Closing:

         In closing, making the decision to enroll at Full Sail University to earn my Master’s degree in Entertainment Business was one of the best decisions I have ever made for myself.  The program has not only enhanced and added to my skills educationally and psychologically, but my character has expanded to prepare me for anything I may face in the entertainment and business industry. I am happy to have had the opportunity to converse with so many intelligent individuals going towards the same goal as me, and to have acquired an abundance of abilities from a variety of unique and highly educated professors. I can now emerge in the entertainment industry prepared and ready for anything that comes my way. Whether I encounter disappointments or achievements, the skills I have attained during my year at Full Sail will prepare me for both. Thank you Full Sail for the opportunity to learn and grow, both internally and career-wise.

http://submit.nytimes.com/graduation?ref=education

 

            

Month 12: "Final Project: Business Plan"

         Finally in the twelfth month, my last stepping stone in my journey at Full Sail, I begin taking the course “Final Project: Business Plan.” The course description includes writing blogs in relation to financial and technology aspects, completing the financial statements assignment from the previous course, reflecting on all courses that were completed during the program, and completing a written business plan that led to a final presentation of the business. Once I made it to this last course, it opened my eyes with realization of how fast the year had passed and how close to graduation I was. I enjoyed completing my written business plan which required a substantial amount of preparation. The written business plan included all items from the previous courses that I organized into a plan that I would present to a potential investor interested in my business. 

http://www.toddpylant.com/2013/10/21/sabbatical-project/

Month 11: "Business Plan Development"

        In the eleventh month, I begin taking the course “Business Plan Development.” The course description includes each individual taking the business, management, and technical knowledge that they have learned from all previous courses and putting together a business plan for their intended business. This course required a lot of observation and organization skill, which really enhanced my development skills. The assignments included in this course were learning how to identify my target market, identifying potential competitors within the same market, describing the opportunities and barriers that I may face in my current market, and creating a financial spreadsheet with a list of all financial factors associated with my business. I enjoyed completing these assignments because it gave me an even better understanding of what to look for in the build-up of my business. The financial spreadsheet assignment was fairly challenging because it required me to create hypothetical figures for my business plan in order to see all improvements and successes. 

http://www.valleysbdc.org/2012/11/15/hot-topic-2/

Month 10: "Digital Marketing"

          In the tenth month, I begin taking the course “Digital Marketing.” The course descriptions include learning how to develop effective marketing plans with a strong emphasis on the digital aspect. I found this class to be fairly difficult because I was unaware of all the components that are entailed within the digital world. The assignments included creating blogs that were related to digital technology, learning how to evaluate webpages by utilizing Google AdWords and Google Analytics, and creating marketing plans. Before taking this class, I had never heard of AdWords or Google Analytics. I learned that through Google Analytics I could track the level of activity that appeared on my blogs, and through the use of Ad Words I could research keywords to include in my blog that my potential customers would look for. Both tools go hand in hand because they help strengthen websites and blogs with the inclusion of such content, which in return will increase user activity. It is very important to include the correct keywords in one’s site to increase search engine optimization, which is how frequent a sight appears in the search results. The more searches it receives will gradually increase the popularity amongst individuals, based on how often the website and company is researched. Completing these activities demonstrated the importance of not only including the correct amount of content, but including the right content to appeal to the intended audience. I now understand that the more interesting a website appears the more visibility it will receive. 

http://lawncaremillionaire.com/explained-google-adwords-for-your-lawn-care-business/

Month 9: "Entertainment Media Publishing and Distribution"

           In the ninth month, I begin taking the course “Entertainment Media Publishing and Distribution.” The course description includes informing individuals on the issues affecting media publishing and distribution and learning ways to protect one’s business from issues such a piracy and social media. This course goes hand in hand with the previous course because it discusses legal issues in regards to protecting one’s assets. From this course I learned how such published works could become subject to copyright infringement through many sources including social media. One assignment I found to be very enlightening was where I got to choose a legal case in which someone had their published works compromised. I chose to research the case on J. K. Rowling that discussed a time when a fan attempted to steal her ideas for his version of an encyclopedia. Completing this assignment made me aware of how easy it can be to copyright someone’s works, especially if they are not properly protected. I now see how important it is to make sure that all forms of publishing, including novels and submissions through the web, be protected to avoid someone else taking ownership of another individual’s work.  

http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/article/1011348/archant-takes-full-control-publisher-kent-sunday

Month 8: "Advanced Entertainment Law"

