Blog 14: Independent Component 1

Content:  

• LITERAL
  (a) Statement saying: “I, Emmely Avila, affirm that I completed my independent component which represents 30 hours of work.”
  (b) Cite your source regarding who or what article or book helped you complete the independent component: Kevin Lopez(my mentor) helped me complete my independent component, as well as the book "Starting and Building a non profit".
  (c) Provide a digital spreadsheet (aka log of the 30 hours).   Post it next to your mentorship log.
• (d) Explanation of what you completed: When deciding what I would be doing through the independent component I said I would continue doing hours at my mentorship. Which I did do, I went several times a week, attended the meetings we hold at the venue and even helped facilitate some of them with my mentor Kevin. I volunteered to help run the door at other events like I usually do for hours. On the other hand, I did say that I was going to book one of my own shows. Which I did successfully! I got in contact with a few bands that are relitively local(all LA county), I was the person who decided on the date the show would be and how much admission would be. As for that show, I also helped put the flyer together (which I have posted on my blog but I will also add it to this post as proof). I'm also going to be posting an extra blog post on my blog which will have all the information on how the event went. Another thing I did for the show I put on was promote it. I'm also attaching a screenshot of some promoting I did on a few social medias. Aside from hosting my very own event all by myself(with my mentor shadowing me to make sure I was okay), I helped book two more events. One is later one this month and another on is in March!
• INTERPRETIVE 
  Defend your work and explain how the significant parts of your component and how it demonstrates 30 hours of work.   Provide evidence (photos, transcript, art work, videos, etc) of the 30 hours of work. :What I did for my 30 hours does demonstrate an actual 30 hours of work because it is what I usually do for my other mentorship hours. I put my own time aside and volunteered at the venue like I usually do. I do things to help the venue. Some things I did during my mentorship(like said before) was attend meetings, help paint a wall, booked my first event(and actually had it happen). Here are some pictures and a description of that is going on and why I am including them.

-Above is a picture that I took myself from attendees point of view. This picture was taken at the first even I successfully put together by myself on February 1, 2014. This is a band called "Seasons Change" from Pico Rivera. I was able to get this band, and all the other bands to the venue on time and end the event according to schedule. The main reason I am including this photo is because it marks the end of the first event I put together. It symbolizes to myself that even I, being a 17 year old teenage can put together an event by herself. To me it represents communication, planning and determination.

-When first saying what I would do for my independent component back in October, I mentioned that I would help promote the events I put on by myself. Above is a screenshot of the flyer I helped make for the event I held, and proof of promoting it. I was actually put in charge of the instagram that Bridgetown(the place of my mentorship) has! I get to log in and post about upcoming meeting, events, etc.

• APPLIED
  How did the component help you understand the foundation of your topic better?  Please include specific examples to illustrate how it helped: One big thing that I did during my independent component that helped me gain a better understanding of the foundation of my senior project was being able to put on a successful event. I was the one who had to get in contact with bands. By that I mean that I was the one to call them, email them, and ask them to play the event. I was the person who had to make sure everyone was on schedule, that the area was clean and that everything went according to plan. The reason I strongly believe that this helped me understand more of the foundation was because, my whole project revolves around running a successful venue. In order to run a venue, you need to hold events. If you do not understand or know how to hold an even, which will bring revenue(money/people), then you will not have any venue to hold your events in. I also learned that I have to have back up plans. After everything was set in stone for the event, I was told that one of the bands would not be able to make it to the event. I had to rush and find another band to fill in the empty spot. It wasn't hard to do, but it was upsetting to find out days before that I would have to find another band to play.

Grading Criteria 

• Log on a digital spreadsheet 
• Evidence of 30 hours of work 
• LIA submitted to blog

Blog 13: Lesson 2 Reflection

Content:
1. Positive Statement

The second senior project presentation has definitely given me a better feel of what it's going to take to be able to present my final 1 hour 30 min presentation. It definitely takes the edge off.

What are you most proud of in your Lesson 2 Presentation and why?

- I am pretty proud of my powerpoint. I feel like I was able to put enough information on it, and not have to read off of it. It gave the audience something to look, it was also really clean cut(not messy), and I was able to give specific details off of small bullet points.

2. Questions to Consider
       a.     What assessment would you give yourself on your Lesson 2 Presentation (self-assessment)?

       AE       P (this grade!)         AP       CR       NC

       b.     Explain why you deserve that grade using evidence from the Lesson 2 component contract.

- I was able to make speaking time, I strongly believe I met all of the things that were required on the contract. For example, my answer with evidence to back it up, I referenced my mentorship, I also referenced/cited the book that had given me all of my information for my first answer. I was able to keep a steady tone and maintain eye contact with my peers while I talked to them about my answer.

3. What worked for you in your Lesson 2?

- What worked for me was being able to break down my first answer with three different things. Those being derived from the strategic analysis. Being able to have an activity worked really well for me because I was able to show my peers how one of the things that is a big part of my answer is used.

4.  (What didn't work) If you had a time machine, what would you have done differently to improve your Lesson 2?

- I would have changed my hook activity. I would have liked to ask a question about non profit organizations.

