Posted by on September 30, 1998 at 05:55:20:
ADDRESS: Blk 158 Mei Ling Street, #12-90, Singapore 140158
TEL: 476 3616
MOBILE: 96213921
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
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April 1998 to Present
Company : DESIGNERZ PHOUNDATION
Appointment: Manager
Designerz Phoundation is an agency that represents a pool of freelance graphic, interior and Web/multimedia designers. I set up this company with a few like-minded individuals to unite the strengths of many un-represented but talented and resourceful creative people in the industry to provide designing services, not second-rated but of equally good quality, if not even better.
The concept of the setup boasts fresh and innovative creativity from non-monotonous minds.
My role includes :
- setting up the operations and business plan of the company
- building the company's portfolio
- recruitment of new designers
- sourcing for new business via my personal business contacts or canvassing
- organising and monitoring the datelines of the projects
- developing a good clientele relationship by understanding and translating the clients' needs to direct and lead in the development of the project
- functions of a creative director, to lead and manage the design team, in creativity and production
- functions of an account manager, to service and maintain a desirable relationship with the client
- functions of a marketing consultant, to offer marketing and communications services, media and public relations services and events management services with my contacts with the local and regional media, sponsors and contractors.
Mar 96 to Nov 97
Company : FORM RECORDS (Singapore) c/o FORM HOLDINGS LIMITED
Appointments:
Mar to Jun 96 – Label Assistant
Jun to Oct 96 – Label Executive(promotion)
Oct to Nov 96 – Promotion Executive(change of jobscope)Nov 96 to Apr 97 – Marketing & PR Executive(additional responsibilities)
Apr to Nov 97 – Senior Marketing & PR Executive (last appointment held)
* kindly note that the term “Label” in the music industry means “Brand” or “Product”
* also, note that the term “A&R” is the abbreviation for Artiste & Repertoire, which means the job of talent-scouting and licensing/signing the rights of artistes and record repertoire.
March 1996
I started off as a Label Assistant with Form in early 1996.
Single-handedly assisted the A&R Manager and 2 other A&R Executives in the department with checking of production parts, and assisting in minor A&R and label issues.
On-the-job training to be a Label Executive myself.
June 1996
After proving my worth, I was officially promoted to be a Label Executive upon my 3-months confirmation and went on to undertake the care of labels from Germany, UK and Japan.
Duties includes :
- corresponding with licensors,
- dealing with licensing issues,
- developing products for local markets and monitoring of sales performance of labels.
October 1996
Officially appointed as Promotion Executive, single-handedly responsible for the marketing and promotion of products from the existing major indie labels from across Europe and US. Stronger ties were built between the local media and Form for such relationship had never been substantial before. I had also trained myself to be an effective radio plugger after I learnt about the importance for such a person to function within a record company from the success stories of radio pluggers in the music industry in the UK and America.
Duties includes :
- developing creative campaigning concepts,
- supervising and directing the production of Radio, TV and Print commercials and ads,
- media buying and planning of more than $500,000 budget,
- planning and implementing of most A&P activities and events,
- liasing closely with the local and Malaysian media, press and public relations.
November 1996
A Head of Marcom (Marketing and Communications) was hired and together, we formed the Marketing and Communications team in the International Department. I was appointed Marketing and PR Executive, reporting to the Head of Marcom directly. Our team had proved effective by introducing and developing new marketing strategies. Another Marketing Executive was hired to assist and put in-charge of other areas covered in the Marcom team, which includes sponsorship and corporate affairs.
I was fully in-charged of working and goodwill relations with Radio, TV, Clubs and other media owners (i.e. Internet, computer CD-ROMs based). My specialty in radio and TV plugging has ensured me close contact with parties like TCS, MTV, RCS and most radio stations. I was promoted to Senior Marketing & PR Executive and was awaiting to undertake responsibility of Assistant Marketing Manager.
During early 1997, the Head of Marcom was transferred to be directly involved in the IPO drive for Form Holdings on corporate communications and public relations and thus, I then had to work independently to act on the position in place of the Head of Marcom for the International Division. Form Holdings officially got listed on June that year.
November 1997
I left Form Holdings after the departure of Mr Alan Tan, Mr Eddy Hass and a few other executives in the department. Took up a freelance project (one-off) with 1 Vox The Music Workshop, an independent concert promoter, as a consultant for JARS OF CLAY “Live-In-Concert” in January 1998. (Pls see “Other Projects” for more details)
July 1995 to March 1996
Company : THE LINK PTE LTD
Appointment : Senior Store Consultant
The Link’s main business is retailing of fashion apparels, accessories and home furnishings of leading high-end fashion designer brands of Gianni Versace, Versus, Verri Uomo, Cesare Paciotti, and many other French and Italian brands.
With a past brief experience with another fashion house, Man & His Woman, I was hired on an entry level for a team of pioneering staff to set up a total classic Men’s store at Suntec City Mall. After undergoing intensive training in the history of classic Men’s fashion, image and grooming and the whole process of setting up a high-end fashion retail store, I was proven with leadership skills and aggressive selling skills and thus promoted to a senior position.
