Presentation reflection

 Feedback- 

For my show-reel, I completely agree that the sound was problematic. The music was too loud and this was due to me not testing the sound of my show-reel on speakers, as I had used headphones to edit my video. This created different levels between the music and video audio. With that being said, I have already acted on this feedback and have lowered the music audio, so it shouldn't be an issue anymore.

I will research and look more into drama therapy, as I assumed it was something it wasn't. I still believe drama therapy will work very well for my business though. A drama therapist is someone who's main job is being a therapist, but uses drama as a tool to help their patient. 

Getting proper stats on mental health would prove very beneficial as it would allow me to gain a stronger understanding of the size of my potential audience. Also, getting stats for the impact of Performing Arts on low self esteem and social difficulties would allow me to use those said stats as an advertising point, as my potential audience will likely be scared of the performing arts - but once they see the statistics of how beneficial the Performing Arts is on their confidence they may be more inclined to join the club.

Following a point I touched upon in the previous paragraph, I am fully aware of how daunting and scary the Performing Arts can be for my target audience. With that being said, there are a few things I have set up in place to make it appeal to them more, but clearly it may not be enough. So, I will gain some proper research around how the performing arts can benefit them - such as interviews with people who have confidence-wise benefitted from the performing arts, this should hopefully ease and attract my target audience more.

I believe my logo/ branding in general is relevant to my business, but may not reflect my businesses main purpose very well. as my logo looks like a conventional drama schools logo, with nothing to do with building confidence, maybe apart from my businesses name being 'Welfare'. So, I will definitely look into creating a new logo which features more of my confidence building side rather than the drama. This will be the case for all my branding/ advertising, as I need to ensure I make my target audience at ease enough to want to join my club. I will also stop using the word 'performing arts', and instead use the word 'drama' - this is due to drama relating to my business more as well as the word 'drama' being less daunting for my target audience.

To be truthful, none of my team have the qualifications to deal with my targeted audience, but with that being said we aren't targeting the deeper mental health issues, simply just confidence and anxiety - this is something I've realized I haven't made too clear with my adverting and branding. To act on this feedback I will make sure to brand and advertise my business to more accurately reflect my business.

I will go more in-depth with my finances, and explain how I can maintain my business and cover the cost of my outgoings. 

Action plan-

I have already reedited my show-reel and tweaked the volume of my music - hence getting rid of my show-reel problem. 

I have also researched the role of a drama therapist and now have a far better understanding of what they are, this will now greatly help me present my business more professionally without gaps in my knowledge of what my business offers.

To get some more evidence of how drama helps peoples confidence, I will attempt to film some interviews with people who have experienced the great benefits of drama - such as students who study drama at school or college. This will also greatly help my advertising and make my target audience feel more inclined and at ease to join my club.

There’s a few things I plan to do with my branding and advertising. Firstly, I will be completely removing the word ‘performing arts’ and replacing it with ‘drama’ - this is to ease my target audience as the word ‘performing arts’ can be quite daunting and have negative connotations for someone with low confidence. I will also change my logo to reflect my business more accurately, with more colours and little-to-no reference to drama - just confidence building. Lastly, I will make sure to brand my business as for people with ‘low confidence’, rather than ‘poor mental health’. This is to avoid any hard going mental health disorders me and my team aren’t ready for - as we purely focus on anxiety, OCD and confidence building in general.

 

For my finances, I will present more clearly how my business will sustain itself - of course I have my loan from the Arts Council, but I also have my own funds to start off... but what’s most important is how I will sustain my business in the long run. So, essentially my business makes around £1,500 a month, with around £600 pound on average coming out a month. All the money I make is from this one business, and that is of course from the club membership. So, overall I always have £900 to maintain the business which is a great amount.

