Final Note.

Dear moderator,

Here, you will find my research and planning blog posts for the music magazine project.

I have also rearranged the evaluation posts from one down to seven. 

Right underneath this post is my completed music magazine, then the evaluation, then the research and planning. 

I hope you enjoy my blog.

Many thanks,

Tiffany.

Research and Planning: Magazine Completed.

This is the final product of my music magazine.

Evaluation Question One.

This video talks about how my magazine was created and where changes were made, which were inspired by other magazines of similar conventions. 

Evaluation Question Two.

Evaluation Question: Three.

Evaluation Question Four.

Evaluation Question Five.

Evaluation Question Six.

**Please excuse the iShowU demo logo on the screen, I was working on a different computer than my original so there was only the iShowU trial available. 

Anyway, on the video I demonstrated all of the skills I learned in Photoshop. A few examples would be the smart blurring, smudge and healing tools, creating and deleting layers, using the lasso and cropping tools. I also used the paintbrush tool in other modes such as 'colour' and 'soft light' to show how different effects can make the paint colours look different. I additionally added text and resized it, changed the font and colour. On top of this, I went on to show the different applications I used online. In my tabs, I showed the Emaze, Prezi and Slideshare for all of my presentations. There was also an overview of my blog, social media such as Facebook. Finally, I went on to show Word and excel, though they didn't load up because they hadn't been installed at the time.

Other equipment I used was the camera, the tripod, lighting, and of course: the Mac. All of this was practical equipment, and therefore doesn't appear in the video, but instead on the Word document.

Evaluation Question Seven.

Research and Planning: More Audience Feedback.

I asked somebody of my target audience to give me feedback on my blog to date, and she said she likes the colour scheme and the photos for the cover.

Research and Planning: More Research.

These are a few more contents pages and covers of the same music genre as my magazine.

1. This contents page helped inspire mine, as the layout for this professional magazine is very similar to mine. The pages are quite complex and have a particular scheme of colours, which is what helped influence my magazine in deciding which colours would be appropriate.                 

2. I took influence from this magazine contents page by taking some of the elements such as the heading and subheadings of the page numbers, and simple layout of rectangles and squares accessorised to make the seem far more complex and interesting than it actually could be.

3. This cover was quite influential, in terms of elements used similarly between the cover photos of my magazine, and of this professional version. The black and white filter helped me decide on my own variety of colours, and the Mise en scene of the artist clothing helped me make the decision on what my model should have worn.

Research and Planning: Double Spread Story. (EXTENDED)

From the very streets of Manchester to performances worldwide – Sam Bailey leaves us inspired by how a simple hobby became an international success overnight. We've seen her take the stages like no other. But now, it's time to dig a little deeper...

If you had to think back to it, what was your most embarrassing moment on tour?

– Oh god, don't even get me started! I've had a few mishaps here and there, but there's definitely a worst! Uh, [laughs] one of our tech guys had some difficulty with starting the track on the opening song. So I was left onstage, in front of thousands, just waiting in silence. I had to improvise small talk for about three minutes! Is there anything more awkward?!

What did you do during your days off?

– I wish I could say something productive, like exercise or paperwork or whatever. But honestly, I love to lounge around! Naps, all of that. [laughs] But I think everybody has those days!

Do you ever take ‘hater’ comments seriously?

– Hah! Not in a million years. I prefer to think about what my fans say to me. You always have to listen to the fans, you know? I took a lot of bad criticism seriously earlier on in my career, but now I've sorta learned to get used to it and always look on the bright side.

Where is your happy place?

– Oh man, there are so many! If I had to choose, I'd probably go for the studio. It's just so homely and cozy in there, and it's where I do my thing! Second best happy place would definitely be onstage. When I perform, it's a feeling like no other.

What's your secret to success?

– Oh, that's a thinker. I suppose I just never stopped doing what I love. When I see opportunities, I take them. I always have. I've always thought about making the right decisions, and doing what's best for my music. I could be out there drinking, smoking or whatever, like a real ‘rockstar’, but that just isn't my thing. [laughs] Be yourself, that's my secret.

Who is your celebrity crush?

– Right now, I'd probably say Chris Pratt. I loved his roles in Parks and Recreation and Jurrassic World.

What kind of kid were you?

– I was definitely a trouble maker, there's no arguing that! I got into a bunch of school fights when I was little.

What inspired your career in music? 

– I went to go see a lot of my favourite artists a while back, and I began to enjoy the atmosphere. I began to think that I could perform in that kind of atmosphere if I put my mind to it, and that's how I got here! 

