Tuesday, 9 April 2013
5c applying it to what i've learnt
What I keep finding is with this course is that my views have a name. Its silly, we think things all the time, but we never stop and consider that actually some one has probably studied that and decided that its called being a 'consequentialist' or whatever else.
From breaking down that reader and comparing it to what id learned from the focus group and just from my own consideration is that I probably do fall in with the consequentialists. When I attend auditions I follow the rules of that audition to the T, however, if for some reason I thought that the right thing to do was to bend those rules slightly then I would. The thing is I believe it to be down to judgement and circumstance. If within an audition, we are required to dance 'full out' but doing so would mean smacking someone else in the face, it is likely that I'm not going to do it in order to avoid hitting the person next to me.
I think that virtue ethics is probably quite apt for the teachers within my focus group because when it comes to disciplining the children, the teachers moral code of conduct would hopefully point them towards making the best judgement for the pupil however they also have to be seen to be following the rules, like a deontologist. Purely because they are not there just to teach dance, but also to teach about being a good person and right from wrong. However a deontologist approach within a school couldn't work all the time because there will be times when the teacher needs to see that the pupil only committed such actions with good intentions, they must see their virtue, or that the reason for breaking the school rules was greater than the rule itself (consequentialism).
I think for me, my professional inquiry will be coinciding with virtue ethics and consequentialism because I am currently unemployed, there are no set rules that I have to abide by apart from setting myself an ethical code of conduct. For example being punctual to interviews (unless that comes at the expense of someone else's health, i.e pushing someone out of the way to get on the tube). Being polite and well mannered to anyone I interview or ask to reference etc.
5c
Good God why is there so much writing in this reader!!! As I slump into the point of no return mentally, I feel my grasp on ethics leaves a lot to be desired. Why is not as simple as, just don't act like an idiot! I dread to think how long this is going to take me but so help me I will smash apart this reader until it is tiny acceptable pieces!!So.. here we go.
ETHICS!
Well what is it, briefly- ethics comes from the thoughts around good and proper ways to behave. It is the understanding that our actions have a ripple affect on those around us. Therefore an action can go from being purely personal, to professional, to organisational to societal! ethics and morals go hand in hand with religion and law, both with the aim of creating a society based on the idea of being 'good'. Ethics comes from the Greek word, Ethos, meaning 'character'. Aristotle suggested virtue in only true through habitual action. (I.e- you cant be good once and call your self a good person, you need to do it all the time). The virtue is the middle ground, i.e- for me, I don't like to be being really early, or extremely late, however being professionally punctual all the time has become my virtue.
What the theorists said...
HOBBES- 1651, viewed ethics as a way of creating 'social harmony' through conduct of moral rules, followed by all under the social contract that if one person does, every one else will too. He suggested that if these rules were not adhered to, the world would be in a constant state of war. Use morality as rules that benefit everyone.
I think Hobbes has a good point, and for the most part i'd like to believe that people are good, and have morals. However not everyone does follow the laws put in place by government let alone moral guidelines.
KANT- 1779, believed that you should never lie, no matter what the circumstances. He believed that you should always help someone no matter what your gain or lack there of, would be. He suggested if we were forbidden from lying, then trust between people would be higher, whereas if it is allowed, it would become the done thing and therefore no one would ever believe one another.
OOOOOOOOH. I like Kant just because he makes me think. I think he is wrong, but I am thinking none the less. I consider myself a very honest person, perhaps at times, a little too honest. I distance myself from liars and try to avoid lying at all costs. HOWEVER... I do think some times there are times when good people are hurt by unnecessary honesty. The term 'white lie' hasn't just made itself up, its come from these times when your fattest, ugliest friend really needs to hear that she looks fantastic, or the lovely ex boyfriend who asks, but really doesn't need his ego hurt any more by the admittance that your new guy is far better looking. Lying, leads to mistrust, YES, but some times the best moral thing to do is to perhaps not tell the whole truth. I find it quite small minded of Kant to suggest that all situations can be painted with the same brush of honesty being the best policy.
Also, were we in a world, where lying is forbidden, there would always be one person who breaks the rule, and that could lead to catastrophic outcomes purely because no one ever suspected it to be a non truth...
MILL- 1861, developed the idea of Moral obligation... making a decision that benefits the greatest number of people. Unlike Kant, Mill would tell a lie if it was a way to end something far worse.
THEORETICAL APPROACHES!
Consequentialism- is the view that the worth of an action is only judged on the value of its consequential outcomes, and is linked with Utilitarianism ( making decisions to benefit the greatest number of people) Kant would disagree with Consequentialism because he believed in no bad actions even if it was for the right reasons. I think perhaps consequentialism would be an area where the term 'moral dilemma' probably pops up quite often.