 

Final presentation

Slide 3 (show-reel) -

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nLybdWDRlSMtwFmbVf93Ctd7eu00zwjg/view?usp=sharing

Notes-

Slide 1:

Hello everyone, I am here to introduce you to my business. (next slide)

Slide 2:

My business is called ‘Welfare’. But what is it exactly? Well, I believe this short video I am about to show you may answer some of them questions. (next slide)

Slide 3:

(once video is over turn to next slide)

Slide 4:

My business is a great alternative to therapy. As the performing arts is an amazing tool for boosting people’s confidence and putting them in positions they may not be entirely comfortable with while also making it enjoyable. While, stoicism and Taoism give people ways to mentally deal with whatever they may be struggling with. Learning to go with the flow and not hold onto worries too strongly as it doesn’t get you anywhere. More on the lessons here… (next slide) 

Slide 5:

… Now, on Tuesdays from 4:30- 6:00 my lessons shall take place. Here is a brief overview of what to expect from my typical session. For the first 10 minutes it’ll simply be the warming up and fun games. Then, the next 10 minutes will look something like the picture here (points at image) but imagine it with real people of course. Where essentially we all sit in a circle and discuss and open up about how everyone is feeling and what’s getting them down, while all being related to the same subject (ie social anxiety or lack of confidence). Then the next 30 minutes will be where we all split up into groups and perform! Doing things such as improvisation and mime on the topic we had just discussed. Then, the last 40 minutes will be where me and my team will give my class feedback on how they were and where to improve, while also throwing in some philosophical coping mechanisms. Forum theatre will then take place which is an amazing form of drama and performing (next slide)

Slide 6:

Forum theatre is an amazing way to involve everyone in a class and allow them to really show off their abilities, as well as building their confidence hugely. Allowing them to see situations from a 3^rd person perspective and analyze what went wrong and how they can make a change for the better – most of the forum pieces will be based upon class members past experiences, this is to enable them to feel more confident the next time that event may happen again.  

Slide 7:

My application process is as simple as it appears above. The way I’d make sure to get the word out that ‘this is the way you apply’ is via my advertising – through the leaflets, social medias, workshops and so forth. 

Slide 8:

My business is all ready! And the premises for my business will cost £600 a month or £150 for the session.

Slide 9:

I would love for my business to become a franchise, spreading all other the country and helping as many people struggling with their confidence as possible

Slide 10:

Compassion is for the compassion that my students will learn to have for themselves, learning to be allowing of mistakes they make.

Remedy is for the fact that they will hopefully find the way out of their struggling confidence due to my schools help.

Enthusiasm is for the joy and excitement my students should hopefully feel for my sessions.

Art is quite an obvious one, as the performing arts is an art.

Teamwork is for the people they will meet and new friends they will make, as well as learning how to be a valued part of a team.

Empathy is very similar to compassion in the way that my students will hopefully feel more empathy towards themselves and not beat themselves up over trivial things.

They assemble together to, of course, make the word ‘CREATE’

Slide 11:

If my business ever expands and branches out then of course I will increase my management team substantially, but looking how the business currently is, I currently only require myself to run it. My volunteers, Ryan and Chris are both studying the same course and share the same passion for drama – and being with me they gain some very valuable work experience.   

The main thing to take away from this is my drama therapist, Georgia, who is very skilled in her profession and while being pricy – I believe is well worth it and offers very powerful and amazing help to my students.

Slide 12:

Getting your business out there and known to the public is one of, if not, the most important part of starting up a business. As, if people don’t know about your business, how can they ever become a customer, and how will your business ever grow?

Slide 13:

There certainly is an audience for my business out there. We all know someone who struggles with their confidence who would be able to fully take advantage of what my business offers. My audience is more catered towards those who some would deem ‘introverted’ and the other personality traits which follow it. Non-religious people are more likely to suffer in silence and feel lonely, as they of course have no god to believe in or follow. And as you can see from my survey here, which says (explain the missing end of sentences) – clearly shows that my business can gain traction and already has! 

