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"MUSIC AS A PROFESSION" EDUCATIONAL SERIES LAUNCHES JANUARY 20th @ SPACE >>>>>Portland Music Foundation’s 2010 educational programming to begin with seminar on getting better gigs

The Portland Music Foundation begins its 2010 programming with a members-only educational event January 20 titled “Learning to Think Like a Talent Buyer”. The event will be held at 6:30 pm (doors open at 6 pm) at SPACE Gallery at 538 Congress Street in Portland. The PMF “Music as a Profession” educational series is now entering its third year and has already served more than 300 different musicians and music professionals. This event is for PMF members only. However, membership is available on site ($20.00 for 2010) and provides access to members-only events, which will include nine seminars in 2010 as well as a number of discounts at area music-related businesses.

You can view the enitre 2010 "Music As A Profession" topic schedule here.

The Jan. 20 event, “Learning to Think Like a Talent Buyer” will discuss what talent buyers are looking for with several of the area’s most experienced, top talent buyers. Moderator Mark Lourie, PMF board member and VP at Skyline Music, will ask our panel all your most burning questions and you’ll learn how to write an email or leave a message that gets talent buyers’ attention in this ultra-competitive world.

Frustrated that your calls and emails to club buyers or other talent buyers are being ignored? Wondering why? These panelists can help:

Lauren Wayne
Marketing Director for Live Nation New England, Talent Buyer for Port City Music Hall

Nick Bloom
Owner / Talent Buyer / Promoter, Bloom Arts

Ian Paige
Talent Buyer, Space Gallery

Dan Millen
Owner / Talent Buyer / Promoter, Rock On! Concerts, Boston

Ryan Dolan
Local independent talent buyer, Live Nation New Media Marketer, and touring musician

Each panelist will be available for questions following the presentation and discussion.

For more information, email info@portlandmusicfoundation.org


THREE NEW MEMBER BENEFITS ANNOUNCED>>>>>First, Rocking Horse Studio, based in Pittsfield, NH, is offering a 15 percent discount on entire project budget, which can include hourly and daily recording rates, overnight accommodations, use of all instruments and equipment, and session musician and producer services.

Here’s what they have to say about themselves: Rocking Horse Studio is a premier destination recording studio, providing world-class recording and audio production. The studio combines the finest in analog and digital equipment with rooms designed by renowned acoustician Michael Blackmer. The studio spaces are large, comfortable, and inviting, perfect for ensembles of all sizes. Drums, piano, strings, and horns sound huge in our large room, while quieter instruments and voices often sound best when tracked in our smaller, more intimate acoustic spaces. Our classic Trident Series 80B console is the centerpiece of the control room, which also features Pro Tools HD and a wide selection of boutique outboard preamps, compressors, and processors. Our microphone cabinet is stocked with vintage and modern standards, and our collection of rare, vintage, and sometimes strange keyboards rivals anything on the east coast. In 2009, Mix Magazine selected Rocking Horse Studio for inclusion in its annual “Class Of” feature, which showcases the best new recording facilities from around the world to open in the previous 12 months. Find us at www.rockinghorsestudio.com.

Second, Crooked Cove Records, based in Kittery, is offering a 20 percent discount on graphic design and mastering services with each duplication order.

Here’s what they have to say about themselves: Founded in 1981 by Tom Daly, who worked on his first duplication project in Portsmouth New Hampshire in 1979 (naturally, it was vinyl back then!), Crooked Cove gradually morphed into the business of helping bands and musicians just out of the recording studio get their first thousand CDs manufactured. Over the years, we developed expert in-house graphic design and mastering capabilities. The edge is an experienced (and local!) set of ears and eyeballs helping you avoid the pitfalls of the often confusing CD duplicating experience. We actually take a personal interest in your project. We are located in Kittery and count among our clients (comedian) Bob Marley, Rustic Overtones, Cornmeal Records, Important Records and thousands more. Tom also owned and operated Big Sound, the epicenter of local Maine music production in the 1990's, until it's sale in 2001. We even have local sales reps who will meet with you in person to help bring your project to completion. Find us www.crookedcove.com.

Finally, Rokbird flying discs is offering a special rate of $2.50 per disc for PMF Members.

Rokbirds are made locally and are special discs/frisbees that are designed to hold a CD jewel case. You can use them to send discs (pardon the pun) out into the crowd at shows or just sell them at the merch table as a cool add on. Find out more at www.rokbird.com.


 



Pairing local musicians with local fashion designers
A benefit for the Portland Music Foundation

A fundraising event created to benefit the Portland Music Foundation, Frock ‘n’ Roll pairs some of the most talented local musicians of Portland with some of the most talented fashion designers in the city. Who needs Fashion Week in New York when we have Frock ‘n’ Roll in Portland?

Frock ‘n’ Roll centers around the vision of bridging the local worlds of fashion design and music as the two are constantly borrowing from one and inspiring the other. Think along the lines Sex Pistols and Vivienne Westwood. Madonna and Jean Paul Gaultier. The Baltic Sea and pinecone+chickadee.

Friday, September 18 will be similar to a fashion show, though instead of a runway, musicians will be performing on stage while modeling the clothes and accessories designed for them. It’s the perfect way for an audience to witness the melding and extraordinary relationship between these two forms of art.

Musical performances by Darien Brahms, Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Spencer and the School Spirit Mafia, Isobell, Samuel James, Todd the Rocket and j.hjort, The Hot Tarts and The Baltic Sea.

Fashion design by Alicia Allen Jewelry, Ponomo, Ferdinand, pinecone+chickadee, Rogues Gallery, Never Sleep, Golden Apple, brook there, Jen Burrall Designs, Local Ink and Sophronia Designs.

The event will be hosted by Dj Matty.T of Atomik and Spencer Albee.

Please visit www.frocknroll.wordpress.com for more information, including musician and designer biographies and website links or email info@portlandmusicfoundation.org


PMF talks Beatles on Trinumeral 9/9/9
Continuation of “Music as a Profession” series looks into mastering, Beatlemania

Beatles fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the release of a remastered Beatles catalog and the first-ever Beatles Rock Band video game on Sept. 9. Why are the Beatles such a big deal and why is everyone so geeked up?

The Portland Music Foundation helps you figure it out with “Dissecting the Beatles,” the next installment in the non-profit organization’s “Music as a Profession” series, funded by the Maine Arts Commission. The event will be held at the Port City Music Hall, at 504 Congress Street, in Portland, Sept. 9, at 6 p.m. It is a free event.

“Dissecting the Beatles,” a forum moderated by Bull Moose VP Chris Brown, will look at why the remastering of the Beatles catalog matters, how they got those great sounds in the first place, and what made the Beatles so important in music history. And, well, why did so many people go crazy for them in the first place?

Brown will be joined by local mastering engineer Adam Ayan, a Grammy-winning mainstay at the noted Gateway Mastering; Steve Drown, a recording engineer at the Studio with a degree from the Berklee College of Music and six Grammy-nominated albums under his belt for the Telarc label; Pat Callaghan, WCSH6 anchor and reporter, who has been a lifelong Beatles aficionado; and Spencer Albee, frontman for Spencer and the School Spirit Mafia, and a songwriter who is heavily influenced by the Beatles sound.

