Independent Music Conference

The Independent Music Conference Needs a New Mac! Help us raise at least $600

2010-12-22T02:56:00.000-08:00

The Independent Music Conference Needs a New Mac! Help us raise at least $600

Elaine Ramos, Associate Director of the IMC!

2010-09-30T11:42:00.000-07:00

Elaine Ramos has served as Associate Director of the Independent Music Conference. As an instructor and organizational superstar, Elaine is one of the biggest reasons why the IMC has been able to survive. Her hard work, refusal to quit, and dedication to the conference helped it flourish in its early stages and grow to the recognized powerhouse it is today. At the IMC she taught hearing protection for musicians, acknowledging the quiet fear many musicians harbor about hearing loss.

You have been involved with the IMC since its inception. What changes have you noticed over the years and how has the conference had to adapt to the ever-changing climate of the music business?

This question would be a difficult one for me to answer, as I'm not involved in the music industry, other than having helped with the IMC. My background as an audiologist and speech-language pathologist has allowed me to present at the conference on topics related to music-induced hearing loss and its prevention, as well as serve on a panel as a speech pathologist discussing vocal disorders related to singing.

How can a participant get the most out of the conference? Are there certain things that you feel are critical to the experience?

By attending as many of the workshops and panels as possible, and taking full advantage of the networking opportunities with the incredible variety of music-related industry people who are there to offer one-on-one mentoring to the attendees. Continuing those relationships well after the conference has definitely set the IMC apart from other events.

The panels and professional participants have always come from a broad range of fields. How has this separated the IMC from other conferences?

The instructors that have continually supported the IMC understand the meaning of education. Education is the primary focus of the conference. At the IMC, in addition to days filled with workshops and panels, performance opportunities for the artists become educational opportunities. Professionals as well as peers offering constructive criticism to the artists has become an integral part of the conference. The IMC truly provides a comprehensive educational opportunity for the indie musician.

If there was one comment that you have heard time and time again from participants, what would that be?

"The IMC is the BEST conference I have ever attended" is heard over and over again. Because the instructors make themselves available for mentoring and continue to stay in touch after the event, the attendees have often said that they feel the conference is "personalized to their needs."

Anything else you would like to add?

For me personally, looking from the outside in, I have never met so many impassioned and talented individuals in my life. Each relationship that has developed has been true and has given me a new respect for those who pursue music as a career.

Jordan Tishler on Money, Management, and Licensing Music for Film

2010-09-28T14:21:00.000-07:00

Jordan Tishler has twenty years of experience in the music industry a producer, artist manager, mixer, and songwriter. He serves as Chairman Emeritus of the New England Section of the Audio Engineering Society (AES), founder of the Music-Producer's List, and is active in the Recording Academy. Here he gives us the honest straight-talk on how artists can enable their success, and where to put your money so it so it counts most.

1) What's the idea behind your company, Digital Bear? Sounds dangerous.

Digital Bear Entertainment provides artists with recording, mixing and production; artist management; and licensing of their music to TV and Film. DBE has always been a vehicle for my efforts to help artists achieve real careers in music. It's been a natural and organic growth from my own roots as a musician and songwriter, to mix engineer and producer, to artist manager and music licensor. After years of working with major labels/publishers, I saw that the writing was on the wall, and that independent artists were going to be a stronger force. Each step along the way was developed to meet the needs of the artists I work with. At this point we're a well diversified and well-rounded company because that's what it takes to help artists do all that they need to do to be successful.

2) It's hard to achieve a balance between music and business. What parts of the "business" of music do you think artists benefit from hiring others to help with, and what parts should artists be doing themselves?

Well, at its simplest, artists need to do it all. Of course, that's crazy! There's way too much to do, and more importantly there are good ways (and less good ways) to do things, which is something you're not born knowing. Still, all too often artists just want to hand off the "business" to someone else. That may be understandable, but it's not wise. I always keep my artists in the loop with business issues. These are decisions that affect them and their careers directly. I'd be offended if they weren't interested - how seriously can they be taking their career? Why should I then be taking it seriously?

I see my management work with artists as coaching. With my advice and guidance, an artist can make good choices, be efficient with their efforts and their money, employ successful strategies for getting noticed and making money. None of this is rocket science, but you'd be surprised at how hard it is. I make it easier and smarter for my artists.

In addition to effective strategies and understanding the way the industry really works, management should provide connections to other key industry players who can advance the careers of the artist. Whether the artist is at the stage of trying to get better gigs and increase their fan base and needs a booking agent and PR agent, or have achieved a certain le

vel of ticket sales and regional visibility and are ready to approach a label, knowing who can help is a key role for management.

3) Many independent musicians don't have much money to invest in their art. What's the best thing a musician or band can do with their initial monetary investment?

Money is the big stumbling block for nearly every artist. Don't feel bad if you have financial issues, so does everyone! However, you have to understand that it will take some money up front to make a meaningful start. Lots of artists have unrealistic views of how things should work. For example, "I make great art, so people will want to work for me for free." This is a nice fantasy. The realistic artist will recognize that connected, experienced industry people, who want to work for them, still need to feed their kids and keep the lights on.

