Week 6 EOC: ME X3

There are plenty of products and items that help us individualize ourselves and kind hard to bring down to three products but the first product that comes to mind has to be music. Music is a big product. Whether it’s a cd or an MP3 or itunes, music defines my everyday life. It determines my mood I am in at that moment and inspires me through my choice of a career and channels its way into my own music. I could say my iPod but that’s not a product that defines me, it’s the music that is contained within it. Something else that definitely sticks out to me are Metallica T-shirts. I love the artwork that Pushead (an artist) has done in drawing up various shirt designs for Metallica T-shirts. I love the artwork on Metallica T-shirts so much, I got actually got one of them as my first tattoo and I’m planning on getting some more. Wearing my Metallica shirts makes me feel proud to a fan and in some sort of way, contributing to the band. I tend to look and Metallica T-shirts that I haven’t seen anybody else wear because I want to have something different but at the same time, sporting my favorite artists. I think hair ties would oddly enough be a product that projects who I am. I love and enjoy my long hair and the only way I can tame it from its intense curls is by putting it back in a ponytail, usually using Scrunci hair ties. They are cheap and always have one on me, whether if it’s on my wrist or in my hair; I couldn’t live a day without one. All these products all kind of tie into each such as the Music, Metallica T-shirts, and of course the hair tie because Metallica used to have long hair. I could probably go on with a list of products but these are predominantly the first things that popped into my head.

Week 5 EOC: Social Networks and Job Hunting

Everything has become so emerged in the digital world; it has its downsides but also has some great upsides to it as well. I think it’s awesome that some of these big time companies are now employing real customers to promote their product. It’s a great way to prove relations between consumers and I think it could be cheaper way of advertising. “The ambassadors were given a free camera and other equipment along with lessons on how to use them. They were then encouraged to show the camera to friends, associates, and anyone else who asked; hand out discount coupons; and blog weekly about their travel and picture-taking adventures” (Marketing An Introduction, Armstrong/Kotler, Pg 15) Using social networks and other things such as blogs to get in touch with the loyal customer is great we to do so. Businesses are also using social networks such as Facebook to find potential employees or even look up an interviewee.  This is such an easy way to find information on a potential worker because people on Facebook post everything to the whole world. It’s the easiest and cheapest way to research people. “More companies are trying to tap Facebook Inc.'s 750-million-plus user base to find new employees, threatening traditional job boards and competing with LinkedIn Corp., which has dominated the online professional networking arena… Candidates have been 50% more likely to apply to positions they found through Facebook than through other means.” (Wall Street Journal, Recruiters Troll Facebook for Candidates They Like) I mean even bands and other artists’ stubble upon other potential recruitments such as Journey whom found their replacement lead singer on YouTube; that’s also how Justin Bieber got discovered.  I think this is a great way to reach to consumers, potential candidates, or whatever the situation might be for businesses to expand their horizons in customer relations and recruitment. World is technological advancing at ridiculous rates, it’s great that marketing and businesses and keep up and use it to their advantage.

Week 4 EOC: Iphone App

Would it be awesome if there was an app that for musicians in which you would sing, hum, or beat box a melody and this app would convert this vocal recording into a drum beat or piano. Whatever instrument you wanted because sometime us musicians come up with great little melodies but don't have anyway to put it down so we don't forget by the time you get home. There are a few app out there that have similar to my idea but most need another device. For instance, AmpliTube for the iPhone is for recording guitar tracks and vocal tracks but it doesn't really convert the actually recording to another instrument using pitch and rhythm detection software. "Play, practice and record anytime, anywhere with world-class guitar and bass tones, vocal effects and production tools along with a full portable studio. AmpliTube 2 gives you incredibly realistic tones and effects, plus full recording and processing capabilities in a powerful mobile app, all from the leaders in analog gear modeling software for professional recording studios." (http://ikmultimedia.com/amplitubeiphone/features/)
There are also apps that do vocal processing such as auto-tune which is something that the app that I would like to create. An app that works of the auto-tune technology which was pretty big and I have myself is the I am T-Pain app. It is real fun to just mess around and record normal conversations and play them back after it's been auto-tuned. The app was developed by Smule which has created a great product. "Smule is a premier developer of interactive sonic applications for the iPhone and iPod touch. Smule's applications, including Ocarina, Leaf Trombone World Stage and Sonic Lighter, have been described as "magical", "addictive" and "instant classics" and have topped numerous iPhone app top-10 lists." (http://iamtpain.smule.com/) I've actually come across an app that does translate sounds and beats you record into beat-boxing sounds. I have seen a bunch of apps that do guitar, vocal, and drum synth recording but not actually translating the sound into a beat. "bChamp will recognizes three beatbox sounds: Snare (say “k” as in “cabbage”), Kickdrum (say “b” as in “bogus”), Hi-Hat (say “t” sound with your teeth closed). When you make those sounds into the microphone, they will be translated into dfferent drum-like sounds. You can also adjust the pitch of your beats by using the app’s interface to change the pitch. bChamp’s app includes some visual graffiti effects."  (http://techcrunch.com/2009/06/11/bchamp-the-iphone-app-that-beatboxes-for-you/) This app is definitely a steal for only .99 cent and it is awesome. I am going to go check it out tonight. Maybe if I can integrate all of these great ideas into one, I can have a million dollar app in my hands.

