Record Studio,Music Recordings,Christmass GiftsEntertainment,Movies

Archive for March, 2009

One of the things that tend to stick in cruisers’ minds is the onboard entertainment. Gone are the days of second-rate entertainers and the same old shows. Today, a lot of effort is put in to organising entertainment on cruise ships and the entertainers could well be stars of the future. Who remembers Jane McDonald appearing on the documentary The Cruise? Also, Claire Sweeney, who appeared in Brookside, started off her career singing on cruise ships. You could also be wowed by stars from the present and past – I was pleased to see that Kelly Monteith (the American equivalent of Dave Allen) is going strong and can be seen on some Royal Caribbean cruises.

Inspired by my recent trip to see Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas, I decided to find out more about the entertainment onboard having heard so much about it. Royal Caribbean prides itself on its entertainment programme. You could be forgiven for thinking you’re actually in the West End rather than in the Coral Theatre onboard Jewel of the Seas. Shows include “From West End to Broadway” featuring musical numbers from Cole Porter to Les Miserable, “City of Dreams” with music from artists such as Elton John and Celine Dion, and “Tango Buenos Aires” starring Argentine dancers and musicians. Shows are put on twice each night to tie in with the two dinner sittings, so you won’t miss out, and are not repeated during the cruise – just the thing for theatre lovers.

As well as being wowed in the Coral Theatre onboard Royal Caribbean’s Jewel of the Seas, you can take part in numerous activities throughout the day, including gaming lessons (perfect for trying to make your fortune in the casino), game shows and piano lessons.

I went behind the scenes to ask Bobby Brown, the Cruise Director on Jewel of the Seas, a few questions about the entertainment onboard the ship. Born in Scotland, Bobby started his entertainment career at a very young 5 years old, competing in ballroom dancing competitions around the world. In 1998 he moved to London where he met his wife and together they competed professionally in ballroom dancing, reaching the rank of 19th in the world (a future dancer on Strictly Come Dancing perhaps). Bobby first started working in the cruise industry when he joined Sun Line Cruises in 1993 before moving to Royal Caribbean in 1995.

How long have you been in charge of entertainment on Jewel of the Seas?

Since November 2006, but I have been with Royal Caribbean International since 1995, when I started as cruise activities staff on Legend of the Seas. I moved to assistant cruise director in 1996 on Majesty of the Seas and was then promoted to Cruise Director in 1997. I have served on Legend of the Seas, Majesty of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Vision of the Seas, Brilliance of the Seas and Jewel of the Seas.

How far ahead do you plan the entertainment itinerary?

Guest entertainers can be booked as much as one year in advance, although we do have changes in the entertainment schedule sometimes just days before the start of the cruise. Guest activities are finalized only days before a cruise starts as we keep up to date with the final figures for guest demographics.

What is your favourite part of being in charge of entertainment?

Seeing smiles on the guests’ faces and hearing their comments about how much they enjoyed the entertainer.

Which show has been your favourite so far?

Ben Vereen (US star of stage and TV), Gordy Brown (singer impersonator who is big in Las Vegas) and Scott Record (US singing comedy impressionist).

Who is the most famous person you have had onboard providing entertainment?

Ben Vereen.

Inside Cruise: For those of you haven’t heard of Ben Vereen, he started his career in Broadway during the 1960s and has also appeared on TV (including Star Trek: The Next Generation and Grey’s Anatomy) and in films (including Funny Lady and All That Jazz).

Who would you like to have as part of the entertainment?

Scott Record, an incredible act. His show is unbelievable and I have seen him get a standing ovation in the first 10 minutes of his show. He is the only act I know that sings New York, New York as if it was skipping on an old juke box!

How many entertainment staff are onboard?

In all there are 71 onboard made up of 4 singers, 8 dancers, 25 musicians,11 technicians, 10 youth staff, 2 sports staff and 11 activities staff.

Phew! With such a range of quality entertainers and acts onboard you’ll be hard pushed to be bored on Jewel of the Seas.

History, development and growth of CCM over time

CCM, Colorado Creative Music, is music recording studio, founded in 1995 by Darren Curtis Skanson, primarily established as vanity label for producing, promoting and selling his own records, and consequently developed into microlabel with 4 product lines and 11 different albums. In 2000, the company sold 30,000 of Darren Curtis Skanson CDs and received net profit of $4,292.00. The company aims at expanding its customer base, acquire more popularity, and develop the company from microlabel to the independent one.

Vision/objectives

The business vision of Colorado Creative Music consists of three components – Core Value, Core Purpose and Visionary Goals (Thompson, Strickland, 2003).

Core values of CCM are quality, creativity, and excellent customer service. The core purpose of this organization is to make more people listen to classical and light acoustic music and admire it. As for the visionary goals, the strategic dilemma of the business arises. Thus, one of the visionary goal is to make the music produced, played and recorded by CCM musicians, heard by larger audience. The other visionary goal that doesn’t completely go in line with the first one is to win the large custom market for the company’s products and services. The collision here is in the primary value and target of the business: in the first case the attention is attached to the product, music, while the second one is focused on the development of the organization. This dilemma is the subject of strategic choice of the organization, which will be outlined and discussed later.