That said, don't go spending (or wasting) what little money you have too quickly. There are things you should do, in the right order, to get the best effect. Write your songs, rehearse the band, get the look perfected, make sure your stage show is undeniable, play a whole bunch of local gigs before you go record your album. Make sure there's a demand! Promote the band through the ways that are free or low cost like Facebook or Reverbnation. Don't think

it ends there, but it's a good start.

Hold on to your money so you have something with which to hire the right manager, producer, PR agent, at the time when it's going to really help you get to the next level.

4) You license music for TV and Film. What, more precisely, does this entail? Are there steps artists can take to try to get their music accompanying the big screen?

Songsforsync.com is the sister company to Digital Bear Entertainment. Through Songsforsync.com, we work very closely and aggressively with the key music supervisors and producers around the globe to maintain relationship so that they come to us for great, independent music. Our reputation with these important and busy people is our lifeblood. Our catalogue of songs is hand picked to meet their needs in terms of themes, genres, and quality.

In the early 2000s, when licensing became widely known to indie artists, there was a sense that you could get your music placed by yourself. Of course, as with any maturing sector, those days are gone. Occasionally, we hear, as you will, about your cousin's brother's wife's band that got a track in a film because they were played on satellite radio or something, but that's lightning striking. That's no way to operate a business. Now it's really a full time job or two to make and maintain those relationships necessary to get the placements.

For the indie artist, this means finding a company that can get your music in the door. There are various companies like Songsforsync.com out there. The business models are different, as are the requirements of the writers, so look around, read the contracts, and ask questions. I'll be at IMC 2010 to answer questions!

5) You juggle a lot of varying roles, working different aspects of the music industry. Are there benefits or drawbacks to branching out?

As I mentioned above, I wear many different hats in this industry but they all came a

bout organically. It's been driven by what's needed to help artists achieve their career goals. I have found that without tapping into these areas, artists flounder and stagnate. Sure it's demanding for me to be well versed in all these skills, but they flow from each other, so it's really a synergy.

6) What are a few things you wish more musicians did more often, or did right? Hopefully all those reading this can pick up the tip.

Focus on the business. Understand that it is a business and if you treat people with respect for their time and expertise they will really help you. Don't to things just because you can (eg: record an album). Do things at the time and in the order that they are necessary to improve your business (ie make money). Don't be afraid to spend money on your career, but do it wisely and realistically. No successful company was founded without both investment and a sound business plan!

7) What does that IMC mean to you? What made you decide to share your experiences there?

I've been involved with IMC, well, since before there was an IMC. I believe that of all the conferences out there (and I participate in many each year), IMC is one of the finest. The mission is to truly educate independent musicians on how to do it better, smarter, and more successfully. The people Noel imports for acts to meet are truly knowledgeable and dedicated. It's a great opportunity for artists, and the benefit it offers artists is why I keep coming back.

Check out Jordan at his company, Digital Bear Entertainment, for his blog, more tips, or the excellent services they offer. As Jordan mentioned above, have a look around at Songsforsync.com if you have music you want considered for films. Our thanks again to Jordan Tishler for priceless advice from someone who's worked with so many musicians. You can ask any follow-up inquiries at the IMC in November!

Anticipation ramps up for Scorpion Bowl V

2010-09-27T18:04:00.000-07:00

The Independent Music Conference is proud to present Scorpion Bowl V! Featuring IMC bands Remember September (recently opened for Train), local heroes Groove Shoes Funk Orchestra, and a third band TBA. Good times to be had by all on Saturday, November 13, at the Postrionic Lair. Directions and more info can be found here.

Duane Lee on Dance and Music

2010-09-14T14:21:00.000-07:00

Duane Lee has over 15 years of experience as a Hip-Hop performer, choreographer, and instructor, as well as a gymnast and musician. At the age of 17, he began dancing for Rennie Harris Puremovement (RHPM), the first Hip-Hop theater dance company, which he now serves as Assistant Artistic Director. He has taught and lectured at universities around the country, assisted with choreography and dancing on Broadway productions, and is heavily involved in Philadelphia where he currently teaches. Having such an accomplished Hip-Hop dance artist come to the IMC is an incredible opportunity! You can read his full experiences here.

1. Please tell us a little about your background and what inspired you to get involved with the IMC?

I was a gymnast for fourteen years. A member of the Junior National Team for five years (’90-’95) and trained for the 1996 Olympics. Unfortunately, I was injured in 1996 in a competition and was unable to continue training.

It was at this time that I committed myself to my professional dance career. In October of 1994, I became a member of Rennie Harris Puremovement. We became the first Hip-Hop theater company in history. In 1996, I decided to move forward with the crew/company and my career in entertainment began.

I became interested in the IMC by luckily making an inadvertent phone call. The call was answered by Noel Ramos, Director of The IMC, and here we are now.

2. Music and dance have always been intertwined, but it does seem like the genres of music that incorporate dance into their live performances has expanded recently. Why do you believe this has happened?

