Course Title: Engage in the business of creative practice

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2022

Course Code: BUSM8790C

Course Title: Engage in the business of creative practice

Important Information:

Please note that this course may have compulsory in-person attendance requirements for some teaching activities. 

To participate in any RMIT course in-person activities or assessment, you will need to comply with RMIT vaccination requirements which are applicable during the duration of the course. This RMIT requirement includes being vaccinated against COVID-19 or holding a valid medical exemption. 

Please read this RMIT Enrolment Procedure as it has important information regarding COVID vaccination and your study at RMIT: https://policies.rmit.edu.au/document/view.php?id=209

Please read the Student website for additional requirements of in-person attendance: https://www.rmit.edu.au/covid/coming-to-campus 


Please check your Canvas course shell closer to when the course starts to see if this course requires mandatory in-person attendance. The delivery method of the course might have to change quickly in response to changes in the local state/national directive regarding in-person course attendance. 

School: 515T Creative Industries

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6150 - Advanced Diploma of Music Industry (Sound Production)

Course Contact: John Phillips

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4913

Course Contact Email: john.phillips@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Teacher: Elena Popa

elena.popa@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 70

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to approach the business aspects of working as a creative practitioner in a professional manner.

It applies to individuals who, depending on the creative practice, operate as sole practitioners, in artist cooperatives, or as freelance or contract workers. Regardless of the business model, all practitioners earning income from their practice engage with the professional business requirements for a sustainable creative practice. Independent creative practitioners sometimes work as employees in small and large organisations.



National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUAPPR603 Engage in the business of creative practice

Element:

1. Develop and apply professional work practices

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Develop a professional work ethic to support creative practice

1.2 Collaborate and communicate with other professionals about the business aspects of creative practice

1.3 Determine the skills and knowledge needed to operate as a successful creative practitioner

1.4 Evaluate own current skills and knowledge and the need for related professional development

1.5 Assess potential for using specialist expertise to complement own skills and knowledge

Element:

2. Evaluate different business practices

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Investigate different ways that creative practitioners do business

2.2 Investigate range of business practices, systems and procedures that need to be considered as part of professional creative practice

2.3 Assess relevance and implications of particular business structures

2.4 Identify physical resources required by own creative practice and how they might be accessed

2.5 Develop an overall approach to the business aspects of own practice based on evaluation of relevant information

2.6 Evaluate all aspects of own practice on an ongoing basis, as a key component of business and personal growth

Element:

3. Address financial aspects of creative practice

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Investigate financial considerations for creative practice

3.2 Research and assess different ways of commercialising work and ideas

3.3 Evaluate different ways of costing and selling creative work

3.4 Assess broader financial management requirements and their application to own practice

3.5 Develop and apply individual approaches to financial management of practice

Element:

4. Analyse the rights and obligations of creative practitioners

Performance Criteria:

4.1 Evaluate legal and moral rights and obligations of professional creative practice

4.2 Practise work and business in ways that meet legal and moral obligations

4.3 Pursue own rights as a creative practitioner consistent with own professional and ethical standards

4.4 Establish and maintain sound approaches to safety and sustainability in professional practice

Element:

5. Evaluate professional opportunities

Performance Criteria:


5.1 Evaluate work opportunities within and beyond the creative sectors

5.2 Identify and pursue potential work opportunities beyond established patterns of work

5.3 Identify and access sources of professional advice

5.4 Evaluate local and global opportunities for own practice

5.5 Identify and evaluate opportunities offered by current and emerging trends in the consumption of culture and creative products

5.6 Analyse the experiences of others as a way of discovering different opportunities


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements.


Details of Learning Activities

In class activities will include a range of teacher directed group activities, projects, class exercises, review discussions/lectures and independent project based work.

Out-of-class activities include completion of individual design and pre-production work, preparation for class presentations and production work. Online research and occasional outside of class time group discussions will be required to maintain project work.


Teaching Schedule

*Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources.

