Saturday, October 26, 2013
Independent Component: Let's Get Down To Business
Contrary to what might possibly be popular believe, I actually don't like the title 'Let's Get Down To Business'. At all. But I wanted to put a phrase that has the word 'business' in it, so I'll make do.
I thought that I already dwelled enough about the music-side of music store operations and need to know more about the business side. So on October 15th, I went to a workshop in Chino for small business owners. It's sponsored by the Los Angeles Regional SBDC (Small Business Development Center), a small business assistance network in the national Small Business Administration.
The workshop took place in Chino's Carolyn Owens Community Center.
Carolyn Owens Community Center's Chino Business Resource Center.
The workshop itself and the speaker of the workshop, Robert Usher.
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Blog 8: Research and Working EQ
1. What is your working EQ? & 2. What is a possible answer to your working EQ? Please write the answer in thesis format.
EQ: What does it take to effectively operate a music store?
3. What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ?
My summer mentorship + regular mentorship (which will happen in the same place as my summer one).
4. Who is your mentor, or where are you volunteering, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?
My mentor is Gene Iacono, and for my project, I've been volunteering in his store, the Music Store, which doubles as a store providing sales and rentals of instruments and a music school. My mentorship puts me exactly where my topic is and gives me the frontline view of how things work in a music store works.
EQ: What does it take to effectively operate a music store?
- Organization and coordination. Each record of sales, of new items coming in, of student paying for a new term in lessons, etc. is carefully kept for future reference. Also take care to keep the schedule of classes for each teacher up to date. This will limit future problems of conflicting information (such as class time) between the store, the teachers, and the client, which is important when half of the business essentially deals in people's time.
- Backbone. As with operating most businesses, there will be people out there who'd try to take advantage of you. Don't let them.
- Knowledge. Know the store's system well. Know the discount programs for the students or the procedure that needs to be done whenever there is a sale, or the procedure when signing up new students. Know basic maintenance of the store's rental instruments. Know basic knowledge of the instruments and accessories that the store sells in order to be able to help the customers more.
3. What is the most important source you have used that has helped you come up with an answer to your working EQ?
My summer mentorship + regular mentorship (which will happen in the same place as my summer one).
4. Who is your mentor, or where are you volunteering, and how does what you are doing relate to your working EQ?
My mentor is Gene Iacono, and for my project, I've been volunteering in his store, the Music Store, which doubles as a store providing sales and rentals of instruments and a music school. My mentorship puts me exactly where my topic is and gives me the frontline view of how things work in a music store works.
Wednesday, October 2, 2013
Independent Component 1 Approval
1. Describe in detail what you plan to do for your 30 hours.
- Lessons for bass guitar
- Business courses/workshops/seminars
- (possibly) Guitar building/repairs courses
- Instrument maintenance at home (I own a few)
- Instrument product evaluations
2. Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.
Lessons: I'll have my bass teacher sign a lesson attendance form.
Business lessons, etc.: I'll scan up the notes I take during the class. Maybe write an essay summarizing the things I've learned each day/class.
Guitar building/repairs courses & instrument maintenance at home: I'll take pictures and write description filled captions for them.
Instrument product evaluations: I think a legitimate, 5 paragraph review would be too much, so I'll make a simple form to fill out that list out the good and the bad of each product and the price.
3. And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.
Bass lessons: I can see the students-customers' experience from their point of view if I am one myself.
Business lessons: Running a music store is not just about the instruments. It's a business after all. Knowing how to run a business will be beneficial to run a successful music store.
'Guitar building...' & 'Instrument maintenance...': Getting hands on with instruments can help me become more familiar with them. The more I know about instruments parts, the more I can help solve customers' problems with their instruments.
Instrument product...: If I know the pros and cons of each products, I can suggest items to each customers' wants and needs more accordingly.
- Lessons for bass guitar
- Business courses/workshops/seminars
- (possibly) Guitar building/repairs courses
- Instrument maintenance at home (I own a few)
- Instrument product evaluations
2. Discuss how or what you will do to meet the expectation of showing 30 hours of evidence.
Lessons: I'll have my bass teacher sign a lesson attendance form.
Business lessons, etc.: I'll scan up the notes I take during the class. Maybe write an essay summarizing the things I've learned each day/class.
Guitar building/repairs courses & instrument maintenance at home: I'll take pictures and write description filled captions for them.
Instrument product evaluations: I think a legitimate, 5 paragraph review would be too much, so I'll make a simple form to fill out that list out the good and the bad of each product and the price.
3. And explain how what you will be doing will help you explore your topic in more depth.
Bass lessons: I can see the students-customers' experience from their point of view if I am one myself.
Business lessons: Running a music store is not just about the instruments. It's a business after all. Knowing how to run a business will be beneficial to run a successful music store.
'Guitar building...' & 'Instrument maintenance...': Getting hands on with instruments can help me become more familiar with them. The more I know about instruments parts, the more I can help solve customers' problems with their instruments.
Instrument product...: If I know the pros and cons of each products, I can suggest items to each customers' wants and needs more accordingly.
Monday, September 30, 2013
Individual Components Options
I've been looking over some possible Individual Components for my topic, and I've decided that I would mainly aim for business courses. After all, a lot (or all, really) of the information I do for research check are instrument care-related, and that's not enough information to run a business.
I have to think about my schedule (which is already pretty filled up, yikes...) and still make space for mentorship (and it's most likely to end up on the weekends), so I'm considering online courses.
Some links:
- A government-sponsored website providing aid, information, and courses for people who are interested in starting a small business.
- An online course I considered taking. Sponsored by CalPoly Pomona!
- A list of, as the title said, free online education courses for small businesses.
- A calendar filled with business-related workshops of an organization based in LA.
- A website that provides lessons in business management.
I'm a bit concerned on whether some of these would count, especially the online courses ones. I'm planning to ask soon.
It's too late for this quarter, but I am thinking about taking a business course in CalPoly Pomona. I'll have to research more into it.
I'll also have to think about using my bass lessons as a part of my Individual Component. Anything that can help will help.
Wednesday, September 18, 2013
Blog 6: Second Interview Questions
1. Who is your mentor and where do they work?
My mentor will be Gene Iacono. He works in the Music Store, which he owns, and also in several other fields depending on the season.
2. What five questions will ask them about their background?
My mentor will be Gene Iacono. He works in the Music Store, which he owns, and also in several other fields depending on the season.
2. What five questions will ask them about their background?
- Could you give me a brief history of the Music Store?
- What prompted you to create the Music Store?
- What other occupations have you held?
- How long have you been acquainted with the music field?
- Do you believe that any of your former occupation has helped in managing the store? If so, which?
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