From artist using a lot more dance in their performances, to the new dance shows (“So You Think You Can Dance”, “America’s Best Dance Crew” etc.) has a lot to do with this new appreciation for dance. I also feel that these shows need to move more into the business of edutainment (A term created by KRS1 of Boogie Down Productions) rather than just entertainment by reinforcing the history, theory and technique of the craft, as well as the performance aspect.

3. You are a dancer, a musician and an educator. How do you balance these creative talents without feeling overwhelmed?

A dancer, musician and educator is who I have always been. I don’t feel fulfilled unless I am executing all three.

4. Musicians tend to separate the use of the body and the mind when thinking about what they do. How do you best explain to musicians the importance of the process as a whole? (for example, how breathing, movement, etc. contributes to stamina and to the creative process).

I feel that all aspects of the Arts (Performing &Visual) are relevant. It’s left to the artist and where they are in their development to take on this perspective or not.

5. Since you have been involved and successful in various parts of the entertainment industry, is there one common thread that has helped contribute to your success in each area?

Those common threads that I’ve found have benefited me are: Faith, Humility and Discipline.

6. What can participants expect to take away from a workshop with you?

Participants of the workshop will take away a sense of confidence in being a dancer, as well as gaining a new respect for dance from a cultural, historical and physical perspective.

7. Any final thoughts?

I am really looking forward to attending and participating in The IMC 2010!

Thanks again to Duane Lee; see you at the IMC!

Kay Pere on Focusing Your Skills

2010-09-07T13:12:00.001-07:00

Kay Pere is a multidimensional performing songwriter, educator, artist, writer, and activist whose work embodies a message of hope, healing, humor, and humanity. When she isn't traveling to perform, present workshops, or show her artwork, Kay lives a quiet little life in a Mystical corner of New England.

I'd laundry-list her accomplishments, but I love the bio (above) she sent us so much, I'm just going to keep it at that! People like this are why we attend the IMC, as I'm sure you'll be able to see in her answers. You can learn more about her work as a singer, songwriter, visual artist, writer, educator, and activist here.

1) You and your husband, Bill Pere, are both very inspirational figures in all you've done for youth in the US and to combat hunger and poverty. What do you believe makes music a good tool for fighting the world's afflictions and shaping tomorrow's leaders?

Everyday, all of us are bombarded with news about what’s wrong with the world. Wars, disasters, corporate greed, and enormous social need; these things are both overwhelming and seemingly remote from the pressures of our daily lives. Most of the time we feel powerless to do anything about them. Eventually, most people learn to tune all this out in a process called compassion fatigue.

A well written, skillfully performed song reaches past this malaise to reawaken feelings

long forgotten by the listener. Carefully crafted songs for social change reignite youthful idealism and spark a listener’s childlike sense of injustice and empowerment to take action.

If we think back, most of us can remember a time, before the complexities of adult life, when we knew with great vividness that war and hunger, homelessness and greed were wrong, a time when our whole lives lay ahead of us and we knew we might do something to fix what is broken in our world. This remembrance is the open door where a performer can offer listeners credible paths for action by giving them additional information and examples. Through the shared experience of listening, even singing along, we are comforted to find that we’re not alone in our desire to make this world a better place.

2) How did you first get involved with the IMC, and what made you stay strong supporters?

Success in the arts has always depended on relationships, now more so than ever. At the first IMC, in 2003, I enjoyed the outstanding opportunity to meet and share knowledge with a wide range of professionals in the emerging indie music world. I’m happy to say that the personal and professional friendships I made at that and subsequent conferences have grown stronger throughout the years.

I continue to present workshops and provide individual consultations at IMC because it still holds as its central mission opportunities for networking and knowledge building open to each person who attends. The connections forged by participating in daytime workshops, panel discussions, and exhibit hall networking are the most valuable part of the experience for anyone hoping to build a lasting career in music.

All anyone has to do is show up and engage in conversation with the presenters and other musicians waiting there, looking forward to talking with them. Nothing could be easier. Over the years, I’ve also enjoyed chatting with repeat attendees, hearing about the progress they’re making in the direction of their dreams.

3) Why do you consider songwriting, critique, and vocal workshops to be so important?

Expert critique, songwriting and vocal workshops tailored to the styles and goals of those attending offer a chance for songwriters and performers to learn new ways connect with their audiences. Those who shy away from honing their skills through critique and instruction are missing the chance to move from being good to being truly excellent, and building a more loyal fan base in the process.

If you’re in the position to perform your songs for people who’ve taken the time to come hear you, you may believe you’re well on your way to lasting success. However, performing for an audience is like hosting a party for a house full of enthusiastic guests then drawing the conclusion that you’ve made 100 new best friends who’ll invite you into their homes the next time they want someone to hang out with. In essence, that’s what you’re hoping your listeners will do.

You want your songs and performances to be unique enough, memorable enough, and valuable enough to them that they’re willing to go out of their way to welcome you into their lives. Sometime in the future, when you’re not around to hand them a drink and an hors d’oeuvre you want them to still be attached enough to the time they shared with you that they’ll seek out and purchase your songs and tickets to your shows. You may even hope your songs and the way you sing them will motivate them to broader action, to change their own lives and the world around them for the better.

