How Musicians Can Benfit from Video Games

More than likely, you've heard of the video game series, Guitar Hero, that is quickly becoming a new craze. Many people were apprehensive at first about a video game that involved playing the guitar. Over the past couple of years, the game has become much much more than anyone would have anticipated at its original launch. Last week the 3rd installment of the game was released, featuring more artists and songs than ever before, with most of them being original recordings.

So why should you care about this? Well the popular video game is getting more and more people involved with rock and roll, people that would ordinarily have been uninterested. These people are going out and buying records by the artists in the game and learning to actually play the real instruments. Guitar Hero has become a whole new way for musicians to reach out to their fans and for fans to get more involved in the music.

Inverview Reflection

Overall, I felt that my mock interview went well. I walked in knowing about the position, and was able to tell why I would be good for the position. I have experience interviewing, so the experience wasn't really anything new. Although, in the future I think that it would be better to schedule and interview later in the morning or early afternoon. I can think better during those times, and its usually a bit of a struggle to get moving early in the morning. It didnt have an effect on this interview, but I think if I was in one that I was more nervous about, it may have posed a problem.

The key to succeeding in an interview is to be confident about yourself and your answers. Be prepared, so you dont have to worry about remembering things. Going in with a clear mind, knowing how you'll answer questions will definitely help you gain that edge that will land you the job.

PowerPoint Review

I really enjoyed Quiesha's presentation on Amy Winehouse. I thought she did a great job giving us us better insight into the life of Amy's life. I bought Amy Winehouse's newest cd this summer and have really enjoyed listening to it. Her voice is great as are the lyrics. I never realized the issues that she has had though, so it was interesting to find that out. I thought that the colors used in the powerpoint were well matched to her personality. Overall, great job!

Musicalicous

I saw Hairspray at the Brooks Center today and had a great time. I had forgotten how much fun musicals were to go to. The story is about an overweight teenage girl in the 1960s and her struggle to get on a popular primetime dance show on tv. She fights for racial integration along with breaking the molds of what is "right" for tv. The music was lively and fun and provided a meaningful message at the same time.

Watching musicals or theater is a great way to escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. There is more audience interaction than going to a movie and you will never see the same show twice. The audience reacts different each night and in turn, the actors respond accordingly. I saw something I hadn't seen in a professional performance before when one of the characters couldnt pull themselves together after a joke was made, but the audience still supported and he was able to get back into the roll. I know first hand about how an audience reacts because I used to do theater in high school. Part of the fun of the performance nights was seeing how much the audience would laugh at certain jokes. It was tough because you have heard them hundreds of times throughout practices, so you didn't necessarily know how or if the audience would react to a joke.

If you have never seen a theatrical production before, it is something I definitely recommend you go and see. It will definitely be something you remember, and maybe you'll even develop an interest in it and go see more.

Resume and Cover Letter Writing

The article that caught my attention the most was the one on writing resumes and cover letters for foreign businesses. There were several key points that I found interesting. The first thing I noticed was they did not refer to the document as a resume, but rather a curriculum vitae (CV), a document similar to ours used by job hunters. It begins by being much more personal than our resumes, as you mention a lot more about your personal life. The main point that I found of interest dealt in giving job descriptions. They said is was crucial to emphasize how you contributed to the team effort, rather than your individual tasks. It is best to use nouns rather than verbs in this case.

The other article I found of interest was the one on video resumes. This area is beginning to expand as posting videos on the web is gaining popularity. It is important to keep these videos short, to two or three minutes. It is also necessary for the video to maintain a professional feel, or else the cause will be lost. It is suggested that if you are going to try using a video, make sure it is pertainent to your field, and do not use it to replace a paper resume, but to supplement it.

Interviewing

The article that caught my attention the most was the one on "How to Answer Any Interview Question." It definitely brought a different perspective on answering questions. I thought the information was particularly useful. They said that it was important to have several anecdotes prepared to respond to various questions. They should be general enough that you can shape them to fit the question being asked. It is also important, when answering questions, that you make sure you get several key points across. You can answer the questions using the Q = A+1 format, where Q is the question, A is the answer, + is the transition, and 1 is your point you're trying to get across. It is important to note, however, that you should transition properly between the answer and your point and you should not seem like you are dodging the question to give a random answer.

The other things mentioned were also important. Inevitably, you are going to be asked a question about a fault of yours. You should answer this promplty and directly, but then move on as to not dwell on your short-comings. It is also very important to do plenty of research on the company you are interviewing for. This should go without saying.

This article was definitely helpful in preparing for interviews.

Web 2.0

I think the title of the video "Web 2.0" is adressing the ability for just about anyone to put information on the web now. First it was only a select few who could change the web, but now it's as if there is a second version of the web, where anyone can put anything on it. It is very important for those of us entering the workforce in this new era to be mindful of the information we put on the web for people to see. You wouldn't want a prospective employer finding incriminating pictures of you online. However its also important for people currently in the workforce to realize that change is occuring, and they should be sure not to be left behind. When the video tells us that we have to rethink everything, it is in reference to the great deal of change the new web is bringing to society, so we'll have to look at things we never thought of in the past.