My CV

As part of my Professional Media Practice module I am required to upload my CV onto my Professional Online Profile, so, here it is (minus my personal details)!

Vicky Squires

PERSONAL STATEMENT

I am dynamic, energetic and thrive by working with people whilst having the ability to work well alone. I have worked with a wide range of people from all different age groups and abilities, meaning that I am versatile and able to communicate well with almost anyone.   

WORK EXPERIENCE

Disc Jockey October 2014 - Present

The Squire Event Company

Chalton, Bedfordshire

• Ensuring that I am making a person’s special occasion run as smoothly and enjoyable as possible.
• Interacting with any kind of crowd which allows me to be very versatile with who I am able to work with.

Sales Assistant October 2015 - July 2016

Dunelm Mill

Dunstable, Bedfordshire 

• Helping and advising customer needs, handling cash and card transactions and replenishing stock.

Volunteer Carer July 2011 - Present

Mencap Summer Playscheme

Bedford, Bedfordshire

• Taking care of disabled children (18 years and younger) whilst they are at the playscheme.

Work Experience July 2014

In2beats FM Radio Station

Bedford, Bedfordshire

• Sat in on radio shows and contributed to them, carried out voxpops, recorded a radio advert for the station.

EDUCATION

BA (Hons) Media and Communications (Radio)   

September 2016 - (Expected) June 2019

Birmingham City University 

Modules:

• Studying the Media and Communication
• Radio Production
• Music Industries 
• Professional Media Practise
• TV Studio Production Skills
• Radio and Popular Music
• Visual Design for Media

A-Levels, September 2014 – June 2016

Harlington Upper School Sixth Form 

Harlington, Bedfordshire

Media Studies: B

Business Studies: C                

English Language: D

GCSE’s, September 2011 – June 2014

Bedford Girls’ School 

Bedford, Bedfordshire

11 GCSE passes (all grade C and above)

English Language: B

Mathematics Methods: A

Mathematics Applications: A

PERSONAL INTERESTS

I have a huge interest in music, one of the main reason’s I am a DJ and wanting to be a Radio Presenter (plus my love of talking). I enjoy listening to and exploring music in my free time. I am also a big adrenaline junkie; I have scuba dived, bungee zip-wired off of a 1000ft building, bungee jumped and sky dived, with many more to add to the list once I can. I enjoy spending my time volunteering and raising money for charities (due to particular circumstances in my life) and find this very rewarding.

Studying the Media and Communication

After all the hard work put into my summaries, I am delighted to say that I got just 2% off of a 1st in my Patchworks assignment for this module. 

This counts for 20% of my final grade so now onto my research task which makes up the other 80% of my final grade for Studying the Media and Communication.

LIVE RADIO SHOW COMPLETE

WE HAVE DONE IT!

We have finished our live radio shows, now ready to write our reflection reports and do some more editing, using Adobe Audition, for out 5 minute package!

Live Show

With my live show fast approaching (tomorrow at 11:15!!) I have decided to book out a studio for the day and practice my show whilst recording it so I can self critique and ensure that I am totally prepared for it tomorrow.

Here is the sequence of events for my show and my script:

Schedule:

Introduction - 30 secs   (11:15:00 - 11:15:30)

Ident - 5 secs   (11:15:30 - 11:15:35)

Let It Go - 3mins 41secs             (11:15:35 - 11:19:16)

Speech - 2 mins                         (11:19:16 - 11:21:16)

Little Things - 3mins 35secs (11:21:16 - 11:24:51)

Speech - 2 mins (11:24:51 - 11:26:51)

Christmas - 2mins 56secs (11:26:51 - 11:29:45)

Bed - 15 secs (11:29:45 - 11:30:00)

Introduction:

Bed for Into - Choppy Bells (-20 on dash - Player 1)

Levels - +8.0dB

Ident lined up before song

Ensure song has RED BOX at the end

Hello! You’re on air with Vicky. It’s 11:15am and I’m hopefully about to make your day a little bit brighter. As you can probably hear in the background, we’re going to be getting into the Christmas spirit! Yes, I know it’s only November but with Christmas Lights already being switched on, you can’t help starting to feel jolly!

Although, this isn’t going to be any ordinary Christmas show because we’re going to be giving you the chance to win a luxury shopping day accompanied by a matinée performance, ice skating and a Michelin star meal, so stay tuned for more details!