Deontology- actions judged by their adherence to rules. I think its fair to say Kant was a Deontologist. Deontology suggests that the value of an action is based upon its failure or success of following the rules, with no consideration for the situation.
Virtue ethics- an aspect of ones character considered morally good or positive. I think surrounds the idea of 'if they meant well'...its ok.
E.g: The Rule- Do not step on the grass
The situation- A person is injured on the grass
Consequentialism approach: helping the person is the right thing to do because you have benefitted them, with ripple effect to their family, work colleagues, Boss, and so on and so forth.
Deontologist approach: You cannot step on the grass because that is the rules.
Virtue Ethicist: stepping on the grass is ok because you want to help some one and do a good deed, there's nothing in it for you, but you believed it to be the right thing to do at the time but you don't make a habit of standing on the grass for no reason.
COMPARATIVE ETHICS: Understands that 'good' or 'bad', 'acceptable' or 'not acceptable' changes due to circumstance of time, place and society. It is not set in stone. Rather than 'normative ethics' which suggests what society should be like. Plato suggests that comparative ethics is not what is, but what it seems to be at the time in that area.
MORALS AND ETHICS
Devlin, 1959: suggested that private behaviour should be regulated by morality derived from Christianity. That personal private acts against this morality affect public cohesion.
Hart, 1963: argued that the laws purpose is to prevent harmful acts, which affect others , such as theft etc. He suggested that there can be no common morality because society and the people within it are too different, and its the minimum content of natural law that is needed for society to function properly.
JS MILLS: The Harm Principle. The idea that people's actions should only be limited so that they don't 'harm' anyone else. Again the modern term would be the ' they're alright, as long as they're not hurting anyone'...
PROFESSION vs OCCUPATION
Occupation= a job that you do, a job that you occupy
Profession= must be trained, be of a certain intellectual standard, provide service to society.
Further elements of 'profession': sometimes you need a licence to practice, you get judged on your behaviour and work.
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
So err, this is where we get into the nitty gritty bit. At the last campus session with Alan we discussed professional ethics. To do so we split in 2. What it means to be a professional, and what is ethics. I think the key thing to remember when it comes to professional ethics, is the ripple effect. When you are in a professional position, more is expected of you. The ripple of your actions is greater. For example, a doctor (who has had extensive training, has a licence, continues to do exams and is checked back on) has a greater responsibility than going to work treating some one and leaving.
The doctor has trust put in him by the patient, due to the extensive training. Therefore there are a number of expectations. The doctor has a duty to the patient, and therefore the patients family and friends, the patients work colleagues and boss who are changing there plans to cover the absent employee, the doctor has a duty as an employee themselves to the hospital to follow the rules and regulations set in place, as well as the ethical obligations of being a 'good' employee (i.e turning up on time, working hard). If the doctor is private, there is an even higher expectation on them due to the cost of their time, where as if the doctor is NHS their action then also affect the view of the NHS to society. This affects the trust that society puts in the NHS or doctors in general and so on ...
ETHICS!
Well what is it, briefly- ethics comes from the thoughts around good and proper ways to behave. It is the understanding that our actions have a ripple affect on those around us. Therefore an action can go from being purely personal, to professional, to organisational to societal! ethics and morals go hand in hand with religion and law, both with the aim of creating a society based on the idea of being 'good'. Ethics comes from the Greek word, Ethos, meaning 'character'. Aristotle suggested virtue in only true through habitual action. (I.e- you cant be good once and call your self a good person, you need to do it all the time). The virtue is the middle ground, i.e- for me, I don't like to be being really early, or extremely late, however being professionally punctual all the time has become my virtue.
What the theorists said...
HOBBES- 1651, viewed ethics as a way of creating 'social harmony' through conduct of moral rules, followed by all under the social contract that if one person does, every one else will too. He suggested that if these rules were not adhered to, the world would be in a constant state of war. Use morality as rules that benefit everyone.
I think Hobbes has a good point, and for the most part i'd like to believe that people are good, and have morals. However not everyone does follow the laws put in place by government let alone moral guidelines.
KANT- 1779, believed that you should never lie, no matter what the circumstances. He believed that you should always help someone no matter what your gain or lack there of, would be. He suggested if we were forbidden from lying, then trust between people would be higher, whereas if it is allowed, it would become the done thing and therefore no one would ever believe one another.