              In the eighth month, I begin taking the course “Advanced Entertainment Law.” The course description includes learning the many topics associated with entertainment law and understanding how to protect one’s business against the many threats within the digital domain today. I was looking forward to taking this class the most because I hope to become an entertainment lawyer in the future. The course met many of my expectations because it allowed me to grasp the concept of not only law, but law within the entertainment industry. The assignments included gathering information about intellectual property in relation to one’s business, creating blogs that required the research of potential legal issues that could affect one’s business, and learning about the various trends that tend to affect entertainment contracts. Throughout the course I learned the terms patent, trademark, and copyright which are all different forms of protection for projects, products, and businesses. I found the class to be very entertaining and enlightening because it prepared me for the potential legal issues I may face within the course of my business. 

http://www.aqalegal.com/

Month 7: "Product and Artist Management"

             In the seventh month, I begin taking the course “Product and Artist Management.” The course description includes learning how to successfully manage potential artists or products manufactured for one’s business. Although I do not intend to work with the music industry, this course was still beneficial in helping to determine ways in which I will successfully manage my own business with the products we manufacture. Also, seeing as I will be running a production company, I found it effective to acquire skills associated with artist management in regards to future clients looking to work within our corporation. One assignment I felt really helped strengthen my knowledge on artists within the entertainment industry was the live event project. This assignment required me to create a daily agenda for a hypothetical artist performing in concert. Gathering a list detail was somewhat difficult and time consuming because I never had to create someone else’s agenda before. Doing so, I put myself in a production manager’s position and thought of tasks needed for an artist during a show. The assignment also went hand in hand with time management because each task had to be done in a timely manner in order for everything leading up to the show to be successful. The correct term for the agenda I created was an artist rider, which includes specific requirements from an artist in regards to their transportation, meals, wardrobe, dressing room, and all other a

http://topics.info.com/Entertainment-Law_3674
ccommodations. Completing this assignment really helped me in learning how to successfully manage an individual according to their preferences in combination with what is best for the business.

Month 6: "Negotiation and Deal-Making"

            In the sixth month, I begin taking the course “Negotiation and Deal-Making.” The course description includes acquiring strong negotiation and deal-making skills that are needed to establish a strong business presence and develop solid partnerships with other individuals and companies. This course was one that I favored highly because negotiation is one of my strongest tactics. I feel that negotiation is not about changing someone’s mind, but instead a way for individuals to end on the same page. The assignments that were offered in the course included various scenarios that were not only entertaining, but conducive to learning strong skills associated with the course. One assignment dealt with a reporter interviewing an athlete in regards to being able to film her daily activities in exchange for profit. The instructions were to determine the best ways in which each side could have handled the negotiation more effectively. Completing this assignment helped me to access any problems I had with my negotiation skills and to also enhance the successful ones that I already attained. One term that I learned was BATNA, which means best alternative to a negotiated agreement. BATNA is extremely important in developing successfully, resilient negotiating and deal-making skills when the first option does not go as planned. The course taught me to always stay ahead by thinking in advance, in which I apply to everyday decisions. 

http://www.negotiationmoot.eu/

Month 5: "Entertainment Business Finance"

            In the fifth month, I begin taking the course “Entertainment Business Finance,” which prepared me in full for the financial aspect of my business. The course description includes learning financial principals, such as acquiring the correct amount of funds to start a business, making educated financial decisions towards one’s business, and being able to correctly read and complete income statements for a business. The assignments that were offered contained hypothetical companies that needed business and financial advice, in which my duty was to correctly assert the correct path for them to go towards. These activities really helped me to explore not only the option of running my business, but explore the option of managing an artist or group. When it comes to running a business, I learned from this course that there are many components involved with maintaining a stable business. The financial aspect of a business is very crucial in determining the overall success and decline of a business, based on the management of money. Another beneficial component that I learned of was crowd funding, which is one of the most popular ways for a business to raise money today. The assignment associated with crowd funding really demonstrated the importance of acquiring supporters for one’s business. The course led me to contemplate how I will raise money for my own company in the future. 

http://www.commonwealthcrowdfunding.com/

Month 4: "Business Storytelling and Brand Development"

            In the fourth month at full sail, I begin taking the course “Business Storytelling and Brand Development.” The course description includes learning brand development strategies to strengthen a business, how to implement storytelling principals to support the foundation of the business, and creating a brand identity for one’s future business to identify with. I felt that the course was very beneficial towards preparing me for the start-up of my future business. Brand development is highly important in developing a business because it creates personality for the business. The activities associated with the course really assisted in helping with determining what type of business I planned to run in the future. The market research assignment helped with analyzing the future challenges I will face within my intended market. I also learned the components of the PEST analysis, which entails political, economic, social, and technological aspects in relation to running a business. The logic really helps to assess all components needed to achieve success in the business industry. Within this class, I also learned how important it is for a business to have its own brand name and logo to distinguish it from other companies within the same market. It was exciting to create my brand name and logo because it gave me hope towards what my future business would have to offer.



