chrisbowenmmm-blog

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“Second star to the right. And straight on til morning.”

Captain Kirk, Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country

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And Now, The End Is Near (Also Known As AS6)

Friday, 12 May 2017. UoG Park Campus

Well, this is it. A brief meeting just dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s. We’re talking over our handover, and just making sure that we know exactly what is going into it. There has been a nomination to give me the control of handing over the document, which doesn’t come as a shock, but I’m happy to do it. We’re also making sure that we know what to pass over and what needs a how to guide. It’s going to be a fairly heavy document, and I’ll be responsible for a guide to music uploading, recommendation on provider and a contract document. I’ll also pass on a breakdown of press contacts for any releases in the future. As for the accounts and other recommendations, that will be dealt with by others.

Now, for this...

It’s been a long year, and I’ve had a very hot and cold relationship with Made To Measure. I feel it’s prudent to go through what I think of the roles within the group, and my own personal role.

For my part, I started with alot of ideas about how to divide the company up and, even though not everything is fully under way, I feel that it’s sort of there for M2M. The music distribution arm has a recommended supplier and just needs the content, the video production and archiving arm are waiting for material to use, events have been a well oiled collaborative effort, and we have shown how well we can run them. I feel like I’ve been an almost omnipresent person throughout the year, often being available as and when needed. My role as Company Secretary has been something that I knew from the offset that I would be responsible with and I feel that I’ve done a good job, if not always a stellar job. It has been heavy going at times, and it has also been rewarding knowing that I’ve contributed something worthwhile to this company. 

I’ve found over the course of the year that some of the fears of us falling out have been unfounded, and I think that is more because those of us who have had issues are smart enough to know that having a fallout is more detrimental to all of us than airing our dirty laundry. 

I feel that some things need to be said, and I’m going to be fair enough to redact names from this, as I don’t want to publicly call someone out, but I need to get some things off my chest. I will have signed a document to rescind my profit share by the time this is read, as I was never in this for any money.

My biggest gripe this year has been with the social media element of this company. While I understand that we have all been busy with other deadlines, work and lives, I feel that the social media has been rushed, poorly planned, scattergun and on the whole, almost a complete waste of our energy during this year. Perhaps the lack of knowledge on the part of those dealing with the accounts has been more detrimental to our public profile than beneficial to it. This has been something that seemed to always be an afterthought, and we have spent money on certain elements of social media (snapchat filters etc) that have been poorly advertised and, in my opinion, pointless. I’d recommend that whoever takes over the social media element needs to have a clear and defined strategy of how to promote this company, what has worked and what hasn’t, and have the owner of the social media accounts needs to have experience or at the very least, the desire to run the accounts properly. I know I’m no social media king, but I know when and how to post appropriately.

The website has been a long process, but has been very well put together and it does look like a professional and modern site. The one stumbling block has come from the broadcast division, and the music label division. It’s is not through a fault of theirs however, and I feel bad for those guys as they have been hitting their heads against a wall to collate and collect archive materials. I would recommend that the broadcast/music/web division keep pushing until materials are delivered from the people they have been asking. 

The creative team have been exemplary this year, with their work being very hands on and always in keeping with the themes presented to them. The only drawback at times has been the willingness to spend more money than perhaps is required. While the events have looked awesome, I feel that perhaps it’s been money that could have been invested elsewhere to greater effect.

The admin team that I have been a part of have been well organised and of great assistance to the group and myself. At the start of the year I felt that I may have been undertaking alot more of the work that I ended up doing. The team around me have been great, dealing with the admin and technical side of our events. Those who have done artist liaison have also been great, working on the fly more often than not and ensuring that all artists we have had know what, when and where they are. 

Overall, Made To Measure Productions have started well, we have worked for a common aim and I believe that it is in a fairly strong place for the coming year. I will be watching this company for the next few years as I would like to see it grow. While I may not be part of the legacy of this company (as I’ll be rescinding this), it will be something that I can be proud to have been part of.