OOOOOOOOH. I like Kant just because he makes me think. I think he is wrong, but I am thinking none the less. I consider myself a very honest person, perhaps at times, a little too honest. I distance myself from liars and try to avoid lying at all costs. HOWEVER... I do think some times there are times when good people are hurt by unnecessary honesty. The term 'white lie' hasn't just made itself up, its come from these times when your fattest, ugliest friend really needs to hear that she looks fantastic, or the lovely ex boyfriend who asks, but really doesn't need his ego hurt any more by the admittance that your new guy is far better looking. Lying, leads to mistrust, YES, but some times the best moral thing to do is to perhaps not tell the whole truth. I find it quite small minded of Kant to suggest that all situations can be painted with the same brush of honesty being the best policy.
Also, were we in a world, where lying is forbidden, there would always be one person who breaks the rule, and that could lead to catastrophic outcomes purely because no one ever suspected it to be a non truth...
MILL- 1861, developed the idea of Moral obligation... making a decision that benefits the greatest number of people. Unlike Kant, Mill would tell a lie if it was a way to end something far worse.
THEORETICAL APPROACHES!
Consequentialism- is the view that the worth of an action is only judged on the value of its consequential outcomes, and is linked with Utilitarianism ( making decisions to benefit the greatest number of people) Kant would disagree with Consequentialism because he believed in no bad actions even if it was for the right reasons. I think perhaps consequentialism would be an area where the term 'moral dilemma' probably pops up quite often.
Deontology- actions judged by their adherence to rules. I think its fair to say Kant was a Deontologist. Deontology suggests that the value of an action is based upon its failure or success of following the rules, with no consideration for the situation.
Virtue ethics- an aspect of ones character considered morally good or positive. I think surrounds the idea of 'if they meant well'...its ok.
E.g: The Rule- Do not step on the grass
The situation- A person is injured on the grass
Consequentialism approach: helping the person is the right thing to do because you have benefitted them, with ripple effect to their family, work colleagues, Boss, and so on and so forth.
Deontologist approach: You cannot step on the grass because that is the rules.
Virtue Ethicist: stepping on the grass is ok because you want to help some one and do a good deed, there's nothing in it for you, but you believed it to be the right thing to do at the time but you don't make a habit of standing on the grass for no reason.
COMPARATIVE ETHICS: Understands that 'good' or 'bad', 'acceptable' or 'not acceptable' changes due to circumstance of time, place and society. It is not set in stone. Rather than 'normative ethics' which suggests what society should be like. Plato suggests that comparative ethics is not what is, but what it seems to be at the time in that area.
MORALS AND ETHICS
Devlin, 1959: suggested that private behaviour should be regulated by morality derived from Christianity. That personal private acts against this morality affect public cohesion.
Hart, 1963: argued that the laws purpose is to prevent harmful acts, which affect others , such as theft etc. He suggested that there can be no common morality because society and the people within it are too different, and its the minimum content of natural law that is needed for society to function properly.
JS MILLS: The Harm Principle. The idea that people's actions should only be limited so that they don't 'harm' anyone else. Again the modern term would be the ' they're alright, as long as they're not hurting anyone'...
PROFESSION vs OCCUPATION
Occupation= a job that you do, a job that you occupy
Profession= must be trained, be of a certain intellectual standard, provide service to society.
Further elements of 'profession': sometimes you need a licence to practice, you get judged on your behaviour and work.
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
So err, this is where we get into the nitty gritty bit. At the last campus session with Alan we discussed professional ethics. To do so we split in 2. What it means to be a professional, and what is ethics. I think the key thing to remember when it comes to professional ethics, is the ripple effect. When you are in a professional position, more is expected of you. The ripple of your actions is greater. For example, a doctor (who has had extensive training, has a licence, continues to do exams and is checked back on) has a greater responsibility than going to work treating some one and leaving.
The doctor has trust put in him by the patient, due to the extensive training. Therefore there are a number of expectations. The doctor has a duty to the patient, and therefore the patients family and friends, the patients work colleagues and boss who are changing there plans to cover the absent employee, the doctor has a duty as an employee themselves to the hospital to follow the rules and regulations set in place, as well as the ethical obligations of being a 'good' employee (i.e turning up on time, working hard). If the doctor is private, there is an even higher expectation on them due to the cost of their time, where as if the doctor is NHS their action then also affect the view of the NHS to society. This affects the trust that society puts in the NHS or doctors in general and so on ...
Monday, 1 April 2013
Morrrre research, and putting it into practice.
So, I've not been blogging that much recently, because I've been trying to follow the advice that i've been discovering during my inquiry to see if it works, and to check if I'm on the right track. I chose this topic of inquiry because I wanted it to be relevant, and effect my life as it is now for the better.
