1.2 Case Study-Creative and Media Personnel

1.2 Case Study-Creative and Media Personnel

In the creative and media sector there are 1000’s of different job roles, which are occupied by people all over the country. These jobs are broken down into four main categories, which are content, design, performing arts and heritage and also tourism. Some of these jobs include drumming professionally; operating a camera, writing newspaper articles etc. and a select number of people who are working in the creative and media sector have come in to talk to our class about the different aspects of their jobs. I have done some research onto each of them and their jobs and analysed some of the aspects of what they do for a living.

Paul Mardles – Journalist

Paul Mardles is a fully-fledged journalist who started off as a simple subeditor. On a regular basis he writes articles and columns for a few major and minor newspapers such as the observer and also a number of small magazines including a monthly young people’s magazine called The Cut. He told us when he came o give us a talk that journalism is a unstable boat of a career to go on with some periods of time when you don’t get paid and others where you do however once you become an established journalist your boat is very steady and the pay is reasonably high.

Marcel Pusey – Bassistry + Producer

Marcel is part of a band called Bassistry and also a producer who works at a computer with logic pro and also holding a bass in a band. The music that he produces and composes is often inspires by the bass that he plays. He has worked with a software designer in order to create his own computer software that is on sale at only £30 (which is very cheap) and with this software you can make your own simple riffs and beats. His band is a very minor but successful one and was formulated a jazz improvisation session where anyone can come along and play and so since then they have played together at many gigs and locations. Marcel has also developed a musical generator similar to fruity loops called the O-generator.

Akala and Chanelle Newman – Sony Hip Hop Shakespeare Company

Akala and his secretary/ right hand woman Chanelle Newman are a few key members of the creative and media and are also the lead members of the Sony Shakespeare Hip-Hop company. Akala is a rapper and Hip-Hop artist based in London who has produced many different successful songs such as Bit By Bit and Faceless People. Akala with the Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company help young people in and around Lewisham to unlock their talent for Hip-Hop, poetry and the works of Shakespeare. Chanelle is the one who organises many Gigs and events for Akala and is also an active member of the Hip-Hop Company.

Marcina Arnold – vocal coach

Marcina Arnold is a vocalist in a band but also somebody who is dedicated to enhancing the vocal talent of London’s young people. She comes into many schools across London in order to give young people vocal workshops and open their minds to what the world of music really is in order to show them that they don’t have to just be listening to music as they should also have the ability to produce their own. She sings in many different styles but mostly salsa.

Victoria Warrick –advertising

Victoria Warrick is an influential advertising specialist who produces advertising campaigns for many different business and organisations. The process of making an advertising campaign is lengthily but efficient. Basically you buy advertising space (which could cost more than the advert itself) and then you use the product and then brainstorm ideas. When you have chosen your idea it gets sent to another department where it gets brought to life before finally getting shown in the form of a very short advert.

Kevin Leo – Song Writer

Kevin Leo is a successful singer and is also the director and founder of Midas Productions. He is also a vocal coach whose abilities have been nurtured over 20 years. We were lucky enough to have him come in and do a song-writing workshop for us. He also goes into many different schools in the borough of Lewisham and provides song-writing workshops for teenagers in order to enkindle or develop their interest in music. He has written many songs himself and is a successful musician.

I have found from my research that there are masses of jobs available in the creative and media sector and that there are many aspects of these jobs that are similar such as the massive work ethic necessary to achieve the qualifications and then to do the actual job. Many of these jobs work on a freelance basis therefore the salary many be unstable resulting in the person having to work extremely hard to get a good pay. These people must have passion and motivation for the job that they do otherwise it is likely that they will not be successful. All jobs in the creative and media sector require passion and in most circumstances require a lot of qualifications however in many situations working in the creative and media sector can be fun.

Jobs in the Creative and Media Industry

Architect - http://ww2.prospects.ac.uk/p/types_of_job/architect_salary.jsp

Architects are the designers in the construction industry. Some of the tasks that they carry out include designing new buildings or extensions and even some times making necessary alterations to some already existing usually old buildings. One thing that you can be sure f on any building site from small ones to large scale ones is that an architect of some kind has designed the finished piece, which will be made physically by the construction workers. They always have a close relationship with the client as if any small changes or adaptations need to be made as well as needing to make sure that the building safe, functional and economical.

