Blog 4: Interview Preparation

1. Who do you plan to interview? Why?
- For the first interview of the senior Project, I plan to interview my mentor, Kevin Lopez. That's because I feel like he can be the one who helps me start off. He'll be able to point me into the direction of other people. People who'll be able to help me learn/gain more knowledge in the future, when I interview them as well. He's the key to more people who will help me succeed in my senior project.

2. Additional Questions:
- What brought you into the side of business in music?
- What are the most important things one has to consider when managing/owning a venue?
- What inspires you to give back to the community by running local shows in a venue?

Blog 3: Topic Choice and Semester 1 ESLR Goals

1. Topic: 
Music Business- Managing/running a venue.

2. ESLRS:
- I believe that in order to see my growth in the ESLRS I must participate in certain activities during the school year. I'll be able to play a part by donating during our food can drive; or help out during any other school functions, like a "garage sale". I'll also be able to help out through yearbook(I am the yearbook photo editor).
-To see my improvement as an effective learner, I'll be able to look up my grades online and see what I'm doing well in and what I need to work better on. I'll be sure to ask for help whenever I'm struggling in any class subject in order to assure I'm learning as I should be.
-In the near future I'll be able to look at my blog posts and see the difference in language and post content itself. As time passes I'll use blogger to improve on how I record things, how I post things, and when/if I post things on time. I'll be able to improve by presentations in the future and learning to organize things using a computer and internet.
-I have noticed that senior year will consist of things that will force me to communicate with many people. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but I know that in the end I will know how to talk to people effectively. Whether they be strangers, my mentor or teachers.

All in all, this whole project seems like it is going to shape us, and push us more into the adult world.

Blog 2: Summer Mentorship

1. Mentorship Log 

2. What is the contact name & number of where you volunteered?

- Kevin Lopez (626) 478-4958

3. What questions were raised because of the 10 hours of experience?

- What does it take to open a venue?

- What legal codes must be met/kept in order for the venue to be “up to code”?

- How much money is needed to open a venue?

- How much money is needed to keep the venue running monthly?

- Where should the money come from?

- How should the weekly/monthly income of the venue be handled?

- What needs to be done in order to keep the venue a safe environment for all ages (drug free)?

- What type of insurance policy should the venue have?

- What is a suitable location for a venue?

- How does one go about dealing with noise complaints?

4. What is the most important thing you gained from this experience? Why?

- I believe the most important thing I’ve gained from this experience are the managing skills I’ve been taught. It’s the most important thing because I actually want to own and manage my own venue in the future. When volunteering, I was placed in the position to manage the money coming from ticket sales. I had to make sure everything was accounted for in the end. Including ticket to money ratio, water sold and donations.

5. How did what you did help you choose a topic?

- I have always been fond of going to shows (concerts). It has become one of my goals to work in the music industry even though I do understand that it is competitive and a difficult industry to succeed in. I figured that since I want to eventually own/manage my own venue, I might as well gain experience by volunteering at one and basing my senior project off of this. What I did this summer showed me, more or less, what happens behind the scenes at a venue. For example, what needs to be done to book bands, how to promote events, running the door and how to handle the income of a certain event.