Do you have conference advice for musicians? Want to be in my SxSW talk?
2010-02-26
Have you had some success at a music conference?
Could you distill a lesson from that success that you could share as advice to other musicians in under 2 minutes?
I'm doing a keynote-style one-hour talk at the South by Southwest Music Conference in three weeks, and I'd like to include you, if so.
The subject is practical advice on how to get the most out of the conference. Similar to this article. (Please read that link first.)
During my talk, I'm going to feature videos of advice from my musician/music-biz friends. I thought it'd be nice to share the exposure, and good for the audience to hear many different opinions.
So if you have some short advice from experience, please:
- Compose your thoughts to deliver it succinctly, between 20 seconds and 2 minutes. The shorter the better. Base it on fact, not opinion. Tell about your specific success at a conference, and the shareable lesson learned from it.
- Record a video of you speaking this advice. (Audio quality is crucial! Avoid room reverb.)
- Upload the video in the highest quality possible to vimeo.com
- Email me the URL to your video when uploaded
I'll use the best ones in my keynote speech, displayed on the big screen to the audience, with your name and URL in a big font.
Feel free to email me the text of your advice first, if you want feedback before bothering to record and upload a video.
I'll reply back to every email, to let you know if I can use it or not.
VIDEO DEADLINE: NEXT WEEKEND: Sunday March 7, 2010.
(Of course the earlier the better, so if I can't use it, there's time to tell you why, if you want to re-do it.)
Damn good idea!
The top thing I would say is BE YOURSELF and do not try for the hard sell. Reminder you are making new friends for the long term. And also T.O.S. time-on-stage it's all about the music.
Still Pickin'
B.H.
UPDATE: for those considering submitting a video, please read this:
The format I'm looking for is ideally a short (30-45 seconds) video sharing just one lesson with evidence to back it up. No long stories of success. Just the lesson and evidence, succinct and punchy.
An ideal example: “At the last conference, as we were heading out with some friends to grab lunch, I saw someone standing alone looking shy. On a whim, I invited him to lunch with our band, and he looked thankful and said yes. After talking about the last panel and our mutual love of Ryan Adams, I found out he is the head of music for a new online TV station. After he heard our music, he loved it, and so due to striking up a real friendship, our music is now all over this station, and he's coming to my wedding. So the lesson is: don't just talk to people you already know are important. Talk with someone who needs a little help being social. You might be surprised what they have to offer.”
I said 2-minute as a maximum time if the one point can't be made any shorter, but really the shorter the better. Thanks!
Hi Derek,
Thanks for your offer. No, I wouldn't make a short movie.
I'm making music since 20 years, since 10 years I'm working for a classical music publisher. 10 years - what a long time nowadays! But still feeling like a greenhorn. Everyday I'm learning new lessons, and that's fantastic. Attending a conference is a long-lasting listening session for me. This is it.
Afterwards, a few days later I'm sitting in my office. And occasionally I get an idea, I see a possibility of transferring something out of my conference-fed subconscious into action.
Therefore I would say a conference is usually not the hot area. But it may be a good catalyst for your brain.
Best,
Mike
The best way to meet new clients at a conference is to ask a lot of questions. Questions make you memorable!
Great idea Derek.
I'll get my camcorder out & send you a link
Andy
Got rejected by SxSW this year. That was a bit of a bummer, however it did open me up to the idea of other conferences and all. Good luck with your quest!
hi Derek,
im sure i would not be any use to you on giving advice to anyone in the music buisness;
i am currently looking for a manager or agent to help me get somne gigs in France and spain as im thinking of immgrating, not thinking, going to to, anyway if there i any outlet in your site that can help musicians like me, i would be very grateful if you could put me in theior direction;
i have been giging in pubs and clubs here for the last couple of years and its soul; destroying, i also have not sold any cds, and i dont believe if i lived to be a 1000, i would not sell any in ireland, where im living, so i hope you can help me;
my cd is called Dangerous Bends Ahead, i dont believe ive sold any on your site, ah well, cest la vie;
hope to hear from you or someone , soon, all the best,
martin
Hi Derek,
I don't have any experience with music conferences,I'm just getting started again in music after many years out of it.My CD should be ready for release in a few weeks,just waiting for OK from CMMRA for rights to the 1 cover song.We haven't started gigging yet,and am looking for an agent,things have changed a lot since last time I was playing! I enjoy reading your emails,and I think there's a lot of value in them. May I send you a copy of my demo?
All the best,and enjoy the conference!
Sincerely,
Randy White
Yes, book some meetings with people you want to meet - weeks in advance.
Of course, this advice will probably come too late if they are already in attendance listening to your speech!
Here are my two cents (already emailed this link to Derek)
1) fill a niche
2) use all your might to help other people get what they want.
http://www.vimeo.com/9886311
Don't go to a music conference.
Get front row tickets to a couple of huge concerts instead. And be inspired. Or rent a secluded cabin for a week to rehearse and write songs and have a breakthrough. Or hire a personal business consultant for three hours. Or rent a small theater and put on a show for free. Or fix your guitar.
There are many better ways to spend the $500 it costs you in admission and travel to attend a conference. Now, if $500 is no big deal for you - go for it. I'm sure it will be fun. I went to one once and enjoyed it. But if it isn't easy for you to spend $500, there are better places to spend it than on a music conference.
Sincerely,
Franco Bertucci
Derik,
If you want to hook up for some good Tex-Mex let me know.
Would love talking music with you over some good food and adult beverages!
Thanks,
Greg
Hi Derek!
We wanted to make a video. We mulled it over and talked about what WAS the best thing about Conferences. We haven't been to tons of them. The main thing was just connecting with people that you are drawn to. Being willing to learn something from any body, and making friends.
I actually wrote a jingle for you and we were planning on sending it by your deadline, but had some family emergencies come up and so it is still half done in the computer....If you would like a copy of it, let us know and we will send you a song I wrote, just for you!!!!
Have a great day Derek!
Rachel
Derek,
Your advice is always inspiring.
Your energy is jet fuel.
I have not attended a conference for a few years, but appreciate the hot tips for sharing my upcoming CD with the new folks I meet.
In gratitude,
Lisa
We sent Derek our video last week, but I thought it might be cool to post it here for anyone that wants to see it:
http://vimeo.com/9930258
Our advice is to document everything you do at the conference. Looking forward to seeing what everyone else has to say!
Rock on,
Lou
(drummer for Oranjuly)
After several conferences I would say that there are two important things:
1) Meet people, so you'll get an idea of who's who. This is important in the long run and
2) KNOW what you do and the kind of contacts you need. If you're a heavy metal band it probably be useless to spend an afternoon with a guy who only book country acts or with the owner of a tango academy. There are 1000's of people, but there are only a handfull that will be really useful or relevant to what you do.
Hi Derek
I personally feel they should stop calling them conferences and admit to the fact they are conventions...since when did rock'n'roll be come conventional?
when did bands stop play for their audiences and start playing for A&R who are too laziy to actualy find great music?
I'm sure The Ramones and The Stones could never have funded flying to one of these.