So what's been going on!? well. A few weeks ago, after speaking to Naomi, I joined various online groups, for singers and songwriters, and looked into different jobs within music, and applied for updates of events coming up. I returned from Disney almost a year ago in order to further my career and realised that actually I had done nothing of the sort. I recieved an invite on Facebook to a charity event in a small music venue, to which I replied with,, can I please have a slot in the line up instead?
I was in luck and got offered a 30-45 minute set in the line up which took place last night. I had a guitarist and a percussionist who joined me and we covered many well known acoustic pop/rock songs. The set went really well.
The owner of the venue has offered me a paid opportunity at a later date where I would perform three 45minute slots in one night.
For this I would need to find a guitarist willing to join me on a regular basis. So i'm now on the hunt for one. I've also got myself onto soundcloud, and uploaded a cover of a Paramore song so I have something to send to people who ask. And been in contact with a fairly established songwriter in Twickenham who is interested in collaborating. So I feel like slowly, progress is being made.
Im hoping that by getting myself out there at the smaller gigs I may find people who may want to collaborate in future.
Coincedentally, just been in touch with another singer songwriter who performed last night, who would be interested in working with me on the gigs in the future so thats great news.
PROGRESS.
So what's been going on!? well. A few weeks ago, after speaking to Naomi, I joined various online groups, for singers and songwriters, and looked into different jobs within music, and applied for updates of events coming up. I returned from Disney almost a year ago in order to further my career and realised that actually I had done nothing of the sort. I recieved an invite on Facebook to a charity event in a small music venue, to which I replied with,, can I please have a slot in the line up instead?
I was in luck and got offered a 30-45 minute set in the line up which took place last night. I had a guitarist and a percussionist who joined me and we covered many well known acoustic pop/rock songs. The set went really well.
The owner of the venue has offered me a paid opportunity at a later date where I would perform three 45minute slots in one night.
For this I would need to find a guitarist willing to join me on a regular basis. So i'm now on the hunt for one. I've also got myself onto soundcloud, and uploaded a cover of a Paramore song so I have something to send to people who ask. And been in contact with a fairly established songwriter in Twickenham who is interested in collaborating. So I feel like slowly, progress is being made.
Im hoping that by getting myself out there at the smaller gigs I may find people who may want to collaborate in future.
Coincedentally, just been in touch with another singer songwriter who performed last night, who would be interested in working with me on the gigs in the future so thats great news.
PROGRESS.
NAOMI....further research
So, research strand 2, after traulling through the biographies and autobiographies of the rich and famous to see how they managed it in the early days. The next port of call was talking to some one doing it now. I am very lucky to be in touch with a young lady named 'Naomi' who is currently touring with Paloma Faith as her backing singer.
Naomi, center, on paper has some of the traits that our famous few have, such as previously attending Sylvia Young's school, and then continuing into Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts.
I remember Naomi from college, she always shone as a star in every show she did, and with her on trend look and a vocal quality to definately set her aside from the rest she definately had something that would get her noticed.
I got in touch with Naomi and explained what I was doing on the course and how she has a shining example of the sort of career path I would like to be getting heading towards.
I chose to ask her for general advice rather than pinpointing specific questions. I asked what she would say were the key things to 'getting started' so as to allow her to say what jumped to mind first and foremost.
Here is what she said:
- Go to lots of live music nights!- Getting your face out there is so important. If people get up to do a song, get up and do backing vocals for them. If you can sing full songs as well, its a great way for people to hear you voice.
- Speak to musicians at the live nights, they are normally working session musicians for artists! Building a relationship with them is great because if they know your name, and an opportunity comes up for backing vocals, hopefully they will think of you! You have to tell them what you want to do.. if you want to do backing vocals and what your capable of. As far as musicians go, its completely a word of mouth industry!
- Naomi met Paloma Faith at a gig she was doing with Paloma's stylist! So it came down to being in the right place at the right time.
From observation, I know that Naomi has a clear style with how she dresses. She is bold in personality and lovely to speak to.
I think talking to her is really helpful as she's proof that getting out there and showing your face is the best way forward.
Naomi, center, on paper has some of the traits that our famous few have, such as previously attending Sylvia Young's school, and then continuing into Italia Conti Academy of Performing Arts.
I remember Naomi from college, she always shone as a star in every show she did, and with her on trend look and a vocal quality to definately set her aside from the rest she definately had something that would get her noticed.
I got in touch with Naomi and explained what I was doing on the course and how she has a shining example of the sort of career path I would like to be getting heading towards.
I chose to ask her for general advice rather than pinpointing specific questions. I asked what she would say were the key things to 'getting started' so as to allow her to say what jumped to mind first and foremost.
Here is what she said:
- Go to lots of live music nights!- Getting your face out there is so important. If people get up to do a song, get up and do backing vocals for them. If you can sing full songs as well, its a great way for people to hear you voice.
