Arts SOP

We are now living in a multi-faceted digital world where everyone and everything has been digitized. The increasing numbers of digital lifestyle technologies that are taking up almost every aspect of our day-to-day living have gradually transformed our lives, causing every one of us to be reliant on technology.

Unfortunately, our basic knowledge and technical skills are not enough to keep pace with the demands of digital revolution. As the world faces a more serious and intense industrial transformation, the country is also faced with a greater need for equipped and experienced workforces that would facilitate and monitor such change. Businesses and institutions, most especially, would have to acquire better personnel and superior equipment and resources to advance their services and keep up with their clients necessities.

A Digitally Transformed Nation

Through digital technology, peoplespecifically the young onesare now engaging and enjoying in various online activities, such as social networking, instant messaging, video conferencing, and gaming. In fact, comScore, a U.S.-based research company has ranked the Filipinos as the worlds heaviest users of social media, and the Philippines as the country with the highest penetration in Facebook across the globe.

Apart from those life-changing developments, digitization stretched cutting-edge boundaries in art style and media. These new dimensions have provided huge and exciting opportunities and possibilities for people and industries, especially those that are related to multimedia arts.

Interactive media have become a commonplace globally, as its application can be found in a wide range of industries including, but not limited to:

Creative industries
Commercial
Entertainment and fine arts
Education
Engineering
Medicine
Scientific research
Education
Business sector

In the Philippines, Filipinos have shown their involvement and excellence in the digital world by winning a number of international competitions that are linked to the use of digital technology. Among these are global contests in video production and web master development that require high-tech tools and gadgets. In addition, Filipino animators were also able to penetrate and work in different digital film and game development companies overseas, showcasing their talents to many nations globally.

Mounting Career Opportunities

Meanwhile, due to the growing consumer demand for realistic visual and special effects, electronic publishing, digital audio, as well as three-dimensional graphics, employment and career opportunities in the design and media arts are expected to grow in the local and foreign job market in the coming years. Competition for job openings is also assumed to be tighter and challenging.

In order to be highly employable in the industry, a candidate should have the artistic talents and technical skills required by the position. There are several digital arts schools offering programs which focus on interactive media work and training in such field. CIIT, for one, is among the best emerging colleges for multimedia arts in the Philippines. Students of CIIT are trained to be equipped with wide range of digital media skills.

CIIT offers programs that will develop each students creative and technical competence through appropriate hands-on training. Through the use of state-of-the-art facilities and software, the school helps motivate and bring out the passion of every student in digital arts and design.

So if you are a multimedia arts and animation enthusiast, enroll now at CIIT!

To know more about the schools programs and services, visit www.ciit-ph.com.

Besides rocks, one of the most basic of all weapons throughout mankind’s history across most cultures has been the long wooden stick. This makes sense since sticks were always readily available in the forests or could be easily made. The Asian martial arts took the long wooden staff into an art form as many martial art styles include the long staff in their systems. Some styles even have traditional weapons forms or katas featuring the long staff. Some systems of martial arts train with weapons such as the staff through practical techniques only without the use of set forms.

Unlike many martial art weapons such as swords, knives, kamas and sais which are short range, staffs are long range weapons with superior reach. This enables the user to attack and defend from a distance which can be frustrating from the point of view of an opponent who has a short range weapon. Long range weapons are also useful in keeping multiple opponents out of reach too. Of course, long weapons such as the staff cannot be easily concealed like short range weapons so they can be cumbersome to carry around.

One of the most popular martial arts weapons from the Japanese karate styles is the bo. Even today, the bo is usually the first weapon taught at karate schools and is the most common weapon seen at tournaments. The bo staff comes in different variations. There are heavy bo staffs which resemble thick poles which are considered more traditional and there are lighter versions which are tapered at both ends. There are also multi-sided bo staffs such as octagonal but these are much less common than the usual round, circular versions.

Although there are one handed swings, most bo techniques involve both hands holding the weapon. Various strikes and blocks can be performed with either end of the bo as well as the sides and middle. Bo users take advantage of the entire weapon as techniques can be executed with any part of the bo. For the majority of techniques involving the bo, the user holds the staff near the middle with both ends protruding out equally. Traditionally, the lead hand (furthest away from the body) has been the right hand.