For now though, this is Demi Lovato with her smash hit ‘Let it Go’

Press ‘GO’ and put fader back up

Turn ‘Presenter’ volume off

SONG

Speech:

No bed

Levels - +8.0dB

Ensure song has RED BOX at the end

That was ‘Let it Go’ from the highest-grossing animated film of all time, Frozen! Can you believe that Frozen was released 3 years ago? I remember watching it on the plane when I was on the way to Florida and I felt like I’d gone back to my 5 year old self again. I can imagine that the  Frozen merchandise will be a sell out in the Disney store again this year and why not? We all love seeing little Elsa’s and Anna’s running around the streets. But, I tell you what I want to see this year, I want to see Sven’s. Get your pets dressed up in the cutest outfits that look like Sven and take a snap of them! Send us your photos to be in with the chance of winning our special Christmas Rad FM mug! You can tweet us at RadFMRadio or post them on our Facebook page. We’ll decide on a winner in 2 weeks time, so get creative!

Now, up next we have a song by the recently broken up boy band One Direction. Obviously, everyone knows that One Direction were a band formed on the X-Factor, a talent show for those who feel they have the best all around skills to become the next singing super-star. It seems to be that year after the year the X-Factor becomes a little bit worse with regards to the ever changing judges panel, silly gimmicks and attempts to draw in a wider audience, when everyone knows that more people tune into Strictly Come Dancing regardless. This year, however, the show has managed to surpass themselves with it mainly focusing around the performances of ‘rapper’ Honey G. Now, Honey G has been controversial to say the least as she makes it through every week, and hence sending another good act home, simply by repeating her name during a song. Due to this, and many other contributing factors, the show has been classed as a fix and has lost millions of viewers. So, let me know what you think, do you think that this could be the end of X-Factor and could Honey G be our new Christmas number one?

Anyhow, here we have it, Little Things, a very heart-warming song by One Direction.

Press ‘GO’

Turn ‘Presenter’ volume off

SONG 

Speech:

No bed

Levels - +8.0dB

Ensure song has GREEN CIRCLE at the end

Wasn’t that just beautiful? Brilliant song from One Direction. Although the band are currently split and pursuing their own solo careers, with Zayn and Niall having released their own tracks, they have still maintained with fans that they will be getting back together, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

Now, coming through on our Twitter page is a lot of people agreeing that the X-Factor is past it’s prime and who believe that it will not be coming back for another year. @soph_davies has said “The show is becoming beyond a joke, no talent or sense left anymore”, @jackson123 said “I’d rather stick pins in my eyes than consider watching X-Factor” and @reggie.jones has said that “If Honey G wins, it proves that the show is just one big fix.” So, we have some strong opinions there but will this really be the end for X-Factor? Many of you don’t believe so, however a majority do. Only time will tell!

We’ll just give you an up to date traffic report for Birmingham. Most roads are clear, with traffic moving smoothly. Some areas around Digbeth are moving a bit slower and there has been an accident on Park Street involving a bus and a car so slow moving traffic there as police attend the scene. Other than that there doesn't appear to be any problems but should this change just give us a call on 0303 7893579.

Coming up we have a song by Michael Bublé, the King of Christmas songs! Now it’s rumoured that Mr Bublé has been in the recording studios ready to release yet another Christmas album, however with the recent and very sad news about his son, Noah, it’s unlikely that we will be seeing many merry appearances from him this year, and understandably so. At this time of year we need to make sure that we are thinking of all those around us that are very ill, visibly or not, and just make sure you’re checking in with them on a regular basis. We don't want anybody feeling like they're alone at Christmas and we most certainly want to make sure that all our loved ones are feeling okay. 

So here it is, Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by the magnificent, MICHAEL BUBLÉ!

Press ‘GO’

Turn ‘Presenter’ volume off

SONG

Speech:

Bed for Into - Christmas Time (-20 on dash - Player 1)

Levels - +8.0dB

Ensure bed has RED BOX at the end

Now, if that doesn’t get you into the Christmas spirit then I’m afraid I don't know what will! Unfortunately we have come to the end of my jolly Christmas show but don’t you worry because up next you’ve got the fabulous Beth to listen to with her Friday night club sesh! I hope this has brightened up your morning and I hope you all have a VERY Merry Christmas!

Promotional Event

We completed our first Promotional Event for our signed artist Synikall (pictured on the right) last night with special guest and opening act Franklin Armstrong (pictured on the left).

The event was incredible and everyone who attended have a brilliant time!

The Tremendous 3

Today we have been practising for our live radio shows as we only have one week left!!

Beth, Sam and I have been aiding each other by providing feedback on each other's work and have decided to become the Tremendous 3.

Here's a little piccy of our time in the studio today!

