Saturday, June 18, 2011

Dance To Live


 Dance To Live
They glided around  the ballroom  with poise and grace, floating around on a cloud- the  romance of an oft read  fairytale come alive. It was enthralling. Watching them was like viewing sheer poetry in motion as they twirled around the dance floor. Matching step for step. In tune with each other. The ease of a long rapport, as dance partners, very evident in their body language. Be it the western waltz, the jiffy jive or the spicy salsa.
 Indeed Dancing is about two people communicating with their bodies and responding to each other's movements- the hidden language of the soul of the body- the landscape of a man's soul- a song of the body- either of joy or pain.
As a dancer, you would use movement to interpret music, tell stories and express emotion. Dancing is life itself. And, no couple I’ve seen till date, epitomizes all this like Alesha Dixon and Matthew Cutler do. Ok let’s stop going oh-ah and get back to earth from fairyland. 
If you’re watching them on Strictly Come Dancing, this couple will surely inspire you to start learning to dance either as a hobby or professionally.
Agreed that ballroom dancing is a zara hatke career, but it’s a lucrative one.  So why not make a start with ballroom dancing. With more and more people taking up ballroom dancing as a hobby, there has never been a better time to learn, and who knows, you too could be dancing your way to the top. You might also combine performing with other activities such as teaching, choreography, community dance, or arts administration.

Welcome To the Ballroom
Ballroom dancing is fun, sometimes sophisticated, sometimes exhilarating and always rewarding! There is a very classic element to ballroom that could be said to never change, however, the ballroom dances themselves are always changing and adding new variations and steps to the timeless classics. The Waltz is considered a 19th century ballroom classic, while the Fox Trot, Tango and Two-Step followed in the 20th century. 
The Ever Greens are •    Fox Trot • Quick Step • Waltz. The More Challenging Favorites are the •   Viennese Waltz • Ballroom Tango •    Argentine Tango. While in the Latin American section are the • Jive/Rock & Roll • Cha Cha Cha • Samba
•    Rumba • Salsa• Merengue • Mambo • Passo Doble

 You Can Dance
If you think you don't have the typical "dancer's body," think again. Get the thought of a perfect body out of your mind; there is no such thing in the realm of ballroom dance.
Ballroom dance is concerned more with the moves of the dancers and their ability to communicate with each other through their bodies. A healthy body and mind is what you will achieve through your goals to become a dancer and this will just come naturally from your exertions. Dance is of course not for anybody who is severely out of shape, but you will build on your stamina over your course of training and you will become a healthy machine capable of lasting long periods on the dance floor. The body comes with the practice, so this should in no way be an impediment to anyone’s dreams of being a dancer.
 Formal Training
Many professional dancers train at a vocational dance school, with an intensive three-year degree or diploma or a one-year postgraduate course in professional dance or musical theatre. To get onto a three-year professional degree/diploma you must pass an audition. Some dance schools also ask for A levels or equivalent (such as a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts – Dance), although academic qualifications may not be essential if you show enough talent at audition.
For a postgraduate course, you will need a dance-related degree. You should check exact entry requirements with each dance school.  Several universities also offer degrees in dance, although some focus on dance administration or development rather than performance. For a university dance degree, you will usually need two A levels or equivalent qualifications. You may also need to pass a dance audition. Check exact entry requirements with course providers. It is also be a good idea to join a local dance company to build your experience of performing.
As a working dancer, you will develop your skills and experience through ongoing rehearsing and performing. You will need to take dance classes to maintain and improve your skills throughout your career, even when you are not in work. Dance schools in Mumbai and throughout the UK offer professional courses and workshops –You could also improve your employment prospects by taking acting or singing classes.
 Prospects
Employment of dancers and choreographers is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through 2014.
Opera companies and dance groups affiliated with colleges and universities and with television and motion pictures also will offer some opportunities. Moreover, the growing popularity of dance for recreational and fitness purposes has resulted in increased opportunities to teach dance. Finally, music video channels will provide opportunities for both dancers and choreographers.
Some professional dancers today have never won a dancing competition. There are different levels of being a professional dancer. Professional dancers range from competition winners, to commercial stars, to instructors and most of them will transfer into these different areas over their lifetime of dance. You will not have to stay in any one area once you choose to go down a certain path. There is plenty of room to change around into different areas of this profession.
You may find it useful to train in other areas and to help supplement your income or to build a second career when you are no longer performing. Popular areas include:

    * choreography
    * dance teaching
    * dance administration and management
    * complementary therapies such as Pilates, massage or Alexander Technique
    * yoga or fitness teaching
    * dance movement therapy.

Significant Points:

    * Many dancers stop performing by their late thirties, but some remain in the field as choreographers, dance teachers, or artistic directors.
    * Most dancers begin formal training at an early age—between 5 and 15—and many have their first professional audition by age 17 or 18.
    * Dancers and choreographers face intense competition; only the most talented find regular work.

Nature of Work
Many dancers combine performance work with teaching or choreography.
Dancers perform in a variety of settings, such as musical productions, and may present folk, ethnic, tap, jazz, and other popular kinds of dance. They also perform in opera, musical theater, television, movies, music videos, and commercials, in which they also may sing and act. Dancers most often perform as part of a group, although a few top artists perform solo. Dancers work with choreographers, who create original dances and develop new interpretations of existing dances. Because few dance routines are written down, choreographers instruct performers at rehearsals to achieve the desired effect. In addition, choreographers usually are involved in auditioning performers.

 Working Conditions
Dance is strenuous. Many dancers stop performing by their late thirties because of the physical demands on the body. However, some continue to work in the field as choreographers, dance teachers and coaches, or artistic directors. Others move into administrative positions, such as company managers. A few celebrated dancers, however, continue performing even beyond the age of 50.
It is true that not everyone capable of being a world-class professional ballroom dancer will be able to make a living completely from their dancing. However, if you are also willing to dance professionally in commercial setting and even teach dance to adults, teens or even children, your chances of making this into a solid career have now tripled if not quadrupled.
Some professional dancers today have never won a dancing competition. There are different levels of being a professional dancer. Professional dancers range from competition winners, to commercial stars, to instructors and most of them will transfer into these different areas over their lifetime of dance. You will not have to stay in any one area once you choose to go down a certain path. There is plenty of room to change around into different areas of this profession.
 Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
Training varies with the type of dance and is a continuous part of all dancers’ careers. Many dancers and dance instructors believe that dancers should start with a good foundation in classical technique before selecting a particular dance style. Training varies with the type of dance and is a continuous part of all dancers’ careers. Many dancers and dance instructors believe that dancers should start with a good foundation in classical dance before selecting a particular dance style. Serious training traditionally begins between the ages of 10 and 12. Students who demonstrate potential in their early teens may seek out more intensive and advanced professional training.
At about this time, students should begin to focus their training on a particular style and decide whether to pursue additional training through a dance company, school or a college dance programme. Many dancers have their first professional auditions by age 17 or 18.
Training is an important component of professional dancers’ careers. Dancers normally spend 8 hours a day in class and rehearsal, keeping their bodies in shape and preparing for performances. Their daily training period includes time to warm up and cool down before and after classes and rehearsals.
Daily rehearsals require very long hours. Many dance companies tour for part of the year to supplement a limited performance schedule at home. Dancers who perform in musical productions and other family entertainment spend much of their time on the road; Most dance performances are in the evening, whereas rehearsals and practice take place during the day. As a result, dancers often work very long and late hours. Generally, dancers and choreographers work in modern and temperature-controlled facilities; however, some studios may be older and less comfortable.
Because of the strenuous and time-consuming training required, some dancers view formal education as secondary. However, a broad, general education including music, literature, history, and the visual arts is helpful in the interpretation of dramatic episodes, ideas, and feelings. Dancers sometimes conduct research to learn more about the part they are playing.
 Academic Education
Many colleges and universities award a Bachelor or Masters degrees in dance, typically through departments of dance, theater, or fine arts. Many programmes concentrate on modern dance, but some also offer courses in jazz, culturally specific, ballet, or classical techniques; dance composition, history, and criticism; and movement analysis.
A college education is not essential to obtaining employment as a professional dancer; however, many dancers obtain degrees in unrelated fields to prepare themselves for careers after dance. The completion of a college programme in dance and education is essential to qualify to teach dance in college, high school, or elementary school or choreography.