Critique, songwriting and vocal workshops that are sensitive to individual artists’ needs and objectives will help them to achieve these things. This is what Bill and I endeavor to do through the workshops, mentoring and critique services we offer.

4) You're both incredible musicians in your own right. What led you to the path you're on today?

In my childhood home, I was constantly surrounded by a wide diversity of music, both recorded and live, from grand opera to Dixieland jazz. On weekends, my teenage brothers and their longhaired friends would gather in our living room with guitars and banjos, bongo drums and autoharps to sing folksongs of protest, history, and social justice. These same songs still reach across the decades to draw people together and motivate them to action for change. Even as a small child, I knew I wanted to be a part of this. I began composing my own songs as soon as I could reach the keyboard on our family’s piano. Music lessons soon followed.

For 20 years I received classical training in voice and piano--continuing through college--but I always returned to my first love, writing the songs I hoped would touch people’s hearts. I’m grateful for this education, though at the time I longed for instructors who were as comfortable with rock as they were with Rachmaninoff. I wanted skilled mentors who could help me grow as a performing songwriter, teachers who didn’t view songwriting as the illegitimate offspring of a lesser discipline. I was determined to improve my skills, so I sought out other resources. Now that I’m in the position to teach, I work hard to be the kind of mentor for others that wished I’d had myself.

One of the resources I discovered along the way was the Connecticut Songwriters Association. Bill was one of the first people I met at the very first CSA meeting I attended. When he told me about his work with LUNCH, I knew I’d finally come home. We’ve worked side-by-side ever since, our lives and efforts in harmonic counterpoint.

5) Helping others is more than a reward in itself! Still, how can artists benefit from bringing social activism into their music?

Cartoonist Hugh MacLeod offers the following advice in his book, "Ignore Everybody and 39 Other Keys to Creativity": “If your business plan depends on being ‘discovered’ by some big shot, your plan will probably fail.” Music is a fashion business where more than 150,000 independently produced CDs are released every year. At this very moment, hundreds of thousands of aspiring performing artists are struggling to grasp the same opportunities you are working to reach.

These statistics can either be a discouragement or a motivation. Fame depends entirely upon attracting and holding the attention of others. On the other hand, the good we do depends primarily on our own actions, while offering a more lasting source of happiness.

Fame is fleeting, artists come and go, musical styles and reputations rise and fall, only occasionally to rise again. In the midst of all this, each of us has the potential to build not only a reputation, of whatever duration, but a lasting legacy. Ironically, if your life is about more than making a name for yourself, the things you accomplish stand a better chance of outliving you.

Here in the present, supporting a cause you believe in offers a deeper way for your audience to relate to you. If this work is an integral part of your life, not just words spoken in public or an occasional benefit concert performed, then you’ll become more than just one among hundreds of thousands of aspiring indie musicians. You will be an artist with something credible to say, someone worth listening to. And you’ll have the assurance that no matter how many or how few are listening, or remember your name after you’re gone, your life and work will have had a lasting impact.

6) What is one suggestion you have for artists looking for innovative ways to integrate music and action?

Use your website, blog, and online social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook to offer content that goes beyond gig announcements, listening links, press photos, and recording updates.

Create frequently updated content that relates your music to your other interests and the causes you support, then you’ll be more likely to attract and hold the attention of potential fans outside your immediate circle of contacts. By providing substantive content and setting up your web pages correctly, people who searching on key words and phrases related to those topics will find their way to you and the information you’veprovided.

Later they’ll remember you both as a valuable resource and an artist whose character goes deeper than self-promotion. If they can also listen to your well-written songs, especially topical songs, right there on your website, these will make the fan connection for you without you having to be physically present.

7) Why do you think it’s important for Indie artists to attend events like IMC?

IMC has always been about much more than the opportunity to showcase your talents. Conferences like IMC are most valuable as business networking and knowledge building events. Indie artists who come to IMC’s daytime events can attend a full schedule of workshops and talk one-on-one with a wide variety of experienced music business professionals.

This is an excellent value for you. The mentoring and workshops offered with your IMC registration would cost 100s, if not 1,000s of dollars if scheduled individually with each expert outside of the conference, not to mention the time you’d spend traveling to their far-flung offices and studios across the country.

For artists just starting out, we can help you to focus your efforts and find direction as you build a plan for your future. We can listen to your songs and tell you where they might have the potential to take you.

If you’re farther along toward reaching your goals, we can save you money and possible regret by providing feedback on your promotional materials, songs and recordings BEFORE you invest in expensive duplication. No one wants to pay 1,000s of dollars for 1,000s of copies of something only to find out after the fact that it really should have been done differently to accomplish what was intended.

If your goal is to reach the broadest possible audience with the songs and recordings you choose to create, then it’s wise to seek expert advice along the way. We’re able to tell you things your friends, family, band mates, producer and manager either can’t or won’t. Each of us can also serve as a link for you to a broader community of music business professionals and will offer referrals when appropriate.

As the CEO of you, attending IMC’s daytime events is an extremely cost effective way to insure that you’re making informed decisions about the time and money you invest to advance your career.