After placing the Beatles in their cultural context and talking about what exactly the mastering process is and why it matters, the panel will dissect three of the Beatles’ recordings, examining arrangements, recording techniques, the effect those songs had on the world at large, and how today’s musicians can use today’s technology to make their records sound similar. Practical examples will include actual mic’ing techniques and live display of ProTools recording software in use.

For more info email info@portlandmusicfoundation.org


NEW PMF MEMBER BENEFIT
Discounts at RealTraps, makers of acoustic treatments

RealTraps (http://www.realtraps.com) is a manufacturer of acoustic treatments, intended to improve the acoustics of any room, whether it's intended for sound recording or listening.

They are offering Portland Music Foundation members a $50 discount on the Portable Vocal Booth (http://realtraps.com/p_pvb.htm) and a 10% discount on any room kit (http://realtraps.com/p_roomkits.htm).

RealTraps provides very high-quality, removable acoustic panels that can transform even an ordinary bedroom into an outstanding acoustical environment for producing music.

For more details on how best to treat your room, contact James Lindenschmidt, Maine resident and general manager of RealTraps, at JWL@RealTraps.com.


MAMM presents ROCK & ROLL SUMMER CAMP>>>>>Maine Academy of Modern Music's popular Rock Camp Series provides young aspiring musicians a place where they can learn some serious Rock 'n' Roll, and have a seriously good time doing it! We offer a week-long crash course in modern music during which students will learn how to play in and run a real band of their own. This camp teaches how to get out of the garage and in to a studio or on to a stage.  

Throughout the week kids are given opportunities to play in a rock band and learn how to play cover songs, as well as how to write an original song from scratch. While at Camp, the students are instructed by accomplished educators and members of local working bands who offer their own inside tips on self-promotion, booking, and gigging. The experience also offers campers the chance to talk with various professionals from the music biz while on the Camp’s several field trips to local radio stations & recording studios. Students will learn about the history of rock and even some music theory!

RECORDING STUDIO CAMP >>>>>This camp is a recording musicians’ dream! Students learn the fundamentals of recording a rock band in a state-of-the-art recording studio with one of Portland's top engineers. The camp is held at The Studio and led by engineer Jim Begley, an 11-year resident engineer at The Studio and live sound engineer of choice for countless bands and venues. Recording Studio Camp is a hands-on camp. Not only will students be using the same top-notch gear as the pros, but they will be working on a recording of a real live band! Past camps have engaged the services of popular bands, such as the internationally acclaimed Paranoid Social Club, featuring members of the Rustic Overtones.

This camp covers all the basics: pre-production, mic placement, over-dubbing, mixing, mastering, and inside tips and tricks of the trade.

SUMMER CAMP CALENDAR

June 22nd - June 26th Recording Studio Camp, Portland
The Studio, 45 Casco St, Portland ME 04101
June 29th - July 3th Rock Camp, Bar Harbor
Conners-Emerson Elementary School, 11 Eagle Lake Rd, Bar Harbor ME 04609

July 6th - July 10th Rock Camp, Kennebunk
River Tree Arts, 35 Western Ave, Kennebunk ME 04043

July 13th - July 17th Recording Studio Camp, Portland
The Studio, 45 Casco St, Portland ME 04101

July 20th - July 24th Rock Camp (Covers), Portland
Immanuel Baptist Church, 156 High St, Portland ME 04101

July 27th - July 31st Rock Camp (Songwriting), Portland
Immanuel Baptist Church, 156 High St, Portland ME 04101

August 3rd - August 7th Recording Studio Camp, Portland
The Studio, 45 Casco St, Portland ME 04101

August 10th - August 14th Rock Camp, Machias
University of Maine at Machias, 9 O'Brien Avenue, Machias ME 04654

August 17th - August 21st Rock Camp (Rock Band 101), Portland
Immanuel Baptist Church, 156 High St, Portland ME 04101


FEES & REGISTRATION

MAMM's Rock Camps cost $300 per week, and run M-F from 10am-3:30pm. Recording Studio Camps cost $400 and run M-F from 10am-4pm. You can find the registration and health forms online at: http://maineacademyofmodernmusic.org/camps.html.

MAMM asks for a $50 deposit per child per camp. Checks can be made out to "MAMM" and mailed along with the reg/health forms to:


MAMM
12 Revere St
Portland ME 04103


MIXER SERIES CONTINUES JUNE 30 >>>>>The Portland Music Foundation this month continues its Mixer series, whereby musicians and others affiliated with the local music industry can get together to talk shop, swap music, and make connections in a casual setting. The next stop is at Port City Music Hall, at 504 Congress in Portland, on June 30, from 6 to 8p.m. The event is free and open to the 21+ public.

Because the Port City Music Hall is still relatively new, having just opened in January, the PMF has joined with the PCMH to offer an open house during the event, where musicians can get a tour of the stage, the sound board, the various nooks and crannies that live down below the performance space, and also have an opportunity to speak with the venue’s ownership and management.

Oh, and cocktails will be just $3. Did we mention that part?

These events are open to everyone, not just PMF members. This is a networking event, so attendees are encouraged to bring flyers, CDs, business cards, etc., and be ready to trade them with like-minded musicians and other industry members looking to build a stronger Portland-area music scene.

For more information, visit www.porltandmusicfoundation.org or email info@portlandmusicfoundation.org.

You can ask questions and discuss these events at http://portlandmusicfoundation.lefora.com/forum.

Mark your calendars, because these are great ways to network with other bands for gig sharing, meet PR professionals and others who can help you promote your band, and just generally hang out with other folks who feel your pain. Bring business cards, CDs, whatever you want. It’s your chance to find like-minded people and grow your circle of industry friends.


MEMBERS-ONLY SEMINAR TO FOCUS ON BRANDING, MARKETING, TRADEMARK PROTECTION>>>>>Okay, folks, we continue our 2009 programming with a members-only educational event tomorrow May 19, "Your Band, Your Brand." The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.), at SPACE, at 538 Congress Street, in Portland. The PMF "Music as a Profession" educational series is presented thanks to a grant from the Maine Arts Commission. This event is for PMF members only. However, membership is available on site, costs $20 for 2009, and provides access to members-only events, as well as a number of discounts at area music-related businesses.

For this gig, too, we're excited to be partnering with the Maine Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, who've graciously provided an expert on trademark law.

"Your Band, Your Brand" will focus on marketing your band and building your band's brand. Featuring industry members who've worked closely with local and national acts, the presentations will discuss the coordination of your press contacts, your web presence, the music you write and play, and everything else that goes into how the public perceives you. Further, there will be a presentation on trademark protection and law.

As you develop your fanbase, what messages are you sending, what are the important things to pay attention to, and how can you help cement the perception and story of your band that you believe in?

Panelists include:

Moderator Sam Pfeifle, music writer for the Portland Phoenix
Matthew Robbins, photographer, designer, guitarist and frontman for King Memphis
Rowan Bishop, owner of Bridge Street Design, guitarist for By Blood Alone
Matt Truman, guitarist for Dead Season
Robert Mittel, a lawyer with MittelAsen, LLP, speaking in conjunction with the Maine Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts
Costa Vida Fred, the Marketing Imagineer, marketing guru

Each panelist will be available for questions following the presentation and discussion.