- Speak to musicians at the live nights, they are normally working session musicians for artists! Building a relationship with them is great because if they know your name, and an opportunity comes up for backing vocals, hopefully they will think of you! You have to tell them what you want to do.. if you want to do backing vocals and what your capable of. As far as musicians go, its completely a word of mouth industry!
- Naomi met Paloma Faith at a gig she was doing with Paloma's stylist! So it came down to being in the right place at the right time.
From observation, I know that Naomi has a clear style with how she dresses. She is bold in personality and lovely to speak to.
I think talking to her is really helpful as she's proof that getting out there and showing your face is the best way forward.
Task 5b
Codes of conduct:
I put together a small focus group of performers, in order to brainstorm ideas of codes of conduct and see if anything new or different came up.
Focus Group topics:
It was pointed out that when joining most performing arts colleges, students are required to sign a code of conduct which summarises the basic rules of behaviour they must follow during there time within the school.
This lead to the thought that if there is a code of conduct for the pupils, in theory there should also be one for the teachers.
One member of the focus group who teaches in her spare time, pointed out that she had been made aware of the general rules of school and what was expected of her before being accepted for the job. It showed that the college is essentially providing a service to the pupil and they too must uphold there side of the code of conduct. In colleges particularly, students are starting to realise they have a right to expect certain things, as they are paying a lot of money. So if the college fails to uphold its side of the deal, students are well within their right to question it. I later found this http://cdet.org.uk/teaching-and-qualifications/code-of-conduct/ which covers the ethical obligations regarding the good practice, health and safety, integrity, competency and statutory requirements that a dance teacher should follow.
With the music industry particularly in mind, 'PRS for Music' came up. A company that I had never heard of. But as it turns out, PRS for Music, is a society of over 90,000 songwriters, publishers and composers who deal in fairly distributing royalties and organising licences and the use of music under copy write. ALLLLLL very technical. Any way, I looked it up and it turns out there is a massive handbook dedicated to the code of conduct within the company for both employees and members. http://www.prsformusic.com/users/businessesandliveevents/musicforbusinesses/customerconsultation/Documents/Proposed%20PRS%20for%20Music%20Code%20of%20Conduct%20September%202012.pdf
which has also complies with British Copyright Council’s Principles of Good Practice for Collective Management Organisations (CMO) Policy Framework. ---- Which just shows that there is also rules that the code of conduct must follow, which is something I hadn't previously considered.
One member also brought up, further to audition codes of conduct, codes of conduct within rehearsals. Similarly to auditions, punctuality, hard work, correct attire and respect for colleagues are key, but there are also written rules for some company's that outline the codes that should be followed. http://www.nnos.co.uk/code%20of%20conduct.asp
The Norfolk and Norwich operatic society (who one member of the focus group had previously worked with) state their codes of conduct publicly online in order to make it clear from the beginning how performers are expected to behave, which I think is a good thing because it would prevent avoidable hold ups within rehearsal time, etc.
Apart from that, similar topics to what I mentioned in task 5a came up, in regards to audition behaviour and nothing really differed.
I put together a small focus group of performers, in order to brainstorm ideas of codes of conduct and see if anything new or different came up.
Focus Group topics:
It was pointed out that when joining most performing arts colleges, students are required to sign a code of conduct which summarises the basic rules of behaviour they must follow during there time within the school.
This lead to the thought that if there is a code of conduct for the pupils, in theory there should also be one for the teachers.
One member of the focus group who teaches in her spare time, pointed out that she had been made aware of the general rules of school and what was expected of her before being accepted for the job. It showed that the college is essentially providing a service to the pupil and they too must uphold there side of the code of conduct. In colleges particularly, students are starting to realise they have a right to expect certain things, as they are paying a lot of money. So if the college fails to uphold its side of the deal, students are well within their right to question it. I later found this http://cdet.org.uk/teaching-and-qualifications/code-of-conduct/ which covers the ethical obligations regarding the good practice, health and safety, integrity, competency and statutory requirements that a dance teacher should follow.
With the music industry particularly in mind, 'PRS for Music' came up. A company that I had never heard of. But as it turns out, PRS for Music, is a society of over 90,000 songwriters, publishers and composers who deal in fairly distributing royalties and organising licences and the use of music under copy write. ALLLLLL very technical. Any way, I looked it up and it turns out there is a massive handbook dedicated to the code of conduct within the company for both employees and members. http://www.prsformusic.com/users/businessesandliveevents/musicforbusinesses/customerconsultation/Documents/Proposed%20PRS%20for%20Music%20Code%20of%20Conduct%20September%202012.pdf
which has also complies with British Copyright Council’s Principles of Good Practice for Collective Management Organisations (CMO) Policy Framework. ---- Which just shows that there is also rules that the code of conduct must follow, which is something I hadn't previously considered.