8) What will you be presenting at the IMC that musicians need to hear?

I offer workshops and individual coaching sessions for performers, songwriters, and recording artists of all genres to help them develop their voices to full potential. I bring to these sessions nearly two decades of experience working with a variety of successful artists from rock to R&B to Broadway and beyond, plus a special awareness of the performing songwriters particular needs and process.

I also provide creativity workshops and mentoring based on “My Creative Compass Model for Sustainable Creativity”©. In the arts, creativity and uniqueness are our most valuable assets. I can help you learn to nurture and sustain these amidst the pressures of the music business and demands of a busy personal life.

As a visual artist, I am glad sit with you to review your website and printed materials. We’ll work together to focus the impact of your message and clarify your public image. And as an experienced performing songwriter who is serious about the craft, I’m available to listen to your songs and provide feedback that will help you to make them the best they can be. Please, visit me at www.kaypere.com, then I’ll see you at IMC!

Bill Pere on the IMC and How to Succeed as a Songwriter

2010-09-07T12:23:00.000-07:00

We've asked the inspirational couple Bill & Kay Pere a few questions. Below are Bill's answers! Named one of the "Top 50 Innovators, Groundbreakers, Iconoclasts, and Guiding Lights of the Music Industry" in 2008 by Music Connection Magazine, and a "Hunger Fighting Hero" by Wakefern foods in 2009, it's hard to find an aspect of music that Bill Pere hasn't been involved in. Alongside his prolific songwriting career, Bill is a founding member and President of the Connecticut Songwriters' Association, runs the Connecticut Songwriting Academy, author of Songcrafters' Coloring Book: The Essential Guide to Effective and Successful Songwriting, and Founder and Executive Director of the Local United Network to Combat Hunger (LUNCH). LUNCH features the LUNCH Ensemble, composed both of professional musicians and young students, and was recognized by World Hunger Year in 2005 as "an effective grassroots solution to fighting hunger and poverty."

1) You and your wife, Kay Pere, are both very inspirational figures in all you've done for youth in the US and to combat hunger and poverty. What do you believe makes music a good tool for fighting the world's afflictions and shaping tomorrow's leaders?

Bill: Music and songs have an amazing power to reach people and move them to act. Reaching people's emotions is all well and good, but that alone will not make a difference in our society unless there is some kind of action. Well written songs about important issues can serve as a call to action.

2) How did you first get involved with the IMC, and what made you stay strong supporters?

Bill: I originally heard of IMC when the first one was being planned back in 2003. The Music business was in the throes of a major shift from the old school label-dominated model to the new Indie model, and it seemed like this Conference was the right thing at the right time for educating artists about the new paradigms. As the President of the Connecticut Songwriters Association (www.ctsongs.com), I've been committed to artist development and education for more than 30 years, so I decided to see if it would live up to its promise. The first IMC in Philadelphia was a well run, well attended event and was certainly in keeping with my goals of educating artists about the craft and business of music. As long as the goals of the event remain focused on education, I and my songwriters organization will continue to support it.

3) Why do you consider songwriting, critique, and vocal workshops to be so important?

Bill : Over the years, I've worked with tens of thousands of aspiring songwriters and artists. The obstacle I most often see standing in the way of artists reaching their goals is the lack of education about the business and craft of music. Many artists follow the path of least resistance, that is, to just do what "feels right", and it so often leaves them coming up short as songwriters, performers, and business persons. Songwriting is what produces the products, and performance - primarily vocal performance - is what sells the product. Objective feedback in the form of knowledgeable, constructive critique is the fastest and most foolproof way to refine the skills of producing and marketing quality products. How can any business succeed if its products and marketing are not top-notch? I spent many years researching and writing "Songcrafters' Coloring Book: The Essential Guide to Effective and Successful Songwriting", and since its release in 2009, it has become a widely used 'how-to' reference book (see www.songcrafterscoloringbook.com)

4) You're both incredible musicians in your own right. What led you to the path you're on today?

Bill: I grew up listening to all kinds of music, and started writing and singing original songs when I was 12. It was in college in 1972 that I first heard the songs of Harry Chapin, and it opened a whole new world of viewing songwriting as cinematic storytelling. Then I learned of how Harry Chapin, and his friends, like Pete Seeger, used their music to make meaningful differences in social causes like hunger and the environment. As a child in New York City, I was no stranger to seeing hunger and homelessness, and I always saw my mother extending a helping hand to those in need, so it felt natural for me to try to make a difference in addressing basic human needs through my music. Thus, I founded L.U.N.C.H. (Local United Network to Combat Hunger), and since 1989, we’ve done hundreds of benefit concerts, involving more than 3,000 kids in our shows, and raising more than $1,000,000 for social services. See www.lunchensemble.com

5) Helping others is more than a reward in itself! Still, how can artists benefit from bringing social activism into their music?