Week 3 EOC: My Demographics

“One thing that all of the Millennials have in common is their utter fluency and comfort with digital technology. They don’t just embrace technology, it’s a way of life.” (Marketing: An Introduction, Armstrong & Kotler, Pg. 17) This is definitely true in 100% form of my generation of “Millennials”. The “Millennials” are defined as the group born between 1977 and 2000. We all fixed into you new technologies like our phones, iPods, or laptops and yet technology is always growing and reinventing itself but the generation I have grown up adapts quick and easy. “A recent study found that 91 percent of Millennials are on the Web, making up 32 percent of all U.S. Internet users.” (Marketing: An Introduction, Armstrong & Kotler, Pg. 17) I am always emerging myself in the internet, whether it would be Facebook or online browsing. We also have a total purchasing power of 733 billion dollars, making up a larger target market since we spend carelessly not like our predecessors such as the Baby boomers and Generation X. I also fall into some of the demographic characteristics of the Generation X such as the latchkey kids. I was with my mother, which was a single-parent, and she worked all day. I’d come home after school with my brothers and we would take care of each other while she was off making the cash; which was totally fine though. I also appreciate my experiences a lot more than materialistic view on life; such as the X Gen. We all share certain traits of each demographic in a way but the Millennial category fits my description at 80% accuracy.

Week 3 EOC: Making Money for Good

There are plenty of businesses and products out there that make good money for a good cause such as TOM shoes and Live-strong. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of charitable products would be the “I <3 BOOBIES” bracelets and t-shirts. Those bracelets hit real big when I was in high school and caused a big ruckus throughout the staff and teachers, but they all brought in a good profit for breast cancer research. The NFL now has footballs and special pink jerseys that you can purchase and profits are donated to Breast cancer research as well. I have even seen football players on the field wearing the pink gloves; it sends a great message to the audience (http://www.nflshop.com/category/index.jsp?categoryId=3821290). Even benefit concerts are real big and raise millions of dollars for people in need; these are probably my favorite type of charitable event. The first concert was "The Concert for Bangladesh which headlined such artists as George Harrison and Eric Clapton and made $243,418.51. One of the biggest benefit concerts ever was the LIVE AID which headlined over 30 acts including Queen, Led Zeppelin, U2, Elton John, and Eric Clapton. This benefit show was broadcasted simultaneously in Wembley Stadium, London and the John F. Kennedy Stadium, Philadelphia; which had a total global audience of 1.9 billion via satellite.  This show alone brought in 283.6 million dollars for the Ethiopian famine. It amazes me to see all these very successful and rich musicians to go out of their way and conduct such a tremendous concert for zero profit for themselves, other than the feeling of giving. It’s quite inspiring and one day I hope to be a part of one, either if it’s attending one or even managing it.

Week 2 EOC: Boston Consulting Group - Video Games

In the ongoing-never-ending console wars, it might seem that the Wii is on top because they have the highest sales with over 53 million. I believe that all is changing now that Apple, Droid, any other games are in the system, and they definitely take the star in a BCG analysis. “Plenty of iPhone programmers whine about their failure to strike it rich in the App Store, but Tap Tap Revenge developer Tapulous can’t complain. The maker of the popular rhythm game reported sales nearing $1 million per month.” (http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/12/iphone-game-developer-reports-1m-in-sales-per-month/) Those numbers are quite amazing if you think about it because Tap Tap is a .99 cent purchase and that’s only one single game; imagine the other 10,000 games in the app store. All the portable game systems, such as PSP and the DS, are definitely the dog of the bunch. “Sales of the handheld dropped to 1.2 million units for the quarter, down from 3 million during the same period in FY 2009, a decrease of 50 percent.'(http://www.joystiq.com/2010/10/29/sony-sees-modest-ps3-growth-dramatic-decline-in-psp-sales-in-q2/) Even though their sales ‘were’ pretty high, they just falling away from us now because of the rise of the Ipad and Ipod Touch. The question mark is a pretty iffy one. It could either be computer games or online video games. “According to the software giant, it has now sold 55 million Xbox 360 units worldwide since the device's launch in 2005. Perhaps most importantly, sales are ‘accelerating,’ Microsoft said, and in the first four months of 2011, Xbox 360 sales were up 29 percent compared to the same period in 2010.” (http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-21539_7-20068641-10391702.html) So hands down, the Xbox 360 is the cash cow. With the release of Kinect and it’s the remodeled console, this revitalized Microsoft’s Xbox 360. It was also priced cheaper than the original model and had much more features in to too. They’ve been pulling the high dosage of cash but iPod games have a greater demand which puts them on top.  

Week 1 EOC: My Voice

Going up with music all around me, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in the field. I was just expecting to work in the music industry because I’ve been playing guitar and bass for over 7 years and that's all I knew but learned the other side of audio. I’ve studied music theory throughout my years but also do post production and on-location sound as well. Attending The Art Institute of Las Vegas currently to help broaden my view on audio and build skills that will better me now and in the future. I have a few current projects of mixing a few music tracks. I specialize in music production and a working for live sound as well. Mixing music or post production is what I have the most fun with because there are so many different ways you approach this and improve each mix. I am also an expert Foley artist and do great ADR work as well.  Foley is also another passion of mine and sound design. I am keeping my mind open to a project that I can possible work on in the audio industry because they will only help me grow. Technology is always becoming more advanced and is evolving how the audio industry. Any experience that has to do with sound is what I’m looking for. I am always striving to better myself and making the best productions I can.