Personal Attributes
Because of the rigorous practice schedules of most dancers, self-discipline, patience, perseverance, and a devotion to dance are essential for success in the field. Dancers also must possess good problem-solving skills and an ability to work with people. Good health and physical stamina also are necessary attributes. Above all, dancers must have flexibility, agility, coordination, and grace, a sense of rhythm, a feeling for music, and a creative ability to express themselves through movement.

Creative Pursuit
Because dancers typically perform as members of an ensemble made up of other dancers, musicians, and directors or choreographers, they must be able to function as part of a team. They also should be highly motivated and prepared to face the anxiety of intermittent employment and rejections when auditioning for work. For dancers, advancement takes the form of a growing reputation, more frequent work, bigger and better roles, and higher pay. Some dancers may take on added responsibilities, such as by becoming a dance captain in musical theater or s in concert dance companies, by leading rehearsals, or by working with less experienced dancers in the absence of the choreographer. Choreographers typically are experienced dancers with years of practice working in the theater. Through their performance as dancers, they develop reputations that often lead to opportunities to choreograph productions.

    Study Here

1. Club Semley Dance Academy
1 Semley Road
Norbury, SW16 4PS
Phone: 00 + 44 + 0790 305 0063.
United Kingdom


2. J.J. Rodriguez Cours De Danse
Sethna House, 1st Floor,
 J.A. Allana Marg,
 Opp. Electric House, Colaba
 Mumbai - 400001, India
Tel : 022-22841201 or 022- 22820303
                       
3. Fatimas Ballroom Dance Classes
  Behind Kunde Petrol Pump, Margao, Goa – 403601
Tel : 0832-2786191 Mobile: 9850454353

4. Shiamak Davar's Institute for the Performing Arts
c/o Shiamak Davar's Media & Entertainment (P) Ltd.
Head Office - Mumbai
Davar's College of Commerce - SSS,
3rd Floor, Rear Entrance,
Mulla House, 51 M.G. Road
Fort, Mumbai 400 001.
India
Tel: + 91- 022 -240182000

Email: dance@shiamak.com
5. James & Ola Jordan
P.O.Box 394
Medway Valley
Kent
ME6 9FU

6. The Goodman Dance Centre
 by Len Goodman
Professional Dance Judge
(Dancing School)
3 Market Street
Dartford
Kent
DA1 1EY
UK
Phone: +44 (0)1322-222508
7. Dance Illusions  
Dr Martin D’ Costa
Flintstone, Chicalim, Vasco Da Gama, Goa - 403802


Tel:+(91)-9823014397

Friday, June 17, 2011

Marketing& Selling Your Services


Many people find marketing attractive, specially the youngsters, because it offers glamorous life style and an opportunity to travel extensively. But the job, in reality, demands hard work combined with sincerity.
This field is both  challenging and  lucrative  besides  having great growth potential. Marketing & Sales  is  all about getting people and products together by convincing people about a product / concept using different ideas and -ensuring that a product is 'SOLD' -thus helping the business grow.

 The Difference
It is regarded as the most important element in the growth of any company. There are distinctive differences between both fields. Yet Sales & Marketing are mutually dependent functions. And both are necessary to the financial success of a business – big or small.  It cannot do without either process. By combining efforts of both strategically,    corporations will certainly experience a successful amount of business growth.
Marketing is a comprehensive and total process, which starts with assessing the needs of the customers. It is everything that you do to reach and persuade prospects. It focuses on the application of marketing techniques and administrating an organization marketing resources. It involves planning of strategy to deliver goods and services efficiently and inexpensively to the customer. It involves market research, strategic planning to introduce products into the market, preparation and development of products, brand promotion and packaging & advertising, pricing, distribution and sales.
Marketing personnel demonstrate and sell products. He can work as accompany employee or a distributor. The main task of the distributor is to design the distribution strategy to facilitate the smooth physical flow of products from the manufacturer and his customers. As a result, distributors earn substantial amounts of money as intensives such as trips abroad, upon meeting sales targets.

Sales is everything that you do to close the sale and/ or get a signed agreement or contract. Work in this area is not as simple as it seems.  Aspirants to a career in Marketing & Sales must hence first understand the dynamics of the target audience.  
With the emergence of more and more multinational companies joining the tide, opportunities for marketing professionals are abounding.


Education:
A wide range of educational backgrounds is suitable for entry into advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales manager jobs. For marketing, sales, and promotions management positions, employers often prefer a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration with an emphasis on marketing, with experience in related occupations.
 Courses in business law, management, economics, accounting, finance, mathematics, and statistics are advantageous. In addition, the completion of an internship while the candidate is in school is highly recommended. In highly technical industries, such as computer and electronics manufacturing, a bachelor’s degree in engineering or science, combined with a master’s degree in business administration, is preferred.

Eligibility:
It is easier to get a job in Marketing with an MBA, B.Com or M.Com degree. A well-qualified MBA graduate can be offered positions such as marketing manager, brand manager, market research analyst, and new product manager, sales manager, advertising manager, PR (public relations) director etc.
Candidates seeking Careers in Marketing should opt for MBA degree in Marketing Management with electives in Promotion of Products & Relationship Management or Sales Management.
The basic qualification for MBA Course is graduation in any discipline such as B.Com, BA, B.Sc., BE/B.Tech etc.


Selection:
Business schools have a three stage selection process for the students comprising of the written examination followed by a round of group discussions and then a personal interview.  The admission into MBA is generally held on the basis of a written test, group discussion and personal interview. CAT, MAT, XAT, JMET, ATMA are some of the management entrance test conducted by the institutes like Indian Institute of Management (IIM), All India Management Aptitude Testing Service (AIMATS), New Delhi, Xavier Labour Research Institute, Jamshedpur (XLRI), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and Association of Indian Management Schools (AIMS),  Joint Management Entrance Test by Indian Institutes of Technology, ATMA by the Association of Indian Management Schools are the major national level entrance examinations for admission to management courses.
Although these exams are conducted by the respective institute for their admission, its scores are widely accepted by many of the Indian Business Schools. MAT exams are conducted 4 times a year while all the others are held once in a year. Certain other Business schools and universities conduct their own entrance test and some of these include National Management Aptitude Test (NMAT), Symbiosis National Aptitude (SNAP) Test, Open Management Admission Test (OPENMAT) by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Written Admission Test (WAT), IBSAT, CEMAT etc. All these exams follow the same syllabus and students can attempt 2 or 3 of these tests, so that they can apply to multiple institutes. Some institutes offer executive MBA programme in Sales and Marketing which require a certain years of experience.
Besides MBA programmes, Bachelor in Business Administration(BBA) or Bachelor in Business Management (BBM) degree holders can also have openings in the field of marketing. The diploma course, Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Communication Management (PGDMCM) also make the students professionally qualified in the fields of marketing, advertising, Entertainment, Brand management etc.