There are many architectural firms/ companies based in London however one of the major ones is called Arc 3 Architects & Surveyors in Central London. The standard entry route into the architecture profession entails at least seven years in training and higher education. This consists of:

• an approved first degree in architecture, known as RIBA Part 1, which typically takes three or four years;
• 12 months of supervised and recorded practical experience, referred to as stage one professional experience - this is commonly taken in architects’ practices, but may be in any sector of the building industry, including construction and design;
• two years of further study for a diploma or a secondary degree in architecture, known as RIBA Part 2;. professional experience - this must be in an architect's office under the supervision of a qualified architect;
• the RIBA Part 3 examination in professional practice and management, which students may take on completion of the above. Once this is completed you can register as an architect with the ARB and apply to become a chartered member of the RIBA.
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Graphic designer - http://ww2.prospects.ac.uk/p/types_of_job/graphic_designer_entry_requirements.jsp

Graphic designers make the message of an advertising campaign clear with high visual impact pictures and only in some situations words. The job of the graphic designer is an extremely necessary one in today’s market as they design all of the websites, advertising, books, magazines, posters, computer games, product packaging, exhibitions and displays, corporate communications and corporate identities that the businesses and people of the world need to put their product or service e into the minds of the general public. Graphic designers are given a brief sometimes flexible, sometimes not by a client and then develop the creative ideas and concepts always adapting to the clients needs and wishes. Graphic designers do not work alone but rather work in a group of printers, copywriters, photographers, other designers, account executives, web developers and marketing specialists.

The qualifications that may increase your chances of becoming a graphic designer are a degree/HND in the following subjects:

• graphic design, illustration, 3-D design, fine art, visual art,
• photography, film/television, communication design

Apart from technical and drawing skills, candidates need to show evidence of the following:

• accuracy, attention to detail and analytical skills, enthusiasm,
• self-discipline, flexibility and adaptability, patience, excellent communication skills in order to interpret and negotiate briefs with clients, good presentation skills and the confidence to explain and sell ideas to clients and colleagues

One of the leading magazine publishers in the UK is IPC media who produce over 85 iconic media brands, with their print brands alone reaching to almost two thirds of UK women and 44% of UK men –almost 27 million UK adults – while their online brands collectively reach 20 million users every month.

Contemporary dancer - http://ww2.prospects.ac.uk/p/types_of_job/print/dancer.jsp

Dance has always been a part of culture and religion in the human race and even after thousands of years dance is still used in an evolved state to express oneself and the feelings of a group. Dancers use movement, gesture and body language to portray a character, situation or abstract concept to an audience, usually to the accompaniment of music.

This normally involves interpreting the work of a choreographer, although it may sometimes require improvisation. Dancers work in a variety of genres ranging from classical ballet and West End musicals to contemporary dance. A dancer's role may involve education or therapy, as well as performance.

Dancing is a competitive and physically demanding career, which often involves periods of unemployment and underemployment. Many dancers will need to combine part-time jobs in areas such as performing, administration and teaching.

There are three distinct career areas in dance with three different entry routes:

• classical - most classically trained performers will have attended ballet classes from childhood. Formal training usually begins aged 11 at a ballet school, such as The Royal Ballet School (http://www.royal-ballet-school.org.uk) .
• West End - the best route into musicals is through stage schools, some of which start at age 11, such as the Sylvia Young Theatre School (http://www.sylviayoungtheatreschool.co.uk) . These offer courses in musical theatre where singing and acting are also taught.
• contemporary - there are a number of specialised colleges offering degrees in contemporary dance, such as The Place - London Contemporary Dance School (http://www.theplace.org.uk/lcds) and the Laban Centre for Movement and Dance (http://www.laban.org) . A number of universities offer contemporary dance as part of a dance degree.

Once qualified and with experience, it is possible to move from one type of dance to another. However, most performers will train in one style and stay working within it. One of the contemporary dance groups operating in and around the London area are The Contemporary Dance Theatre which was created in 1972 by Jefferson James. Their mission or what they believe in is:
“Moving bodies, moving souls: the essence of contemporary dance. Connecting the community with diverse and socially relevant dance and performance art.”