To discuss this seminar and other topics, visit http://portlandmusicfoundation.lefora.com/forum.

For more information on the Maine Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts, visit www.mainevla.org or email info@mainevla.org.

For more information, email info@portlandmusicfoundation.org

Discuss this seminar and other topics, @ http://portlandmusicfoundation.lefora.com/forum


SPRING 2009 OPEN SESSION

Tuesday, April 21, 2009
SPACE
538 Congress St.
Portland, ME 04101
(207)828-5600

Doors - 6:00 PM//Start - 6:30PM

Topic: Gigging 201 - GET OUTTA TOWN!

“Gigging 201: Get Outta Town,” an in-depth discussion of what it takes to book and perform successful shows outside of your home market. So you’ve been playing around town for awhile now and you think you might be ready to take your show on the road… How do you know when it’s time to tour? What are the crucial elements you must have in place before you tour? How can you find road gigs and how do you decide where to go? What are the pitfalls to watch out for when planning a tour?

Mark Lourie, PMF board member and VP at Skyline Music, a national booking agency, will moderate a panel discussion that will feature: jazz/folk musician Emilia Dahlin; folk/pop musician Jason Spooner; punk musician Kurt Baker of the Leftovers; rock musician Craig Sala of Planeside; and Dan Millen, president of Rock On! Concerts, a Boston-based concert promotion company. Millen has booked acts at famous Boston clubs like Mama Kin, Harpers Ferry, and Bill’s Bar, and now produces some 300 shows a year and is the exclusive talent buyer for Tammany Hall in Worcester, Mass.

Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions of all the panelists following the panel discussion.

For more information, email info@portlandmusicfoundation.org.


PMF MIXER SERIES CONTINUES MARCH 24>>>>>On March 24, we’ll have a 21+ event at Geno’s. 6 to 8 p.m. THIS EVENT IS FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

Mark your calendars, because these are great ways to network with other bands for gig sharing, meet PR professionals and others who can help you promote your band, and just generally hang out with other folks who feel your pain. Bring business cards, CDs, whatever you want. It’s your chance to find like-minded people and grow your circle of industry friends.

Look for continuing networking nights THIS SPRING!

As always, ask questions at info@portlandmusicfoundation.org.


“RECORD DEAL FOR ME?” SEMINAR DRAWS BIG CROWD, GETS INK >>>>>The first PMF educational seminar of 2009, the open-to-the-public “Is There a Record Deal for Me in 2009?,” drew roughly 100 attendees to One Longfellow Square to hear record-industry veterans talk about the new world order of landing a record deal in 2009. Hosted by PMF board members Mark Curdo, owner of Labor Day Records, and Lisa van Oosterum, CEO of Omnirox Entertainment, the panel included Moshe and Jason Hjort, owners of Milled Pavement Records and brick.city.media; Lou Rizzo, regional promotion manager for Atlantic Records; and Ralph Jaccodine, manager of acts like Ellis Paul and Bang Camaro.

You can read what MPBN reported about the event HERE


NEW BENEFITS FOR PORTLAND MUSIC FOUNDATION MEMBERS>>>>> We’re very excited to have two new recording-oriented benefits ready to celebrate the new year.

First, Pete Morse, who runs Busted Barn Recording and works out of the Halo Studio, in Windham, called Busted Barn Recording, is offering PMF members a 15 percent discount off the final cost of recording. This would include tracking, editing, production work, mixing, and mastering (pretty much all audio engineering work). He says: “My space is very well suited for production, singer/songwriter work, overdubs and voice over work with two designated isolation rooms. Due to the accurate acoustics in the room I have also been able to take on some mastering work as well. From an aesthetic standpoint, the control room is very comfortable with a huge window looking out onto many acres of farmland. Furthermore, there is a lounge area with flat screen TV, couches and a soon-to-be bar for clients to relax, a full kitchen and a bathroom with a shower.”

Busted Barn can be reached at 730-0064 or bustedbarn@yahoo.com.

Second, Pete Nenortas, who runs Satronen Sound, which specializes in location audio recording for the music industry, is offering PMF members a 20 percent discount on Satronen Sound services. He says: “Over the last four years the company has grown from working with local & regional bands to touring with high profile national artists. Satronen Sound's recordings have been released on numerous live albums appearing on major and independent record labels including Island Def Jam Music Group, Lava/Atlantic Records, Immune Records, City Salvage Records, Cornmeal Records, Labor Day Records. The company continues to have a true dedication to helping stimulate the Portland music community through its involvement and collaboration with local venues, musicians and institutions.”

Satronen Sound can be reached at 615-2610 or pete@satronensound.com


PORTLAND MUSIC FOUNDATION EDUCATIONAL SEMINARS, ROUND 4!
>>>>> Portland Music Foundation educational seminars: “Recording with ProTools” Members-only event Feb. 18, with help from a Maine Arts Commission grant

The Portland Music Foundation continues its winter 2009 programming with a members-only educational event Feb. 18. The event will be held at 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.), at One Longfellow Square, in Portland. The PMF “Music as a Profession” educational series is presented thanks to a grant from the Maine Arts Commission. Membership is available on site, costs $20 for 2009, and provides access to members-only events, as well as a number of discounts at area music-related businesses.

The Feb. 18 event will feature “Recording with ProTools: From the Basics to the Backbeat,” two back-to-back workshops that will cover the basic technical aspects of working with a digital audio workstation (namely Digidesign’s ProTools), and the creative application of your technical skills. It’s a primer for those PMF members with an Mbox or 002 system and the creative and technical bent to get recording on their own.

The panelists are as follows:

Adam Ayan: Winner of a Grammy and two Latin Grammies for his work at Gateway Mastering & DVD in Portland. His credits include work with Nirvana, the Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters, Faith Hill, Nine Inch Nails, Rascal Flatts, and many others. He has more than 40 Gold, Platinum, and Multi-Platinum projects on his resume.

Jim Begley: Freelance engineer and producer working primarily at the Studio, where he has worked with dozens of local artists and produced hundreds of local and national radio and television commercials. He is also currently live-sound engineer at the Port City Music Hall.

Darien Brahms: Long-time local musician who has been named “Best Female Vocalist” and “Best Performer” six times by local publications and released four full-length records, the last of which, Number 4, she recorded completely on her own in her home.

Brian Doser: Decade-long Northeast Regional Product Specialist and Sales Representative for Digidesign, maker of ProTools recording software. He was previously Audio Engineering Manager for WERS-FM at Emerson College, in Boston.

Scott Riebling: Multi-platinum and award-winning engineer and producer who has worked with Fall Out Boy, American Hi-Fi, and the Von Bondies, among many others. As a bassist, he has recorded with Letters to Cleo, Weezer, Nina Gordan, and Tracy Bonham. He’s currently building his own recording studio in the Boston suburbs.

Jonathan Wyman: Producer, recording and mixing engineer, who has worked with local acts including Rustic Overtones, Phantom Buffalo, Dead Season, and Jerks of Grass, along with national acts like Ray LaMontagne, Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson, and Speech. He’s also worked alongside producers and engineers like Dave "Sluggo" Katz (Boys Like Girls, Gym Class Heroes, Mandy Moore) Beau Hill (Ratt, Warrant), Brian Malouf (Vertical Horizon, Lit), Tony Visconti (David Bowie, T Rex), and Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Faith No More).

