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Knowledge is Power

Artist, musicians, and entertainers dream of becoming famous in the entertainment business. Some try to learn the business on their own, while others pursue a higher education such as internships and college. Knowledge is Power. Here are a couple of schools that I believe or great assets to achieving a career within entertainment. 


Full Sail University, located in Winter Park, Florida, is devoted to educating students in artmusicfilmdigital arts, and other careers that help when entering the entertainment business. The school provides a hands-on education working with top of the line equipment. The school is set to offer "real world" experience (Full Sail).  Full Sail allows students the ability to create their own artistic style and bring it to life through projects during the courses that are studied. Full Sail also offers online classes for students who are already involved in the media or just can't move to Orlando. Full Sail is the school I currently attend and I believe that it has bettered my education in entertainment business.


The University of Miami is another school I recommend for advancing education within the entertainment field. The Frost School of Music (UofM Music department) offers over 10 different programs specializing in music that will help create the right path for students. UofM also offers over 5 programs in film including an M.F.A in Motion Picture Screenwriting. The Motion Picture program helps students understand the effective creation of moving images and screenwriting (UofM).


The University of North Texas is a comprehensive music school with the largest enrollment of any music institution accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (UNT). It is the first school to offer degree programs in Jazz studies. UNT has over 36,000 students and approximately one-third of all North Texas music students have been enrolled at the graduate level (UNT). They also offer over 20 College of Music summer workshops that help increase students' knowledge in music as a whole. 




Berklee School of Music located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent music college in the world (Berklee). I believe that if a student is accepted into this school that they've increased there chances of making a better music career for themselves. Berklee offers music degrees in film scoring, music production and engineering, music therapy and many more degrees that are a valuable asset when entering the entertainment business. The schools mission is to educate, train, and develop students to excel in music as a career and I feel that they have achieved this goal. 


In conclusion, Knowledge is Power. Knowing what it takes to make it in this industry will help you move above and beyond other individuals. Passion, commitment, and motivation will help when striving for your goals, but education is the key to success.  

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Investing your Money within your Music

Many artist and musicians look for ways to invest time, money, and passion into their music. They value the best equipment and software that will produce a high quality sound and song to be distributed around businesses, online, as well as other venues that generate revenue. I have listed three valuable tools that have helped me produce well-rounded tracks.

Pro Tools is a professional digital audio workstation that is used to record and edit music, (Pro tools, 2011). I have been using it since 2003 and it has helped me mix and master tracks that I've recorded within the software. You can also create your own sounds. In the new version of Pro Tools 9, for the first time, it has added aggregate devices, which allows more than one interface to be used at the same time, (Pro Tools 9, 2011). For the complete version of Pro Tools 9, it runs $599.00 (avid, 2011).


Equipment can range on the price depending on how much money is available. Purchasing a top-of-the line keyboard such as a Roland Phantom, Yamaha Motif, or a Korg Triton can range between $2,300-$3,300 (Guitarcenter, 2011). These keyboards are used to produce sounds, beats, and other instrumental sounds that create tracks and other features such as commercials, soundtracks, and more. 


Having the knowledge to create is the best asset in producing music. Many people are born with an ear for music; others attend college and universities to develop a background in audio engineering and other musical fields. I attended Texas Tech University majoring in music with a minor an audio engineering


I feel that these three tools have led me to develop a broader technique for producing music. If you (as a producer, artist, or individual) can save money and invest in equipment and software that you need, and invest your time and mind into education, then you will have the knowledge, background, and tools that will help you produce well-rounded tracks. 

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Ways to Finance a new Business

Building a business from scratch requires time, motivation, and finances that will start your company off successfully. eHow.com provides online users many ways to creatively and traditionally finance a business. Traditional financing often requires a longer amount of time to be processed and approved, but it may yield a better interest rate. Creative financing can usually be completed within a short time frame, but it may come with a higher interest rate


  • Get a loan. The Small Business Association (SBA) can be a great source for financing a business. This will require more time, energy and paperwork than most other sources of funding. You will need to have a well-written business plan and your financials in order. Most SBA loans require a set percentage of the total loan amount as a down payment. (sources found on eHow.com)

  • Utilize home equity. If you are a home owner, you may be able to use the equity in your home to finance a business. This option often allows a tax deduction on the interest you pay. Some people are able to use a home equity loan or line of credit as the down payment needed to secure an SBA loan. Just remember that you are in essence risking your house if your business fails and you cannot repay the loan or line of credit. (sources found on eHow.com)

  • Find people-to-people lending. Many websites host listings that allow personal investors the ability to finance your listing. If enough investors are willing to provide funds, the website will broker a deal between you and the investors. Family members or friends may also choose to provide financing for your business without the use of a website. (sources found on eHow.com)

  • Use investment financing. Venture capital firms, angels or a business partner all offer investment financing. Not only can this be a lengthy process, it might require that you give up a percentage of ownership to the investor. (sources found on eHow.com)

  • Use credit cards. Depending on the amount of financing needed for your business, you may be able to use credit cards. This option should only be considered if you are willing and able to pay high interest rates. (sources found on eHow.com)

  • Sell your future sales. If you have been in business for a set amount of time and you accept credit cards, you can apply for a cash advance on your credit card sales. This can be accomplished in a short time frame, but often requires that you change merchant processors and pay a higher interest rate. (sources found on eHow.com)

  • Here are more articles on ways to finance a company. 

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