Posts – Page 15 – MUS 421 Music Entrepreneurship

Marissa Davenport – Case Study

Gary Vaynerchuk, also known as Gary V, is a Belarusian American who works as an entrepreneur, investor, author, speaker, internet personality and many other jobs with a net worth of $160 million. Gary V was not born with millions of dollars; actually, he grew up poor with eight family members in a studio apartment. So, how did he change his destiny?

He is a first mover.

From a young age, Gary V showed an ability to gain an advantageous market position by being the first to establish himself in certain markets. From operating a lemonade stand franchise at age 7, to making tens of thousands by cornering the local market for baseball cards in his early teens.

His true ability to identify untouched yet fruitful opportunities became known when he dramatically increased sales of his father’s company, rebranded as Wine Library, from $3MM to $60MM. He did this in the early ‘90s after identifying the internet as a land-grab opportunity – he grasped email marketing, to Google AdWords to flash sales to drive the sales of Wine Library. As early as 2006, he pursued the avenue of content marketing becoming one of the first to create a long-form episodic video show on YouTube.

This inspires and connects with me as an aspiring businessperson because I not only believe in identifying trends, understanding what works and why but I also believe in forward-thinking and finding pockets of opportunity for growth. I believe that in order to remain successful, relevant and competitive in today’s market you cannot be stagnant and should be looking for the next big opportunity for growth or innovation.

He is authentic.

His success is not solely sustained by his ability to take advantage of business opportunities, his success was supported and catalyzed by his unfiltered persona. Due to being authentic, he gained his audience, which landed him invitations for appearances on talk shows like Conan O’Brien and Ellen DeGeneres. Due to being authentic he was able to foster relationships with CEOs and investors like Kevin Rose, Travis Kalanick, Ev Williams, and Mark Zuckerberg which would lead to Gary’s first steps into angel investing (with companies like Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr). Finally yet importantly, due to being authentic he has become a world renowned and unforgettable speaker.

This teaches me that elevated success is not reserved for people that fit a certain mold that’s been seen dozens of times. Those who are courageously authentic and unfiltered can attain and sustain success too. I know that sounds like a basic observation, but it is so easy to fall into the mindset that if you are not a certain type of person or personality you cannot be successful in your field and believing that can be detrimental. This lesson from studying Gary V is something I need to cling onto. I believe if I learn to embrace and intertwine the intricate aspects of who I am – what makes me talented, skilled, and different – with what I do like Gary does, I’ll bring incremental value wherever I go.

He is multi-faceted.

As noted in the beginning, Gary Vaynerchuk is a businessman that wears many hats. Despite his immense success in just 43 years of life, he has yet to slow down. He is never comfortable or settled, not to say he is not satisfied but he is constantly expanding his success in different avenues. Some would have stopped at the success he has had running a creative media company that services clients like PepsiCo, GE, Johnson and Johnson, Chase, AbInBev and more. But outside of being CEO of VaynerMedia, Gary V is an author, speaker, and daily social media content creator with over 12 million followers across Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Snapchat, Spotify and more.

This teaches me that to be successful, you don’t sleep. I’m just kidding. This teaches me the potential value of investing your talents and resources (not just money, but time and energy too) into multiple buckets. This is a concept that I’ve found highly emphasized in MUS 421. Sure, it could be a tiring thought to some but it could be exciting to see how many different ways you can breed success with your talents.

Angelika Robison-Artist Case Study

Cecile Mclorant Salvant
Ben Ratliff writes in The New York Times: “she sings clearly, with her full pitch range, from a pronounced low end to full and distinct high notes, used sparingly […] Her voice clamps into each song, performing careful variations on pitch, stretching words but generally not scatting; her face conveys meaning, representing sorrow or serenity like a silent-movie actor.”