Hour one: “Protools: the ‘Technical’ Basics.” Panelists include: Brian Doser, Jonathan Wyman, Darien Brahms. Moderators: Jim Begley and Adam Ayan.

Hour two: “Protools: Getting Creative, Tips and Tricks.” Panelists include: Brian Doser, Scott Riebling, Jonathan Wyman. Moderators: Jim Begley and Adam Ayan.

Both hours will be followed by a Q&A opportunity.

For more information, email info@portlandmusicfoundation.org.

To discuss this seminar and other topics, visit: http://portlandmusicfoundation.lefora.com/forum


PMF HOLIDAY BASH>>>> Join us Dec. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Big Easy, on Market Street in Portland. This 21+ event precedes the WCYY “Home for the Holidays” show and lets PMF members and non-members alike gather in a frosty glow of holiday spirit before nearly 20 local bands take the stage to play holiday music. What could be better than that?

This is a networking event, so attendees are encouraged to bring flyers, CDs, business cards, etc., and be ready to trade them with like-minded musicians and other industry members looking to build a stronger Portland-area music scene.


RADIO & ONLINE MARKETING SESSION DRAWS BIG CROWD>>>>>On Nov. 5, the Portland Music Foundation held our third and final members-only educational session of 2008, and drew our biggest crowd yet. Roughly 50 members attended sessions aimed at educating musicians about getting on Portland-area radio and the basics of online marketing, held at One Longfellow Square.

The radio session was led by WCYY/WBLM program director Herb Ivy (aka “The Captain”), and included Mark Curdo, host of “Spinout” on WCYY; Jan Wilkinson, host of “Local Motives” on WMPG; Pete Kilpatrick, local musician and heartthrob; and the members of Sparks the Rescue, who are currently getting more than 20 plays a week on WCYY. Central messages included: Send real CDs, in the mail, to the hosts of local radio shows, and follow-up with phone calls and emails to make sure the host got the CD and doesn’t have any questions—it’s okay to be pleasantly persistent. Further, build your radio presence the way you build your local fanbase, from your hometown out. Once you’ve received airplay locally, use that fact to try to reach out to stations in nearby markets, like Portsmouth or Bangor. Grow it out. Finally, hit up the college stations in any area you’re traveling to with free discs. They’re the most likely to take a flyer on a small indie band coming to town.

A useful web site is www.radioandrecords.com, where you can look up the playlists of any radio station in the country. If they’re playing bands like you, maybe they’ll play you, too.

The Online session was led by Pat May, president of the PMF and a booking agent for Skyline Music, along with Samuel Cousins, an IT guy by trade and a search engine optimization expert; and Kris Currier, Citadel Radio’s web master. Currier discussed the basics of simple web design, focusing on keeping the layout clean, the content updated, and making sure people can easily find what they’re looking for. Cousins emphasized the need to investigate how Google and other search engines find and rank sites, and making sure all of the content on your site is properly tagged and features keywords that people are likely to search if they’re looking for your music. Finally, May spoke about the “Big Four” social networking sites that you need to get involved with if you aren’t already: Myspace.com, Facebook.com, Twitter.com, and YouTube.com. Each site has its own usefulness and utility, but it would be a mistake to completely ignore any of them.

The next educational sessions will be in January and February, and will look at the role that labels play in the current business landscape, along with the recording and mixing process.


PMF LANDS $7K GRANT FROM THE MAINE ARTS COMMISSION>>>>> If you like the Portland Music Foundation’s educational programming, you’re in luck: Thanks to a $7,000.00 grant from the Maine Arts Commission, the PMF has funding to put on educational sessions through the end of 2009. The money will be put toward paying stipends to presenters, both local musicians and music professionals and people “from away” who can offer expertise.

The money comes from a pool won in part by Maine Attorney General Stephen Rowe in a settlement with Sony/BMG, who Rowe and other attorneys general sued for implanting spyware on CDs sold to consumers. Other grants went to the DaPonte String Quartet and SPACE Gallery.

If you have ideas for educational sessions, please visit the PMF forum, where you can vote on suggested topics or suggest your own.


2ND ANNUAL LAUNCH PARTY TAKES OFF>>>>>Thanks to everyone who came out to One City Center Sept. 17 for the PMF’s 2nd Annual Launch Party. More than 125 of you came to network, sign up for a 2009 membership, and talk shop with sponsors like the Drum Shop, the Studio, the Maine Academy of Modern Music, and the Arm Factory. Plus, people enjoyed tasty PMF Musician’s Blend coffee from Freaky Bean Coffee Company.

The caffeine was much-appreciated: After a couple of hours, everyone moved over to Empire Dine & Dance to hear Hiss & Chambers, Gypsy Tailwind, the Rocket, and Moshe for an after-party that ran late into the night.Thanks to everyone who signed up for membership, and please forward any thoughts on new sponsors we can add to our list of benefits.


NEW PMF OFFICERS ELECTED AT ANNUAL MEETING >>>>>Adam Ayan is president of the Portland Music Foundation no longer. After a successful year-plus reign as head of the organization—a time in which he oversaw the organization’s incorporation as a non-profit, attainment of 501c3 status, initiation of educational programming, and much more—Ayan stepped down as president at the group’s second annual meeting, held this past Sept. 9.

In his place, the PMF board of directors elected Patrick May, the group’s treasurer since incorporation. May, who works booking over 40 aritst into venue across the northeast for SkylineMusic, said he is looking to cement the great beginning Ayan oversaw, as well as build out the PMF’s infrastructure, strengthening the web resources and bettering the group’s membership services.

Sam Pfeifle retained his position as PMF secretary, and Lisa van Oosterum, CEO of management company and record label Omnirox, joined the board of directors and was elected PMF treasurer.


Fall 2008 Open Session

Wednesday, October 8, 2008
One Longfellow Square
181 State Street
Portland, ME 04101 *MAP*
(207) 761-1757


Doors - 6:00 PM//Start - 6:30PM

Topic: "The Best Decsion I Ever Made"

The public is invited to a discussion called, “The Best Decision I Ever Made,” which will feature veteran music industry members recalling some of the best decisions they made as they built their careers. It follows the “Mistakes Were Made” session that began the last round of PMF educational programming. The hope is that some of these lessons learned can inspire the current crop of aspiring industry members to kick their careers into a higher gear. The panelists are as follows and will be available for a Q&A session following the on-stage discussion.

Lance Vardis – Producer and owner of CSP Mobile, a mobile recording studio used for capturing live events. Vardis has worked with all kinds of big-time musicians, from Robert Randolph and the Family Band to Slayer to the Black Crowes, recording live events for record and film.

Gene McDaniels - Grammy-winning songwriter and performer - Maybe best known for writing "Feel Like Making Love" for Roberta Flack, McDaniels had his first Top 10 hit in 1961 as a performer and released 11 albums through 1971. He then turned to songwriting, producing, and studio work, teaming with the likes of Burt Bacharach, Nancy Wilson, and even lending a sample to the Beastie Boys' seminal "Sabotage."

Taylor Mesple – Owner of the Maple Room, a performance venue in Lewiston; songwriter and president, Maine Songwriters Association. Mesple is an accomplished studio musician and producer, with credits beside names like James Taylor, Bruce Hornsby, the Indigo Girls, and Keb Mo. He’s played on more than 120 albums and has four to his own name.

