CAPR 5051 B: The Entrepreneurial Musician

Mannes School of Music

55 West 13th Street
Arnhold Hall

Spring 2016

Instructor: Justin Kantor

Email: kantorj@newschool.edu
Mobile: 917-509-1004
Office Hours: By appointment via email

Course Summary

ENTREPRENEUR

a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually with
considerable initiative and risk. -dictionary.com

Welcome to The Entrepreneurial Musician! In this class, we are going to incorporate the
entrepreneurial perspective into your life as a musician. We will employ a multitude of
principles designed to help you achieve a fulfilling and sustainable life as an artist. Through
lectures, class discussions, and assignments, we will develop and refine not only your artistic
goals but also your personal aspirations. We will explore what it means to be a musician today
and discover opportunities and enlightening career pathways that may not be immediately
apparent. You will define your own vision of professional success.

Assignments in this class will help you plan for the first years of your career. You will develop
skills and learn to identify and respond to emerging opportunities, create artist statements,
develop financial budgets, negotiate deals, develop partnerships, produce events, and more.
Students who successfully complete this class will leave with a road map and a tool kit. Less
tangibly, but just as importantly, youll participate in building a community of powerful artists
who are passionately engaged with music and society and who have the tools to transmit this
passion to the people around them.

Learning Outcomes

At the conclusion of this class you will be able to:

1. Identify and articulate your unique set of skills and values in and out of music.
2. Articulate your vision of a fulfilling life.
3. Synthesize and relate a wide range of resources to develop an effective plan for the next
steps of your professional life.
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Course Policies

Office Hours. E-mail kantorj@newschool.edu to set up an appointment.

Course Assistant. Matthew Stewart, Entrepreneurship Assistant Matthew Stewart is available

to consult with you on all matters relating to your course work.

Readings and Assignments. All assigned course readings and materials will be distributed via
https://canvas.newschool.edu/. Weekly readings are outlined on the syllabus, but additional
readings may be assigned throughout the semester. It is your responsibility to prepare readings
in advance of class, and to keep up to date on readings and assignments when you miss class.

Participation. Class participation is an essential part of class, and accounts for 20% of your
final grade. Effective participation includes keeping up with reading, contributing meaningfully
to class discussions, active participation in group work, coming to class regularly and on time.
The use of cell phones is not allowed in class; however, you may use a laptop or notepad to
take notes.

Attendance. Attendance will be recorded with a sign-in sheet that will be circulated within the
first 10 minutes of class time. If you arrive late to class, it is your responsibility to record your
attendance on the sheet. Absences that are not approved in advance are considered
unexcused: more than two unexcused absences will result in a lowered grade. To be excused
for an absence you must provide appropriate documentation to the Assistant Dean.

Responsibility. Students are responsible for all completing all assignments on time, even those
assigned during student absences. Late papers, failure to complete the readings assigned for
class discussion, and lack of preparedness for in-class discussions and presentations will
jeopardize your successful completion of this course.

Assignments. All assignments must be submitted via https://canvas.newschool.edu/.

Assignments may be submitted up until midnight on the due date. Late assignments are subject
to a 5% decrease in grade per day late. If you require an extension, submit your request by
email well in advance.

Grades. The final decision on course grades rests with the instructor. Midterm grade reports
will be distributed halfway through the semester. Assignments receiving low grades may be
rewritten with the instructors consent.

Student Course Ratings. During the last two weeks of the semester, students are asked to
provide feedback for each of their courses through an online survey. Students cannot view
grades until providing feedback or officially declining to do so. Instructors rely on course
rating surveys for feedback on the course and teaching methods, so they can understand what
aspects of the class are most successful in teaching students, and what aspects might be
improved or changed in future. Without this information, it can be difficult for an instructor to
reflect upon and improve teaching methods and course design.
 The Entrepreneurial Musician, Spring 2016 Page 3

Resources

The university provides many resources to help students achieve academic and artistic
excellence. Some information on these resources is listed below.

Center for Student Success

The New Schools Center for Student Success is dedicated to helping you move toward your
career goals. I encourage you to make full use of their services early and often during your time
at Mannes and the New School. The Careers team helps you to get the most from your
education, and their professional services assist you in building career management skills. The
Center offers counseling, and maintains Career Successlink a database of job, internship and
other professional opportunities, and hosts many workshops and events that can help you to
discover new pathways and possibilities for your career.

One-on-one Consultations

A Center for Student Success music career development specialist is available to assist you
with what you want to do now, and in preparing a pathway to reach your future goals.
Services include:

One-on-one career counseling

Applying for on- and off-campus jobs
Internships
Career information and resources
Strategies for developing effective job searches and interviewing skills
Rsum, curriculum vitae and cover letter reviews
Practice/mock interviews

Workshops, Panels and Special Events

The Center for Student Success offers a number of events, such as internship and career fairs,
information sessions, workshops, panel discussions and special events where you can meet
prospective employers and/or alumni working in your field.

To support your work in this class you are encouraged to attend CSS workshops and events. I
encourage you to follow the CSSs website, Facebook and Twitter feeds to hear about all their
events and to attend as many as possible. You can receive 5% extra credit for documented
attendance at a CSS event.

Center for Student Success

63 Fifth Avenue, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10003
(212) 229-1324
careers@newschool.edu

Website: http://www.newschool.edu/center-for-student-success/
 The Entrepreneurial Musician, Spring 2016 Page 4

University Learning Center

At the University Learning Center (ULC), New School students can receive academic support
in areas including writing, ESL, and graduate writing. The ULC also holds regular workshops
aimed at improving students' writing and other academic skills. Writing sessions support
development through constructive feedback and technical guidance, designed to help students
clarify their ideas and evaluate their work. The ULC is not a proofreading or editing service;
rather, their tutors work with students to identify areas that need improvement and offer
advice about making adjustments.