Professional Skills:
   The sales team of a Company is its backbone. After all it is the sales person who is the face of the firm and interacts with prospective consumers. Whether we talk about door to door selling or over the counter sales, the sales person is always under pressure to meet rising sales targets.  The sales presentation requires a sales man to be a friend, a guide, an advisor and sometimes a reformer to the customer. 

1.  Be Goal Oriented - The driving force behind every Company is increased sales and high profits. Most Companies draw out expected sales targets for every year. The onus lies on the sales team to not only meet these targets but go beyond them. Every sales person must be goal oriented and should work towards matching these sales figures.
*  analyse  market  trends  and  sales  statistics and  based on this make decisions and formulate strategies to increase sale and brand value of a product.  For that  they   must understand the  product well to  have a knowledge of it  including benefits, uses and applications of each product. A good background knowledge will help him to answer all types of questions raised by a prospective buyer. In this way  they can
maintain a good customer base among other things.
* think quickly  to come up with new ideas are advantageous. Meeting the target is a big criteria and for that time management is very essential.

* be proficient in each and every investment product. So, the various investment techniques that clients require must be studied thoroughly. The marketing and sales career offers a great opportunity for those who are keen to work in the asset management field but not interested in the investment decision making.

* be self confident and always be updated with the current affairs and be familiar with advertising and merchandising techniques.
* Good computer knowledge especially in softwares like Excel and Power Point is an added advantage for this profession.

2.   Be A Team Player- A good sales executive must be a good team player as well. An ability to interact and devise good sales plans should come naturally to him.
*  professional always. Leadership quality, ability to motivate and work as part of a team, ability to understand and solve problems are the needed attributes.
* highly motivated to achieve goals and a corresponding willingness to accept accountability for job performance, personal development into development for future leadership roles.
*   able and  willing to work for long hours under hectic work pressure . Sometimes the job of a marketing manager demands lot of travelling, be prepared for that.

3. Right Attitude: It is very important to have the right attitude if you want to be successful at marketing. The behaviour and attitude of the personal providing the services has an impact on the customers overall perception of the service.
Some of the major assets that a good marketing executive needs to have is a cheerful optimism and a firm faith in what  they are  trying to sell. Besides, they must be very creative,  as a single approach does not work for all segments of the market- every client needs to be studied and then an approach has to be worked out. This holds true for every product, concept, market segment, etc. whatever one is heading for. To a certain extent, creativity can be inculcated through training. A good training session in marketing helps in many small ways.

4. Pleasing Personality: A pleasing personality adds to a sales person's appeal. He/she should be pleasant to interact with and should know how to convince and persuade a customer to place an order.
*  Understand people:  A salesperson has to be a people's person to be a successful marketing executive or a business development executive (new wine in an old bottle and all that!) One has to have an understanding of human nature— eg what is the right time to talk to a housewife. If her kids are bothering her, come back another time. If people are out for their evening walk they may want to hear you but they are certainly not going to strike a deal! One has to understand people's body language. They may not say they are, but if they look tired, distracted or plain disinterested, come back another day or try another `creative' tack!
Learning to read body language is an art by itself and there are enough books to help. They are well illustrated and give you great details about interpersonal relations that can be studied through non- verbal behaviour.
*Patient & Courteous - Convincing a prospective customer to buy a product is not an easy task. Selling is an art and requires patience. A sales person should be able to guide a customer through the entire process which begins with a prospective buyer's indifferent attitude towards a brand and ends with them placing an order. The sales person should be courteous and pleasant while taking a buyer through these stages.
Be very tactful when dealing with clients and be patient and possess keen business expertise.

5. Communication skills: It is very important that the person who chooses marketing as a career is good at conveying his/her ideas in a compact assertive manner. This again goes into two parts: a) the ability to convey the point without beating about the bush; and b) the ability to do so without sounding like you are pleading or begging.
The first is possible when you have the fluency of the language and the ability to convince a potential buyer, with all the intelligence at your disposal.
You have been trying to meet the top brass of a company and you have been fobbed off a number of times. Are you prepared to face the fact that there may be more occasions like this where people may not want to see you at all? So, if you do not see them, how do you convince them?
*Confident - A sales person should be confident about the product he is selling as well as his own ability to successfully close a sale. Especially in the case of door to door selling, the sales person should be able to interact well with the prospective buyer, gain their trust, arouse an interest and eventually convince them to try a new product. Sales persons should be willing to handle all kinds of tense situations.
Dress accordingly: It might sound trite but it pays to dress according to your target segment and the kind of impact you want to make. It creates an image of stability and reliability.

6. Other qualifications. Computer skills are necessary for recordkeeping and data management, and the ability to work in an Internet environment is becoming increasingly vital as more marketing, product promotion, and advertising is done through the Internet. Also, the ability to communicate in a foreign language may open up employment opportunities.

Syllabus:
Sales & Marketing Management is taught as part of the MBA curriculum at B-Schools across the country. Thus the first aim of a student should be to go for an MBA course. MBA is a 2 years' course generally after graduation or equivalent degree.
Business majors who are enrolled in a sales management course will study management, communication, marketing, and sales. Topics like advertising, psychology, and public relations depending on the course.
Accounting principles, business laws, buyer behaviour, economics, human motivation and behaviour, statistics, principles of marketing, marketing research, production management, psychology are some of the subjects taught for marketing management courses.

Personal Skills:
Those interested in  entering the managerial cadre in the  fields of  advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales should be mature, creative, highly motivated, resistant to stress, flexible, and decisive. The ability to communicate persuasively, both orally and in writing, with other managers, staff, and the public is vital. These managers also need tact, good judgment, and exceptional ability to establish and maintain effective personal relationships with supervisory and professional staff members and client firms.
Options
Advertising, Marketing& Sales,  Public Relations& Promotion  Managers drive what the public sees of a company- company sales and profitability through market research, strategy, branding, advertising, sales efforts, promotion, pricing, and public relations. They  co-ordinate their companies’ market research, marketing strategy, sales, advertising, promotion, pricing, product development, and public relations activities.
 Having high quality individuals in these positions can make a great difference between a successful and unsuccessful firm.

Sales & Marketing Managers and their departments constitute some of the most important personnel in an organization. They are employed in nearly all industries. They hold almost half of the jobs, work mostly in manufacturing, retail and wholesale trade, finance and insurance. develop detailed marketing strategies for a firm. They and are in  less danger of being subject to  downsizing or outsourcing than are other types of managers, except in the case of companies that are consolidating. Employment therefore, will vary primarily on the basis of the growth or contraction in the industries that employ them.


Sales Managers oversee representatives and make decisions based on the needs of the firm they are employed through. They  must achieve the targeted sales figure through the sales team. Sales managers maintain contact with dealers and distributors, and analyze sales statistics gathered by their staffs to determine sales potential and inventory requirements and to monitor customers’ preferences. They  direct the distribution of the product or service to the customer. They assign sales territories, set sales benchmarks and goals, coaching sales representatives, setup and develop sales campaigns, and establish training programmes for the organization’s sales representatives.  They also advise sales representatives on ways to improve their sales performance. In large multi product firms, they oversee regional and local sales managers and their staff.
All this is vital in the development of products and the maximization of profits.

