+
NEWS ARCHIVE+
"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!