Bill: I do workshops and panels at conferences around the country, and I see so many artists for whom the idea of using their music for something other than their own career is a foreign idea. I teach workshops on how to do successful benefit shows, and this has been a well received presentation. It is important for artists to realize two things: (a) whenever they have an audience, they have an opportunity effect changes in they way people think and act, and (b) non-profit does not mean no-profit. It is certainly possible to produce effective benefit events and still be fairly paid for service rendered. An artist can garner far more support from the public and the community when they make an event stand for something larger than themselves. The type of work we do has provided many exceptional opportunities for us, including the chance to perform several times with the members of Harry Chapin's original band.

6) What is one suggestion you have for artists looking for innovative ways to integrate music and action?

Bill: View every time on a stage as an opportunity to reach people's social conscience, giving them substance to think about and a reason to act. Make every event about something more than just you and your music, and you'll find that rewards will follow.

7) Why do you think it's important for Indie artists to attend events like IMC?

Bill: The current music scene is extremely competitive. It is no longer enough to be 'good'. You have to be exceptional. One way to elevate yourself above the crowd of 'good' artists is to be truly knowledgeable about: (a) the craft of songwriting; (b) the music business; and (c) how to present yourself as a professional. IMC is one of the few conferences that places emphasis on education rather than just performing. It is truly a conference, rather than just a "festival".

8) What will you be sharing at the IMC that musicians need to hear?

Bill: I am glad to discuss any topic in detail with any artist who shows a willingness to want to learn. My workshops cover all of the topics I've mentioned above, and I'm available any time at the conference to give constructive critiques of songs, career guidance, business advice, etc. I just returned from a conference in the Nashville area, where I participated on panels with very accomplished music industry pros. They all said the same thing as I indicated above – "Good is not good enough – you have to be exceptional, and you have to know what that means and do what it takes to get there." At IMC, I will be glad to help any serious artists move forward along the path to that goal. I invite conference attendees to visit my website at www.billpere.com to see what questions they might want to ask me.

Thanks to Bill! He's done so many wonderful things, only a fraction could fit into his bio. Don't forget to visit his site - and his talk at the IMC!

Tommy Byrnes on Recording and The Business of Music

2010-08-28T20:21:00.001-07:00

Tommy Byrnes is an independent musician with a love of traditional Irish music, the owner of a music services/recording company, and a speaker at the 2010 IMC! We asked him a few questions about recording, how to make money while staying true to your music, and what he's learned from his own path. In return, he gave us some invaluable advice...

1) You give consultations in the "business of music". This is sometimes a tough concept and even tougher to implement. What are a few brief recommendations you have for artists trying to fit business into their music?

If you want to get paid for your music you have to accept the fact that your music career is your job and smart business strategies are essential. First and foremost, any artist or band should treat their music careers as a small business. It really is a lot like opening up a shoe store or any other business. Sound business is sound business regardless of the field or industry. Many artists don’t pay enough attention to this philosophy. “I’m a musician not an accountant. I just want to make music!” In today’s independent music environment, that rationale can be very self-defeating.

2) What steps can artists take to allow themselves to focus on their music while still having ample opportunities to get their music out to the public?

Creating a good strategy for your career is the best thing you can do. If you spend most of your time running around willy-nilly without a business and career plan there will not be much time left for the music.

I think an artist should have a six month, 1 year, 2 year and 5 year plan for their career. Be honest and realistic with your goals.

It is imperative for today’s independent artists to realize that in order to be successful (whatever that term means for you personally-nobody else can or should define that for you) you have to have a plan and the tenacity and fortitude to implement it.

3) What challenges and advantages can recording pose for Indie artists?

The challenges are pretty much the same as they have always been. Money is the first issue. How do you raise money to pay for either going into a commercial studio or building your own?

I have been involved in the home studio movement since 1980 when I built my first studio. Today’s technology has made it possible for nearly anyone to set up a personal recording rig. The big caveat to this: understanding the learning curve that’s involved with having your own recording setup. It takes a long time to learn the software involved as well as how to record.

4) What should artists do to ensure that their recording experience is as positive as possible?

Be prepared! Know your parts and be well rehearsed. That alone will save time, money and aggravation.

Also, if you choose to use a commercial studio find an engineer or producer that you feel good about working with. Music is a highly personal thing and working with the right people behind the glass as well as in front of it goes a long way. Most importantly, and this holds true for everything, have fun!! Recording can be stressful to be sure, but it’s also a hill of fun.

5) You picked up and moved to Ireland and played in pubs and on the street in order to learn traditional music - a courageous move. What advice would you give to musicians turning toward new styles?

Great question! Be true to yourself and true to the music. Never be afraid to learn. Ever. Seek out those in that style who really know what they’re doing and devour everything they can teach you.

I knew I would never learn such a complex and subtle form of music as traditional Irish dance music in music school where I was headed after high school. I figured the only way to really become proficient was to skip school, go right to the source and learn from the great players in Ireland.

Do the same thing with your music. Get it from the source if at all possible, whatever and wherever that may be. Also, check your ego and be humble. The people you want to learn from will be more apt to help you.

6) What are you teaching at the IMC this year that Indie artists can benefit from hearing?

I’m giving a workshop entitled Digital Recording and the Home Studio. I will be discussing the pluses and minuses of the home studio, what equipment is needed, and basic information about digital recording. This is the route an ever increasing number of independent musicians are taking.