As the clientele are usually people of a certain social status (often CEOs, lawyers and judges, doctors and executives), the performance of the in-store staff must always be maintained at a high standard. My initial passion for the job has allow me to gain broader knowledge and discipline of the trade that I was even asked to set up training sessions for all the staff (including some supervisors).
I left the company in search of a greater passion of my life – MUSIC.
June 1993 to June 1995 (National Service)
Organisation : Singapore Armed Forces, General Supply Maintenance Base
Appointment : Administrator
Serving as a Personal Assistant to the Camp Commanding Officer and HQ Officer-In-Command, I was holding an unofficial appointment of HQ CHIEF CLERK (equivalent to the rank of Senior Warrant Officer) in the absence of the full-time servicemen for more than 1 year.
Reporting directly to the Commanding Officer, I was supervising a team of 5 junior clerical assistants and mainly handling sensitive HIGHLY CLASSIFIED and SECRET documents involving MINDEF operations and military capacities. Due to academic qualifications, I completed my service at the rank of Lance Corporal (NS) and attained the vocation of Administrator Class I.
=======================================================EMPLOYMENT HIGHLIGHTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Ensuring constant charting of tracks from Form Records on the local radio charts with an average of at least 2 to 3 songs at any one time in 1996-1997.
Implementing continuos aggressive radio campaigns and promotions to ensure a constant corporate and product presence.
Introducing the idea of collaborating with major media owners in special projects to develop the popularity of artistes. (A few cases follows) :
- November 1996 : Backstreet Boys on the cover of the launching issue of Singapore’s top teen-based magazine, LIME. To ensure a “sold-out” situation, that issue was attached with a 5-track CD sampler of the Backstreet Boys. The magazine was sold out within 2 days upon hitting the newsstand and this marketing strategy was commended by Music News Asia.
- December 1996 : The self-titled debut album of American Christian-influenced rock band, JARS OF CLAY was released by BMG earlier that year when they still had the licensing rights but no promotion was done and sales was low.
After plugging their first single and ensuring a string of follow-up radio singles, PERFECT 10, 98.7FM was so impressed by their brand of music that they awarded the band with the honour of ‘DISCOVERY AWARD OF THE YEAR 1996’ in their Top 100 on 10 Countdown. A potential new act was born. Their follow-up album went platinum.
- 1997 : Successful collaboration with TELEVISION CORPORATION OF SINGAPORE to feature our artistes like, the then-up and coming UK R&B band, DAMAGE, and the popular UK pop duo who went through a major career transformation, ANT & DEC on their big shows (‘A Nation Connects’ and ‘High On Life’ Anti-Drug Show) to coincide with their new album launches and tours.
OTHER PROJECTS
July 1998 to August 1998
Committee Member, PR-Events Manager
SINGAPORE-ONE Club, Buona Vista Community Centre
I joined the Singapore-One Club at Buona Vista Community Centre in Jun '98. I was introduced to the Chairman, Mr Willie Png and was roped in to join the Committee to advise on certain issues as they were launching the Singapore-One Roadshow, in conjunction with the 1st Anniversary for the Club. I offered contacts for contractors and sponsors to set up the event on 16 Aug.
November 1997 to January 1998
Consultant, Marketing-Communications-A&P (ad-hoc / per project basis)
1 Vox The Music Workshop, For Jars Of Clay “Live-In-Concert”
After leaving Form Records, I am immediately hired by 1 Vox – a Christian-based music café and an ad-hoc show promoter to help promote a full-scale concert by Grammy-winning American band, Jars Of Clay. I advised the promoters on marketing strategies, promotions, media buying and planning and handled all aspects of public and media relations (within Singapore and Malaysia) for the project.
EDUCATIONAL RECORDS
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In the pipeline, I will be pursuing my BA (Hons) in English with University Of London to satisfy my passion for the language on a part-time basis. However, I will assure total working commitments over my studies.
1991 to 1993 Stamford College of Commerce ‘A’ levels – Stopped in Year 2
1987 to 1990 Buona Vista Secondary School ‘O’ levels – Passed 4 credits including English
1980 to 1986 Westlake Primary School PSLE – Passed
SKILLS & LANGUAGES
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- Computer Literate : Most Microsoft programs (MS Words, Excel, etc), Lotus 1-2-3 and Internet-based programs (e-mail, Fax, Netscape)
- English : Fluently spoken and written
- Mandarin/Chinese : Fluently spoken and fairly-well written
- Cantonese : Fluently spoken
- Other Chinese dialects (Hokkien, Teochew) : Fairly fluent
- Malay : Able to understand
- Excellent PR and interpersonal skills.
OTHER ACHIEVEMENTS & INTERESTS
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National Cadet Corps - Attained the rank of Warrant Officer II
(Secondary School) - Attained the appointment of Company Sergeant-Major
- Completed course and earned appointment of Unit Drill Instructor
- Completed course and earned the prestigious NCC Airborne Wing
My passion in music is my main interest. Other interests include reading, travelling, extreme and sea sports, alternative and foreign cultures and soccer.