Week Topic /Learning activities Assessment & other

Week 1

Introduction to the course and Assessment

Discuss the Performance and Knowledge evidence to meet Competency in this course

Assessment information

Students to commence work on Job Application - RMIT Job Shop. Online training module where they will create a resume for Assessment 2. They will learn how to write a cover letter.



Week 2

Networking and vital skills for creative practitioners


Week 3

Students to continue work on Job Application - RMIT Job Shop. Online training module where they will create a resume for Assessment 2



Week 4

Guest lecture: Michael Di Stasio

The lecture will discuss information needed to complete Assessment 1 and Assessment 2

Areas covered in the guest lecture:

Creative Practice/Creative Perspective

Skillset and Mindset

  • Self Assessment 
  • Market Evaluation
  • SWOT Analysis
  • Data analysis
  • Risk Assessment
  • Can you compete + Deliver the goods
  • Strong work ethic
  • Competitor Analysis

Creative Practice/Ethical Challenges

  • Ethics: the plethora of industry scams, deceit, manipulation etc are immense

Creative Practice/Business Planning

  • Business Plan
  • Marketing plan
  • Action Plan
  • Financial Plan

Business Roadmap: Strategy/Tactics Mix & Matrix

  • Strategic Objectives
  • Marketing Blueprint: Brand message, influencers, organic, digital, client engagement, resume, portfolio, website, EPK

Networking/Alliances

EOP: Resume DUE

Week 5

Guest lecture: Simon Moro

The lecture will discuss information needed to complete Assessment 1

 Areas covered in the guest lecture:

  • A quick look at making money as an artist (Spotify/Streaming vs. Selling CDs)
  • Producing vs. Engineering vs. Mixing vs. Mastering as a business strategy
  • Branding - Studio/Production name vs. Your name
  • Pricing
  • Lucky breaks
  • Risks vs. reward
  • Hard work, long hours
  • Focus vs. broad goals/services
  • Artist vs. Producer/Engineer
  • There are no ‘jobs’, you’re a freelancer
  • Books, Tax and Super
  • What gear to invest in, and when - how this affects your income
  • Cash flow
  • Getting customers
  • Communication
  • Taking responsibility for bad clients
  • Quoting
  • Receiving payment for work
  • Google Ads
  • Remote work 

Week 6

Look at industry relevant organisations

Professional development options

Network opportunities

Code of Ethics

•Legal - copyright and intellectual property
•Moral
•Ethical obligations of running a professional creative practice

Sustainable Work Practices

Legal and Moral Obligations

Drafting a WHS policy in line with established safe and sustainable professional work practices


Job Shop: Resume

Week 7

Discuss trends in the consumption of culture and creative products and their impact on professional creative practice

Assessment 1: Part A, Knowledge Questions

Discuss the article about the best business structure for filmmakers from Arts Law Australia https://www.artslaw.com.au/information-sheet/business-structures-for-filmmakers/

Best business structures for creative industries.

Explain the general structures, practices, systems and procedures that apply to all creative businesses

Explain the general way that business is done in the creative industry

'Sole Trader' model

'Partnership' model

Advantages and disadvantages of business structures

Businesses run on a freelance contract/project basis in the creative industry 

Explain the financial management practices that apply to all professional practices

Discuss current and emerging trends in the consumption of culture and creative products (for example, online video, stock footage, streaming, and gallery screenings) and how they may need to be accommodated in one's own practice

How to Start a business

Look at financial aspects of creative practice


Week 8

How to Start a business

Look at financial aspects of creative practice

Investigate financial considerations for creative practice

Research and assess different ways of commercialising work and ideas

Evaluate different ways of costing and selling creative work

Assess broader financial management requirements and their application to own practice

Develop and apply individual approaches to financial management of practice


Week 9


Guest Lecture: Lee Popa

Look at ways to:

Develop a professional work ethic to support creative practice

Collaborate and communicate with other professionals about the business aspects of creative practice