Corporate Selling: involves selling through company's own field force or through a major accounts dealer.

Marketing & Sales Associates: Although these positions are almost similar, they are conventionally categorized by various organizations.
Marketing Associates are responsible for helping in the development portfolio assessment presentations, and in preparing promotional presentations for prospective clients. They are categorized according to the type of investment product such as fixed income or equity.
Since their efforts contribute to the overall sales turnover of an organization, sales personnel occupy a key position in modern marketing.
Sales Associates are categorized according to the type of clients they serve. They are responsible for assisting in replying to the request for proposals which are issued by institutions looking to recruit investment managers. They also work with the senior client servicing professional in order to maintain and develop client relationships. Sales personnel have to perform many useful ancillary services such as sales forecasting, market and consumer research, realization of dues, dealing with complaints, etc.

Marketing Assistants
Starting as a marketing executive, gifted personnel can go on to become marketing managers or product managers within a very short span of time.

Marketing& Selling Your  Services
Marketing Research: involves designing research products, data collection, data tabulation analysis, report preparation and presentation of the findings to the clients.  They also identify competitors and potential markets such as businesses, retailers, wholesalers, government, and the general public. Their main aim is to maximize the firm’s market share and profits by developing effective pricing strategies, all while maintaining customer satisfaction.
Due to expansion in the scope of market research, holding opinion polls during elections, researching the sales efforts through distribution channels is now included.

Marketing Managers  work with the  advertising and promotion managers to promote the firm’s or organization’s products and services. In collaboration with sales, product development, and other managers, they monitor trends that indicate the need for new products and services and they oversee product development.
With the help of lower level managers, including product development managers and market research managers, marketing managers estimate the demand for products and services offered by the firm and its competitors and identify potential markets for the firm’s products. They direct policy like marketing strategy including market research, sales, pricing, product development and promotion, advertisement and public relation activities to help firms maximize profits and market share while ensuring that the firms’ customers are satisfied. Over one-third of marketing managers work in manufacturing or in scientific, professional, and technical services industries.

Market Development: includes developing new business.
Brand Management is a vast field and requires a broad background in marketing's core functional areas like, market research, consumer behaviour, advertising and strategy and calls for analytical skills for which specialized courses in accounts and finance can help. Brand Management, in fact, is considered one of the best training grounds, as individuals get early responsibility, which enables them to learn quickly and demonstrate their ability by contributing at the very outset to the brand operations.
Brand Managers are always focused on the big picture. They assume responsibility for a brand or brand family. It is their job to distill the brand's essence, map out their competitors in their brand's category, identify marketing opportunities, and be able to effectively communicate the unique benefits of that product or service.  They  plan, develop and direct marketing efforts for a particular brand or product co-ordinating the activities of specialists in Production, Sales, Advertising, Promotion, R & D, Marketing Research, Purchasing Distribution and Finance.
They are also responsible for guiding the market research team by setting the agenda and criteria and also selecting the stimuli, such as product-benefit statement, pictures, product samples, and video clips. Once the research is complete, Brand Managers  analyze the data that's been collected then develop a marketing strategy and  ensure that other functions such as promotions, market research, research and development, and manufacturing are orchestrated to implement the strategy that they have developed.
This marketing strategy may call for a new ad campaign, development of new products, or drawing out a new vision for the brand. Since brand managers have to deal with host of specialist departments within their organizations ,  they must be creative and result oriented and possess strong inter - personal and communication skills.

Service Marketing: relates to marketing of services like insurance, healthcare, IT enabled services etc. In recent past it has become very dominant. As a  result, careers in service marketing have picked up in banking and finance, tourism, healthcare and software development, etc. A person in this field should be comfortable in dealing with product attributes and issues that are hard to observe and classify because of the intangible nature of most service products.

Logistic Management: The activities include transport warehousing, forecasting, order processing, inventory control, with various purchasing, selling and channel management and customer services. This career opportunity is practically dominant industries like the transportation industry, courier and export hoses. Even traditional companies today have a separate logistics management department.
To be successful in this field, one requires strong inter-personal skills to deal with individuals from diverse backgrounds.

Direct Response Marketing: is a method of marketing directly to the consumer. The fastest growing marketing channel, it includes vehicles like direct print, telephone marketing, in home presentations and door - door marketing as also electronic ordering India, this method has been used for late marketing vacuum cleaners, credit cards, membership of clubs and Amway international. You must have personal qualities like creativity and quantitative skills.

International Marketing: Due to globalization of the Indian Economy, this has become a specialized career opportunity.
Since there are very few MNCs which hire people, specifically for international marketing, the best route to get into such a career is to take up a domestic sales position with an international firm.
Fluency in foreign languages and some experience in living in another country are essential prerequisites for success in this field.
Furthermore, the ability to communicate is essential for marketing jobs. Therefore, a marketing professional should have reasonably good command over English language and strong command over the regional language.
A working knowledge of the national and state language gives an edge to one's future career prospects. In the present age of rapidly hanging technologies and information, a background in computers always helps.

Advertising & Promotions Managers
Over one-third of advertising and promotions managers are employed in scientific, professional, and technical services, as well as in publishing, advertising, and other information industries.
 Advertising Manager is employed in advertising agencies that put together advertising campaigns for clients, in media firms that sell advertising space or time, and in companies that advertise heavily. They direct a firm’s or group’s advertising and promotional campaign. They work with sales staff and others, to generate ideas for the campaign; they   oversee a creative staff that develops the advertising, and work with the finance department to prepare a budget and cost estimates for the campaign. They also serve as a liaison between the firm that requires the advertising, and an advertising or promotion agency that actually develops and places the advertisements. In larger firms with an extensive advertising department, different advertising managers may oversee in-house accounts and creative and media services departments.

Promotions Manager: directs promotions assignments or campaigns that combine advertising with purchasing incentives to increase sales. Often, these are carried out through the use of direct mail, inserts in newspapers, Internet advertisements, in-store displays, product endorsements, or other special events. Purchasing incentives may include discounts, samples, gifts, rebates, coupons, sweepstakes, and contests.

Public Relations Manager:  plans and directs Public Relations assignments or campaigns designed to create and maintain a favourable public image for the employer or client. They might write press releases or sponsor corporate events to help maintain and improve the image and identity of the company or client. They also help to clarify the organization’s point of view to their main constituency. They observe social, economic, and political trends that might ultimately affect the firm, and they make recommendations to enhance the firm’s image on the basis of those trends. They often specialize in a specific area, such as crisis management, or in a specific industry, such as healthcare.
In large organizations, they may supervise a staff of public relations specialists.  They also work with staff of the  advertising and marketing departments  to ensure that the advertising campaigns are compatible with the image the company or client is trying to portray. In addition, they may handle internal company communications, such as company newsletters, and may help the Accounts  Manager to  produce company reports. They may assist company executives in drafting speeches, arranging interviews, and maintaining other forms of public contact; oversee company archives; and respond to requests for information. Some Public Relations  Managers handle special events as well, such as the sponsorship of races, parties introducing new products, or other activities that the firm supports in order to gain public attention through the press without advertising directly. In small firms the owner or CEO might assume all advertising, promotions, marketing, sales, and public relations responsibilities. In large firms, which may offer numerous products and services nationally or even worldwide, an executive vice president directs overall advertising, marketing & promotions, sales, and public relations policies. Most Public Relations Managers work in services industry- insurance, educational, scientific, professional, and technical services, or in health care and social assistance services. In doing so, they analyze the demand of the firm’s products and services in the market.