Her website link: http://www.cecilemclorinsalvant.com/

I truly admire Cecile Mcorin Salvant, she not only has made a name for herself as a jazz vocalist, but as an African American women. She is a strong soloist and pianist, I aspire to travel and produce art of my own. I would like to be a soloist in my own show with a smal combo, which is what she does as a performer. Ms. Salvant is a very successful avant-garde jazz vocalist, with knowledge of classical and Baroque style music, to jazz and painting. Salvant has been nominated her for multiple Grammy’s and her talents have won her many awards through the years. Salvant was raised in Miami Florida with her Haitian father, and French mother. Salvant started taking piano lessons and classical voice lessons at a young age, her love for music began there. In 2007, Cecile moved to France to persuade a law degree as well as classical voice. She studied at the Darius Milhaud Conservatory in Aix-en-Provence, France. Salvant studied with Jean-Francois Bonnel, he is one reason she started to sing jazz. A few years later she was performing around Paris when she recorded her first album titled “Cecile”, with Bonnel’s Quintet. One year later, 2010 Cecile won the Thelonious Monk competition. As a jazz musician knowing she has won the Thelonious Monk competition is a big deal, it is an accomplishment in the jazz world like the Pulitzer Prize.
Salvant is signed to Mack Avenue Records and has her music on multiple streaming platforms such as, YouTube, iheart radio, Spotify, pandora, and Apple Music. Ms. Salvant has a very unique look, she always wears bright/colorful glasses, she has a shaved head, and a smile always on her face.

Among singing, Salvant is a skilled pianist and she creates and sells her own art. Because she is a skilled pianist as well as a vocalist, she can perform independently which makes her very marketable. She also can sing in various languages such as, English, Spanish, and French. Salvant has shown to be a very god entrepreneur seeing as she sells her art on her website and also at her shows. Ms. Salvant’s website is also constantly updated showing not only her many tour dates, but also all of her reviews, and awards. Her album cover For One To Love was created by her. Salvant is known for her spectacular collaborations with artists such as, Aaron Diehl, Paul Sikivie, Lawrence Leathers, Kyle Poole, and Sullivan Fortner. Traveling around Europe and the United States is something common for Salvant, with all of these successes, she still seems to remain humble by singing in many public places for strangers unpaid. Some of her many accomplishments include; Jazz album of the year 2014, Best Vocal Jazz album, Grammy award nomination 2014, top vocal album, NPR music Jazz critics Poll 2015, female jazz vocalist of the year 205 (Jazz journalist association), top vocal album NPR music jazz critics poll (For One to Love)2015, Grammy Award for best Jazz vocal album. 2016, (For One to Love), Paul Acket award 2016, Grammy Award for Best Jazz coal album 2018 (Dreams and Daggers), jazz album of the year(Downbeat Critics Poll) (Dreams and Daggers 2018). Salvant has also sung in advertisements for Chanel’s “Chance” brand of products.
Cecile Mclorin Salvant will also be performing at The Monterey Jazz Festival, in Monterey California amount her many tour dates around the states throughout the year. Her many awards come with not only recognition, but a cash prize also. It has been said that Salvant admires jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughn, and Billie Holiday.
Salvant sings and performs in many different styles and languages making her a strong soloist.
Link below- interview with NPR
https://www.npr.org/2016/01/01/461503555/jazz-singer-c-cile-mclorin-salvant-doesnt-want-to-sound-clean-and-pretty

Case Study #1

The person I chose is no longer living, so contacting them was a bit… impossible. But, I did find some information about his career that I found intriguing.

My case study covers the career of Adolph “Bud” Herseth, one of the most accredited trumpet players of the 20^thcentury. Along with a very polished career, Bud stood out in many ways as the very best in the craft, and is still highly regarded as such. Serving for 52 seasons performing Principal Trumpet for the Chicago Symphony, Bud’s career is unlike many that attempt a solid career in the performance field. While this career path may not sound exhilarating, as it involves one orchestra for a very extended period of time, it is absolutely stunning to know that he held his position with the Chicago Symphony for as long as he did.