Chris Brown – VP Marketing, Bull Moose Music. Brown has been crucial to Bull Moose’s long-time support of local album sales, advocating for local albums’ place beside nationally recognized acts and with Brett Wickard developing Uncle Stinky, the software that helps locals actually get paid.

Darren Elder – Musician, the Wrecking, national recording artists; owner, the Halo, recording studio. Elder’s band, the Wrecking, just released their national debut, A New Abolition, on the Chosen/Universal label. As owner of the Halo, he and Jon Wyman are responsible for the production and creation of dozens of local albums.


2ND ANNUAL LAUNCH EVENT
(The PMF Re-Introduces Itself to the World with Bands, Board Members, and Partners)

Continuing on our mission to serve as a clearinghouse and educational forum for the Portland music community, The PMF will hold its 2nd annual Launch Event and Open House, on Wednesday Sept. 17, at 6 p.m., at One City Center.

At the event, musicians and anyone interested in fostering organization, cooperation and professionalism in the Portland music community can network with like-minded people and sign up for membership in the PMF. Local music will be playing and local businesses who have partnered with the PMF will be on hand to talk about how they would like to offer support to the local-music community. There will also be a community networking table where anyone can leave information that might be of interest to PMF members.

This event is similar to the kick-off event held last year, which generated 100 memberships in the PMF, but this year the organization has added an after-party and has a lot more to talk about. At 9 p.m., attendees will move to Empire Dine and Dance to see live music from Gypsy Tailwind and Hiss & Chambers, plus DJ sets from Moshe and rocket.one.

Tickets to the after-party are ONLY$5.00, but the first 50 attendees of the Launch Event will receive FREE TICKETS! (Must be 21+)

At the Launch Event, PMF board members will be on hand to discuss what the organization has accomplished in the last year and what is to come. Since September 2007, the PMF has done the following:

• Signed up more than 200 members

• Held four educational seminar nights, where area musicians, music professionals, and experts from around the country discussed working with the media, booking gigs, publishing your music, gig professionalism, and working with a recording engineer.

• Attained 501c3 federal tax status, allowing individuals to make tax-deductible donations to the PMF

• Launched an online forum at http://portlandmusicfoundation.lefora.com/, where area musicians and music professionals can discuss the PMF, the area music scene, their upcoming events, and anything relevant to working in the music industry

• Held six networking nights at area businesses

In 2009, the Portland Music Foudation will continue these initiatives, as well as announce a number of exciting developments that will allow the organization to continue its goal of helping area musicians and music professionals attain their industry goals.

PMF membership costs $20 annually, and offers benefits like 20 percent off band ads in the Portland Phoenix, 20 percent off advertising at Citadel Radio, 10 percent off purchases at the Drum Shop, $10 off an hour of studio time at the Studio, 10 percent off the hourly rate at Port Media recording studio, special pricing at the Arm Factory, which produces promotional materials for bands, and free lessons at the Maine Academy of Modern Music. In addition, membership allows entrance into all PMF educational series and events, which will resume in October and November.

For more information, email: info@portlandmusicfoundation.org


FREAKY BEAN COFFEE RELEASES “PMF MUSICIAN'S BLEND”>>>>>Now area music fans can help out their local scene just by drinking their morning cup of coffee. The Freaky Bean Coffee Company has collaborated with the Portland Music Foundation to release the PMF Musician’s Blend, a coffee blend now available in 12-ounce bags at all Freaky Bean and Maine Roasters Coffee Company locations and will be available at the end of June online at www.freakybean.com.

One dollar from the sale of each bag of PMF Musician’s Blend will go towards the Foundation’s efforts to educate area musicians on such topics as booking, press relations, publishing, recording, and legal concerns.

The blend is part of Freaky Bean’s partnership with the PMF, which also includes hosting PMF networking events at its locations and supporting area singer/songwriters by having in-store performances. The Musician’s Blend will also now be available for sale at PMF events going forward.


“When we founded Freaky Bean back in 2005, my business partner and I really wanted to create a contemporary coffee house with more of an old-school come in and hang out kind of vibe,” said Andy Kessler, Freaky Bean’s VP, Director of Creative and E-commerce. “Since music is such a vital part of our lives and our community we see this as a perfect fit and are thrilled to be able to support such an incredible organization.”


“The Freaky Bean came to us as music fans who really want to support the local scene,” said Adam Ayan the Grammy Award-winning mastering engineer of Gateway Mastering & DVD and the Portland Music Foundation’s Founder and President. “When they stepped up to the plate we immediately saw that they get what we are trying to do and really are devoted to strengthening Portland’s music scene. And we are also big fans of their coffee.”


Portland Music Foundation members will have the opportunity to perform at Freaky Bean locations when they book through the company’s music coordinator Mike Jones. Further, PMF musician members will also be able to perform at Maine Roasters Coffee Company stores in Yarmouth and Falmouth, which are wholly owned and operated by Freaky Bean.


ABOUT FREAKY BEAN
Established in 2005, Freaky Bean Coffee Company roasts all its coffees to bring out the unique flavor of all its beans and is dedicated to educating its customers about specific coffee flavor profiles. The Freaky Bean is the only coffee company in Maine to offer tastings in its specially constructed Cupping Room in the Westbrook location. The Freaky Bean is a community-oriented business that encourages customers to hang out and relax over a great cup of freshly roasted coffee or espresso based drinks. Presently operating three retail locations – 855 Main Street, Westbrook, and 360 US Route 1, Scarborough and 2 Cabela Way in Scarborough, the company will soon open another location, on Broadway in South Portland. Once opened these stores will make the Freaky Bean Maine’s largest coffee retailer/roastery.

For more information, www.freakybean.com, or email info@portlandmusicfoundation.org


PORTLAND MUSIC FOUNDATION ATTAINS 501c3 STATUS>>>>>  The Portland Music Foundation recently attained its 501c3 federal tax status, making the PMF eligible for a number of grants and making donations to the organization tax deductible.

“Acquiring our 501c3 federal tax-exempt status from the IRS is an enormous step forward for the Portland Music Foundation,” said PMF president Adam Ayan. “This status now allows us to accept tax deductible donations, as well as solidifies the organization as an official public charity, allowing the PMF to continue its mission of supporting, organizing, and nurturing the Portland music community.”


Lawyer David Ordway helped the Portland Music Foundation navigate the bureaucratic hurdles necessary to gain 501c3 status and provided instrumental advice. Accountant Tom Lee helped the organization prepare tax documents.


Over the past year, the Portland Music Foundation has organized two series of educational seminars, held at the St. Lawrence Arts Center, and a series of mixers and networking events held at six local coffeeshops and watering holes. The PMF currently has more than 200 members, who’ve paid $20 for a year’s worth of discounts at area businesses and access to the PMF educational seminars.


PMF events will continue starting with its Second Annual Launch Event (with after party), Sept. 17, and its next educational series, which starts Oct. 8.


PORTLAND MUSIC FOUNDATION LAUNCHES ONLINE FORUM>>>>>
Thanks to the efforts of area musician and web programmer Dan Bodoff, the Portland Music Foundation now has an online forum where you can ask questions of PMF board members, discuss just about any topic you want with other area musicians and music professionals, exchange gigs, and look for and sell musical instruments.