Account Executive manages account services departments in companies and assesses the need for advertising. In advertising agencies, account executives maintain the accounts of clients whereas the creative services department develops the subject matter and presentation of advertising. The creative director oversees the copy chief, art director, and associated staff. The media director oversees planning groups that select the communication medium—for example, radio, television, newspapers, magazines, the Internet, or outdoor signs—that will disseminate the advertising.

Product Development Manager
If you decide that Advertising is the career track you wish to pursue you will find that advertisers work with all aspects of marketing from strategy to concept to the execution of the strategy.

Investment Management
As the investment management industry develops, the investment management companies are largely concentrating on professional marketing and sales as a point of separation, particularly on the institutional part of the business.

You will find that most jobs on the business side of advertising include Account Management, Account Planners, and Media Buyers.

Account Manager acts as a liaison between the agency's various departments and the client. Their job is to manage the execution of ads by making sure that they are created within the allocated schedule and budget. Account Planners focus more on the consumer. Their job is to conduct research on demographics of the targeted consumers. They use that research to get to know what motivates their behaviour in the marketplace.
Media Buyer must  find media to place ads in. They use the demographic study that is done by the Account Planner to decide the best possible place to purchase ad space.


On-The-Job
Although experience, ability, and leadership are emphasized for promotion, advancement can be accelerated by participation in management training programs conducted by larger firms. Many firms also provide their employees with continuing education opportunities-either in-house or at local colleges and universities-and encourage employee participation in seminars and conferences, often held by professional societies. In collaboration with colleges and universities, numerous marketing and related associations sponsor national or local management training programs. Course subjects include brand and product management; international marketing; sales management evaluation; telemarketing and direct sales; interactive marketing; product promotion; marketing communication; market research; organizational communication; and data-processing systems, procedures, and management. Many firms pay all or part of the cost for employees who complete courses.

Work Environment
The most basic form of marketing organization is a function - oriented organization, where each function is assigned to a specialist who reports to the marketing manager. The manner in which each sub - function is organized varies from one company to another, depending upon the unique combination of internal company attributes and external environmental factors. This kind of classification provides wide opportunity for advancement within the skill hierarchy. They can work anywhere there is a product to be sold. Advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers work in offices close to those of top managers. Working under pressure is unavoidable when schedules change and problems arise, but deadlines and goals still must be met.
Substantial travel is required to meet with customers and consult with others in the industry.
Sales Managers travel to national, regional, and local offices and to the offices of various dealers and distributors. Advertising and promotions managers may travel to meet with clients or representatives of communications media. At times, public relations managers travel to meet with special-interest groups or government officials. Job transfers between headquarters and regional offices are common, particularly among sales managers.
Long hours, including evenings and weekends are common. Over 80 percent of advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers work 40 hours or more a week.

Opportunities
The best way to begin a sales & marketing career is at the bottom rung of the ladder and then work your way up.  Most companies prefer graduates for entry level positions.  You can climb to higher positions after garnering enough experience and exposure in the field.
Business majors who enjoy working with people, marketing, and the challenge of selling will excel in Sales Management  as a specialization.
Prospects
If you want to use a  Sales & Marketing career as a way to make a career in investment management then you have to contact the investment professionals and establish yourself in the present job position before switching for another job. You also need to enhance the quantitative skills required for investment job positions.
A fresher generally joins as a trainee sales representative in a medium organization. After a service of few years and gaining more practical experience he may be promoted to higher posts like sales officer, sales executive, assistance sales manager, marketing manager and ultimately marketing director.
Most job openings for this occupation will be due to the need to replace workers who leave the occupation or retire. However, advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales manager jobs are highly coveted and are often sought by other managers or highly experienced professionals, resulting in keen competition. College graduates with related experience, a high level of creativity, and strong communication and computer skills should have the best job opportunities. In particular, employers will seek those who have the skills to conduct new types of advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales campaigns involving new media, particularly the Internet.
For advertising management positions, some employers prefer a bachelor’s degree in advertising or journalism. A relevant course of study might include classes in marketing, consumer behaviour, market research, sales, communication methods and technology, visual arts, art history, and photography.
For public relations management positions, some employers prefer a bachelor’s or master’s degree in public relations or journalism. The applicant’s curriculum should include courses in advertising, business administration, public affairs, public speaking, political science, and creative and technical writing.
Most advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales management positions are filled through promotions of experienced staff or related professional personnel. For example, many managers are former sales representatives; purchasing agents; buyers; or product, advertising, promotions, or public relations specialists. In small firms, in which the number of positions is limited, advancement to a management position usually comes slowly. In large firms, promotion may occur more quickly.
Due to the importance and high visibility of their jobs, advertising, marketing, promotions, public relations, and sales managers are  often prime candidates for advancement to the highest ranks. Well-trained, experienced, and successful managers may be promoted to higher positions in their own or another firm; some become top executives. Managers with extensive experience and sufficient capital may open their own businesses. Sales and marketing careers can lead you to top positions like Vice President, Managing Director or even the  CEO of a company.
A number of undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, diploma and certificate courses are available in the marketing field. You can choose  from  these options:
* International Marketing *Marketing Management * Sales & Merchandising Studies * Marketing Research * Accounting &Bookkeeping*Business Management & Operations * Business Economics *Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development
*Marketing for Travel & Tourism Operations*Business Marketing Operations *Special Product Marketing *Marketing for Apparel & Accessories *Master Certificate in Internet Marketing *Integrated Online Strategies *Search Engine Marketing & Usability *Advanced Search *Engine Marketing *Advanced Interactive Marketing & Measurement * Advanced Mobile Marketing *Advanced Social Media Marketing *Advanced Email Marketing
Eligibility
In order to do Bachelor in Business Administration (BBA) or Bachelor in Business Management (BBM) in marketing, you need to complete 10+2 education. Further, after graduation in any educational stream, you can opt for the two year MBA course, specializing in marketing. However, to be eligible for MBA in marketing, you need to appear for any of the competitive exams like CAT, XAT or MAT. These entrance examinations consist of written test, interview and group discussions.
Apart from this, you can also seek an admission to Post Graduate Diploma in Marketing Communication Management (PGDMCM) to expand your job horizon.