Slide 14:

Competition shouldn’t be a problem for me, as no other company, at least locally that I am aware of – offers what my business offers. I have definitely found a good gap-in-the-market. Closest business to mine is FABBA, but that’s purely due to the fact that it focuses on one type of audience which need a confidence boost. As you can see here, there are many opportunities and strengths to my business. My weakness shouldn’t be too much of an issue as anyone who goes to a drama school with the idea of it helping their confidence will of course come to a drama school which makes confidence it’s priority and main focus, instead of a conventional one. So, I shouldn’t hopefully loose too many clients.

Slide 15:

We will prepare PowerPoint documents for every lesson, with a similar design to this current PowerPoint I'm using. We will also prepare small lunches which will be an array of sandwiches, crisps and cakes. The sandwiches will be handmade. The drama building is made for the performing arts so is an amazing place for my business to take part in. My general drama equipment will involve things such as masks, costumes and any kind of prop in general. The drama building we are renting already comes equipped with a projector, computer, lights and small stage area. 

Slide 16:

Being a sole trader suits me and my business the most, as the main aim of my business, as previously mentioned, is to help people – not to make a lot of money. This also makes my business easier to set up and run. Of course, I may change my business type if I ever am able to expand and franchise, but for now, being a sole trader is the best choice for me.

Slide 17:

Here is my finances sheet. I will overview all the important parts on the next slide (next slide)

Slide 18:

So, the important parts. My annual projection is just over 11 grand in profits, and 1 grand on an average month. Which is all free spending money which I can use for personal and or business purposes. Even if I had no spare money other than the profit I earned, I’d spend around £700 on my business and the rest I’d be completely free to spend as I wish. I am also fortunate enough to be liable for an Arts Council grant, which I am very thankful for. 

Slide 19:

Currently, both Covid-19 and Brexit shouldn’t affect my business at all. That is relying on the fact that we do not fall into another lockdown, or go into tiers – but if that were the case then online lessons would have to be way for that period of time, which isn’t at all ideal – but the best I can offer. DCMS are great for general help and advice, while also keeping everyone up to date on new laws and procedures.  

Slide 20:

I have my businesses logo which I can trademark. Other than that there’s nothing else for me to trademark. The name ‘Welfare’ has been used in other businesses but with it being a common word to use, no one has trademarked it! Similar to my intellectual property, as no one has intellectual property over my business idea currently, so legally I'm fine! Talent/location releases may become necessary if my business decides to film any media for the lessons, as I will need to make sure everyone signs their talent releases if they are to be in the film, and if I decide to film outside the building I do lessons in then I will need to get location releases signed. They would likely be in public areas such as parks. I will also, of course, make sure I follow all the rules when it comes to filming and acting in the public. Public liability is essential for any business including mine as it essentially covers any claims made to my business by the public – which hopefully won’t happen but you can never be too careful.

For GDPR, I will of course follow all the rules and give every student of mine security over their data.

Dragons' Den (preperation)

Talk about wanting to expand the business (franchising)

Pavilion work experience example

(Drama equipment)

Make everyone do a drama exercise, I.E. a game, but something which involves philosophy (what makes my company unique) 

Finances. I.E. finance sheet + different payment options for the school (one off payments, memberships), how much I expect to make based on research and an average

Lesson planning? 

Drama therapist 

Finish off website

Well-Fair

The presentation will focus on my website, with the main focus on my website being a short-video. The short-video will showcase what happens in an average lesson, and perhaps act as an advert with prices and dates/times

Show-reel of drama classes. 

Chris Dungar (volunteer) old teacher

Scott Wilson (volunteer) old supply teacher

Currently unsure on drama therapist?

'A quick, easy and empowering alternative to therapy'

'more effective than therapy, and cheaper!'

'Easier to access than traditional therapy'

I focus on being an alternative to therapy, which separates me from other performing art schools. I teach philosophy and use the performing arts to get my students to step out of their comfort zone. 

my target audience is a smaller market than others. and that said audience is harder to reach and to get to come out for lessons.