What would you be doing if you weren't famous?

– I'd probably be a vet, tattoo artist or a boxer. I go boxing whenever I can, and I love animals!

What is your favourite type of music?

– My favourite type of musi is indie and pop rock. My favourite artists right now are The Weeknd, Genuine, Ed Sheeran and I kind of like Justin Bieber. I usually switch between different types of music.

Well, it's been a great interview with you, Sam. Is there anything to look forward to this year?

– Yes! I have a new single out this spring called 'Wolf Pack'. It's a little more out there than my other songs, so I hope you guys will enjoy it as much as I did recording! 

Thank you for having me, it was fun!

Research and Planning: Magazine Progress.

Today I worked on my contents page, and I've almost finished now. I just need to add the cover, which I'll finish next session, and label it. I may remove some of the text to fit the cover in along the bottom.

Research and Planning: Magazine Progress.

Here's my contents page to date. I've added three extra images and now I'm adding the names in two different fonts, one for decoration and the other for ease of reading. On the right, I'm having my features and monthly section, along with a picture of my cover labelled on the bottom. 

Research and Planning: Magazine Progress.

Here's my entire magazine to date. I have finished the double page spread, and I'm almost done with the cover. I'm planning on adding a few pictures to the contents, and then I will list the monthly and features.

Research and Planning: Magazine Progress.

These are some of the changes I have made to my magazine.

This is what my contents page looks like. I feel like the page is too busy and vivid for a contents, so I may remove the gradient and keep it plain and simple.

I also made changes to the cover of my magazine. I added Sam's name to the cover, adjusted the fonts, and played around a bit with the 'free' coverlines.

 

Research and Planning: Magazine Progress.

I've finished my double page spread. I'm around half way through my cover, and I have started my contents. There are a few tweaks I may make in the meantime.

Research and Planning: Magazine Progress.

Today, I did some work on my double spread. I'm almost finished, I just have to answer the last question, sign off the interview, and I'll be finished.

Research and Planning: Magazine Progress.

Here's my magazine progress to date. As you can see, I've fixed the photo and added a new one, and presented it a little better. I want my magazine to look urban and indie, hence why I chose those styles of frames. I've also changed the masthead spot, page numbers, and I'm now filling in the interview section. I also made the gradient lighter. I can say I've almost finished these pages, now.

Research and Planning: Magazine Progress.

I've been working on my double page spread today, and here's the progress. Setting out the interview is much harder than I thought it'd be, but I'm paying attention to detail with individual font size, and so on. One thing I need to do, is place down more images. I don't like the current border around the image on the left, so I'm going to present it nicer when I'm next working on this. I also need to fix the page number on the top left.

Research and Planning: Magazine Progress.

Here is my magazine progress so far:

Double Page.

Contents Page.

Cover.

I need to make a few changes to the layout of the double spread, and I also need to add my list of contents to the page with extra pictures. I'm going to write up my list of regular and special features later on, and simply copy/paste next time I'm doing my magazine.

Research and Planning: Contents Page ideas.

I looked at a few contents pages over the weekend, and picked my favourites. I also made a few notes on them. 

1. Empire Contents Page.

What's notable about this page is how the contents masthead is set behind the model's head, which was clearly cut out in Photoshop. Additionally, the list of contents themselves are placed perfectly in the outline of the couch the model is sat on, and the contrasting white and red colour scheme makes the contents easy to read. The significant page numbers are in a larger font size, too.

2. Q Contents Page.

What's inspiring about this page is the selection of pictures and, much like Empire, the colour scheme which is very signature-based and restricted to just three: White, red, and black. The different cover lines, headers and annotation-like boxes each contrast with their background. For example, the white annotation over the picture of the band makes an easy read. What stands out about this, is how the same tone of red for the Q masthead is used throughout, again like a signature.

3. Q Contents Page.

Similar to the second picture, this contents page consists of the signature red and black/white minimal colour scheme. However, this also contains a picture of the cover inside, with the labels underneath and page numbers. Unlike the second, this doesn't have a features and every month column, but rather everything you'd find according to the cover.

What I've learned: I'm going to use a signature colour scheme for my contents page of my dark red, black and white. I'm also going to have a picture of my cover, and plenty of pictures in and throughout the magazine, mostly on the contents page. I'm also going to include the features and every month, and assure that everything is easy to read.

Research and Planning: Magazine Progress.

THURSDAY 14/01/16

Here's what my magazine looks like now. I'd like to make a few changes to the 'free' and 'poster collection' coverlines, by changing the font and rearranging their position. I've also made a start on my contents and continued my double page spread.