Technology/Equipment Grant

The project's goals are: to enhance my performances with better sound quality; provide the flexibility to perform at any venue; to improve rehearsals allowing for greater freedom of creative expression; to obtain capabilities to record and mix music; and to augment my online marketing and social media network. The project's outcomes include: songwriting improvement through better sound and recording capabilities; a stronger marketing campaign evident in my social media; and a more user friendly experience for my listeners/viewers leading to an increase in web traffic. Other outcomes are better connections with audiences through higher quality performances facilitating the ability to reach larger and more diverse audiences, resulting in more CD sales. The tools purchased for this project will last a lifetime, expanding my experiences and career as a musician. Because many of my goals and measurable outcomes are subjective, my evaluation plan includes a focus group to analyze and critique my performances and online presence. The focus group is diverse in terms of age, occupation, and geographic area. All members have access to performances and online work. The group consists of four men and five women of various ages. I am in continuous contact with the group. I will incorporate a quarterly questionnaire to record their observations and to identify improvement. The analysis of the collaborative group will allow me to objectively measure the project's outcomes. Other measures will include increased CD sales, increased number of live performances and more performances in a broader geographic area.