One member also brought up, further to audition codes of conduct, codes of conduct within rehearsals. Similarly to auditions, punctuality, hard work, correct attire and respect for colleagues are key, but there are also written rules for some company's that outline the codes that should be followed. http://www.nnos.co.uk/code%20of%20conduct.asp
The Norfolk and Norwich operatic society (who one member of the focus group had previously worked with) state their codes of conduct publicly online in order to make it clear from the beginning how performers are expected to behave, which I think is a good thing because it would prevent avoidable hold ups within rehearsal time, etc.
Apart from that, similar topics to what I mentioned in task 5a came up, in regards to audition behaviour and nothing really differed.
Task 5a
Within my professional community there are a lot of unwritten rules and practices that get learnt as you go on and within training and so on and so forth. There are some questionable ethics, or rather grey areas, which I will go into but I mean as a rule the actual ethics of the industry are fairly normal to any place of work, there's just lots more.
I remember in college having professional and ethical behaviour hammered into me, in the sense that if you behaved badly, you were told straight away 'you wouldn't get away with that in a real audition'.
Firstly with auditions, there are set ways to behave.
Dressing appropriately to show respect for the audition and that you take it seriously but also that you are prepared.
Being physically prepared with the requirements of the audition, whether it be bringing certain kit (tap shoes, pointe shoes etc) or preparing songs. (again showing respect for the protocal put in place)
Being polite and well mannered to all of those around you, you never know who is in the audition, on either side of the pannel could be some one who could help you later on.
One grey area is- of course you want to put yourself at the front, get seen and dance or sing full out to the best of your ability, but I've also seen cut throat auditionees pushing themselves to the front with a complete disregard for the others around them, especially if there's not enough space. Is it better to be polite and considerate and perhaps not be seen... or to put yourself first and be seen but at the cost of the others around you?
Another is, when you attend an open call and you can tell by how people are dressed whether they are trained or not. Some times i've seen people who clearly just have a raw sort of talent progress in inappropriate attire over some one who follows the rules of the dress code. Which kind of puts doubt in those around you as to what matters. But at the same time though the disregard for the attire requirements could be down to money or knowledge, it could be down to sheer laziness and then that puts the whole system of the professional ethics and codes into this questionable area if said auditionee is allowed to progress.
A general code of conduct taught within the industry, is always be polite, punctual and hard working. Especially on the way up. However for some reason 'Divas' are created and allowed to get away with some quite unethical behaviour. I think some people get a little power or importance behind them and forget the importance of ethical practice.
If you are polite, punctual and hard working, chances are that others will want to work with you again. Or will suggest you for other things when asked. Or introduce you to others. All of which are good things in an industry based so much on word of mouth.
I think struggling artists can be lead to question being wholly ethical however if they are not getting anywhere from following it. Perhaps they become more inclined to be a bit more selfish and pushy. But, saying that, maybe you can put yourself and your career first just in a well mannered ethical way.. by making sure your always available, and ready to be used if the occasion arises, making sure that you are always the first one prepared and always look your best and perform to the best of your ability.
I remember in college having professional and ethical behaviour hammered into me, in the sense that if you behaved badly, you were told straight away 'you wouldn't get away with that in a real audition'.
Firstly with auditions, there are set ways to behave.
Dressing appropriately to show respect for the audition and that you take it seriously but also that you are prepared.
Being physically prepared with the requirements of the audition, whether it be bringing certain kit (tap shoes, pointe shoes etc) or preparing songs. (again showing respect for the protocal put in place)
Being polite and well mannered to all of those around you, you never know who is in the audition, on either side of the pannel could be some one who could help you later on.
One grey area is- of course you want to put yourself at the front, get seen and dance or sing full out to the best of your ability, but I've also seen cut throat auditionees pushing themselves to the front with a complete disregard for the others around them, especially if there's not enough space. Is it better to be polite and considerate and perhaps not be seen... or to put yourself first and be seen but at the cost of the others around you?
Another is, when you attend an open call and you can tell by how people are dressed whether they are trained or not. Some times i've seen people who clearly just have a raw sort of talent progress in inappropriate attire over some one who follows the rules of the dress code. Which kind of puts doubt in those around you as to what matters. But at the same time though the disregard for the attire requirements could be down to money or knowledge, it could be down to sheer laziness and then that puts the whole system of the professional ethics and codes into this questionable area if said auditionee is allowed to progress.