Bud’s father was a bandleader in the Lake Park, MN area, and around the age of seven, Bud began learning trumpet. After only a year, Bud was invited to play trumpet in his father’s band. After years of studying trumpet, Bud attended the New Conservatory of Music where learned to perfect his craft. By 1948, Bud was the Principal Trumpet of the Chicago Symphony where he stayed for the remainder of his career.^[1]

^[1]https://www.allmusic.com/artist/adolph-herseth-mn0002173590

As I said, the career path is not exactly fascinating, but it does offer some wonderment on how exactly someone could be that good of a musician and not be put on the chopping block after a short tenure like in most professional orchestras today. This reason, and this reason alone is why I chose Adolph Herseth: he was an unstoppable force of trumpet perfection, and he is the definitive figure that all orchestral trumpeters look to for inspiration.

Personally, I feel that Bud’s accomplishments in his career are very attainable and that I am absolutely on the right path to achieving the success he once had. When I’ve completed graduate school, I intend to audition for any opportunity that presents itself. Without taking risks, where would I go besides back into a practice room wishing I had done something with my future? My career goal is not to isolate myself into one area of the world and hope for the best, because realistically I don’t think the industry is willing to hold onto a performer for more than ten to fifteen years at any given time. It’s time to act quickly and be ready for any punch that’s thrown in my direction, because life is crazy and so much can happen at any given time.

After making a breakthrough into the professional performing career in a smaller, lesser-known orchestra, I will take some time, learn as much as I can, and earn performance experience in the industry. Once I feel I am ready and the timing works out, I will take the leap of faith for a larger, better-paying orchestra. The true end goal, so to say, is to be a member of the Boston, New York, or Chicago symphony orchestras, and I know that path to success is a long and winding road to those ensembles.

While my career path does not line up with that of the Great, Late, Adolph “Bud” Herseth, he is a role model of mine that I look to for inspiration when I feel the white walls of the practice room closing around me.

Isabella Martinez Case Study #1

Mindy Kaling

One of the reasons I picked Mindy Kaling for the subject of my case study is that she is truly a well rounded artist. She started as an actress and playwright, with her off broadway play Matt and Ben, then she worked her way to writing for television, acting on screen and in movies, and eventually directing and producing. She has been active in the film and TV industry since 2005, and already has projects planned through 2022. She is multi talented and will have no problem sustaining her career.

What makes you and your work unique?

Mindy Kaling’s work pokes fun at traditional comedy sitcoms. As a producer, writer, director, and actor, she has full control over her work, and the final product is completely her voice.

Do you have career goals laid out for the next 5-10 years?

Mindy just had a baby so she’s going to be really focused on that for a bit, but later she plans on transitioning away from acting, and focusing on writing and producing. She wrote the movie Late Night and is producing the film. That will probably keep her busy for a year. Afterward, she’ll be writing and producing for two unnamed NBC sitcoms.

What do you do and what are you doing?

Mindy Kaling is a writer, producer, actress, and director. She is currently producing the movie Late Night.

How are you connecting and building audiences and how do you market to them?

Mindy Kaling has a very active social media presence. She constantly connects to her fans this way, often connecting them to other female independent artists and encouraging them to pursue their own dreams. She has written two autobiographies that give insight to a lot of her career and personal life and as a result, make fans feel that they have a real friendship with her (her books are what made me become a huge Mindy Kaling fan). Her main platform to connect with and market to her audience is Instagram. She posts several times a day.

What opportunities are you on the lookout for?

Mindy is at the point in her career where she can pretty much make any opportunity for herself. I feel like she has enough credibility in the industry to be able to make a project happen.

Did you look at someone else’s career to make a path for your own and if so, what was it? Mindy was always really inspired by Conan O’Brien. She had a brief stint as an intern on his late night show and while there, she realized that she didn’t see people like herself represented on television or in the TV industry. She used that feeling to inspire a lot of the types of characters writes into her work.

