Birmingham Music Network Meeting – 2nd October 2014

Present: Mark Badger, Michelle Dawes, Vix and her Mischiefs, Dan Joyce, Diane Wiltshire, Ferzana Alcram, Josh Herring, Raul Fermoselle, Harpreet Sohal, Richard Blades, Dennis gig promotion and management, Sunjay Kohli, Dave Taylor and a few latecomers…..

Apologies: Nicola Toms, Anthony Hughes

New Points:

Raul – Has access to a good recording space for recording and the studio is available for free. Raul is Looking for local bands to come and record for free. raul explained it’s part of a educational project so no costs involved for bands but engineers and technicians are all students who will be working as part of their course and gaining experience working with real bands and musicians. If you are in a local band and would like to access the free recording facilities in exchange for giving students a chance to work on your music as part of their course in touch. The Studio is based in millennium point.
Contact: Raul.fermoselle@gmail.com 07508037521

Harpreet: Engineer and producer looking for more bands to record. harpreet is based in Birmingham, the studio is based in Dudley. Recently harpreet has recorded the peoples orchestra. Contact Harpreet 07706955678
hsohal92@hotmail.com

Richard – Stop Motion Animation.
Richard has done corporate videos and work for writers and small businesses also training films and small commissions. He is looking for new work and is always interested in finding music to use and effects sounds which he often finds on the internet. if you are after a good stop motin animator get in touch.
www.bladesanimation.co.uk
richard@bladesanimation.co.uk

SunJay.Kohli@Nubimagazine.com
NUBI magazine
The magazine has had 2 million hits on website in past few months
The Writers are all students
Many of them are from BCU, they create their own stories and put them up for them. if you are a local artist, film maker, musician or creative who would like exposure for your work, get in touch with Sunjay and he may be able to get some of the student writers to take an interest in your work. The platform has a huge readership so this may be an alternative route to finding promotion for your creative projects.

Vix and her Mischiefs
The band have Recorded an EP with Gavin at Magic Garden
Putting the record out through Artists without a Label
Discussion followed with suggestions of online platforms, crowdfunding, press contacts.
Suggestions about video and other ways to get the word out.
Discussion of booking agents and other contacts.
www.Vix.uk.com

Dennis – Gig promotion and management
Dennis has a background in advertising and event management and is looking to set up gigs and music promotion actrivities in Birmingham. he is looking at venues from 200 capacity upwards. if you have any suggestions or ideas for dennis or if you are in a band and would like to be considered for future shows get in touch.
Contact Dennis: dkomis@bunnyhop.eu
Dennis is looking for bands that play music in the general style of  Amercana, Alt country, Alternative rock
Discussion followed about Tower of Song and The Roadhouse, also The Bullshead, and the Dark Horse in moseley

Dan: Works with 16-25 year olds, runs workshops for young people and looking to match young people with work experience.
Access to Music Exhibition takes place on 22nd October. Dan is looking for people to talk to young people about what they do, why they do it and where in the hope of inspiring some of the young people he works with to choose a career that may involve music or music related activities.
Dannyj@foyer.net
The exhibition will be at Access to Music College at Fazeley studios, Birmingham.
If anyone wants to come and talk, set up a stall, talk to young people get in touch

Nicola Toms: looking for some help to spread the word about a project she is working on.  There are some wonderful volunteer opportunities on offer. Our Big Gig EXTRA Birmingham needs you! Love music? Want to shape future events across Birmingham. If you are looking for some fantastic music industry experience then this could be the project for you. We are looking for a team of volunteers to plan and deliver several large scale music events in communities across the city.  Volunteers will be invited to attend a residential training course delivered by industry experts.  The Birmingham team will be led by an experienced project manager and given funding to curate and execute some amazing musical experiences.

Closing date for applications Monday 6th October

More information here:

http://www.superact.org.uk/blog/entry/our-big-gig-extra-to-launch-five-new-music-development-networks
Or contact Nicola Toms, nicola@superact.org.uk 07743 593439 for more details.

Diane – Artist and Creative Director at Nottingham University
Looking at interviewing musicians as part of an artistic project that is looking at the relationship beween music and emotion.
Diane.wiltshire@gmail.com
http://sentimentart.tumblr.com
Diane Wiltshire Artist on Facebook
Funded by Horizon
Digital arts and the arts council. Get in touch with Diane if you are a musician and would like to participate in her project.

Ferzana Setting up a consultancy to help connect birmingham artists and musicians. The project is still in an early stage but she will be back with more detail to share with the group.

Josh – Based at the Conservatoire, Plays in a band called Steady Hands
Josh has done some recordings, got website
discussions about getting his music out
discussion followed as Josh is looking for advice and guidance.
www.steadyhandsmusic.co.uk

Birmingham City Sessions
They record and film bands and its free as part of a student education programme. if you want to get involved with your band or music project contact
birminghamcitysessions@gmail.com