That’s right. The PMF is all geeked out.


Find the forum @ http://portlandmusicfoundation.lefora.com/


The Portland Music Foundation board members and a number of our Board of Trustees members are moderators of the forum and try to monitor it as best we can. We hope it’s a place people can exchange ideas about making bands, clubs, and the rest of the local music industry more successful. Or more fun. Or better. Or whatever. Just be nice to each other.


NEW MEMBER BENEFIT FOR LOCALLY PRODUCED SWAG>>>>>
The Portland Music Foundation has teamed with Dominic D'Alessio & the Arm Factory, a collection of local artists based in Westbrook’s Dana Warp Mill, to secure reduced rates on design services and reproduction of T-shirts, posters, flyers, handbills, and stickers. They even offer custom CD and vinyl package design. GET RATES HERE

Yes, you can get cheaper stuff in the Internet if you look hard enough, but the Arm Factory has some highly talented artists who are willing to work with you on logo, T-shirt, and poster design, and the quality of the end results is top shelf. Plus, you’re keeping your spending local, which means more people have money in their pockets to come to your shows and buy your discs!
To receive the rates below, mention your PMF membership when you call up the Arm Factory at 207.233.0742 or thearmfactory@gmail.com, or visit their site at www.thearmfactory.com.


PORTLAND MUSIC FOUNDATION CELEBRATES OUR 1st YEAR!>>>>>  Happy Birthday PMF! This June marked the Portland Music Foundation's first year of existence. The PMF incorporated as non-profit in the state of Maine one year ago last month, and has begun its mission to help organize, support, nurture and promote the music community of greater Portland.

Our first year has been an eventful and successful one. Starting with our Diageo Speakeasy fundraiser and Launch Event in the fall of 2007, and continuing with our Educational Workshop Series and Mixer Series in 2008, the PMF has been hard at work providing quality services for the musicians of greater Portland. Our membership perks have also steadily grown, and we will work hard to further expand them. The PMF Membership base has grown throughout the year to more than 200 members!

NOW WHAT CAN WE DO NEXT FOR YOU?

The PMF has many exciting plans for the second half of 2008, including: an official Portland Music Foundation online message forum (see below); a new round of Educational Workshops in collaboration with the Maine Center for Creativity; a new round of mixers; and a second annual Launch Event Sept. 17 (okay, it’s more like an open house, but we like the idea of a “second annual launch”). Stay tuned for more details.

So now the questions for you, fellow PMF members, are:

1. What can the PMF do better in the second half of 2008, and beyond? VOTE HERE

2. What topic would you most like to see addressed in our next educational workshop series? VOTE HERE

We are asking for any and all suggestions you may have for us to better serve YOU. That is why we are here!

Adam Ayan
President, Portland Music Foundation

 


WBLM & SHIPYARD RELEASE GREETINGS FROM AREA CODE 207 CD VOLUME 7>>>>>102.9 WBLM-FM and Cornmeal Records, in association with Shipyard Brewing Company, Casco Bay Brewing Company and The Inn On Peaks Island, are proud to announce the release of "Greetings From Area Code 207, Volume 7", a compilation CD of songs from Maine bands and musicians. As with "Greetings From Area Code 207 Volumes 1- 6" (compilation CDs released in 2000-2005), 100% of the proceeds will go to benefit The St Lawrence Arts Center on Munjoy Hill in Portland. The six volumes (plus a best-of CD, "Maine Tracks", released by Bangor Savings Bank in 2007) have raised over $100,000 to date.

Headlining Volume 7 are previously unreleased songs by Ray Lamontagne, Rustic Overtones, Phantom Buffalo, Sara Cox, The Coming Grass, As Fast As, The Boneheads, Darien Brahms, Adam Gardner (Guster), Jon Nolan, Steve Jones and Seekonk, along with 9 others. The disc was mastered at the world famous Gateway Mastering studios in Portland by Grammy Award winning engineer Adam Ayan. The new CD will be available at all Bull Moose stores (located throughout Maine and in Portsmouth and Salem NH) and at Borders Books and Music in South Portland. It will be available on-line at www.bullmoose.com and at www.cornmealrecords.com. “I guess I say this each time we release one of these compilations, but this is the best one yet“ said Charlie Gaylord, the CD’s executive producer and principal of Cornmeal Records. “It is a testament to our local musicians and music scene that, pound for pound, we continue to be asgood as any city in the country”.

Of special note on Volume 7 are the two live tracks recorded at One City Center by Ray Lamontagne and Rustic Overtones. Lamontagne, with a solo acoustic song, is appearing on his fourth consecutive GFAC 207 CD and The Overtones recording is from their historic comeback show held on July 27, 2007 on the BLM patio, overlooking Monument Square, in front of an estimated 6,000 fans. These two tracks are not available anywhere else.


NEW BENEFIT ADDED FOR PMF MEMBERS>>>>>We're constantly working to drum up new member benefits. This month, we've signed up Port Media, a relatively new recording studio down in Kennebunkport. Built in an 18th century farm house and designed by Tom Marks of Los Angeles, Port Media's relaxed atmosphere is designed to inspire creativity.

Equipment includes: Pro Tools; Neumann, AKG, and Shure microphones; Millennia Media and Universal Audio microphone preamps; and Universal Audio's 1176ln compressor... just the tip of the iceburg of gear!

Port Media is offering a 10% discount off of its hourly rate to PMF members.

Check out www.port-media.com for all the details, or email Michael McNerney, the proprietor.


Spring '08 In-Depth Sessions

Topic 1: Publishing 101

ASCAP...BMI...look like alphabet soup? Come learn how these 2 organizations play an important role in musicians ability to make money from their intellectual property. Hosted by Sam Pfeifle, music writer for the Portland Phoenix, and further panelists from publishing houses ASCAP and BMI, exploring one of the least understood aspects of the music industry.

Topic 2: From Load-In To Load-Out

Get the tips that get you rebooked by showing venues that your band is pro and on point. Run by Jim Begley, freelance recording engineer, who works extensively at the Studio and running sound for venues like the Big Easy and many others. He and his fellow panelists will focus on gigging best practices, everything from when to arrive to what equipment to bring to whom to tip.

Further open introductory open seminars and in-depth, members-only sessions will follow in Sept./Oct.

These sessions are for PMF members only seats are first come, first serve. Members must have membership card or photo id - Join here.

For more information, email info@portlandmusicfoundation.org.


“MISTAKES WERE MADE” EVENT OFFERS PLENTY OF LESSONS>>>>>
On April 16, a brave crowd fought against the sunny weather and the impulse to watch the Sox play the Yankees to hear nine professionals in the local music industry talk about the lessons they’ve learned through some of the mistakes they’ve made as they’ve built their careers. Here is a synopsis of the major points:

Sonya Tomlinson, aka Sontiago: Don’t assume people know who you are. Don’t try to promote your disc nationally without a paid publicist. Don’t forget to sign up with ASCAP or some other publishing firm. Don’t forget you can write all your music expenses off as part of your taxes.

Herb Ivy, station manager, WCYY, WBLM: Don’t forget to communicate and plan. Calling something a McPigeon sandwich on the air is a bad idea if McDonald’s advertises with you radio station. As the stakes get higher, plan more.