Kelly Wolfe Artist Case Study x2

Annabelle Fox – (directly contacted)

https://www.annabellefox.com

What makes you and your work unique?
- I make sure I have a special connection with each character I get to play. I always appreciate an organic performance so I like to find the truth in each role too. I am a unique case because I am in a place where I am considered for young characters as well as leading ingenues! I embrace it all.
- Do you have a brand or artist statement?
  - Defy type! Do what you love but don’t be too hungry. Set the bar high so you are proud of the work and the product.
- When you first started working, did you have a mission or vision?
  - I’ve always wanted to bring joy to people through performance. It’s always been about that. I think the most exciting thing about theatre and live performance is that it evokes real emotion in the audience members. They take a journey with you! It comes with great responsibility.
- What were the first steps you took fresh out of college to get into the professional world?
  - I was lucky to work for six months right out of school. During this time I self-submitted a lot. I would browse audition listings on websites like Playbill and Backstage and was vigilant about sending out cover letters and headshots to certain casting offices for shows I knew I was right for. These tactics paid off and I jumped into a Off Broadway Children’s Musical as soon as I got to the city. In addition I was able to acquire a few professional appointments! Within one year of being in the city I booked a tour and took my Equity card. This has been a gamechanger.
- Do you have career goals laid out for the next 5-10 years?
  - I’ve been in the city for four years now. I initially gave myself five years to “book Broadway” but now watching my path and career unfold I’ve realized everyone’s path and plan is different. Do I think I could book Broadway in the next year? Definitely. Will I quit if I don’t? No. The next five to ten years are exciting to me and a little unknown but I am confident that they will be bright. I hope to perform the role of Abigail in my husband’s new folk musical at a great regional theatre, debut on Broadway, do a film, book a commercial, maybe start a family and get a dog!
- Seeing as you’re an actress who can play young characters, how do you successfully market yourself for those roles?
  - I have specific headshots for younger roles so in self submissions I use these, dress younger/ apply little to no makeup in auditions, and sing songs that have a more youthful and bright sound.
- What opportunities are you always on the lookout for?
  - I’m always looking for opportunities to collaborate with people. I love doing table reads of pilots, photo shoots, singing demos for friends, and taking class with major directors or casting directors. All of these networking events have led to other gigs and opportunities. It’s exciting to watch connections unfold.
- Did you look at someone else’s career to make a path for your own and if so, who/what was it?
  - I’ve always admired Kristin Chenoweth. She has defied type. With a background in opera, she dipped her toes in Musical
    Comedy, AND Tv/Film. In my opinion that’s the dream. I want to play the broad spectrum of roles: funny and sweet; intense and dark. It’s all intriguing to me!
- What networks or organizations do you belong to and which ones have helped you the most?
  - I began with Backstage and then segued to Actors Access. I have found great success with this! I also have found success from researching seasons that I am right for, looking for the contact info, and sending an introductory email submission asking for an appointment for said role!
- How did you start actor meets coffee?
  - I was in between contracts and was hungry for connection and inspiration. I asked myself what I loved in addition to performing… the answer was: coffee and people… Thus began my blog! My first guest was my best friend and the rest is history.
- How did you make the connections for each interviewee? Do you know them personally or did you meet them through networking?
  - I made the connections via text and Instagram. Most people I knew personally, from the audition scene, or through my husband. Some I’ve been contacted by through Instagram which I find exciting since that means the blog is becoming more widely known!
- How often do you interview?
  - I started off with interviews every week which became difficult to sustain with transcribing AND scheduling. Now I try to tackle two interviews a month!
- Do you find yourself learning new things you can implement into your own career by talking to others?
  - I learn so many new things and am constantly inspired. It’s been reiterated time and time again that everybody’s path is different and you have to enjoy each moment of your journey. Transcribing the interviews is like therapy. Re-listening to the wise tidbits everybody has to share is so uplifting and encouraging. It’s a good reminder that what we’re doing is hard and SO brave.
- Is it hard to balance actor meets coffee and auditioning/performing?
  - It is! It’s difficult to navigate everyone’s schedules. Everybody I have on the blog is an actor so come audition season we are all chickens with our heads cut off! It’s hard to make time. I find that I prioritize auditions and appointments but crave time to interview. It brings me so much joy. When the interviews can happen I feel so fulfilled and recharged. I’m like let’s do this!