And with that, we are done!

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Let’s Make The Handover As Slick As A Jamaican Relay Team!

Tuesday, 9th May 2017. Work, The Promenade, Cheltenham

Slicker than that! Paige has contacted me about the “launch” for next Thursday (May 18th) where we’re going to present what we’ve done and what should be done to the board for next year. She’s asked that I be present, something I can sort out with work. Both of us want to make sure that this is done in a slick and efficient fashion, and I’ll make sure that happens. It’s not long until we are no longer the board. Am I sad? We’ll see...

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Contractually Obliged VI: Back To Reality (There Goes Gravity) (Also Known as AS4 & AS5...ish)

Friday, 5 May 2017. UoG, Park Campus

It’s been a while, mainly thanks to Easter and other deadlines and all of a sudden it seems like everything is coming quickly to an end. And by quickly, I mean HOLY SHIT IT’S NEARLY OVER! 

Last night was the 2000 Trees Showcase gig, which I couldn’t attend for life reasons, but by all accounts it seemed to go quite well. I’ve been fairly slack with the company as of late, I’ve had some releases to put out, some contracts for my own business to take care of and work life has been very busy. So getting back into this is all a bit of a last minute thing.

The chat today is all about Wychwood and our stage. We’re almost upon the event, and we have our stage. I’m still fairly disappointed that I’m not going to be playing, but there’s no time to mope around and get shitty about it because there are (yep, you guessed it) contracts to write!

We’re going to be working closely with Wychwood FM and Wychwood TV (the radio guys from Tone Radio) for our stage, and we’re going to need to get some release forms together for the output for that. It’s such an easy task now that I’m practically doing it in my sleep. It’s a fairly quick and painless process, just ensuring that all the dates are correct and the performers for each are correct. They will go into an artist pack which will be with artist liaison (Jess and Katie Charles for the weekend) who will ensure that everything is signed and that we can use the footage for our archive.

Another thing that came up during this meeting was that of our handover. We’re very close to having to give this company over to the second years. Our launch has become something of a thorn in our side, as the fragmented nature of the second semester has meant that we’ve really given up on getting a full on launch done this year. However, we have decided that we should speak to the second years before the year is through to ensure that they know what is expected of them, and what we have done. Paige is taking the lead on this, and, as always, I’m there for support.

T Minus 14 days to end. Lord have mercy on us all.

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Motivation, Such An Aggrivation

Friday, 14 April 2017. St Pauls, Cheltenham

Today I’ve asked to amend posters that have included the wrong names and sent a draft email for approval about getting music for digital distro. It’s the most driven I’ve been so far for a while, especially within the company. The above quote sums (pun intended) it up really.

Reflecting on another semester of Made To Measure is something I feel necessary, especially with only 4 weeks left of the year. It’s becoming clear who the most dominant are, and I think that I’ve fallen somewhat into that category. It just feels that only about half the team are pushing, while the others are a mix of vocal (if not active) supports or non existent/more of a burden to us. We’ve had to drop a fair few projects, and pulling out of the Wychwood Sessions so late on makes us look pretty poor. I know I’m not the only one who is feeling like this, and for those who feel the same, most are because they feel like they are doing it all.

Now, I’ve really gotta clarify that some people who seem to be doing nothing are in fact very busy. For Jess and Hannah, they are waiting on us to give them something that plays to their strength. For Jess, she needs content to populate the website, so has to wait for that. For Hannah, she is our art director, so she needs an event to work towards artistically. For others, it just seems like they don’t want to help out. It’s a personal observation, there are people that agree and I’m sure that some will argue the point.

I’m fairly low on motivation, more due to external reasons than that of the company. There’s so little left of my degree now that I just want to get through it and have it done. I’m still committed to doing the best that I can, I’m not going to phone it in, but for this company now, I need to see that we’re all on the same page otherwise I may find myself selling some people out to ensure that I get the best grade I can get out of it. 