I don't care about profits and that isn't what I created the business for. but, I assume to make around 7-8 grand a year. 

I will advertise my business with my bright logo colours. While also keeping it simple and easy to view. I will make it clear what my business offers straight away via quick summaries. 

Drama room/ building at Lynn Grove

Evaluation

Since the beginning of this course, the main aim of every lesson was to discover and learn more about creative enterprises - how they are set up, funded and run. With that, we were also tasked with setting up our own creative business, mine being a performing arts school which focuses on mental health. This gave me and my fellow classmates a first hand experience of what it is truly like to start and run a creative enterprise, as we would use the knowledge we gained from lessons about creating a business, then we'd put it into action. On top of this, we also done some work experience in order to gain more knowledge and skills in the creative field.

When it came to the task of creating my own creative enterprise, I had very few ideas of what kind of business I wanted to create. Due to my passion for Philosophy, I wanted to find ways to express that interest in the creative field, but I struggled to come up with any good ideas to begin with. So, I temporarily scrapped the idea and went a more traditional way and came up with the idea of a business which creates posters for movies, games and such... but I wasn't that interested, this was due to the idea not really being something I feel passionate about, and I only came up with it because I knew it was classed as creative.

After pitching my 'poster' business idea to my class, I got a lot of neutral feedback; such as it being a safe idea, but wasn't that innovative, and didn't show off my creative ideas very much. So, I decided to go down the philosophy path again. I quickly realized that philosophy is essentially a lot of peoples way of improving their lives, looking at philosophers ideas and acting on them - hence improving their mental health. So, I then began to think about what helped improve my mental health, which was the performing arts as it helped me boost my confidence. So, with all this - it helped me come up with the idea of a performing arts school which focuses on mental health, with the use of philosophical ideas. 

Now, coming up with the business idea was the easy part. After that I then needed to do a decent amount of research into my idea, looking into other similar businesses and seeing how they conduct themselves (case studies). I done this so it'd give me some inspiration and help when it came to starting up my business, thing such as how much income I can expect to make and how I should advertise myself. This then led onto the true development of my business. I would go onto make a business plan and model - which would go to really solidify my business idea as it tell me and others exactly what my business is and how I expect to conduct that business. Again, this then led to more developments such as branding, and even taking action on advertising - I made my own website, social medias and such. 

Through the year, I learnt a lot about just how difficult it really is to start up a business, especially a profitable one, I know this because my business idea would likely struggle on the profit side even on a good day - this was due to me making a finance sheet which gave me a rough estimate of my profits. With this being said, I never aimed to make my business because of profits and money - it was purely passion. I also learnt some things about myself, how I struggle to work with other people and that I'd prefer to be solo in running a business, this is due to myself often being easily outspoken and sometimes lacking passion, so it was unhealthy for me to let someone else run the business with me as I would likely take a step-back and lose my passion in the business. I enjoyed the more creative side of starting up a business, things such as the website and branding as it allowed me to be more artistic and, well... creative.

A key part of this course was sending our business plans and branding to an industry professional in order to get some feedback on it. I received feedback from 'FABBA', which is a performing arts school which focuses on aiding the disabled - a similar idea to my own. The feedback I received wasn't too in-depth, but was benefitial for what it was. Essentially advising me to flesh out my finances, in-terms of coming up with how much I will make and lose in a 3 month peroid. Also, to add more to my marketing section, with the use of a website and Indeed, where I would be able to find industry professionals who may help me out and advertise my business for me. FABBA also commented on my branding by saying it looks great already, especially with the use of bright colours. Overall, it was decent feedback which I acted upon.