Determine the skills and knowledge needed to operate as a successful creative practitioner

Evaluate own current skills and knowledge and the need for related professional development

Assess potential for using specialist expertise to complement own skills and knowledge



Week 10

Guest Lecture: Michael Di Stasio - The Video Clip


Week 11 


How to Start a business

Look at financial aspects of creative practice

Investigate financial considerations for creative practice

Assessment 1: Business Plan Overview

Research and assess different ways of commercialising work and ideas

Evaluate different ways of costing and selling creative work

Assess broader financial management requirements and their application to own practice

Develop and apply individual approaches to financial management of practice


Week 12

Look at Wix to create student website

Look at industry relevant websites


Week 13

 Students to work on assessment


 Week 14

 Students to work on assessment


Week 15 

  Students to work on assessment

Assessment 1: Create a Business Plan DUE

Assessment 2: Professional Portfolio & Professional Development Plan/Report DUE


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

You are advised to look at myRMIT for ongoing updated information.

It is recommended that you bring materials to classes to make notes, for example;

a pen and notepaper or a laptop computer. You will need to have either a USB thumb drive or a USB/Thunderbolt Harddrive (or both) to store and manage your media. Your teacher will advise you what to get when classes commence.

The University Library has extensive resources. The Library has produced a number of subject guides that includes quality online and print resources for your studies. Lynda.com is available via your Library login.

The Library provides guides and subject specialist help via your Liaison Librarians.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment will be made through a combination of workplace based practice and practical project completion. In both instances collaboration with key personnel / stakeholders will be fundamental to assessment completion.



Assessment Tasks

To demonstrate competency in this course you will need to complete the following assessment tasks to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessments and once you have demonstrated competency you will also receive a result after your final assessment task.


Assessment Tasks

Semester 1

Knowledge Questions and Business Plan: The purpose of this assessment task is to encourage you to identify and research the skills and knowledge required to plan and operate the business aspects of a sole trader or a cooperative or a contract worker in the creative industry and develop a business plan for a selected creative business structure. Due by Week 15, Semester 1.

Semester 2

Assessment Task 2: Professional Portfolio and Professional Plan/Report. The purpose of this assessment task is to write an industry-standard resume, as well as a to create an online portfolio website featuring examples of your Advanced Diploma Music Industry (Sound Production) sound mixes produced for assessments in other courses. This would be sound and video related work. You are also able to include outside work. Due by Week 15, Semester 1.


You should refer to the assessment brief which is available on myRMIT for full assessment criteria. Results that apply to Ungraded courses that are delivered and assessed in accordance with competency-based assessment are:

CA      Competency Achieved

NYC   Not Yet Competent

DNS   Did Not Submit for Assessment


Assessment Matrix


The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant unit of competency. These matrices are available through Program Administration.

Other Information

Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters: http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students

Cover Sheet for Submissions:

You must complete and sign a submission cover sheet for every piece of submitted work, including online submissions.

http://mams.rmit.edu.au/s1llva641yxuz.pdf

Attendance:

Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises

It is strongly advised that you attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.

Assessment Feedback:

You will receive spoken and written feedback on all your work.  Where relevant, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.

http://www1.rmit.edu.au/policies/assessment-policy

Student Progress:

Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy designed to assist you in achieving your learning potential.

http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/acadprogress

Adjustments to Assessment (eg. applying for an extension of time):

If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment satisfactorily by the due date, you can choose to apply for an adjustment to your assessment. RMIT University offers a range of adjustments designed to support you in your studies, including an extension of time to complete the assessment.

http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/assessment/adjustment

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism:

RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.

http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/academic-integrity

Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning:

Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.

Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) RCC applies only if you have previously successfully demonstrated competence in a unit of competency, and now require to be reassessed to ensure that the competence is being maintained.

Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer, RPL, or RCC for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.

http://www1.rmit.edu.au/students/enrolment/credit

Course Overview: Access Course Overview