For those of you who have done something like this before, my guess is that you haven’t inspected your past project in the depth that this one calls for. I encourage you to use that past recording project as a model for this one.

*Want a great grade for this project?

Of course you do. It goes without saying. The way to get it is to be thorough and be complete. Some of the planning sheets must be photocopied several times in order for you to be thorough. Make sure you do that.

Other hints are:

*Be realistic. For instance, don’t expect to launch a weeklong recording session for out-of-town musicians and not include expenses for travel, food and lodging under your recording costs.

*Do allocate funds for promotion and publicity. Don’t expect to sell 5,000 CD’s of your garage band on word-of-mouth alone.

*Be practical. There will be opportunities for you to spend a small fortune in some areas and cut expenses in some others. Knowing or finding the difference between the two will be a tool you’ll use for the rest of your life. You’ve made these kinds of decisions before. You’re college students and you have budgets.

*Do your own work. This is not a co-production because I don’t want to have to second guess whether or not someone else put in his or her time or best effort on this.

5. More hints...

Use the book for prices. Use the Internet. Find Discmakers.com,

www.go-qca.com

Go into google.com and type “recording studios”, or “graphic designers”, etc. Save time and effort on your project by perhaps using one of these full-service production houses you’ll find on the net.