Christopher Sanders – (directly contacted) https://www.christophersanders.net

What makes you and your work unique?
- I believe anyone who makes a living as an artist is unique. For me, I guess I’m unique in the sense that this is a second career for me. I didn’t start singing until I was 26 years old and I left my other career at 29 and have never looked back. Being an artist you have the ability to move people emotionally and even make them think a little sometimes. Not many jobs do that.
- Do you have a brand or artist statement?
  - Not really. My only statement would be: Life is too short to not love what you do for a living. It’s not worth doing a job for money if your miserable at it. It will spoil your life.
- When you first started working, did you have a mission or vision?
  - Initially my mission was to go to Broadway. But being that I started so late and that I already had a family to take care of, I had to modify that mission. My mission for many years now has been to just be a working actor. Work is work. A stage is a stage. An audience is an audience. What zip code it’s in does not matter.
- Did you have career goals laid out for the next 5-10 years?
  - No I didn’t. In this business, you really have to be in it for the long haul. An actors career ebbs and flows like the ocean. There’s an old saying. ” If you stick around the store long enough. They’ll start giving you stuff.” There’s a lot of truth in that statement in regards to a career as an actor.
- How are you connecting and building audiences and how do you market to them?
  - I’ve known for a long time that my audience are the older generation. I go out of my way to talk to them after shows and I answer every fan mail letter I’ve received. I also created a website for people to keep up with what I am doing. The CD I recorded, I recorded with my older fans in mind. They would not like a CD of contemporary music from me. That’s why my album consist of classic Broadway material. It wasn’t necessarily the album I wanted to record, but it was the one I knew my followers would want.
- What opportunities are you always on the lookout for?
  - I’m always looking to work for new theatre companies and new directors. I think it’s very easy for an actor to get comfortable at one theatre and not branch out. I’ve made it a point to work all over the world.
- Did you look at someone else’s career to make a path for your own and if so, what was it?
  - I’m a huge George Hearn fan. He’s won two Tony Awards and had the most remarkable career. He always said of himself that he was just a Broadway hack, just a guy who liked to work and do his best. I had the opportunity to work with him twice in my career early on. His kindness and professionalism along with his incredible talent. were truly an inspiration to me. I try to carry on his work ethic in my career.
- How did you fund your work when you first started?
  - I starved a lot. LOL. Took on little projects that I could make some money on in between shows etc. Believe me there were some rough times but I always managed to keep my head above the water.
- How did you initially get funding? What networks or organizations do you belong to and which ones have helped you the most?
  - I think I answered the first question here in the last message. Except I will add that having very supportive parents who would throw a little money my way now and again was EXTREMELY helpful. Actors Equity has opened many doors for me as far as getting seen by the casting agencies. But to be honest, learning how to promote myself and network with people online has gotten me so much work. Who can advocate for me better than myself. I contact directors and casting people all the time with my material for a show they might be casting. True they don’t always call, but sometimes they do, And that opens even more doors and more opportunity. In fact the job I’m doing right now is a result of such blind submission.

Networking

The Art Gallery exhibit was a great opportunity to be able to easily talk to and communicate with new people. I had never been to an art opening before so I was not exactly sure what to expect, but the casual, laid back atmosphere was perfect for networking. I went into the event with the goal of talking to both artists as well as people just viewing the event. I was surprised to find a large variety of people attending, I talked to a biology major, and a person that did not even attend JU and just wanted go to the opening. I found that the best way to network with people was to find a topic they related to or were familiar with. I had a lengthy conversation with a student after we both compared one of the paintings to illustrations from a Harry Potter book. Finding relatable topics seems to be the best way to get people to open up and talk. I could then use this to bring up what their major or job was, and then circle it back around to what mine is, and what I want to do in my field. Of course I feel like I can always do better next time, and plan on using the tools I learned right off the bat next time. I hope the next event we attend is similar to this one. Casual and easy to walk around and find new people to talk to. I think events that are to formal would be a more difficult atmosphere to talk to people in.