Contemporary weapons forms competitions have caused the bo to evolve where competitors now use extremely lightweight bo’s and some even have reflective finishes giving a more flashy visual appearance when the user is performing a bo form. Unlike traditional bo forms, contemporary creative open forms with the bo involve more complex spins and even tosses. Some martial artists do not consider some of the modern bo forms observed in the competition circuits to be true weapons forms as some competitors emphasize too much baton-like twirling action rather than actual combative techniques. It could very well be a matter of personal taste. This is why in most of the large open martial arts tournaments, weapons divisions are split into traditional and creative.

Chinese kung fu styles also utilize the long staff although there are some differences in techniques when compared to Japanese karate styles. Instead of holding the weapon in the middle most of the time like a bo is held, Chinese staffs are usually held near one end which has the effect of elongating the weapon even more. Taditionally, the lead hand is the left hand with the right holding the bottom end of the staff. However, there are techniques which involve switching sides as well as using the bottom end to strike too. In addition to strikes executed while holding the weapon with both hands, there are more single handed techniques with Chinese staffs than with Japanese bo staffs. Like their empty hand kung fu forms, Chinese staff forms have more circular, swinging techniques than in Japanese karate styles.

Contemporary wushu forms use a much lighter weapon than in traditional kung fu staff forms. Wushu stylists also use staffs or cudgels that are made of a unique white wax wood from trees that are grown only in China. Staffs made of this type of wood are not made with precision like Japanese bo’s. The wushu staffs are naturally tapered with a thicker bottom and thinner top. The white wax wood is extremely resilient as users of this type of Chinese staff perform techniques which involve smashing the entire weapon on the floor at full force.

Korean kuk sul won also has the long staff in their system and the techniques used are like a blend of Chinese and Japanese moves. Although all martial arts styles that utilize weaponry have more complex and possibly more impressive looking weapons, the long staff has remained to be a favorite for many martial artists.

Los Angeles Schools are seeing a steady increase in arts education as the dual result of a long-term program and recent state funding. The Arts for All program was initiated in 2002 as a 10-year plan to restore arts education to the 80 districts of Los Angeles Schools. The project focuses on bringing music, dance, drama and the visual arts to K-12 schools in the area. Nine schools have just signed up for the 2007-2008 school year, bringing the total number of Los Angeles Schools involved up to 27.

Two of the newest participants are the Lancaster and Palmdale districts of Los Angeles Schools. Both schools completely eliminated their elementary music programs in the last decade due to budget cuts and increased pressure to perform on state tests. Major cuts first began for Los Angeles Schools with Proposition 13 in 1978. This California mandate reduced property taxes and district funds, which required all Los Angeles Schools to reduce or eliminate arts and physical education classes.

Los Angeles Schools were pleased when the state announced funding of $500 million for art, music and physical education classes in the beginning of June. Los Angeles Schools will use much of these funds for the Arts for All Program. Arts for All is built on a five-step process which, while proven effective, costs money. The five steps involved are:

1.Allocating 5% of a district’s budget to arts education 2.Having a board adopted policy 3.Creating an implementation plan with a timeline 4.Assigning a district level arts coordinator 5.Maintaining a student to arts teacher ratio of 400:1

Los Angeles Schools will pay for a program expert to guide parents, staff and community members in the creation of their implementation plan. The Lancaster district has an additional grant of $260,000 for its art and music programs.

Los Angeles Schools welcome the increased funding as a long overdue measure. Many educators in the Los Angeles Schools have lamented the loss of the arts as harmful to student development. While many of the cuts to arts education result from diverting funds to cover academic subjects needed to pass state tests, teachers argue that art actually enhances learning, allows children to make connections between subjects, and provides a much needed balance to education.

Like the rest of the country’s urban districts Los Angeles Schools are trying to meet the 2014 No Child Left Behind requirement that mandates proficiency on state tests by all students regardless of developmental delays or language barriers. Diverting funding away from the arts has put Los Angeles Schools in a situation where children as young as third grade are losing recess, physical activity and a basic arts background in a frenzied scramble to meet rising national standards.

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Martial arts films have become a fairly popular theme recently. You might have noticed that there are already many martial art movies that have been created and released during 2010. A great way to share your love of martial arts films with others is to take some time to discuss the top 3 martial arts movies of 2010 and their impact on the martial arts community.

Ninja Assassin has been one of the main films that everyone has been interested in. The plot is based in Berlin and focuses on an orphan who lives with a clan of ninjas. The orphan experiences violent and rough training throughout his life so that he can become a ninja and assassin, though this is different from who he actually wants to be. In reflection of this, after all of the cruelty he experiences and the amount of freedom that he is denied, he betrays the clan one night and focuses on becoming independent.