Courses
Marketing courses have their share of advantages and benefits. A trained professional in marketing can expect to kick start his or her career with a salary of about 3 to 3.5 lakh per annum. After the completion of this course, you can explore opportunities in various industry verticals including IT, advertising, food manufacturing firms, construction companies and others. You can be hired for any of these profiles:
* Market research analyst *Marketing manager *Sales manager *Brand manager *Product manager *Advertising manager *PR director

Remuneration
In business and industry, salaries are never openly published. Phrases such as, ‘Best in the industry’, ‘On par with the leading firms’, ‘Salary depends on merit’ etc are used. Also, salaries depend on the size and reputation of the organization. The earnings of marketing personnel are very lucrative. The remuneration depends more or less on two factors - the demand for and supply of, the services of a marketing professional in a particular area of the industry.
The more common practice of compensation is a combination of salary and commission. While the salary is fixed, the commission is an additional benefit for the extra effort of a salesman.
The starting salary could range from Rs. 5,000 to Rs. 15,000 per month depending upon the organization and the candidate's experience.
* As an MBA graduate, Sales & Marketing Manager gets Rs 20000 to Rs 30000 starting salary per month particularly in private sector. In public sector the pay scale is lower than that of private sector. The pay scale may go up depending upon qualification, ability and experience of the person concerned. At a senior level, an MBA graduate with Sales & Marketing as specialization can well go up to 50000  and 60000 per month.
 * Starting salary of Sales Persons (Under-graduates) in indigenous companies: About Rs 7000/- pm plus incentives.
 *Starting salary of Marketing Executives (MBAs) in reputed Indian-owned companies: About Rs 15,000/- plus incentives.
  * Starting salary of Marketing Managers (MBAs) with 3-5 yrs experience offered by MNCs : About Rs 25000/- pm plus perks.
Study Here:
1) ICFAI Churchgate Branch: Dinshaw Waccha Road, Backbay  Reclamation, Churchgate, Mumbai - 022 26849856
2) Tardeo Branch :- 304, Arun Chambers, Tardeo Road, Tardeo, Mumbai, Mumbai - 022 23526437
ICFAI Panjim : 106, 1st Floor, ,Patto Plaza, Behind Kadamba Bus Stand Panjim - 403001 Tel.: (0832)2437211/2437050. 
CFAI Pune : 6 Rachana House Fergusson College  Road  Shivjinager, Pune Tel: 020: 66026975 /660266976
Siddivinayak PLAZA Vimannagar  Pune14  (020) 41282191-96

Goa Institute of  Management 
Registered Office:
Goa Institute of Management
Ribandar, Goa 403006
Tel: 0832-2490300
Fax: 0832-2444136
Sanquelim Campus:
Goa Institute of Management
Poriem, Sattari, Goa 403505
Tel: 0832 -2366700
Fax: 0832 2366710
Email: admin@gim.ac.in; director@gim.ac.in
Website: www.gim.ac.in

Marian Institute Of Health Care Management
Agnel Technical Education Complex,
Verna - Salcete -Goa 403722
Phone: 0832 6515048 Mob: 9225905400
Email: office@marianinstitute.in

Symbiosis Institute of Business Management, Bangalore
#95/1, 95/2, Electronics City, Phase-1, Hosur Road, Bangalore-560 100
Phone : 080 -66389999 /080 - 67139536
FAX :080 - 66389996 /080 -66389998
                               
Post Graduate Diploma in Human Resource Management (PGDHRM)
Symbiosis Institute of Business Management , Pune, Maharashtra
Symbiosis Knowledge Village,
Gram: Lavale via Sus Road,
Tal: Mulshi,
Dist- Pune-411042 Pune-,India
02039116000

Monday, May 30, 2011

It’s All In the Games


Who hasn’t played computer games these days? And, who doesn’t like to play computer games? There are games for people of all ages and all kinds of people. If playing computer games on a computer can be so interesting, imagine how interesting it would be to sit down and design them. And, what could be more exciting for a computer game enthusiast than being paid to design their own computer games? In fact, for almost every serious gamer, designing  games may seem like a dream job.

The Games People Play
 Playing games allows people to escape from reality, enjoy a bit of fantasy, and refresh their minds with new images, thoughts, and perspectives. Just like escaping into a book, nowadays people of all ages love to engage in a good game to relax  and rejuvenate;  and they  will never feel bored with their games, because before they can there are new options on the market for them-depending on their mood.

 Options
There are many, many jobs within the cycle of creating a game. Typically the people involved in this process are Game Designers, Animators, Programmers, Testers, and Graphic Designers. Other parts of gaming are rendering, database systems, online/multiplayer options, and tools etc which are smaller but still are important areas of game development.
The different jobs include:

 Design: Level Designer, Game Designer, Senior Level Designer, and Lead Animator, User Interface Artist, Environment Artist, Games Writers, Graphic Designers, Audio Creators, Game Testers.

Game Designer/ artist creates art for games that are played on computers, mobile phones or gaming consoles. They create video games and online games, using techniques in illustration and animation, 3D and 2D design, storytelling, graphic design, web design, interactive media, digital production and more. They decide on storyboard with skills in Math, Complex Systems, and Artificial Intelligence and tries to make the gaming experience fascinating for the end user. Animators use graphic and art design software and tools (VB, Maya etc) to create a 2D/3D landscape of game itself.
They are responsible for all aspects of game development where visual art is required.

Concept Artists create the initial look of the game. They  formulate the concept and vision for a game, draw the characters, clothes, cars and other elements. They devise the world, setting, story, characters, and all other game elements and design details. They then communicate this to the rest of the development team who create the art assets and computer code which allow the game to be played. They use graphic design, animation, and coding techniques to bring interactive games to life. They are often required to have strong leadership and communications skills as well as a great sense of what makes a game fun to play. They may be asked to design, programme, document, tune, and balance games. Software skill requirements may vary depending on the job, but talent and experience for hip game trends is a universal necessity. The designer works hand in hand with the writer, coming in with game play - essentially the systems and experiences that the player's character goes through.
Opportunities
There are few concept art positions making this a competitive job path to pursue. Taking courses that specialize in this style of art could be really beneficial, however, having experience and skill are most important. Designing a portfolio with a collection of your best works will aid you in getting a job as a concept/storyboard artist.
With new technologies — mobile phones, networking sites — offering gaming facilities, game artists are more in demand for their creative inputs that programmers, in a game development team.

Game Writer: develops the world and the plot, characters writing the characters' dialog and the branching storyline.
  Game writers, game designers and concept artists  inspire the design process that follows.
Opportunities
This career path requires someone able to translate a concept into a full-fledged world. They come to the table and say, "I imagine a dragon that looks like this and characters with different traits and powers."
Good backgrounds for writers to have include familiarity with literature or an education in history and ancient civilizations. They have a very vivid literary imagination and can create that world.

Character Artists & Animators  begin the process of making the characters come to life in 3D.

 Programming: Programmers, Engineers, Audio Engineer, Graphics Engineers, Network Programmer.
Programmers  are the brains behind it all. Not to be confused with a game designer,  they work on what makes the video game run. A game programmer is someone who actually implements the game on the computer, turning the ideas and designs into an actual executable programme. Game Testers come into play when the bugs in the codes have to be detected and fixed before the game can be released for public usage.
Programming a game is a very complex job. There are more than one type of programmer, each specializing in a specific type of programming. There are game engine programmers, physics engine programmers, graphics engine programmers, artificial intelligence programmers, sound programmers, etc.
Opportunities
The more artistically-inclined individuals can pursue a career in Game Art and Design, lending their hand in creating characters and crafting game worlds. People who are comfortable working with code and getting into the real structure of the games can get their education in Game Software Development.
When you become a computer games programmer, you can find lots of opportunities in the computer game design industry. Programmers with a few popular games behind them, can expect to earn large salaries, plus get more input into any projects, in terms of ideas.

Professional Skills:
It’s not easy to be a game designer. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication – but more than that it needs a genuine interest and the passion to become one and create something that is out of the world!
 They  must be able to design games that are appropriate for different audiences and that appeal to a range of demographics. They  should also have a working knowledge of programming, fine art, framing, and even software development. 

