Nick Tanner, СAPP19, was looking for a music degree that paired musical preparation with behind-the-scenes knowledge.
After considering programs in New Orleans, Nick landed on UL LafayetteСAPPs bachelorСAPPs in music with a concentration in music business.
СAPPUnderstanding the business side of things takes a lot more studying, a lot more direction,СAPP Nick said. СAPPYou need to be able to know how to market yourself and promote yourself and understand the financial aspects, creating a brand СAPP thatСAPPs why I was really interested in it.СAPP
UL Lafayette offers the only bachelor-level music business program in the state СAPP plus, it was affordable for Nick.
Through the music business program, Nick got valuable experience thatСAPPs prepared him for life as a professional musician.
Learning by Doing
LafayetteСAPPs year-round slate of festivals and vibrant live music scene were the perfect training ground for Nick. Through his classes and with the School of MusicСAPPs ensembles, Nick began playing gigs around town.
СAPPThat gave me the opportunity to find out where you want to play,СAPP he recalled. СAPPIt got my foot in the door here in Lafayette and inspired me to do the same on my own in other cities.СAPP
With his classmates, Nick volunteered on stage production and security at LafayetteСAPPs festivals, including Festival International and СAPP experiences that gave him valuable insights into how festivals work.
Nick performed at СAPP the worldСAPPs largest international music festival СAPP for the first time with UL LafayetteСAPPs RaginСAPP Blues Band during his freshman year.
Four years later, during his senior year, he interned with Festival International under the programming director. He was responsible for communicating with dozens of artists from around the world, negotiating and finalizing their contracts, and working with tour managers.
СAPPIСAPPve always had a love for the festival culture, so it was really cool to work under Lisa Stafford in the programming department and understand and just be around all the people she would talk to,СAPP Nick said. СAPPItСAPPs crazy how many connections she has and being able to see, you know, the Grammys are literally just a few connections away."
СAPPI was so glad that I interned there and IСAPPm so glad that UL Lafayette gave me that opportunity. I got a lot of joy and a lot of knowledge out of it.СAPP
Wherever NickСAPPs music takes him next, he wants to stay connected to Lafayette and South Louisiana.
СAPPI love the culture here (in Lafayette), I love the culture in New Orleans, I love the music culture in the South. I feel like the South has the best musicians,СAPP he said. СAPPItСAPPs soulful, itСAPPs blues-y, but at the same time it can uplift you with funk and dance music and gospel and all that. ItСAPPs this really unique blend that a lot of places try to have but they canСAPPt."
Learning from Professionals
Nick always liked mixing and mastering music. Learning under professionals amplified that interest.
СAPPChris Munson just opened up my field of vision,СAPP Nick said. СAPPHe was there for me to go bother him after class and asking him questions about compressors and EQ. He just opened the world of mixing and mastering for me.СAPP
Nick took classes in mixing and mastering, production, and post-production from assistant professor . He got hands-on experience at СAPP the legendary recording studio in Maurice, La., that has welcomed renowned artists like Mavis Staples, Dr. John, and Sonny Landreth.
СAPPI feel like itСAPPs (mixing and mastering) one of the most underrated parts of music,СAPP Nick said. СAPPItСAPPs part of the arrangement, and people donСAPPt realize when they hear a bad mix, they donСAPPt like the song even though itСAPPs a good song.
СAPPMixing and mastering pushes music to the next level and makes music sound that much better and gives it more value when coming to distributing and selling it.СAPP
Nick also learned a significant amount from the Music Marketing & Promotion (MUS 255) class with assistant professor .
СAPPScott explained how branding works, and how album release timelines and putting out, you know, press releases work СAPP just even knowing about that was huge,СAPP Nick said. СAPPBefore the class I had no idea that you even need to do that.
СAPPThe marketing and promotion starts with first booking the event, and you have to do that three to four months ahead, and then thatСAPPs how you set up ads, releases, interviews СAPP understanding things like that and the timeline. ThatСAPPs what I really got out of the class and will continue to use throughout my life and the rest of my career.СAPP
Scott and Chris became mentors for Nick.
СAPPIСAPPm trying to go out and use all the knowledge they helped give me and use the tools that they made me realize I had,СAPP Nick said. СAPPThey both turned into friends as well as mentors. So IСAPPm looking forward to continuing to build our friendship until weСAPPre old and gray. IСAPPm always there to do whatever for them because of what they did for me.
СAPPAnybody that wants a solid foundation in the music industry and is interested in it, I would definitely suggest looking at the music business program. ItСAPPs only growing and itСAPPs only getting better, and Scott and Chris are going to be incredible mentors.СAPP