A general code of conduct taught within the industry, is always be polite, punctual and hard working. Especially on the way up. However for some reason 'Divas' are created and allowed to get away with some quite unethical behaviour. I think some people get a little power or importance behind them and forget the importance of ethical practice.
If you are polite, punctual and hard working, chances are that others will want to work with you again. Or will suggest you for other things when asked. Or introduce you to others. All of which are good things in an industry based so much on word of mouth.
I think struggling artists can be lead to question being wholly ethical however if they are not getting anywhere from following it. Perhaps they become more inclined to be a bit more selfish and pushy. But, saying that, maybe you can put yourself and your career first just in a well mannered ethical way.. by making sure your always available, and ready to be used if the occasion arises, making sure that you are always the first one prepared and always look your best and perform to the best of your ability.
Thursday, 14 March 2013
Inquiry: Research into Artist's early career stages. PILOT DATA ANALYSIS
As the question of success became more and more unclear, what was become clearer and clearer was that maybe its not about becoming ‘successful’ maybe it’s about just getting your foot in the door. What I wouldn’t give for my opportunity to come up soon! After struggling to connect with certain aspects of the tasks, I realised though I’d based my question on something reoccurring in my journals, I wasn’t maybe asking the right question. I want to know how to get my foot in the door of the music industry. Right, so if that’s what I want to know, where do I look? First I look straight to whose already managed it...
Amy winehouse has come up in conversations in the SIGs on facebook because of all the talk of what ‘success’ is. I will always argue that Amy Winehouse was, though her personal life was not a happy one, musically, massively successful. I really want to look into how she started out as, like Lily Allen, she was a ‘Londoner’ and did it all right here, half an hour away from my door step. It must be possible!
·
Taught herself
guitar
·
Learnt to sing by listening to Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Washington
etc...
·
Attended Sylvia Young Theatre
School
"After I left school I wanted to earn a living and I got lucky when a friend of a friend came to see me at a Jazz gig and helped me get a break" Amy Winehouse, pg19
·
Friends from Sylvia Young's:
Matt Willis of ‘Busted’ and their friends ‘McFly’ are led by singer/songwriter
Tom Fletcher
·
She first appeared on 'The fast show' in a sketch as a young girl,
before she was famous
·
She then attended the Brit School.
·
Sang regularly with
the national Youth Jazz Orchestra and was spotted by people
connected with Simon Fuller
·
She was also writing as an entertainment
journalist
·
She joined 'Brilliant 19' management, under Nick Godwin
·
She then signed with Universal/ Island.
·
Manager became Raye Cosbert
"I figured I'd get a job in an office or as a waitress. I never had a great plan or promoted myself, but in a way I've been working for this for years" Amy Winehouse
"Do you want to do some studio time?...If you write songs with your guitar and make a record, you'll get a record deal" Nicky Shermansky to Amy Winehouse,
Ref: Amy winehouse The Biography, Chas Newkey-Burden, John Blake Publishing Ltd 2008
Jessie J’s autobiography was massively helpful, written
fairly frankly she gives details as to all the little things she did to get a step
on the ladder.
· Worked in the west end from an early age as a
child performer.
· Entered local competitions, bigger
competitions such as 'Britain’s Brilliant prodigies' for under 16's.
· Joined The
Brit School
· Joined a anti gun campaign girl group called 'Soul Deep'
· Modelled for vidal sassoon
· Started writing
her own music
· Played
at 'Cottons' in Camden town
· She already had a manager. But got
signed by Gut Records after
'Cotton' gig with Soul Deep.
· She left Gut Records after touring with chris
brown, sugar babes, girls aloud cyndie lauper and Jools holland.
· Big London scenes: iluvlive, yOyO and
Proud Galleries
· Got signed
as a song writer to Sony/ATV in America. Wrote for Chris brown and more.
· Did gigs at SOB's in NewYork and The Viper Room in LA.
· Signed with Universal Republic/ Universal
Island UK
· Worked with Dr Luke and Claude Kelly.. wrote part in the USA , which ended up
going to Miley Cyrus
· Taking risks
· Played Next Big Thing Festival in Camden's Barfly Pub
· YOUTUBE!!-
when she'd done all
this, she needed youtube to get herself
known
Ref: Jessie J, Nice to
meet you, My Story, Simon and Schuster UK Ltd, 2012
Lily Allen, Another Londoner who made it happen. I
wanted to look at her, Amy and Jessie J because they all have similarities to
the sort of music that I‘d want to get into and all seem to have made it happen
somehow!
· Like Jessie J, Lily had a manager. Slightly different though, she was managed by George
Lamb, who she met in Ibiza partying aged 15...