Abrien Nelson Networking Journal 1

Abrien Nelson

Mark Snyder

Music Entrepreneurship

January 23, 2019

Networking Journal 1

At the art opening at the Alexander Brest Gallery I had an amazing time. It was interesting seeing all the unique and obscure art work. Before I accomplish any task, there has to be some preparation involved. I prepared by dressing the part. I was wearing khakis and a blue button up shirt and a blue and red bowtie. This was a promising idea because it made me stand out. I naturally attracted people to come and talk to me, I was approachable. Many people at the art opening took me seriously. Talking about what I was wearing was a great and easy conversation starter. I went to the art opening with three goals, the first two were to meet someone who could aid me in exposure with my own art or meet someone who could give me scholarship money. These were two very ambitious goals that I did not meet. I did meet my third goal which was to experience, and enjoy some good art. I used a what I like to call a targeting system. I would scan the art gallery for a patron that was looking at a piece of work by him or herself. Then I would approach them and proceed to talk about the act and eventual get to know the person a little more. One of the most interesting people I ran into would be an artist who had one of their pieces on display. It was interesting to hear him talk about the different techniques he used. He was very authentic and real, and I would tell that he truly enjoyed what he was doing. If I ever got the opportunity to network at a venue like this again, I would take more of a risk and initiate more conversation. I would also do more research on what the art opening is about. Networking is a skill that is need all throughout life and it is detrimental to anyone who is trying to be in the music industry. This is no better or worse location for networking because as an entrepreneur I am always networking.

Abrien Nelson Learning Journal 1

Abrien Nelson

Mark Snyder

Music Entrepreneurship

January 23 2019

Learning Journal 1

What is your unique gift? – Do you believe in it enough to invest everything you have in it?

My unique gift would be the following, my singing, acting, dancing, looks, and intellectual creativity. I do believe in my gifts enough to invest all my money and time into becoming the best that I can be.

What difference are you trying to make in the world? – How passionate are you about doing this?

I want to be able to use my art to affect the everyday American. I want to give young black boy a positive role model to look up too. I also want to deliver a message that stereotypes don’t define who you are and who you can be.

How do you define success for yourself? – What challenges do you face in order to create success?

I define success as being happy, impactful and free. Success for me is being able to create any art that I chose when I chose. I also want my art to make me enough money to sustain a healthy and happy lifestyle.

What is career vision and a mission?

My career vision and mission would be to make the world a better place and impact and influence the world on step at a time.

Can you innovate and creates value and successfully communicate that value to intended audiences?

Yes, I can innovate and create value and communicate it to an audience through platforms of social media like YouTube.

Do you have a positive attitude?

Yes.

Have you set your goals? What is your road map to success? Can you set inspiring and realistic goals?

My most immediate goal would be to graduate on time. Before I do so I would like to have an agent or an internship that could help start my career.

Do you have and/or acquire the necessary expertise to actualize your vision?

I do not. I don’t know all the ends and out of the entertainment industry. I don’t know how to get information on audition of any type, or how to get my name known.

What are your priorities? Can you set priorities?

My Priorities can be divided into three main point. One would be to obtain my degree. The second would but to get at least three song produced and recorded by the end of 2021 school year. The third would be to have a modeling portfolio and a paid shoot by the end of 2019.

What opportunities are you looking for? What opportunities are you creating or intend to create?

The opportunities I’m looking for are the ones that showcase my creative abilities. I want opportunities that give me the experience needed to do other job. I want opportunities that allow me to make connections that could help me leverage my career.

How comfortable are you with uncertainty? What risks are you willing to take?