Dan Connor, musician, Goud’s Thumb, Gypsy Tailwind: Don’t name your band Goud’s Thumb. Make sure you think about your band name, have a story behind it, and use the English language.

Kate Schrock, solo musician: Make sure you understand the motives behind the decisions that are being made for you by people who work for you, like publicists and agents. Don’t forget that people make bad decisions for bad reasons, and sometimes it can sidetrack your career.

Todd Richard, musician, publicist, jack of all trades: Don’t forget to take some of the money your band makes for yourself. Even a little bit for a few beers or gas money means a lot. If you’re a Christian band, don’t worry about how many Jesuses per minute you have in your songs. Seriously. Check the credentials of the people offering to work with you or for you.

Yasmin Craig Vitalius, violinist, Portland Symphony Orchestra (and other ensembles): Always be prepared, whether it’s for an audition or a gig. You might have five minutes that will affect the rest of your career. Don’t practice so much you injure yourself. Make sure to take care of your body and treat it as nicely as you treat your instrument. Stop if you hurt, but take it to the limit if you can.

Spencer Albee, musician, Rustic Overtones, As Fast As: Don’t put your high-minded ideals about taking advantage of good opportunities. If you have a chance to play in front of everybody who’ll be distributing Arista’s albums for the next year, don’t just play the songs you think are cool and impressive. Play your hits. If a famous producer like Daniel Lanois wants to work with you, don’t try to dictate the terms. Just make the record. But also make sure you listen to your instincts and don’t make something that isn’t yours.

Brett Wickard, co-owner, Bull Moose Music: Always remember what’s in it for the other guy. Make sure the bar does well the night you play, or the store that sells your record makes money off it. If there’s nothing in it for them, why would they contribute to your success? Always make sure you treat the frontline people well, whether it’s at a record store where you’re making an appearance or at a club where you’re playing. The owner of the place will judge you by how you treat the counter people and the waitstaff, so don’t shit on them and then suck up to the owner. That won’t get you anywhere.

Scott Ordway, owner, Ideal Entertainment Group, management firm: You need to treat your music like a career, and it can be your career if you treat it that way. Focus on the business aspects, learn about contracts, make sure you network and develop contacts. Like any business, whom you know is as important as what you know or how you play.


PMF IN-DEPTH SESSIONS HIGHLIGHT NEED FOR CYBER LITERACY>>>>> If you missed our first members-only, in-depth educational sessions back in February, here’s a tip: make sure your email skills are polished and refined. For the roughly 75 members in attendance at the St. Lawrence Arts Center, the message that came through loud and clear in both the Press Relations 101 and Gigging 101 sessions is that journalists, booking agents, club owners and virtually anyone else in the business likes to be contacted digitally, not by phone, and definitely not with a hard-copy press kit (dang, those are like soooo 1996).

In the Press Relations 101, Press Herald scribe Aimsel Ponti emphasized the need for a decent subject line, to help her wade through the hundreds of inquiries she gets daily. She said she responds to everything, but maybe will get back more quickly to someone who gives her a frame of reference and lets her know that she’s covered that band before. Chris Dahlen, writer for internationally known web site www.pitchforkmedia.com and national magazine Paste, said he unfortunately can’t reply to all of the emails he receives (not many at all, actually), but he’s looking to establish a connection with band, and hopes that bands contacting him have an idea of his past writings and why he’d be likely to review them. Sam Pfeifle, music writer at the Portland Phoenix, agreed with both Ponti and Dahlen that nothing should be mailed without a request. An initial email can say that a CD is being released, and ask if the writer would like a copy. Once bands get a”yes,” they’re much more likely to have their postage rewarded with a review than if an album showed up unannounced on a writer’s doorstep.

In Gigging 101, Lauren Wayne, talent buyer and promoter for Live Nation and the White Heart, agreed that all communication should be done via email, and emphasized that bands looking to get opening slots should be able to present a business case for why they should be included. Pat May, northeast agent for Skyline Music, a talent seller, agreed with this, saying bands need to develop their “stats”: how many can you put in a room, how often, and where? How many plays do you have on Myspace? Mark Lourie, May’s colleague at Skyline, emphasized that bands shouldn’t get ahead of themselves. “These bands come to me saying they can draw 300 in their home town and say, ‘Let’s tour the country.’ No. The next step is playing in cities reachable on one tank of gas.” Alias, a hip-hop artist who’s toured the U.S. and Europe with the anticon label, pointed out that Portland is a great place to be for just that reason: Within a day’s drive you have Boston, Worcester, Northampton, New York, Burlington—all of them with music scenes and live clubs.

Finally, Recording 101 didn’t focus much on emailing, but did emphasize that bands prepare for their studio experience so that they make the most of it. Jim Begley, recording engineer and producer at the Studio and elsewhere, said it’s sometimes the simple things that need to be taken care of—getting new strings, new drum heads, getting guitars properly intonated, etc. Walt Craven, guitarist and vocalist for Goud’s Thumb, 6gig, and Lost on Liftoff, said it was important to record yourself, and listen to yourself, often before even entering the studio. Just a boombox in the corner of the practice space is often all that’s necessary for a band to realize that all the parts don’t quite fit on a song. There was also much talk of the role of a producer. Adam Ayan, mastering and recording engineer at Gateway Mastering and DVD, said most producers he’s worked with have very much been in it for the art and the artist, but that bands need to learn to trust producers if they’re going to get anything out of the experience.

This, of course, is just the tip of the iceberg of what was discussed, as attendees were treated to four hours of presentations.The next round of educational courses will be offered April 16 and May 14. Click here for info.


Winter '08 In-Depth Sessions *

Wednesday, February 20, 2008
St. Lawrence Community Arts Center
6:00 pm *MAP*

Topic 1: Press Relations 101

Looking to get more exposure for your band or live-music venue? In this session we’ll discuss the fundamentals of working with the press, including local weeklies, local dailies, national magazines and web sites of all shapes and sizes. Hear from journalists and a veteran promoter about how to get your band listed, mentioned, profiled and lauded in a variety of press mediums.

Topics discussed:
• The 21st Century Press Kit – what should be in it and what should it look like?
• Working with members of the press – how do they want to be contacted and what do they want you to say?
• Planning a press campaign – so you’ve got your name in the paper, how do you make sure it happens again?

Panelists: Sam Pfeifle, music columnist, Portland Phoenix; Aimsel Ponit, music columnist, Portland Press Herald; Chris Dahlen, contributing editor, Paste Magazine, Pitchforkmedia.com; Lauren Wayne, promoter, Live Nation

Topic 2: Gigging 101

Want to go from playing in the basement to playing live? Want to book better and bigger gigs inside and outside of your home market? In this session, you’ll learn the fundamentals of pursuing a career in the competitive live music world. We'll explore ways to effectively present yourself using promotion packs and Internet marketing, and we'll discuss how to:

- find and prepare for gigs- deal with industry professionals
- negotiate money, manage expectations
- grow from local to regional and beyond

Panelists: Patrick May and Mark Lourie, Skyline Music booking agency; Lauren Wayne, Live Nation

Topic 3: In the Studio - Cutting a Demo

Over the course of one hour, attendees will hear from local recording industry experts about how to record a professional product for digital or physical distribution. Topics covered will include: When to record; When to record at home; How to make the most of your paid studio time; How to choose a producer; How to work with a producer; How to judge your own work; and more

*IN-DEPTH sessions give you quality time with industry professionals in small groups discussing specific topics.