They accomplish this through the following activities

• Presentation of contemporary dance and time arts that reflect the diversity of style and culture, which are inherent in the field.
• Presentation of work that is serious in content, entertaining, and has a social message or context.
• Production assistance for the creation and presentation of movement-based work and time arts projects.
• Educational community outreach with an emphasis on integrating art into community life.

Session musician - http://www.ehow.com/about_6609476_job-description-session-musician.html

A session musician is a talented instrumentalist who works alongside established solo artists or bands for a short-term period in order to record and play music however because of the nature of the jobs usually there is no sat no steady pay or hours therefore in some situations many sessions musicians are forced into another job especially as the credit crunch and a lack of people wanting to buy the service. They usually work on a freelance basis unless they are lucky enough to have a manager therefore the job is studded with peaks of pressure and no work however if you are truly talented (a minority of session musicians are) then you may achieve fame in the same way as Jimmy and Luther Vandross.

Session musicians, first and foremost, must be able to play one or more instruments to a professional standard. They must be able to read music. They must be flexible and adaptable. They will be working alongside a range of artists and on a number of different musical projects, which means they have to be prepared to embrace different music types and genres. Session musicians have to be quick learners, and able to play different musical parts quickly. They have to be content without celebrity or fame, and willing to be overshadowed by the members of a band or a main artist. They have to be patient, especially since a recording session can be a long and tiresome process. If they plan to play live with an artist, they must be confident and ready to go out before an audience.

An example of a session musician company is Session Musicians which is based in the UK however it also operates around different areas of Europe where they provide a tailor made service to suit the needs of a client. They have provided a service for a number of truly prestigious members of society such as George Michael, Usher and the Sugerbabes.

A group of Session musicians which operate in the London area is called - The Loose Wind Philosophy

The Loose Wind Studio is based in Finsbury Park, North London, under the watchful eye of producer, composer, and instrumentalist Sam Sharp. Their philosophy is that of the complete producer, they do so much more than just the engineering, and provide management of everything needed to complete your track, as you can see below.

Live Musicians

They specialise in creating the right working environment for your live takes, with a fair balance of encouragement and constructive criticism to ensure the best performance. This is particularly true when working with vocals, as the vibe and technique of the singer can have such a huge effect on the impact of the track. Out network of session musicians are only a phone call away to add the extra layers you may need to get to where you want to be.

Journalist -http://ww2.prospects.ac.uk/p/types_of_job/publishing_and_journalism.jsp

Journalists are the people inform us about the events that are going on in the world through many different mediums such as music magazines, being a news reporter, or even writing articles for prestigious newspapers such as the Times or the guardian. As a journalist who writes articles for a newspaper much of the time you have to go out and find information for stories yourself.

This may be very hard especially in the first few years as good and interesting stories are few and far between however as you develop your skills it becomes easier to find good stories or even to find rubbish stories but then present them in a way that they seem interesting. All journalists now have editors and sub-editors who will check the articles written by the journalist for any mistakes or make any necessary improvements. Some of the general work activities include:

“Interviewing various people in a range of different circumstances, building reliable contacts with people who will be able to supply a constant flow of news and also attending press conferences.”

The entry requirements to become a journalist are varied as you may be a naturally gifted one however most people need a degree in it in order to be taken on by some sort of news firm. The attributes that are necessary to become a journalist are strong written and oral communication skills;

• a keen interest in news, current affairs, business and people;
• accurate spelling, grammar and punctuation;
• good organisation skills and the ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines;
• an ability to grasp complex issues quickly and explain them in simple, concise language;
• resilience, determination, flexibility, persistence and motivation.

From my research into just a few of the jobs in the creative and media sector I can conclude that you need to have not just a lot of sometimes “hard to get” qualifications as well as to have natural attributed which are necessary if you want to be successful in whatever job that you have. All of these jobs are necessary to English society and help the British people to stay knowledgeable about the events that are happening all over he world at any moment in time but also to stay entertained. Without the creative and media sector the entertainment systems would stop altogether and England would stop running smoothly to the extent that the economy may even fail. The creative and media world is massive and there are opportunities for anyone who wants them and in the modern society these opportunities are endless.