After he has betrayed the clan, the group of ninjas begin to search for him in order to avenge his betrayal. In the process of avoiding them, he meets a government agent who is also interested in the case and they eventually become friends while working together. The film showcases many martial arts scenes that are very memorable, which is likely why it has become so popular.

Another popular film is known as Ninja. This film begins with some good historically based scenes about ninjas throughout the ages. Here, you are allowed to see some beautiful examples of martial arts. However, the storyline then progresses very quickly to situation where the main character and the villain of the film fight each other because they like the same girl. There is then a storyline about ninja heirlooms and a plot unfolds in the process. While this film is good for some martial arts scenes, it is possibly more bloody than it needs to be.

There is also a film that has not yet been released, which is already very popular. This film is the remake of The Karate Kid. Generally, it would seem that the reason this is so popular without a release even happening yet is because people want to know if this movie will be as impressive as the original. If you haven’t seen the original yet, then it is recommended you should see it first and then see the remake. This way, you can judge for yourself which film was better and which had better martial arts scenes.

However, the original film itself was a great example of martial arts. Additionally, it was safe for younger individuals to watch. This allowed for many younger people to become curious about martial arts and want to learn more about it. If the remake is any reflection of this, then there will again be younger generations that are curious about the practice and want to know more.

Most of these films were released in the earlier part of 2010. Because of the amount of films that have already been released, it isn’t unusual to wonder how many more films will approach as the year continues. More positively, the martial arts community can use this to interact with as many interested individuals as possible. But likewise, the films would be better if there was less of a focus on ninjas and pointless gore.

These are aspects you might want to consider and mention during your discussion of the top 3 martial arts films of 2010. There are still many films that need to be released in the period of a year and it’s undoubted that there will be more films to discuss. But in the meantime, you can use some of the above films as examples and conversation starters.

KNOWING YOUR REVENUE STREAMS
To maximize your revenue from martial arts school, you must have a clear understanding of your revenue streams.

Read these carefully. Not all will apply to you, but wouldnt it be nice if they did? One clear requirement for successfully utilizing most of these is that you will have to use agreements rather than month-to-month programs.

Revenue Stream 1
Down Payments on New Student Agreements

Also known as a registration fee, this is the initial investment a student makes to join your school. Typically, this is at least two months tuition. For instance, a program is $199 down payment/registration and $99 per month for 12 months or ongoing.

Revenue Stream 2
Down Payments on Renewing Agreements

This is the initial investment a student makes in order to renew or upgrade in your school. The best strategy for this has been the Black Belt Club. If you do not have a solid system for upgrades and renewals, this stream is dry for you.

Revenue Stream 3
Monthly Tuition
This is the lifeblood of your school. As you grow your school, your monthly tuition should grow as well. Ideally, your monthly tuition would cover your base operating expenses each month. For instance, if all the monthly expenses, including your salary, totaled $12,000, your monthly tuition collections from your billing company would cover that amount. In that very healthy scenario, these other streams are 100 percent profit. Mind you, this is not easy to accomplish, but even 75% of expenses paid from your billing check would be good.

Revenue Stream 4
Product Sales
Consider your retail shop as though it were a separate business. Open a separate business checking account for your retail, and deposit all gear sales revenue into that account. Use an American Express card or any other credit card that requires pay-off each month to pay for equipment purchases. When you place an order, pay for it with your credit card. This gives you up to 30 days to sell the equipment to your students. As they pay for the equipment, deposit the funds into the retail account.

When the credit card bill for the equipment is due, pay for it with a check from the retail account. Since you are usually doubling your money, this retail account will grow fast. Your credit rating will grow, as well as your rewards for using the card. Ideally, you will build a large cash reserve and save money on plane tickets and vacations, too.

Sell thousands of martial arts products and supplies directly from your website. You choose which products to sell, set the retail price, and still only pay wholesale. Veteran schools have reported that they have tripled their retail sales using this valuable service.

Best of all, student payments go straight into your bank account and you are billed your wholesale rate, allowing you to better manage your cash flow and not have to wait for your referral check to arrive.