7.) How do the purpose and goals of the IMC fit into your reasons for teaching, as someone who is both a musician and someone who teaches, counsels, and records musicians? What is your motivation for teaching at the IMC?

I have been enthusiastically independent for my entire career. I played in a working band for over a decade but in recent years I have devoted more time to studio work and teaching because of the complications touring and gigging can impart on family life. I have a 3 1/2 year old daughter, a 19 year old son in college and the most wonderful, supportive and understanding wife any musician could ever hope for. Being away from them is tough.

I don’t want anyone else in charge of my career which is why I have always been a disciple of the independent music movement-and it is a movement! At least this way, if things go south I have no one to blame but my dumbass self!!

But mostly, I am a very big believer in the adage “give something back”. I have been very blessed and lucky in my life. I feel very strongly that I should share the stuff I’ve learned over the years with other musicians, engineers and producers in the same way so many have shared with me and taught me through the years.

I would also like to say what Noel Ramos does with IMC and the philosophy behind it should be applauded. He is a real champion of the indie artist and I am honored and very grateful to be involved in any way with the IMC.

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Thanks again to Tommy for his excellent advice for sharing his experiences with us! You can find him with his music at TommyByrnes.com and with his Massachusetts based company Sovereignty Music Services, which offers a wide range of services to musicians across the country. Again, just a little taste of the benefits of the 2010 Independent Music Conference!

More insights coming soon!

2010-08-19T12:08:00.000-07:00

Interviews are coming up with industry experts, musicians, and IMC contributors Bill and Kay Pere, Anthony Reeves, and Tommy Byrnes! They give out (for free!) great information, advice, and a little sneak peek into what you'll learn at the IMC!

We're going to keep the interviews coming, to flesh out the varying professional and frankly human viewpoints that make the IMC a conference that real people can benefit from.

Who would YOU like to hear a little insight from?

Facebook Feedback!

2010-08-18T16:21:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone! We'd love your comments both here and on Facebook! Here is our link, please join the conversation!

http://www.IMC2010.com/facebook

See you in November!

Independent Music Conference Q&A with Noel Ramos!

2010-08-16T06:07:00.001-07:00

Independent Music Conference 2010

To give a little taste of what is to come, Laurena Marrone Campos of Grit PR asked Noel Ramos, Executive Director of the Independence Music Conference, a few questions about independent music and what makes the IMC different and beneficial for you.

Laurena: Give us a brief history of the IMC, please.

Noel: I spent years working with other music conferences, and I found a large number of problems with them. Most notable was the “showcase for us and you might get signed” hype that many of them used to entice musicians to pay $25 to $40 as a “showcase application fee.” In truth, no act ever got signed after playing one gig at one music conference. Over the last three decades, hundreds of thousands of bands have “showcased,” so if their claims were true, there should have been tens of thousands of signings as a result of all those conference “showcases.”

The baloney used to cajole artists into submitting an “application” created an ethos in the music industry like no other profession. Do Teachers, Doctors, Lawyers etc. attend their annual conferences with no other goal in mind than to party, hang out in bars and completely avoid the actual workshops? No, those professionals attend their annual gatherings to learn, network and advance their respective disciplines. I founded the Independent Music Conference as a true professional industry conference for the new independent music market, which I have been heavily involved in since the earliest days of its creation.

The IMC’s Mission Statement reads as follows…

The Independent Music Conference seeks first and foremost to help independent musicians achieve their goals as entrepreneurial business owners through the presentation of educational seminars, workshops, panel discussions, mentor sessions networking opportunities, performance instruction, evaluation and critique, and live performances. Secondarily, the IMC seeks to positively affect the entire music conference industry, which for too long, has not presented true professional conferences to the music industry in keeping with standards set by other professions. The IMC seeks to alter the erroneous perceptions of conferences as “festivals,” “gigs,” and “concerts.” The main purposes of any worthwhile industry conference should focus on education and networking. At the Independent Music Conference, musicians are treated like any other professional business person, and by setting a higher standard for music conferences in general, the IMC helps encourage and promote the profession of music to the benefit of all.

Laurena: What do you feel are the top 3 things that set IMC apart from other music conferences?

Noel: 1.) No “showcases,” “showcase application fees” or “selections.” We charge an extremely low registration fee, that’s it. There are no other fees to attend, learn and perform at the IMC. All registrants are encouraged to perform and slots are filled on a first-come first served basis. There is no arbitrary, unrealistic “selection” process. Artists are not promised an audience of “industry people” and no wild claims are made about the performance aspect of the event. Our focus is where it should be, on the education and networking.

2.) Our fee is the lowest, and our conference is the most fully packed with workshops, panels, seminars, mentor sessions, performance instruction and critique, networking opportunities and more. The IMC costs as little as $35 for four full days and nights of intensive education. For the last seven years and 11 events The IMC has consistently attracted over 100 of the most experienced, accessible and knowledgeable industry instructors in the independent music business.