I’ve also decided that I’m going to relinquish the profit share and legacy elements of the formation. I’m not one for external plaudits, I’m in it to be proud of it my own way.

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A link to the copy I sent over. Our artists are down at the bottom of each day page. I’m pretty proud of it, even if a fair amount was sent ready made!

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Familiar Faces And Questions

Monday, 10 April 2017. UoG FCH Campus

A few of us have got together today to try and make heads and tails of what still needs to be done. There’s not much on the Wychwood front, now that the copy has gone and line-up decided. It’s now discussing how we can promote what we have done. Matt has a meeting later in the week with the Wychwood TV guys, I’ve suggested that we co-brand the channel. 

There’s also 2000 Trees Festival Showcase discussions. The line-up is to be decided, and it looks like it’s going to be a vote as the Xmas show was. I raise some concerns about it being the same artists playing again, but I also understand we need an impartial way of deciding. I’m hoping we can squeeze onto that show, but we will see.

Talk inevitably turns back to launch, but it’s something that we really need everyone there for. We have mailed everyone what we have discussed and asked for more input on it. The team will meet again on Weds, but I’m not free for that one. We’re also going to push for a more formal meeting when we’re all back to ensure that we can kick on as the first week back ends in a site visit to the Jazz Festival.

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Copy That...

Friday, 7 April 2017. St Pauls, Cheltenham

As is customary for me, I’m overworked and stressed, primarily of the paid variety along with that moment you realise that you’ll be a graduate soon and have little to no prospects on the horizon...But enough about me!

We’ve finalised the line-up for our stages at Wychwood. I’m fairly disappointed that my band have been booted off from the previous draft, but you can’t play them all, so I’ll get over it! Not sure how the process for selection worked, but we’ll have other chances.

It’s now down to someone to write/gather up the copy and images for the Wychwood website and programme. I’ve taken that up, as it will be mostly getting hold of biographies from those selected. Megan will be getting the images for each artist, which saves half the task. It takes me the weekend to get everything together and have the copy put together and sent on to the powers that be at Wychwood. There are a few that I have to throw together with a quick listen to the artist and skim through their social media and on the whole I’m pretty proud of it. It has since been published on the website, which is a great feeling knowing that some of my copy has been used.

It’s a frantic rush though, which has actually seen me thrive. It’s done, and the artists are excited about playing, so now all that is left is to promote and get ready for festival season!

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Session(s of the Wychwood Variety)

Friday, 17 March 2017. UoG Park Campus

As it’s the final meeting before a few weeks extended break, we get cracking on talking Wychwood Sessions. It’s already proving fairly chaotic for all of us at the moment, but we still think that we can do it. Logistically, if we all plan ahead we should be able to get the first one done next Friday. I still think that time is tight, but we’re enthusiastic enough about it to be able to pull it together.

Can we do it? Well, I’m not sure. Primarily because everyone is in the final throes of dissertation panic, which means that the focus will most certainly be on that. For myself, I don’t have the technical knowledge in music technology to run the desk for these shows if we need someone to do it, but I do have the transport needed. I’m happy to help, but I’m not sure it’ll happen.

Then...I have to go. More meetings about other projects are calling me, and they’re also getting close to deadline...

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Plan For Growth (Hub)

Friday, 10 March 2017. UoG Park Campus

It’s almost like an episode of Saturday Night Live with the amount of guests we’ve got coming in, and this week is no exception. Today we’re joined by Sarah Gregg from the Growth Hub has come in to discuss with us what sort of company we can be. As it turns out, we don’t even have to be an official company!

Due to the fact that we’re very small, we don’t have to officially register as a company, which means that we can continue our current activity, but we don’t have to go through the hassle of accounts, tax returns or filing. This is good news for us, and I’d suggest particularly myself as it means alot less paperwork!