Revenue Stream 5
Special Events
Even if you dont charge for testing, you will want to host at least one special event each month for your student body. These can range from nunchaku seminars to board-breaking, “Fear Into Power” seminars. These are not only pretty easy to manage, but they are a lot of fun. My nunchaku seminars were always packed with 30 to 50 students and would generate around $500-$1,000 per event. The fee of $25 included two rubber nunchaku to use in the class, so it was almost pure profit.

Birthday parties would also go under this category. A two-hour $250 birthday party is not only a revenue generator, but also a lead generator. Some schools have at least one birthday party per week, so its a proven winner.

Revenue Stream 6
Testing/Grading Fees
I didnt include these with Special Events, because exam fees are a little different from special events. Most exams for stripes occur in class, and they usually dont require a fee. The main graduations on the weekends require additional work and staff, so its reasonable to charge for these events.

Typically, exam fees range from $30 to $50 and increase with rank. Black belt exams can be as much as $200 to $300 but, to justify this higher fee, you should provide additional prep classes for the black belt candidates.

Some schools are large enough that they rent auditoriums to showcase their graduating black belts or to conduct the exam. The exam fee should cover these additional expenses.

Revenue Stream 7
Fast Track Testing
This is a touchy subject and has to be handled carefully. The idea is simply that some people are willing to invest more money to get through your belt system faster.

Revenue Stream 8
Paid in Fulls
In recent years, Paid In Fulls (PIFs) have made a huge comeback. MASS and other such organizations have championed the cash out as a way of getting maximum revenue from a student base that will more than likely drop out anyway. As much as I dislike the idea of treating all students like potential dropouts, smart use of Paid in Fulls can significantly boost your bottom line.

Revenue Stream 9
Renewals and Upgrades
Black Belt Club and Masters Club are the most popular and proven renewal programs. For now, we want to focus on the renewal as a revenue generator.

Common practice has been to upgrade someone to a BBC or MC and replace his New Student agreement or program with the more expensive BBC or MC program. In most cases, the renewal had a registration of $299 or so, and tuition increased $10 per month.

Another popular strategy is to keep the student on their current tuition plan, but charge them a one-time or annual fee to upgrade to BBC or MC. For instance, a student is paying $110 per month for her current program. A BBC or Masters’ Club upgrade is presented as an annual upgrade for $500.

Revenue Stream 10
Discounting a Past-Due Contract
When I was a publisher for Martial Arts Professional magazine, we sold advertising to clients who wanted to reach and sell to our readers. On occasion, an advertiser would want to cancel the contract. In the world or publishing, the process for doing this is called shorting the contract.

In exchange for committing to a set number of ads, the advertiser would be given a discount for each ad they placed. Shorting the contract meant that the ads the client ran would be re-billed at the one-time rate and, if he paid the difference, wed release him from the contract.

Revenue Stream 11
Career Training Programs
For years, Ive taught the importance of creating a Leadership Team of assistant instructors to help you provide a higher level of service to your students. Typically, the Leadership Team is a by invitation only program for Black Belt Club members.

More and more schools are expanding Leadership Team programs into a precursor to a full-blown Career Development program that trains students to become martial arts school owners and instructors. Students pay for the right to attend staff meetings, practice role playing, and venture “into the kitchen” of the school.

Tuition for these programs are as high as $7,900 for a two-year course. Keep in mind that, in order to offer this, you really have to know this business cold and create a solid curriculum on par with a vocational school, because, in a sense, thats what you are offering.
Student Audit

This is not so much a revenue stream as a way of plugging leaks in your cash flow. The Student Program Audit is a single sheet of paper with three columns and 11 rows. The columns are for a students first, second, and third programs within a school. Typically, these are New Student, Black Belt Club, and Masters’ Club, but any program will work.

The first six rows are the various payment options a student might use in your school. The next two are the start and end date for the program, which are followed by a check mark to make sure the Party Responsible for Paying is noted in the agreement and that the injury waiver has been signed. Your job is to audit each and every students file to make sure you have each of these important items in the students folder.

The first few times you do a Student Audit, it is like found money. You will be amazed at how much important paperwork is missing. More than that, you will be stunned at how many students are training who have expired or have no record of payments.

Staple one Student Audit to the outside of each student file.

Build Around Your Core
Not all of these revenue streams will be for you. Thats why the Core Dynamic of Finding Your Own Voice is so important. I personally helped create many popular trends in this industry. I also made it clear what programs I would never teach, even though I developed and sold them. What is good for me may not be good for you. Know what you like, and why you are doing this for a living, and then build strong revenue streams around those core programs.