· Encouraged to record demos, aged 15/16
· “There's
no money in it if you don't write your own songs” George
Lamb
· Warner
Brother's Imprint London Records, gave her a short contract
· dropped by record company
· Changed managers, got a new deal with EMI/Parlophone offshoot Regal Recordings (
a small development deal)
· Kept
co writing
outside of the record company and reocrded in small bedroom studios using
'logic' software for producing their own music
· She started getting airplay of her music
Ref: Smile, The Story of Lily Allen, Bella
Wolfson, Omnibus Press 2010
Beyonce Knowles is a super star, and far from the ‘early
stages’ i’m trying to understand. Her Hollywood lifestyle seems far too far
away to ever be realised by me which is why so far I’ve looked mostly at local
artists. But Beyonce did have to start somewhere... and I figured a bit of
variety into my inquiry wouldn’t go a miss.
"Miss Darlette had a unique gift...she taught me self esteem, confidence, a positive attitude and, most importantly, discipline" Beyonce Knowles.
·
Joined a local
church choir
·
She entered loads of contests
and beauty pageants and won them all.
·
She won the Houston arts award, 'The Sammy'.
·
Had vocal coaching at Houston
Original Music Magnet School
·
Then went on to Houston's
HighSchool of Visual and Performing Arts
·
Here she got spotted by Andrette
Tillman, who asked her to audition
for a girl band she was putting together, 'Girl's Tyme'
·
Beyonce's parents
would push them 'Girl's Tyme' to rehearse, always
encouraging feedback and critiques
from friends and family members, to keep them improving.
·
Kelly Rowland joined Girl's Tyme.
·
Kelly Rowland moved in with the Knowles'.
·
Beyonce's dad became a part time co manager of 'Girl's Tyme' and got
them performing at every opportunity
·
Local Producer,
Alonzo Jackson started working with them and they
appeared in a feature in the
'Houston Chronicle'
·
Producer Arne
Frager took them to The Record Plant Studios in Sausalito where they recorded demos for nationwide exposure
·
Girl's Tyme appeared on TV show
'Star Search', Orlando, Florida
·
Alonzo jackson co-wrote
songs for them to sing
·
Knowles quit his
job to co-manage the girls full time
·
The group cut down to four, auditioned
for Columbia management
·
Knowles had set up
MWE (Music world Entertainment) to produce the music his daughters were making
·
They were signed and then dropped by Elektra Records
·
They changed their name to Destiny's Child and then re-auditioned for Columbia, and were signed...
Ref: Crazy In Love, Beyonce, The Beyonce Knowles Biography, Daryl Easlea, Omnibus Press 2011
The Kings of Leon were from a really religious family and
only allowed to listen to gospel music. When their parents divorced and they
were experimental teenagers, they started listening to rock and roll. They met
a man who got paid $2000 for writing a cheesy country song, and they decided to
write their own songs to make money. Though the Kings are obviously not solo artists, they have always struck me as very earthy and I was interested to see if finding a way in as a band is the same as finding your way in on your own.
·
They
started touring pubs and clubs in Nashville
as a duo and writing.
·
Bluebird Cafe in Nashville- they went
and met a singer/songwriter and asked for his advice on getting a gig
there.
·
They’d
jam with the singer/ songwriter and his girlfriend, and ended up doing gigs in Nashville with him.
·
As a
duo Nathan and Caleb joined Pistol Creek
Productions (a small record label/management company), and played mostly
rodeos.
·
Members of the West Tennessee Mass Choir for a short period, singing falsettos and
harmonies.
·
They met Kent Marcus, an entertainment lawyer
for Zulmwalt Almon and Hayes who had music connections.
·
They then toured Music Row, playing to massive
labels such as Sony and Dreamworks
·
Through Kent Marcus, they met Ken Levitan
(manager, entertainment lawyer, producer, publisher and booking agent,
president and founder of Vector Management)
·
They
were introduced to other music
writers/singers (with connections) who taught them all about the history of
music.
·
The two
brothers, Ken levitan and Angelo Petraglia flew to NewYork and played for 9 labels in two days and got 4
offers.
·
Labels
wanted to team the duo up with a backing band, and they said no. They
auditioned their cousin, Matthew, over the phone for guitar. They took on their
baby brother Jared as a bass player (even though he had never played)
·
Label
came to see them one month later and they
had 4 songs ready.
·
They
became the 'Kings of leon' and opened
for the Skeeters at 'Smith's Olde Bar' in Atlanta
·
They
joined record company RCA. They were
developing as they began and made their first record in 2002...
Ref: Kings of Leon, Sex on Fire, Micheal and Drew Heatley, Reynolds and Hearn Ltd 2009
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