These sessions are for PMF members only - Join here.


Winter '08 Open Session

Wednesday, January 16, 2008
St. Lawrence Community Arts Center
6:30 pm *MAP*

"HELP I'm stuck in my GARAGE!"

This session will serve as the introduction to the first three members-only sessions the Portland Music Foundation has on tap in 2008. The general public is invited to meet and hear from Foundation board members and panelists who will be leading these sessions on the following essential topics:

• How can I get from the rehearsal stage to the playing live and touring stage?
• How can I make the most effective recordings of my music?
• How can I best represent myself to the media, talent sellers and talent buyers?

Discussion will be lively, and there will be plenty of wisdom to be gained, no matter what level of musicianship you have already reached. See what the Portland Music Foundation has to offer during this 90-minute open session.

Moderator: Wendell Clough - Citadel Commun

PMF IN-DEPTH SESSIONS HIGHLIGHT NEED FOR CYBER LITERACY>>>>> If you missed our first members-only, in-depth educational sessions back in February, here’s a tip: make sure your email skills are polished and refined. For the roughly 75 members in attendance at the St. Lawrence Arts Center, the message that came through loud and clear in both the Press Relations 101 and Gigging 101 sessions is that journalists, booking agents, club owners and virtually anyone else in the business likes to be contacted digitally, not by phone, and definitely not with a hard-copy press kit (dang, those are like soooo 1996).

In the Press Relations 101, Press Herald scribe Aimsel Ponti emphasized the need for a decent subject line, to help her wade through the hundreds of inquiries she gets daily. She said she responds to everything, but maybe will get back more quickly to someone who gives her a frame of reference and lets her know that she’s covered that band before. Chris Dahlen, writer for internationally known web site www.pitchforkmedia.com and national magazine Paste, said he unfortunately can’t reply to all of the emails he receives (not many at all, actually), but he’s looking to establish a connection with band, and hopes that bands contacting him have an idea of his past writings and why he’d be likely to review them. Sam Pfeifle, music writer at the Portland Phoenix, agreed with both Ponti and Dahlen that nothing should be mailed without a request. An initial email can say that a CD is being released, and ask if the writer would like a copy. Once bands get a”yes,” they’re much more likely to have their postage rewarded with a review than if an album showed up unannounced on a writer’s doorstep.

In Gigging 101, Lauren Wayne, talent buyer and promoter for Live Nation and the White Heart, agreed that all communication should be done via email, and emphasized that bands looking to get opening slots should be able to present a business case for why they should be included. Pat May, northeast agent for Skyline Music, a talent seller, agreed with this, saying bands need to develop their “stats”: how many can you put in a room, how often, and where? How many plays do you have on Myspace? Mark Lourie, May’s colleague at Skyline, emphasized that bands shouldn’t get ahead of themselves. “These bands come to me saying they can draw 300 in their home town and say, ‘Let’s tour the country.’ No. The next step is playing in cities reachable on one tank of gas.” Alias, a hip-hop artist who’s toured the U.S. and Europe with the anticon label, pointed out that Portland is a great place to be for just that reason: Within a day’s drive you have Boston, Worcester, Northampton, New York, Burlington—all of them with music scenes and live clubs.

Finally, Recording 101 didn’t focus much on emailing, but did emphasize that bands prepare for their studio experience so that they make the most of it. Jim Begley, recording engineer and producer at the Studio and elsewhere, said it’s sometimes the simple things that need to be taken care of—getting new strings, new drum heads, getting guitars properly intonated, etc. Walt Craven, guitarist and vocalist for Goud’s Thumb, 6gig, and Lost on Liftoff, said it was important to record yourself, and listen to yourself, often before even entering the studio. Just a boombox in the corner of the practice space is often all that’s necessary for a band to realize that all the parts don’t quite fit on a song. There was also much talk of the role of a producer. Adam Ayan, mastering and recording engineer at Gateway Mastering and DVD, said most producers he’s worked with have very much been in it for the art and the artist, but that bands need to learn to trust producers if they’re going to get anything out of the experience.

This, of course, is just the tip of the iceberg of what was discussed, as attendees were treated to four hours of presentations.The next round of educational courses will be offered April 16 and May 14. Click here for info.


Winter '08 In-Depth Sessions *

Wednesday, February 20, 2008
St. Lawrence Community Arts Center
6:00 pm *MAP*

Topic 1: Press Relations 101

Looking to get more exposure for your band or live-music venue? In this session we’ll discuss the fundamentals of working with the press, including local weeklies, local dailies, national magazines and web sites of all shapes and sizes. Hear from journalists and a veteran promoter about how to get your band listed, mentioned, profiled and lauded in a variety of press mediums.

Topics discussed:
• The 21st Century Press Kit – what should be in it and what should it look like?
• Working with members of the press – how do they want to be contacted and what do they want you to say?
• Planning a press campaign – so you’ve got your name in the paper, how do you make sure it happens again?

Panelists: Sam Pfeifle, music columnist, Portland Phoenix; Aimsel Ponit, music columnist, Portland Press Herald; Chris Dahlen, contributing editor, Paste Magazine, Pitchforkmedia.com; Lauren Wayne, promoter, Live Nation

Topic 2: Gigging 101

Want to go from playing in the basement to playing live? Want to book better and bigger gigs inside and outside of your home market? In this session, you’ll learn the fundamentals of pursuing a career in the competitive live music world. We'll explore ways to effectively present yourself using promotion packs and Internet marketing, and we'll discuss how to:

- find and prepare for gigs- deal with industry professionals
- negotiate money, manage expectations
- grow from local to regional and beyond

Panelists: Patrick May and Mark Lourie, Skyline Music booking agency; Lauren Wayne, Live Nation

Topic 3: In the Studio - Cutting a Demo

Over the course of one hour, attendees will hear from local recording industry experts about how to record a professional product for digital or physical distribution. Topics covered will include: When to record; When to record at home; How to make the most of your paid studio time; How to choose a producer; How to work with a producer; How to judge your own work; and more

*IN-DEPTH sessions give you quality time with industry professionals in small groups discussing specific topics.

These sessions are for PMF members only - Join here.


Winter '08 Open Session

Wednesday, January 16, 2008
St. Lawrence Community Arts Center
6:30 pm *MAP*

"HELP I'm stuck in my GARAGE!"

This session will serve as the introduction to the first three members-only sessions the Portland Music Foundation has on tap in 2008. The general public is invited to meet and hear from Foundation board members and panelists who will be leading these sessions on the following essential topics:

• How can I get from the rehearsal stage to the playing live and touring stage?
• How can I make the most effective recordings of my music?
• How can I best represent myself to the media, talent sellers and talent buyers?

Discussion will be lively, and there will be plenty of wisdom to be gained, no matter what level of musicianship you have already reached. See what the Portland Music Foundation has to offer during this 90-minute open session.

Moderator: Wendell Clough - Citadel Communications

PMF Open Sessions are FREE & OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!


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