F Professional Testers: Getting paid to play video and computer  games is a dream job indeed. And, although it seems easy, there are technical aspects to this job. Games testers  are given guidelines, deadlines and specific feedback that needs to be provided to the game publishers regularly. Although you are having fun you have to keep in mind that you are working and stay on track.
Opportunities
Game testing jobs aren’t easy to find make sure to let publishers know who you are and keep up your search until you find the job you‘ve been looking for. Making a resume aimed at getting this job is a good idea. Experience is key.

F Others: Computer Game Producer, Quality Assurance, Associate Producer, and Game Tester

Process
Creating a game is a complex process with multiple teams working on it. It involves Game Design, Development & Testing. It hence needs a wide array of computer and people skills along with the passion for virtual reality. The process of Game Design starts with deciding on what kind of genre the game would be i.e the theme of the Game itself (Action, Strategy, Adventure etc).  After the genre is decided, the storyboard of the game is decided with its characters, environment, backgrounds etc., and the entire landscape of the game is chalked out.
Once there is clarity in the landscape programmememers, animators and designers come in. The entire coding of the game is done on different platforms depending on the device for which the game is being developed. When the codes are ready they are checked for bugs with testers coming in and simulating the written codes and after this entire process is completed the game is marketed.


Trial and Error
Game developers are constantly experimenting to see how changes to a given component of the game, impact game play. The aim is to decide whether doing something one way will make a game more fun to play than doing it another way.
They keep making the changes over and over and over. If figuring out all those little changes sounds like fun, then it may be for you. People who put music in the game need to think about making beautiful music, and people who put the art in the game need to be able to think about making beautiful art.
Game development programmes are growing and are certainly a good introduction into how games function. Some of the programmes definitely turn out some very capable talent, but the dilemma with them goes back to the  depth of knowledge.

Education
To be successful game designer, aspirants must obtain   a relevant degree. A diploma or bachelor’s degree can be obtained at vocational schools. While graduate and post graduate degrees are offered at art and design schools and at traditional universities. More technical careers in animation, Game Design or Interactive Entertainment do require some training - that education can be earned through vocational training programmes or a four-year degree.
While pursuing a technical degree such as animation, potential game developers should also pursue an education in other aspects of game development.
 In the syllabus  you will learn skills like 3D design, digital production, character development and animation, storytelling, layout, audience interaction, editing and even market research.
Art and design schools may have more resources and professional contacts to offer students than vocational schools. Earning a certificate from a game design programme will provide an excellent foundation, but it is only one component. Another is being able to show a potential employer what you are capable of through a portfolio.

Courses
These days, a college degree is more important than not having one, but a track record is more important still. If you have a portfolio that wows people, then you'll get hired.
The following  degrees  can be obtained
.BFA/MFA in visual communication
. B.Sc in Animation & VFX
. B.Sc in Animation & Gaming
. M.Sc in VFX (Major) & Animation
. M.Sc in Animation (Major) & VFX
. B. Sc in Animation & VFX
. B.Sc Animation & Gaming
. M. Sc in VFX (Major) & Animation
. M. Sc in Animation (Major) & VFX
. Professional Diploma in Visual Effects (VFX)
. Professional Diploma Series
. Professional Diploma in Game Art
. Professional Diploma in Live Action Film Making
.Specialisation Diploma with VFX / Animation / Game Art
Art & Digital Foundation with Editing & Compositing, 
Matte Painting
.Professional Diploma in Visual Effects (VFX)
.Professional Diploma in 3D Animation
.Professional Diploma in Game Art
.Advanced Diploma in Animation Multimedia & Game Design
.Professional Diploma in Character Animation & VFX
.Certificate Programme  in 2D Animation (Flash)
.Certificate Programme in Game Designing
.Certificate Programme in Web & Graphic Design
.Certificate Course in Visual Effects And Compositing
Each module of Game Design needs different set of skills. A few are listed below:
 . Game Development & Design – Skills in Mathematics/CS with skills in Programming languages, Complex Systems, artificial intelligence, 3D Rendering, 3D animation.
.  Animation - solid foundation of animation related mathematics and physics, C++, and vertex/skeletal animation skills, 3D graphics Programming, and data compression.
. Testing - knowledge of games and a passion for game development along with C++ or other Programming language skills.
. Game Art & Graphics - deep understanding of visual effects and animation techniques, 3D Programming, Modelling Packages.
. Handhelds/Portable Electronic Game Development - Java Programming /development (J2ME experience a plus), C/C++ Programming /development (BREW experience a plus), and a deep understanding of XML.

Eligibility
The eligibility for these  post graduate courses  is,  Bachelor Degree in Computer Science/Maths with a very good knowledge of Programming languages (C++. Python), Problem Solving in 3D Math and most of all the passion for gaming itself.

Practical Skills& Experience
Potential game designers  certainly  need practical  experience. You first need to be a gamer.  What type of gamer and how much you game can probably depend, but it's very difficult, if not impossible, to understand game design without being an experienced game player. The best game designers are those who invariably spend most of their time playing games. It's very difficult, if not impossible, to really understand game design, game development, write dialogue, etc., without being an experienced game player. Most of the top writers [have] almost invariably spent an awful lot of time playing games. In other words, the more immersed you are as a game player, the more skilled you'll be in your chosen game development field,"
This means that , the more experienced a gamer, a person is, the more capable and skilled they will be as a game designer or game writer.
 Remember: You don't just have one story. You have many stories, depending on the type of game it is. So the game designer's job is to develop the game experience, or game play that character will have, depending on the choices that a gamer makes.
Unless you've played a lot of games, it is very difficult for aspiring game designers or writers  to even  begin to imagine [what] all the potential outcomes or systems might look like, and understand the game play potential in that world."
People with good education and training but little first-hand experience may have a difficult time competing in the job market. If you haven't played a lot of games but want to be a game designer, you're not going to have the depth of practical knowledge or experience that someone who has been playing the games will have.
 You can try, but the reality is that you will have a very tough time  since you are not going to be knowledgeable enough about all the styles of game play that are possible, unless you've played games regularly and avidly  for at least five, 10 or 15 years.
Prospective game designers should also have  the experience  of creating other types of games.  This is imperative as Game designers need to be able to answer the question, "What do I want this game to be like," and then figure out how they can make that possible. It's something not everyone wants to do because it requires a lot of difficult thinking and experimenting.
They should have an understanding of what it is truly like to create a game. A good way to get started is to explore making other kinds of games. Have you ever made a card game or a board game? Anybody can make those. Anyone can sit down and make a new card game in 30 minutes? If you don't enjoy doing that, you're probably not going to be too interested in making computer games.
Aspiring Game designers  must be technologically savvy.  They  must be able  to unlearn and relearn to keep up with fast-evolving technology. This involves presenting their ideas both verbally and on paper, for which they need writing and basic visual design and drawing skills. They should also be reasonably fluent in a range of 2D and 3D graphics and animation packages, such as 3D Studio Max or Maya.
They must also be able to work in a team, because no one can create a game on one’s own- To create a good quality  product, co-ordination with many people  is required. Game development is a collaborative process involving multi-disciplinary teams. Designers must be able to communicate their vision to artists, programmers, producers, marketing staff, and others involved in the development process, and accept feedback on their work.
Good technical knowledge is required, with some Programming skills at least at ‘scripting’ level and awareness of the various games platforms and technologies. This is a multi-skilled role, requiring:
 And, above all, to become a computer game designer  you  must have an innate  aesthetic  sense and creative talents. These include:
thorough understanding of game play theory;
.storytelling and narrative development skills;
.information design and user interface design skills;
.excellent communication and presentation skills;
. the ability to work as part of a team and independently;
.systematic and strategic thinking;
. imagination and creativity;
. knowledge of the requirements of the relevant Health and Safety .legislation and procedures.
.Training and qualifications
Lack of imagination and creativity will  be a designer’s doom.   The truth though bitter is best swallowed early. If you have a great imagination, the next thing you should be good at, is communicating your idea. You need not be born with this gift but make sure you do acquire it. However exciting your game idea may be, it's no use if the person across the table doesn't see it the way you do.