I am moderately comfortable with uncertainty. It took me a while to understand that choosing a career in art or entertainment, there is a certain level of uncertainty no matter what job position you have. Realizing this fact make me rethink about my career and life choices. I had to evaluate why I am doing what I am doing. I sing because it feels natural to me it feels like home, and I act because I love to get into the heads and hearts of others. I dance because music is infectious, and I cannot help myself from moving when I hear a beat.

When facing challenges, do you persevere or do you walk away?

When I am facing challenges or difficulty I do not walk away, I push through them and carry on until I come out on top. I fight with everything I have in me, because if I don’t fight for today, I don’t get tomorrow.

What experience have you learned the most from?

Then most intellectually stimulating experience I have had would be having dyslexia and living in a military family. These two things have taught me that I have to work of everything I have in life. I learned that I will not take the same path as a peers. I have learned to be continent with that.

What actions are you taking to realize your vision? Are you consistently taking action?

I am always taking action to realize my vision. I invest 100% of my money, time and energy into be here a Jacksonville University perfecting my craft. I am always looking for more performance opportunities outside of the school community.

How well do you put things in context? Are you able to easily respond to changes in your environment? What’s your best example?

I am not very witty, so I don’t but things in context right away. I know that change is a constant and in order to survive one have to adapt to their surroundings. This simple phrase can be applied to various facets of a person life. For myself I know that I am comfortable being in a new location or just not knowing. I am not afraid to ask questions.

What is your plan to continually grow and evolve? How have you grown or evolved in there past year or three?

My plan to continually grow and evolve, is to always want more out of my life. I have evolved so much as a person in the past few years. I found myself, and I am comfortable in my own skin. I have made myself a stronger artist and have made more connections.

How easy is it for you to reach out to others to ask for support and to offer help?

I think I struggle with asking for help. I like to think of myself as an independent person, and asking fore help demises that fact. I have since learned that a smart person needs help and support.

How are you inspiring others to join and/or support your mission in order to create a financially sustainable enterprise that allows you to live your gift and contribute something valuable to society? – If you aren’t currently, how do you intend to?

I inspire other to work with me through my positive attitude. People want to work with me do to my affirmative action and willingness to take risks

Networking Assignment 1

Networking is a huge thing that is very important in every single profession and career. As easy as it sounds and seems, you would be surprised on the difficulties you could face.

Going to the opening of the art gallery and talking to people I thought it would have been easy to do, but it was surprisingly difficult. I talk everyday to everyone I see, non stop. Talking to strangers is something different.

Being in musical theatre I am going to need to interact with people at the stage door every night after a show. Hundreds of fan there to see my show and I need to be able to speak to them so they can know that I appreciate them coming to the show. As well as when I am in an audition I need to talk to a lot of people and act fine so I could get a job. It sounds easier than it really is though.

I started out by just walking around and seeing what other people were doing and talking about. I spoke with some of my other classmates and they seemed to be a little on the edge of talking to random people too.

Once I gained some confidence I went over to where the snacks were and talking to people about the different chesse and crackers they had. People then walked over and spoke to me about eat. I did not even eat the food but everyone that I enteracted with had no idea that I didn’t either.

Once I went back into the gallery I went into the second room and looked the cow art work. So many viewers were mesmerized by the art. So many people were just discussing what they thought it was. I went up to different people and explained to them that it was all cow influenced art. I only knew this because I asked someone else. I just walked right of to someone who was trying to figure out what it was and just stood there with all of the confidence ever and spoke about how it was a cow. Explain the feet and horns are over that it created a cow with the element of veins and the human body. They just looked at me that I just knew completely what I was talking about. Which I did not.

Networking seems easy and something that you can just do off the spot, but it isn’t as easy as it seems. I had to find things that I could make other people discuss, once the topic changed I just acted like I knew what we were talking about. I did not have to convince myself that I knew what I was saying, but I needed them to think that I knew what I was talking about. This is where being an actor makes it great to be able to make things up and get a great job.