In real world terms, it’s something that the next few years may or may not have to worry about. While I’d never want to see anyone find themselves in hot water, this confirmation from a professional is certainly a weight off our shoulders.

What we do realise now that the meeting has concluded, is that with weeks off, dissertation hand in and Easter, we’re not going to be meeting on a Friday again for some time. There is one more to go next week, then it’s having the impetus to keep going, something I think a few people won’t have.

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Do a small amount of little things well, rather than lots of big things mediocre

Slack, Matthew 2017. Wise words from an unwise man...

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The Brain Trust

Tuesday, 7 March 2017. UoG, Computer Games Suites, Park Campus

Big thanks to Katie Charles for the below. It pretty much sums up what we discussed!

Notes from the Meeting 7.3.17

Attending: Jess, Alex, Paige, Matt, Chris, Katie C

Red Nose Day

Proposal #1: Scrap the RND gig :-(

* “Do a small amount of little things well, rather than lots of big things mediocre” (Slack, 2017)

* We have limited time to organise and there’s too many other gigs/events happening around the time (particularly at the frog).

Launch

* Should ideally be before the 12th so we can feature the outcome on our blogs.

* Second week of May is too busy with Glasto visit, deadlines etc.

* For the soft launch weekday evenings are best to avoid cutting into people's weekends, this also allows the businesses to talk about the event at work the next day.

Proposal #2: We plan but do not host the soft launch. Simply put our ideas forward ready for early next academic year. Due to summer and company handover, it would be confusing to businesses for us to introduce ourselves, and then lose contact.

Proposal #3: We host a short conference to introduce the company to the university and make the other staff and schools aware of who we are and how we could help them.

As well as this we consider our digital/online launch (press, website, tone radio announcement/feature, MyGlos/Infonet news, university newsletter)

UOG campus tour?

M2M Conference/Launch

* The conference will be designed for us to introduce ourselves and present our purpose to the university.

* Show examples of our work

* Invite Wychwood / Trees to speak about how we worked with them.

* Fill out time with performers, videos of our events.

* Catering

* Have photographs and summary of the event to send out to other press and businesses?

* Early May?

* Invitations would go to: Head of UOG schools, academic subject leaders, course heads, 2nd year MMM Students, UOG Marketing department, local press, Students Union, 2000 Trees and Wychwood

What would we need to do?!

* Fully identify and understand the purpose and aims of the company.

* Work on content / script / powerpoint

* Collate content to show (videos, future work demos)

* Pick a date

* Choose a location (within park campus)

* Create and send Invitations

* Arrange Catering

* Business Cards

* Promo Items / Expenses

* Finish and Publish Website

* Have all social media running and up to date.

* Company photoshoot!

* Approach artists and guest speakers.

* Decoration - M2M BALLOONS

* Create M2M Promo Video - for first peice of presentation content.

What does it all mean? Well, simply put it means that we’re not going to be officially launching this year. We will have some form of output, but we all agree that launching to local business this academic year will be of no help to the company. Why? Well, who will they deal with over the summer? It seems fairly pointless to launch but have no one keeping track of everything over the summer months. If we plan but pass on a launch to local business to next year, the new board can stay in constant contact with clients. 

What we can do is plan a launch to the university. Showing what we can do for staff and students, possibly with a campus tour, means that we will be the first port of call for any promotional material, recording, press and events management in the university. This will almost guarantee a steady stream of clientele for the company for the foreseeable future.  

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I Have The Conn...

Friday, 3 March 2017. UoG, Park Campus

(Pictured above: a far less hungover captain...)

Today, I get to take charge of the meeting. Unfortunately for me, I have no self control when it comes to Thursday nights. I should be able to keep it together for this though, so let’s get cracking!

There’s not as much to get through as there has been, which is great as Wychwood Festival are coming in a bit later on. We’ve decided that we’re not going to pursue anything for Red Nose Day. We felt that, due to the small number of replies for musicians, the proximity to dissertation and the tight turn around, that we wouldn’t be able to give it our all. It’s a shame to have to ditch a project, but it’s better for us to produce something brilliant than slap dash it. The rest of the board meeting centers around getting some contracts together and some correspondence to get some digital music going along. That’s my area, but as we’re in the exploratory stages, and I have some templates, I know I’ve got that covered.