When it comes to work experience, there was my 'Football Documentary', 'Games Dev interviews' and 'Pavilion play', which all offered individual key skills. One of which, stood out the most from them which was the 'Pavilion play'. In which me and two other classmates were tasked with filming a live performance during lockdown, in order for the show to be broadcasted online, this was the Pavilion theatres way of doing shows during the restrictions. This benefited me because my idea for my business is a performing arts school, so I was able to witness and help with backstage theatre work, learning how to set up lighting and such which is hugely beneficial for when I decide to put on plays with my class. Also, it taught me how I can stay-a-float during the pandemic, this of course being online and virtual performances and even perhaps lessons.

Mission/ Vision statement and Core values

Vision statement- To become a local safe haven for people of all ages.

Mission statement- Using the performing arts and certain key philosophical ideas we give every student the confidence and knowledge to tackle their struggling mental health.

Core values-  

Compassion

Remedy

Enthusiasm

Art

Teamwork

Empathy

Cultural Policies and how they effect my business

Cultural policies are the government's way of regulating the creative industries. They often financially aid and promote creative business', but also set laws and rules which your business must follow.

In basic terms, Cultural policy is following rules and guidance given out by the government.

Recently, in 2020 and 2021, the government has been updating and changing laws for companies during this pandemic. For a good while, most business' were made to completely close until further notice, then they opened with new rules such as masks and social distancing, and then with the tier system some business' were made to close again and some were fortunate enough to stay open. Unfortunately, now we are in another full lockdown and the creative industries has taken a massive hit especially on the smaller business' with some even having to permanently close up. Places such as theatres and cinemas are forced to shut down for the time being, and made to survive on Furlough pay which is 80% of their usual wage. Lockdown has certainly beaten down on the creative industries, and it is clear how my business will be effected. 

So, due to lockdown and current laws, I am unable to run my Theatre business. This is due to my business only really being able to operate properly with physically being with my students, as well as the general rule that all theatres must shut, even schooling ones. For the time being I will be able to start up my business, things such as setting up social media accounts, business accounts, websites and such. I can promote my business and even apply for funding from companies such as 'The Arts Council' besides from that there isn't much else I can do. If there is a demand for it, I am willing to set up online lessons for a lower cost than my normal ones would be - this would be my business' way of surviving during lockdown, but I would have to make sure people want it and are willing to pay for it.

There are many beneficial cultural policies, such as funds which are made available to creative business'. As previously mentioned, the Arts Council features a lot of grants, such as National lottery Project funds and Culture recovery Fund. Currently, I am uncertain of the exact figures they offer, but I'd assume it depends on how big the business is. 

Brexit is one of the biggest hitting things that has effected the creative industries, as it has changed a lot of laws and on top of confusing people and companies, it has also made some things worse. Things such as;

- Travelling in EU will now be more difficult and expensive.

- If you had a website set somewhere in the EU you now have to base it in UK, i.e. '.co.uk'.

- We lose EU funding, which means a lot less funding options for companies as well as taking away some companies funding a whole.

Fortunately, for me, as I am a small business with near to no needs of anything abroad, I'll hopefully not be affected too much by Brexit.

Once lockdown is lifted, I plan on perhaps filming a performance with my students, so as a result of that I will need to get talent/location releases. 

A talent release is, for example, what an actor would have to sign before beginning to star in a film or show. It essentially gives the producer and all who are associated with the film legal rights to use that said actors appearance, voice and such. 

A location release is very similar to a talent release except for the fact that it focuses on the legal use of land and location, rather than a person. These releases must be signed by the legal owner of the land, or a legal representative of the property. And can then be Legally used for filming in the times agreed upon.

Welfare social media + analysis

I always intended on making social media accounts for my business, this is because I want to use it as my platform to advertise my company on. I will also be using it to make my students feel special and as though they are part of a family. I'd often post with pictures of them all performing together, as well as some generic group photos, hence making any person who is considering joining more likely to want to as they will see the family-like bond and want to become a part of it. 

Here is my Instagram-

 

Here is my Twitter-