http://www.themoleskin.com/2010/03/the-art-of-business-storytelling/

Month 3: "Project and Team Management"

In the third month at Full Sail, I begin taking the course “Project and Team management.” The course description includes learning the details of project management and learning how to effectively build a strong team. This course went hand-in-hand with both the previous courses, seeing as they both illustrated ways to effectively build strong relationships in the work place and manage time effectively. While in the course, I learned how to conduct projects that I may have to undergo in the future. The timeline and budgeting assignment were great at demonstrating what is entailed within running a business effectively. With the timeline assignment, I was able to create a hypothetical list of events for my future business plan. By doing this, I was able to calculate the amount of time needed to be dedicated towards each individual task. I really enjoyed this assignment because it really helped improve my time management skills. The budgeting assignment was also very effective in determining the needs of my future business. The assignment was not only good for aiding in future budgeting for a business, but great for applying the skills learned towards budgeting in everyday life situations. There was also an industry research assignment that we completed, which really helped in gaining insight about the entertainment industry. It was very valuable to learn about all of the benefits associated with working within the entertainment industry.

 

http://darrenhardy.success.com/2011/11/building-great-teams-1-of-3/

Month 2: "Executive Leadership"

In the second month at Full Sail, I begin taking the course “Executive Leadership.” The course description includes successfully analyzing the qualities in an individual to determine their executive leadership position in the entertainment business. The course activities include case assessments, effective decision-making, building and maintain relationships in the work place, personal branding, and self-assessment analyzing. Each of these activities played a huge part in shaping my character to prepare me for a potential leadership role. I found that the three activities proving most beneficial to me dealt with relationships and personal assessment. It is extremely important to build and maintain promising relationships within the work place to ensure a healthy working environment and network effectively with potential partners. Also, personal branding and self-assessment analyzing go hand-in-hand with each other. I found the personal branding discussion to be beneficial because it demonstrates the proper way to showcase one’s talents and work ethics for the profession at hand. Learning how to effectively personal brand has really helped in my professional presentation to others. Both the leadership and self-assessments have proved beneficial in analyzing the skills I already attain and have helped with assessing any skills I may need to acquire for the future. The course really helped me to see the potential I possess to become a successful leader. 

http://www.gainesvillechamber.com/member-services/leadership-gainesville/leadership-gainesville/

Month 1: "Media Literacy & Research Methodologies"

In the first month of my studies at Full Sail University, I begin taking the class “Media Literacy & Research Methodologies.” The course description includes acquiring skills in relation to research methods, creating business proposals, learning how to properly construct APA writing format, learning how to successfully manage time, participate in collaborations with classmates, and how to create successful online networks. All were skills that I acquired and felt were highly beneficial to me. One of the skills that I enjoyed learning most was how to manage time more efficiently. I made a discovery that time management is not one of my strong points, which made the learning activities extremely engaging with the desire to learn more. Also, learning how to utilize online resources to create online networks successfully was interesting as well. The Professional Learning Network (PLN) assignment was extremely engaging.  Throughout this course I learned that online networks are highly significant in regards to networking within the entertainment and business industries. Because of this, I now feel more inclined to constantly update my blogs and online networks in order to stay current and appeal to future job opportunities. Links to my professional networks include LinkedIn.

https://benchprep.com/blog/act-and-sat-test-prep-to-do-or-not-to-do/


http://www.pstcc.edu/counseling/academic/time-management.php

Opening:

As an aspiring and determined future film/television producer, I, Shemeka Smith, have dedicated five years to media studies in relation to my major. Of those five years, one year is contributed to my studies at Full Sail University to earn my Master’s degree in Entertainment Business. I completed my degree online, which proved to be a very different experience for me with my prior degree being completed on campus. Taking courses online can be difficult, seeing as there are no opportunities to converse face to face with professors or students in the classroom. However, completing courses online are conducive to learning when one demonstrates dedication and hard work. Throughout the course of the year, I completed 12 courses of which were extremely beneficial to me and essential to becoming successful in the entertainment industry. Each course was unique in its own way and I learned various things from each that I will apply heavily to my future career plan.



http://www.fullsail.edu