Then the main event. Nick from Wychwood came into the meeting to discuss us assisting the running of the Wychwood Sessions. In return for this, we would not only get to programme our usual stage, but we would be able to get some of the university’s artists on some of the other stages and make a small profit from the shows. 

This sounds like an exciting avenue to explore, but I do have a concern about the timescale. It would be a maximum of 10 events in a very short space of time, with dwindling resources and with other major deadlines fast approaching. If we can pull this off, then it will be something very respectable. If we don’t deliver, we could piss off a major client. Let’s see how this one goes. 

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Life In Cookie Mountain

Friday, 17 February 2017. UoG Park Campus

While the title and associated GIF are wildly misleading to what we actually talked about, there were SO MANY COOKIES!

It was a pretty full on meeting, with so many things to get through. First, there was a go through of blogs, this being one of them (thanks for that!) and a little bit of clarity on submission. That’s kind of handy, as to be honest, I’d sort of forgotten what was needed!

As far as the board meeting goes, we’ve been given info on a site visit to Glastonbury Festival which is going to be pretty damn awesome! I’ve always wanted to go to the festival as a punter, but a site visit pre-festival is even more special.

Most of it today is about possible avenues to explore for us, such as the Glos Business Show, putting something together for Red Nose Day and alot of broadcast based ideas. Timescales are quite tight, especially as many have dissertations to complete (mine may or may not have already been finalised) in that time, but we’ll see how we go.

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Mini Me(etings)

Tuesday, 14 February 2017. UoG Park Campus, TC Foyer

A quickie pre lecture on this one, just going over some ideas for a possible charity event in March. Very simple stuff, and there could be some more contract work to do for it, depending on how precious people are with their work (they should be very precious about it, but we’ll see) and I may be excused a press release. It all sounds good, but we’re not up for giving the game away just yet.

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Suited & Booted...And Gone

Friday, 10 February 2017. UoG Park Campus, TC 102

I’ve come from work for this lecture, and will be returning afterwards, such is the state of things at work. I’m hoping that this meeting covers all the bases. It does, but it turns out I’m not there for most of it.

We start with formation of a Code Of Conduct, a worthwhile exercise with our CF. I’ve confided my tensions with him, as have many others, and I know he can see a shifting dynamic in the group. This will hopefully help cut through all the bullshit going on around this board, as we’re soon going to be getting into the nitty gritty of client acquisition, launch and releases. There’s also the small matter of some academic oversight to go over. And before I know it, I’ve gotta go back...

Thank christ for the minutes! Looking it over, I’ve managed to communicate the issues with our distributor to the CF, who has passed that on to the board. I’ve forgotten about the T&Cs, but I do have those waiting to be shared. It’s a template document, but they’re all extremely similar across all sites, so it shouldn’t be too much of a problem. 

As far as the rest of it goes, I’ve had an overview of how it all went. Some further tensions creeping in, but seems like we’ve got some really exciting stuff on the horizon. If we can pull some, if not all of it off, we’re going to be one hell of a year to beat!

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Stumbling Block

Tuesday, 7 February 2017. Cheltenham, St. Paul’s

Just trying to set up the digital distributor is proving more complicated than first thought. To get us set up and ready to release music, we first need links to some finished tracks. As we’ve not actually brought anyone on board to be part of our digital distro deals, we’ve not got any, which means that we would need to sign someone before we can give the distributor a link to check the audio, which will also mean that it’s already up, meaning that we may not even need them. Confused? It’s cyclical and driving me mad! I’ll have to let everyone know on Friday, give them the situation and try and get something sorted. Maybe I should go searching for some music, though it could be a conflict of interest.