At the present moment, the main objectives of the company are: positioning the business against its rivals, development of distribution channels, development of the products and enhancement of the product line, anticipating changes in demand and adjusting the firm’s strategy to respond to them.

Operating environment

The firm operates on American market which is characterized by political and economical stability, technical advancements in producing and distribution processes, large number of potential customers, broad demand and intense competition.

Business model

Business model is the mechanism for the company to generate the revenues and profits. It includes strategy and implementation thereof and should answer such questions as how the firm selects its customers, how it differentiates its products from those or rivals, how it creates utility for the customers, how it acquires and preserves them, promotion and distribution strategies, how it allocates its resources and derives profit. As for promotion and distribution techniques for Colorado Creative Music, the particular attention is attached to Internet aspect of the distribution and its capabilities.

Internet is not only alternative way to traditional methods of music distribution, but also a great opportunity for artists and music-recording companies to expose these products to broad public. The advantages of such means are low cost of entrance and enormous size of potential customers market. Traditional chain of music distribution includes such components as writer/performer, publisher, musical instruments company, live performances, venue equipment and services, recording, studio equipment and services, recorded performances such as night clubs, bars, business music, broadcast, film and music videos, and retail. These are traditional stages through which the song or other musical product must pass to get to the final customer. Internet makes this chain of distribution shorter and simpler, and therefore internet-based promotion, advertisement and distribution can be considered a new business model to base the business on. Further information on virtual distribution will be discussed in relevant section.

CCM business model includes following components:

Value Proposition: satisfaction of customers’ needs in quality classic music;

Market Segment: white females (predominantly) and males of 40-60 age range. The market segment needs to be further expanded.

Value Chain Structure: structure of the firm to be described below

Revenue generation: through sales, direct sales in particular; revenue generation roots need to be expanded.

Position in the value network: enters the most specialized industry segment. A large number of competitors from all 4 segments of the industry; business may be complemented through alliance with larger recording company.

Competitive strategy: company’s strategy primarily focused on differentiation rather than cost leadership strategy, through internet distribution allows making the products of CCM cheaper than those of competitors.

Market segmentation, targeting, positioning

The music recording industry has 4 clearly identifiable segments: major recording studios, independent labels, micro-labels and vanity labels. Major companies have large quantities of artists under contracts, reaching the number of 100, specialize on multiple types of music – rock, country, jazz, classical, traditional and other, and have formal and reliable national and international channels of distribution. Independent labels have 10-100 artists under contract, focus on recording of one or two major music styles and have either national or most often regional distribution channels.

Micro-labels have less then 10 artists under contract and are tightly focused on definite style of music. They are characterized by small staff and manager performing as the leading artist of the studio. Micro-labels have rarely formal distribution system and heavily rely on direct sales to fans and wholesale to clubs and specialty retailers.

Vanity labels segment is the fourth, the last and the most specialized segment of the music recording industry. They are founded by independent artists for recording and selling their products (Darren& Winn, 2003). At present, CCM is the micro-label that strives to convert into independent label. Therefore, CCM currently occupies rather narrow market niche of classic and traditional acoustic music admirers within the age of 40-60, predominantly white, middle class females throughout the territory of the United States, though the major part of the customers is focused in Colorado region. This is the result of market targeting, when the studio developed the measure of segment attractiveness – loyal customers and fans of performers; music, and selected appropriate target segment.

Today, the company wishes to change the segment it operates into. To expand the company’s market segment it should develop product differentiation aimed at selling various products with different characteristics to different market segments. So far such differentiation is not developed.

On the basis thereof, the positioning approach now applied by the firm is differentiation positioning, which lies in filling less competitive, smaller market niche in which the firm locates its brand and attracts its customers.

Products

At present, the company disposes of 4 product lines and 11 different records. The brand names of the Company are: Darren Curtis Skanson, Acoustictherapy, Andrew Thomas Harling and Music for Candles. The style of the music offered is the same throughout all the brands: light classical guitar.

Distribution channels

The distribution channels of CCM are predominantly direct sales. These include sales in the gig, shopping mall distribution and in the back end (which includes CD order through 800 number, website sales, mail order). In 2000 CCM sold 30,000 Darren Curtis Skanson CDs, predominantly through direct sales. Though, traditional chains of distribution are more effective and they include major distributors, one-stop distributors, independent record stores and major chain record stores. Developing traditional distribution methods is one of CCM’s primary tasks.

Financial positions

CCM is a micro-label, the third of the four segments in music recording industry. Therefore, in contrast to the premier recording studios as Columbia, Sony Music, EMI and BMG, which possess enormous financial actives, financial position of CCM is rather modest. In 2000, the company reached total income number of $216,614.05 and net income of $4,292.00, which, though, was 4 times less than net income in 1998 (amounting to 20,626.70) and nearly the same as in 1997 and 1999.