Halloween

It's Halloween!!! 

With our live radio show fast approaching, Beth and I decided to head to the studio in between our Professional Media Practice lectures and workshops to get in a bit of practice. However, we had some unexpected visitors from our friends Amelia and Harriet. Of course, what was meant to be some serious practice time for our live shows turned into a bit of fun between friends (although were were still practising our skills by hosting a show and practising interviews with different contributors).

Enjoy this clippet of a video of Amelia having a bit of fun in between speech segments.

Playing around in the Studio's

IT'S MY BIRTHDAY!!!!

What's the best way to start my birthday? A 9-12 seminar for my favourite module: Radio Production! And, this week, we got to enter the studio's for the first time and have a little play around. We had a talk this morning about how to use Myriad and so we decided to test it out.

Beth and I decided to share a studio and hold our own special Birthday Show especially for me, whilst getting used to using the equipment and practising our presenting skills. It was a lot of fun to say the least and I can't wait to get back in the studio again next week.

Music Industries

We were given the following brief for our Music Industries module:

Assignment Brief

Working in groups, you will start a music label. Within those groups, you will identify and sign an artist(s)/band(s) for a single track or split release that is appropriate to that label. As a group you will choose a method of manufacture and distribution for that release, create and implement a promotional strategy around an ‘event’ for your artist(s)/band(s) to support the forthcoming release.

DEADLINE: 12 noon, Friday 25th November, 2016

TASKS:

1. As a group you are required to present your label and artist roster to a panel. For this professional pitch you will be expected to clearly articulate your individual roles within the label, what your label is about, what and who it is representing, your brand, your identity, the scene/genre it is working within and an overview of your business strategy, proposed promotional event and marketing/promotional strategy for your label/artist/event.

This element is worth 20% of the portfolio mark. You will be assessed on:

2. As a group you are required to submit a business and promotional package (‘the box’) for your label and the artist(s)/ band(s) represented within your record label organisation. You should include a cover sheet that lists the individual roles within the group and your individual contribution to the box

The box must contain but is not limited to:

• your business documentation including proposals, strategy and business documents;
• a proposed single release contract;
• evidence of the appropriate media for the  artist’s proposed release;
• A professionally presented press pack for each artist/band that your label represents;
• evidence of an appropriate online platform for the label with subpages for the labels artist(s)/ band(s); 
• A portfolio of graphics, photography, event flyers and other promotional material for the ‘event’, including any press coverage.
• Evidence of the promotional ‘event’ itself (recordings, video, photography, testimonials, etc.)

This element is worth 30% of the portfolio mark. 

3. As an individual you are required to submit an individual report via Moodle (1200 words). 

In this report, you are required to:

• Evaluate the role that you played and the contribution that you made in the creation of the group package and the success of the promotional  ‘event’;
• Reflect upon your own learning about the music industries, the group work experience, the extent to which the skills you have developed were applied, and what you might do differently in the future.

This element is worth 50% of the portfolio mark. 

My group has decided to have our main genre as Hip Hop and we will be signing Synikall and releasing his track 'Room 101'. 

We have our promotional event for his release on Tuesday 15th November at Sunflower Lounge and will be releasing tickets shortly. 

Radio Production

For my Radio Production module I have the following assignments to complete:

1. 5 minute package
1. Logbook
2. Cue Material
2. 15 minute Live Show
3. Live Show Reflection Report

I have decided to have my main topic as 'The stigma of Disability' for my 5 minute package and have decided to do a 'Christmas Theme' show for my live radio show.

I will keep you updated on both of these.

Studying the Media and Communication

Today we have been given our task for the next few weeks (DEADLINE: 31/10/16 - 12pm).

Our task is to summarise a reading (we get given a different one every week) in 350 words which relates to the topic that we have learnt about in the seminar that week.

Keeeeeeep writing! (Strictly reference)

My Modules

So this semester I am doing the following modules:

1. Professional Media Practice
2. Studying the Media and Communication
3. Radio Production
4. Music Industries

I am very excited to be starting to learn these different aspects of Media, although I must admit that I am the most excited about starting Radio Production (as I am a radio specialist).

Getting Started

For our welcome week task we were sent to take photo's in some of the most iconic media related places in Birmingham. 

My group consisted of 6 people and we spent our entire day exploring ever nook and cranny of the fabulous city that is Birmingham. We found some amazing places to take photos in front of, but the best has got to be BBC Birmingham. We were actually allowed to have a tour around the place, which we took full advantage of!

So here is a picture of me in (hopefully) my future work place!