University Learning Center

66 West 12th Street, 6th Floor
212.229.5121
http://www.newschool.edu/learning-center/

Assignments

Career Visioning. A questionnaire, class discussions and homework assignments will guide
you through the process of evaluating the professional landscape, defining your vision of
professional success, communicating your vision to others, setting meaningful goals, and
developing a timeline for achieving these goals.

Career Planning. Revisiting your artist statement from the beginning of the semester, youll
develop a comprehensive plan to reach your next goals. Your plan will be a written document
encompassing a mission statement, short- and long-term goals, a feasible timeline, and a
comprehensive budget, and a detailed treatment of your next steps. During this assignment,
youll be guided through meetings with the instructor, with Center for Student Success
counselors, and through a meeting with a professional mentor active in your area of interest.
The semester ends with student career plan presentations to a panel of active arts professionals
from the New York City community.

Reflections. Two reading reflection assignments, generating responses to assigned readings of

your choice. At the end of the semester, you will look back on the work weve done and write a
brief essay reflecting on your strengths, weaknesses, and strategies for dealing with each.

Center for Student Success Workshop. Attend a Center for Student Success event during the
semester, and receive 5% credit when you submit a short essay that describes and evaluates the
event you attended.
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Feedback and Evaluation

Although you will be provided with written grades and comment on assignments throughout
the semester, your main sources of feedback and guidance will come through conversations,
either one-on-one or in small groups. Your meetings with the instructor and the CSS Staff are
required components of the class that will help to guide you towards the successful completion
of assignments while developing professional skills:

Individual Meetings with CSS Staff: You will be asked to meet with a CSS staff
member twice during the semester for assistance with developing your Career Plan.
You may also meet with the CSS staff any time on request, pending availability.
Individual Consultations with Justin Kantor: Career Plan and on request.
Professional Mentor Meeting: Career Plan
Individual Oral Evaluation with Justin Kantor: Course Grade and Feedback (Finals
Week)

Summary of Assignments and Final Grade Calculation

Assignment Date Assigned Due Date % of Grade

Career Visioning 25%
Life Goals Questionnaire | Online Form Week 1 Week 2 5%
Artist Statement Week 2 Week 3 5%
Informational Interview Week 5 Week 6 5%
Find Your Niche Week 8 Week 9 5%
Imaginary Budget Assignment Week 11 Week 12 5%
Career/Project Plan 45%
Career or Project Plan: First Draft Week 3 Week 4 5%
Career or Project Plan: Final Draft Week 6 Week 14 30%
Career or Project Plan: Presentation Week 6 Week 14 10%
Reflection 10%
Reading Reflections Week 7 Week 8 5%
Final Reflection Paper Week 13 Week 15 5%
Class Participation 20%
Extra Credit: Mannes/TNS Event 5%
Total 105%
 The Entrepreneurial Musician, Spring 2016 Page 6

Schedule

Week 1 Introduction to The Entrepreneurial Musician

1/25/2016 Learning Objectives:
1. Understand class purpose and procedures
2. Open discussion about classical music
Week 2 Life Goals (Meetings in Small Groups)
2/1/2016 Learning Objectives:
1. Define musical work in terms of broader social significance
2. Understand and develop your Mission Statement/Artist Statement
3. Define a project to focus on for the final project or choose Career Plan
Week 3 Le Poisson Rouge, my story
2/8/2016 Learning Objectives:
1. Meet at Le Poisson Rouge and learn about it's history
2. Explore the workings of a music venue
Week 4 Fundraising
2/22/2016 Learning Objectives:
1. Panel with special guests on grant writing and fundraising
2. Review the fundraising opportunities made available from The New School
Week 5 Freelancing in NYC
2/29/2016 Learning Objectives:
1. A Panel of Freelancers tell you how they make it work
2. Networking suggestions
Week 6 Career Plan/Business Plan
3/7/2016 Learning Objectives:
1. Define what a well-designed plan is
2. Understand all the components of the final project
Week 7 Effective Professional Presentation
3/14/2016 Learning Objectives:
1. Tools to help present professionally
Week 8 Market Research
3/28/2016 Learning Objectives:
1. Define your niche
2. Distilling your audience
3. Understand your competition
Week 9 Social Media/Branding/Marketing
4/4/2016 Learning Objectives:
1. What role should social media have in your campaign and how should it be utilized
2. Designing a functional website
3. Alternative marketing tools
4. Understanding the value of PR and when to outsource
 The Entrepreneurial Musician, Spring 2016 Page 7

Week 10 An Overview of the Music Industry

4/11/2016 Learning Objectives:
1. Learn about the different roles in the music industry (Manager, Agent, Label,
Publisher) and how the boundaries have been changing .
Week 11 Financials
4/18/2016 Learning Objectives:
1. Financial software de-mystified
2. Developing a budget
3. Researching your "market value"
Week 12 Contracts and Negotiation
4/25/2016 Learning Objectives:
1. Be prepared to enter into effective negotiations.
2. Be able to identify and ask for appropriate professional fees for artistic work.
3. Understand the basics of contracts
Week 13 Presenting Concerts
5/2/2016 Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the role and needs of the presenter.
2. Understand how to identify and approach appropriate presenters for your
performances.
3. Understand how to prepare to approach presenters.
4. Understand how to present your own concerts.
Week 14 Career Plan Presentations 1
5/9/2016 Learning Objectives:
1. Individual presentations 15-20 minutes in length
Week 15 Career Plan Presentations 2
5/16/2016 Learning Objectives:
1. Individual presentations 15-20 minutes in length