3.) Our track record of credibility. Since 2003 The IMC has persevered using the very same indie methodologies that we teach. For 7 years and more than 11 events The IMC has overcome the same obstacles our attendees face, survived, grown, and expanded into cities all over the country. What we offer is clearly worthwhile, and needed by the serious, professional independent musicians who attend. Most conferences see less than 10% of their registrants actually attending the workshops, but at the IMC we consistently see between 75% – 90%! The core values driving the IMC are, honesty, integrity, courage, commitment, dedication, motivation, inspiration, and perspiration. We strive to educate by example, and remain flexible and adaptive, always seeking to be cutting edge, and present information, contacts, resources and services which are aimed at the future, but rooted in reality.

Laurena: Historically, where have most of the musicians who attend come from (mostly the NE or all over, etc)? Any international participants?

Noel: We have always drawn a significant number of attendees from great distances! Since its inception the IMC has been a truly national conference, with attendees traveling from all over the United States, and from as far away as Canada, Australia, Iceland, Japan and Europe.

Laurena: Social Media has really exploded over the past year. How will the IMC help to educate musicians as to how to keep up with it all?

Noel: In the 90s, I founded the very first email discussion group for independent music on the web. Since the late 80s I’ve been a trailblazer for the independent music market, and as an early adopter, I used the internet to promote and advance the industry, helping it grow from a handful of artists and businesses into a multi-billion dollar, global industry. The IMC has always been on the cutting edge of the internet and new technologies. We have long been teaching the techniques, tactics, tips and methods for utilizing social networking sites as well as all other effective technologies that indies can use to their advantage. We help our attendees zero in on what works and what will only distract. In an age of media overload, sometimes less is more, and effectiveness is always key. Each IMC features a number of panels, workshops and mentor sessions specifically geared toward helping our attendees stay focused and make sense of it all.

Laurena: What can an unsigned indie artist expect to take away from the Conference?

Noel: Well we don’t feel that “getting signed” was ever a truly viable business model. Therefore we don’t invite “unsigned” artists, we invite independent entrepreneurs, who may or may not wish to sign a contract with a company that might serve as their “record label” dependent on any number of factors. So I’d say that’s one of the most important take-aways right there… we help them define their business goals, and implement a plan to achieve them. None of our attendees are “UN” anything! They are “IN,” as in independent, and even if they choose to enter into various contractual relationships to advance their career, they will still remain; INdependent, IN charge, IN control, INspired and INvincible!

Laurena: What made you decide against paid “showcases”? About how many artists will be performing and at how many venues?

Noel: I detailed most of my reasons in my answer to question no.1, but let me add that I call it the “S-word” because to me it’s become much like a curse word that represents all that was wrong with the music conference industry. Over the years, “showcases” have been at the root of all the dissatisfaction, unrealistic expectations, missed opportunities and in many cases blatant scams that have plagued the events that SHOULD have been professional industry gatherings, not an excuse to exploit the musicians.
At IMC2010, we expect to have well over 100 performances. We currently have 5 stages confirmed. Other venues may confirm their involvement, which will increase our capacity for more shows. I’d like to have as many as 150 performances occurring over 4 nights at the hotel itself and throughout Northampton.

Laurena: How do the sponsors interact with the participants, what is their role?

Noel: Sponsors are the life-blood of the IMC, more so than any other conference, because in the independent music industry, we all wear many hats, so our sponsors are also instructors, staff members, volunteers, Mentors, Panelists, performers and more. The IMC has been extremely fortunate to have the support of a large number of key industry people who have been with us since the very beginning. Their contributions of time, money, goods and services, experience, knowledge, skill, networking and most importantly BELIEF and SUPPORT are what make each IMC as effective and successful as they have been.

Laurena: What should a musician do to make the most out of the conference?

Noel: I wrote an entire Primer on the subject, entitled appropriately, “How to Get the Most Out of Attending a Music Conference” and I invite musicians to download it for free:
http://intermixx.com/downloads

Laurena: What types of industry representatives take part in the conference?

Noel: Each IMC has featured a large number of industry attendees, more than most conferences, even those that are much larger and more expensive. Sometimes as many as 125 independent music industry people converge on the IMC, to teach, network, Mentor, instruct, critique, demonstrate their products and services, and contribute to the conference in many ways. They come from every corner of the market: Managers, Booking Agents, Venue Owners, Authors, Publicists, Media People, Recording Studio owners, Performance Coaches, Producers, Lawyers, Financial Experts, Technology Gurus, Internet pioneers, indie label owners, successful musicians, music organization owners, industry icons and famous performers and so many more…

Laurena: Are there any artists we may be familiar with scheduled to perform?

Noel: That’s a topic we discuss actually! What is the new definition of “success?” Does an artist have to be “famous” in order to succeed? If “we” don’t recognize their name, does that mean they are not famous, or successful, or… HAPPY? There are many artists scheduled to perform who are famous… to their fans, and in the new independent music market, that is more valid than you might imagine.

Laurena: Tell us how to register and if there’s a limit on the number of registrations.

Noel: No limit! http://www.IMC2010.com, click the REGISTER link.

We’ll post more news here as we move towards the Conference! If you like what you’ve heard, head on over and check out the agenda.