Endorsements
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To research the potential for a publication of this nature, a limited number of pre-release copies have been distributed to people of various age groups, who are either novice to the Music / Entertainment Industry or currently employed in the industry.
The feedback received has been extremely positive, confirming the author's belief that there is a desperate need for this publication. With this encouragement, Stephen Colyer is determined to use his best endeavours in an effort to ensure that this publication becomes widely available.
The following genuine extracts have been taken from correspondence received by the author in relation to "The Essential Guide to a Career in the Music / Entertainment Industry":
Stella B - Darlington (Careers Adviser)
Having received her copy of "The Essential Guide to a Career in the Music / Entertainment Industry" Stella was kind enough to provide the following feedback on the publication:
Dear Stephen.
Your guide is so good we are ordering a further 4 copies - 1 for our Performing Arts dept, 1 for Media Studies & 2 copies for the careers library 1 to be lent out & 1 for reference only. I am holding on to my copy for use in individual interviews with students. I particularly like the format as it lends itself to the relatively informal [though highly professional] industry you are describing. Whilst you say that the publication is by no means definitive, I don't remember seeing anything similar in 25 years as a careers adviser. As someone without a musical bone in her body I found the guide both readable & easy to understand - I suppose it must have something to do with being a teenager in the late 60s early 70s !!!!!
Stella.
Rt. Hon Jacqui Smith MP (DfEE)
"I have looked at your publication "The Essential Guide to a Career in the Music and Entertainment Industry" and I appreciate that you have produced a comprehensive and potentially very useful guide for people wanting to pursue a career in the entertainment industry.
"Officials in this Department advise me that they share your view that there are relatively few publications giving advice in this area"
Lesley Middleton - Series Editor - ‘Working In’ Series for DfEE
"I have read your publication ‘The Essential Guide to a Career in the Music and Entertainment Industry’ and I must congratulate you on producing a very comprehensive and well written document".
"I have recently updated ‘Working in Music’ and I would agree that there is an absence of careers advice in this area. When researching the job titles to include in this booklet, we discovered very few publishers provided information on careers in the music industry".
Dave Bold - Careers and Marketing Officer at a School for
Performing Arts and Technology. The following extracts are taken from his review in the
April 2001 edition of the DfEE publication ‘NewsCheck’
“If you are working with young people or adults seeking entry into the music and entertainment industries, this publication is very helpful in identifying some of the skills and strategies required to make those all-important first steps. At the very least ‘The Essential Guide to a Career in the Music and Entertainment Industry’ should be occupying space on your careers library shelves.”
Mr
David Fogarty - Deputy Head Teacher - Woodlands School Basildon
“Did
I ever think when I was at College training to be a teacher, that I’d need to be
reading and referring to ‘The Essential Guide to a Career in the Music and
Entertainment Industry’ as part of my job! Well I have to and it’s a bloody
good reference book!!”
(This school purchased 3 copies of the book)
Mr
David Fogarty - Woodlands School- Further Correspondence October 2001
(The
following comments were received after I gave talks on the Industry as well as holding
Song-writing workshops at Woodlands School in August 2001)
“You
made an excellent and unique contribution to Summer School due to your experience of the
recording industry, the kids loved working with a ‘real geezer’ from Show
business, their term not mine. They also enjoyed working with you because you are a gifted
teacher, whether you realise it or not. You started by taking each kid from what they knew
and you moved them on to the next level while maintaining their confidence and instilling
in them the need for risk-taking in order to make progress. That my friend is a unique
talent that many of my most experienced and most formally qualified colleagues never
master!!
Please
also feel free to use me as a reference for schools if you want, I would give you an
absolutely unequivocal recommendation.”
Steve Ellis - The Love Affair
This book is a must for people either starting out in
the business or who are actively involved already. The Music Business can be a nightmare
but Steve`s knowledge will help you achieve your goals. Simple to read easy to understand,
I thoroughly recommend it.
Steve Ellis/Love Affair. Website: www.steveellis.co.uk
Stephen,
We received your book on Wednesday and
my daughter has not let me near it yet!! She takes it everywhere with her to read and her
initial comments have been nothing but complimentary. I'll just have to wait my
turn. We shall keep in contact to let you know what she is up to. The next 18
months is set out for her as she starts her one year course at the London School of
Musical Theatre in October. Its during that period and immediately after that which
is critical for her to make the right
contacts etc. in London so the timing of the production of your book is just perfect.
Thanks again,
Mike
Dear Stephen,
The book is absolutely brilliant! Thank you for writing so honestly about the music industry. I hadn’t been able to find a book that described the different career routes simply but informatively so this is a "gift from God" to me.
Just seeing how long you have been in the music industry is admirable and the book itself really is an inspiration.
Your book is easy to understand and I can truthfully say it is my bible at the moment.
Congratulations once again on producing an outstanding piece of work.
Nicola H - Peterborough. (English Student)
Dear Stephen,
Having been a professional vocalist since the age of 16 (I’m now 20), I was truly surprised to learn that there was so much I didn’t know about the music industry.
I had no idea how beneficial the book would be to me, but the minute I opened it and began to read, I was engrossed and had finished reading within 2 days!
Your book has taught me a lot on every aspect of the business and I’m sure it will be extremely helpful to any person already in the music business or those thinking about getting started. It is very well written and easy to understand (no jargon!).
Thank you so much. This book is one secret that should not be kept!
Well done.
Lucie C - Brentwood
Rt. Hon David Amess MP (quoted in correspondence)
"My sixteen year old son is enjoying reading the book"
From Mrs H. Lawrence (Schoolteacher) having purchased a copy for her 15 year old son
"I would add that, the guitar teacher in question was most impressed and I am now going to send it in to the Director of Music at my son’s school as I am sure he would like to consider a copy for the careers office"
From Robert Hollyoake (Artist, Songwriter and Musician aged 34)
"He (Stephen) has written one of the most unbiased, informative, clear and concise guides to the music industry as a whole, without the temptation to name drop and use his own success and contacts as a selling tool".
"I started reading this book on a Monday, I finished it the same day, Inspired!"
From Rose S. aged 16 from Essex
"I was unable to read your book as fast as I would have liked to. Although I have read the majority of your book and am finding it most interesting, especially the ‘song writing’ section. I have tried to write a normal every day kind of song".
Please note: Rose enclosed a copy of her first lyric and this was a very brave effort, not only in the fact that she produced a lyric but also that she actually read the book as she suffers from dyslexia.
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