Learning Journal 1

What is your unique gift? – Do you believe in it enough to invest everything you have in it?
- I can sing dance and act. I believe that I have invested so much of my life into performing and training that I can make something come from it. It is my biggest skill and talent.

What difference are you trying to make in the world? – How passionate are you about doing this?
- I am very passionate about doing this. Some people don’t have think that theatre has a purpose, but I believe that it does. The purpose is to entertain. It just brings me such joy walking out on the stage and hearing the applause and people laughing when jokes are made it make me so proud and feel accomplished.

How do you define success for yourself? – What challenges do you face in order to create success?
- I define success as accomplishment. I find the challenges to create success in many different forms. Being sick, stressed, and under prepared are huge challenges that I face every day. But once I cross over those bridges, I can create the best success that I can.

What is career vision and a mission?
- I hope to create memories and bring joy to thousands of people every night is my career vision. My mission is to accomplish this in some way shape or form. Broadway is ideal, but I know that it is not the only way to accomplish my vision.

Can you innovate and creates value and successfully communicate that value to intended audiences?
- I can successfully communicate to all different types of audiences. I know how to fake it until I make it. This is a skill that I need every day as a performer.

Do you have a positive attitude?
- I usually have a positive attitude, but being a theatre major it is easy to get sucked down and into a negative attitude.

Have you set your goals? What is your road map to success? Can you set inspiring and realistic goals?
- I have set general goals. I have a few plans and some back up plans. I know that I want to perform in some way shape or form. I will do it somehow. I have many different ideas and goals set up.

Do you have and/or acquire the necessary expertise to actualize your vision?
- Yes, I have to expertise to create my vision. I have been given the skills I need to successfully accomplish my goals, it is just if I apply myself to those things, I will be able to acquire my vision.

What are your priorities? Can you set priorities?
- My priorities are to never stop learning and continue learning on how to grow as a performer. I must keep working on my craft because it is not just a job for me. It is a career.

What opportunities are you looking for? What opportunities are you creating or intend to create?
- I am looking for a large opportunity to network. I am selling myself, so that is what they see. I need to be able to be prepared to talk to different people and market myself as a singer, dancer, actor, and person. First impressions are everything.

How comfortable are you with uncertainty? What risks are you willing to take?
- I do not really enjoy uncertainty, it is scary, and I like to have a whole plan and do not enjoy taking risks. I like to just have things be constant.

When facing challenges, do you persevere, or do you walk away?
- I tend to get angry and walk away. I get very stressed under pressure and cave.

What experience have you learned the most from?
- I learned from getting screamed at rehearsals when the entire group is not prepared. I learned that I must just take the time and do what I am supposed to, or I will get in trouble and suffer from my actions.

What actions are you taking to realize your vision? Are you consistently acting?
- I am consistently taking action to realize my vision. I am always working on what the next step is. I am in college and that was a huge action I had to take to pursue my career as a performer.

How well do you put things in context? Are you able to easily respond to changes in your environment? What’s your best example?
- I do not deal with change well. It is something that I haven’t been able to deal with my whole life. I get in my routines and keep going, it is just what I always do and makes me feel safe and comfortable. When it changes, I get very upset.

What is your plan to continually grow and evolve? How have you grown or evolved in there past year or three?
- I will continue to study and learn more with my skills. Since attending JU, I have grown so much. My voice part has changed, and I am learning songs that I love to sing and am preparing for my showcase which is a huge deal that I have always dreamed of.

How easy is it for you to reach out to others to ask for support and to offer help?
- It is very easy for me to reach out to others for help and support. I can find people who I know can help me and answer questions when and if I need help.

How are you inspiring others to join and/or support your mission in order to create a financially sustainable enterprise that allows you to live your gift and contribute something valuable to society? – If you aren’t currently, how do you intend to?
- I perform and carry myself on a higher level as a performer. I think when I perform, I always perform. I put on a show and always carry it completely as an entire performance.