Caution
Aspiring game designers won't be successful in this field unless they  are the best of the best to land a job at a top gaming company, though internships could be a great way to get in the door.  If your stuff is mediocre, you may never find steady work, even if you send out a thousand demo-reels.
If you have developed your drawing ability for a number of years and worked hard in your programme, you will be in pretty good shape. Also, when new technologies emerge, designers will also have to incorporate more high-tech ways of developing realistic games for consumers.


Financial Gains
Salaries are fairly low for starters, at about Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 a month, because the Indian gaming industry hasn’t matured as yet. With time and experience, however, you can expect considerable hikes.
After three or four years, you can become a senior game artist and get paid around Rs 40,000 to Rs 50,000 a month. After spending seven to eight years in this line, you can graduate to the level of Art Director or Senior Art Director at which positions, salaries are much higher, i.e. about Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 a month



Prospects  
Unlike some career fields, game design never reaches a point where it's grown to its limit or full potential. Technology continues to evolve-and with it, new people and ideas are continually embraced. Each year, top game design companies release hundreds of new games, accessories, and console attachments, and more game designers will be needed to keep up with this trend. Large design firms or small - there will be no shortage of game design jobs for quite a while.
 Hence, the future will only be brighter for  game designers as the industry expands, and with the fun that video and computer games provide, there is no end to the expansion possible.
The top jobs will usually require a bachelor’s degree for entry-level positions, but if you have an associate’s degree plus a lot of practical experience, then you may be qualified as well. Because the game design industry is so competitive, going back to school or taking refresher classes may be necessary to stay cutting edge. A graduate level degree may also be useful if you want to become a producer or the manager of a game design firm.

Before Getting Into Gaming
Here's what you need to do to get started in the field.
Instructions
1. Practice drawing. Video game design relies heavily on the computer, but the computer won't draw for you. You still need to be able to produce the characters, the premise, the landscapes, the textures, the lighting, and the animation from scratch. You'll  have to do a lot of planning, brainstorming, and story-boarding with a good old pencil as well. You need to be comfortable with getting your ideas out of your head and onto a paper in picture form. This should be your primary focus. You can learn the relevant computer  software later. It doesn't take long to do so, but it takes years to develop drawing, illustration, and design skills. Get started with this part as early as you can.

2. Make contact with professional  game designers. Your goal is to try to find out how they got to where they are.  Check game credits, animation magazines, and game websites for names and contact information. Send emails, send letters, make phone calls, ask for tours, and ask lots of questions. Also search online for interviews. Each path will involve the steps in this article, but each path is also unique. Try to learn something new from each person you make contact with.

3. Enrol in some video game design academy, degree programme, training programmes or workshop. These programme vary widely in scope and intensity as well as in cost. If you are willing and able to travel or relocate to pursue your goal, you should try to get into the most prestigious and reputable programme that you possibly can. This experience will expose you to the world of video game design and you will be able to find out two things: You will know if you can be successful in the field, and you will know if you really enjoy it or not.

4.  Create a portfolio, or a collection of your very best animation work. Your  concepts and creations  will need to be top-notch, as competition among amateurs  and professionals is stiff.

5. Promote yourself. Upload your demos on websites like Metacafe and Youtube to create buzz for yourself. Send demo reels to every company you can find whether or not they are hiring (they usually will not ever say they are hiring, you just need to make sure they have a sample of your best work on their shelves). Make sure to follow submission instructions exactly.

6. Continue to develop your skills and expand your body of work. It takes time, dedication, and sacrifice to get into this field, but if you are passionate about it, you will find that the journey is well worth the reward.

Study Here:
 1. Arena Animation
3rd Floor, Midas Touch
Opp. Navtara Restaurant
Panjim Market Square
Panjim - 403 001
Ph: 0832-2225153

Mumbai 

Arena Animation
Aptech Limited, Aptech House
A-65, MIDC, Marol, Andheri (E)
Mumbai – 400 093 India.
Telephone: 091 22 2827 2300

 Or

Aptech Limited
Champion Seal Compound
2nd/ 3rd floor
15/ Parasi Panchayat Road
Andheri (E)
Mumbai - 400069
India.
Tel: + 91 22 42040000
Fax: +91 22 42040100

Pune

Aptech Limited
710, Anant Chambers
1st Floor, J.M. Road, Shivajinagar
Pune - 411 005
India.
Tel: +91 20 25552 1368/ 69
Fax: +91 20 2553 85275 
2. Xavier Institute of Communications St. Xavier's College, Mumbai. India,Mumbai,India-400001
Contact No.: 2222621366, 2222621639
Email: edita@xaviercomm.org
Website: http://www.xaviercomm.org

3.  Wigan & Leigh College, UK,
in  India
The New Mahalaxmi Silk Mills Pvt Ltd,
Mathuradas Mills Compound,
Senapati Bapat Marg,
Lower Parel(W), Mumbai - 400013
Phone No. : 022-40571900/1919,
Mobile No.: 09323781477
Email: mumbaienquiry@wiganindia.org

Plot No. 14,
Lane No. 14, Galani Chambers,
Near Income Tax Office,
Prabhat Road,Pune - 411004
Phone No. : 020-25459588/89/90/64015205/06,
Mobile: 9970016136
Email: pune@wiganindia.org


S/1-2, Chanson building,
Next to Maruti Showroom,
Dayanand Bandodkar Marg,Miramar,
Panjim, Goa.403001
Phone No. : 0832-6450391/6451393
Email : goa@wiganindia.org

Pune

 Plot No. 14, Lane No. 14, Galani Chambers,Near Income Tax Office, Prabhat Road,Pune,India-411004
 For Course: Undergraduate Level - Advertising and Graphic Design
Contact No.: 02025459589,9970016136
Bangalore Campus
Ground Floor, No. 30,
Dickenson Road
Phone No. : 080-25574311/12/41477204
Email: bangalore@wiganindia.org

4. Wiztoonz College of Media and Design
 Address: Wiztoonz Animations Pvt. Ltd.,No.64, 13th Cross, 3rd Phase, JP Nagar, Bangalore - 560078,Bangalore,India-560078
 For Course: B.Sc. Multimedia
Contact No.: 08041664561,9972555851
Contact No.: 08026592828, 9972555851, 08026593838
Email: info@wiztoonz.com
Website: http://www.wiztoonz.com

5. The Whistling Woods International Institute for Film, Television & Media Arts,Mumbai
Film City, Goregoan
Mumbai 400065
India

6. ZICA – Zed Institute of Creative Arts
ZICA STUDIOS
Essel World, Gorai Island, Borivali(W), Mumbai – 400091, India.
Tel: +91 22 2845 2312 / 2197