Major strategic issues

Major strategic issues of the company are formulated by the manager of the company, Darren Skanson, in the Case Study for Colorado Creative Music (Darren & Winn, 2003) and include the following: – create a profitable music recording label with expanded range of artists and performers; – position Darren Curtis Skanson label to compete with major artists who have contracts to Sony Classical. For this, acquiring traditional distribution methods is necessary; – create new product line similar to Acoustcitherpay which would be saleable and provide funds for the previous two goals.

The strategic tasks and ways of their implementation are not uniform and completely complementary. Thus, the first aim of growing the company contradicts the easiest and most possible way of accomplishing the second goal – promote the music by selling CCM’s product lines to recording studio larger then CCM, independent of major label with access to traditional outlets. Thus, the company has to define its prerogative – develop the recording label or promote the music by means other than within CCM capabilities

That music is an art we all know. It is a form of devotion, a way to experience eternal bliss. In fact music is one of the most creative pursuits your children can undertake to develop their personality. Why not develop an interest of your children in the various forms of music genre at an early date? You will do a great job as a parent if your child learns to focus his attention and time on something productive. Choices are also unlimited as you can make them learn any of the instruments, vocals, music recording and so on.

The modern hectic lives of parents leave little choice for kids to spend their time in creative things. Is there a solution? It is there very much if you are willing to allow your kids develop into fine human beings. Long hours spent in front of the TV has an adverse effect on health. Besides it also prevents developing their other important skills. Why not provide an outlet to your kids for their creative juices to flow. Most kids have an inborn interest in music. The only thing to do for parents is to give a subtle direction to their interests so that they can focus on learning the fine art. Mind you – children learn so many things apart from music when they spend time in the pursuit and its various aspects.

Music teaches children to be persistent and disciplined. It also teaches them to try towards perfection and be a good team player. All this helps them not only in their studies but also in facing the challenges of life. Thus music at home and home recording is the first lesson you can impart to your children.

How to generate and maintain the interest of kids in various genres of music and instruments? It is a tough question as kids are often too occupied with a lot many things and easily lose interest in a particular instrument or form of music in no time. So you have the prospect of seeing that your efforts and money spent in buying an expensive instrument or making a small home recording studio is wasted and lying in some corner of your place. To avoid this scenario, it is important that at least initially you bring home something which can hold their interest for quite some time. This would include instruments such as electric guitar, bass or drums. Encourage them to download music which is free over the internet.

Another thing to remember is that no one becomes an expert overnight. Have patience with your little one. No point in fussing over his skills too much. Your little words of appreciation will mean a world to them. Ask for their opinions and stick to the choice for quite some time. Be lavish in praise and restrained in criticism. You will do their self esteem a world of good this way. Music is the perfect gift you can present to your kids. It is never too late and the sooner you start, the better.

Are you dreaming of recording your own music? Have you always wanted to launch your own album, but have never found the right sponsors? You might then want to consider establishing a home recording studio. Setting up a music recording studio at home will be perfect for your aspirations and could actually be a great way to enhance your musical skills. This article shows you how to go about the actual purchase of the required equipments and also how to set up the studio once the purchasing is done.

Purchasing the required equipments is the simplest and the least daunting of the entire process. Thanks to the intense competition in this market, you will easily get most of the equipments on discounts. You should always try to check out how well the equipments are working in order to avoid any unpleasant surprises at home. You could also try the trial period offer and return the goods if they are not to your liking.

Second hand equipments are very good for the first home studio. For your first venture into a home recording studio, the second hand equipments will be very cheap and you will be able to learn and improvise before trying for the brand new costlier ones. Naturally, you will have to be careful when dealing with such transactions, but if you are savvy enough, you will get some good equipments from auction sites like e bay. Try not to buy equipments that are too old, as electronic goods tend to have a limited life span. You should also check all the switches and other parts for wear and tear. Too many loose parts can signal the poor condition of the recording studio equipments.

You could look at the manual to get an idea of how worn out the equipments are. Ideally, the whole set of equipments must be cleaned and set to appropriate levels for optimum recordings. Again, if you are purchasing them from overseas, you may have to be careful about the voltage levels as different countries follow different standards. So always check with your seller and also check every instruction in the manual before plugging in .You do not want your costly purchase to be destroyed due to a minor oversight, do you?

So now your purchase of the basic studio equipments is done. Next, you have to look into the manual for the exact settings needed to ensure the optimum working conditions for the studio. Study the correct methods of recording music. You have to set the correct level of the signal in order to prevent any unnecessary loud noises during recordings. Noise is a common problem in recording studios and you must try to minimize it as much as possible. Every device can be a culprit in noise creation, leading to distortions. Since it is impossible to turn off all the noise, the best you can do is set the desired signal at the correct level.

Of course, there are many more technicalities you will have to learn to establish a studio that works without any glitch. For this you should refer to the manuals and also talk to other home studio enthusiasts who have turned their dreams of a perfect home recording studio into reality.