5. Finding Value
What do you think your answer #2 is going to be?  

- I want my second answer to be something about promoting the venue, and make it appealing and involve people.

Making things happen?

-This weekend on saturday, I get to finally experience my own show. What I mean by that is: I get to finally experience the whole setting of the venue for a show that I booked myself. I was the person who chose the date for the bands, contacted the bands and decided how much the entrance fee would be. I've made sure to tell the bands that they need to be there on time. The first band is supposed to play at 7pm, so I am opening the doors at 6:30. I know what its like to run the door, clean up the space before the show,  and how to set up the PA system so I think it's safe to assume that the show will run smoothly. The only thing that worries me is the possibility that people might turn up and cause drama. Bridgetown is a safe and sober space. Which means that we will not tolerate any violence, alcohol or drug use in or around the venue. I'm in charge of making sure people who are doing things of that sort leave the area and do not return inside the venue. I'm pretty excited for this weekend.

On the other hand, I recently booked two more shows. One of them is February 20th with a few local bands from LA. The other one is March 23rd. Some of the bands are from the area, while the main headliner is a band from San Diego that contacted me through my instagram. I'm planning on posting the flyers for those shows whenever the bands and I make them. So in about a week!

Blog 12: Third Interview Questions

Post 10 open-ended questions for approval you want to ask an expert in the field of your senior project.  The first question should be your essential question and the other nine must be about the foundation of your essential question or help you answer your essential question.
Questions:
1.  What does a person need to do in order to successfully open and manage a live music venue?
2. What main things influenced you to be a part of the music industry? (specifically to be a part of starting up a venue)
3.  What do you think are three of the most important key factors when putting together a business plan for a venue?
4. How can someone(or a group of people) make big decisions for the greater good of the venue? (things that involve finance, permits, etc..)
5. What things should be considered when coming up with a mission statement for a DIY venue such as Bridgetowns?6. Would or have you considered opening a DIY(Do it yourself) venue on your own? 
7. What inspires you to give back to the community by running local shows in a venue? (even though the venue does book touring bands).

8. What is the main difference between your standard "money making venue" and a DIY venue?

9. What are some things that could potentially shut down a venue?

10. What certain things work best when looking for a location/space to open a venue?

Welcome GATTS to Bridgetown: Extra Post- January

In the picture from left to right: Andy, me, Kevin (mentor), Cameron, Marcel, Daniel. All of these guys are core collective members at Bridgetown DIY.

-I totally forgot to post about this last month, but better late than never! In late November, through early December, some of us at the venue helped paint over one of the big walls in the venue. We did that so another artist could come in and paint the wall with his style of art. I didn't know this until after the mural was painted, but the person who painted it is a well known street artist that goes by "Gatts". His work is extremely amazing, very different and just astonishing. It took him from 7 pm to almost 3 in the morning to complete him. He used about 10 spray cans and the outcome was awesome. The wall looks so good. It definitely adds a lot of character to the venue. 

Blog 11: Mentorship 10 hours check

Content:
1.   Where are you doing your mentorship?
-I'm currently doing all of my mentorship hours at a venue called "Bridgetown DIY". It's somewhat close to I-POLY, located in La Puente. 

2.   Who is your contact?
-My contact is Kevin Lopez, he's one of the core collective members of Bridgetown.

3.   How many total hours have you done (total hours should be reflected in your mentorship log located on the right hand side of your blog like your WB)?   
I have done a total of 59 hours and 30 minutes at my mentorships.

4.   Summarize the 10 hours of service you did.
During the most recent ten hours of service, I attended two meetings. I booked my first event, which is happening the 1st of February. I got the bands together, picked the date and helped make the flyer(I'm including the picture of it at the end of this post). I also attended two shows recently which were pretty big. I helped run the door at both shows, I helped clean the venue and even helped paint a really cool book case we just got for the space.

5.   Email your house teacher the name of your contact and their phone number confirming who they should call to verify it.  
*You need 50 hours plus the original 10 in the summer by May.   The original 10 from the summer do not count toward the 50.  By the end of the year, you will have 60 hours counting that original 10.

Blog 10: Senior Project, the Holiday

1.  It is important to consistently work on your senior project, whether it is break or we are in school.  What did you over the break with your senior project?

Over the break I went to Bridgetown DIY(the place I do my mentorship at). I helped run the door at a few shows, attended two meetings the venue holds every other week. I finally booked my first show! I had to get the bands together, the date set, and it's ready to go on Feb. 1st.

2.  What was the most important thing you learned from what you did and why?  What was the source of what you learned?

I guess the most important thing I learned over break was that no matter what, I'll always have to have a back up plan. One of the bands I asked to play the show had first said yes, and when I double checked with them they then said no. So a friend of mine had to help me find another band. Luckily one of my bestfriends offered to play the show! I don't really know how to source this, seeing that it happened to me quite a few times. Can I source myself?

3.  If you were going to do a 10 question interview on questions related to answers of your EQ, who would you talk to and why?

I would interview Cameron. Cameron is one of the core collective members at Bridgetown DIY. Cameron has been there since the venue was just a simple idea. He's one of the people behind all the rules and ideas that run through the venue.