Getting ahead in Wicklow

As we’ve mentioned countless times on the SoundSystem Podcast show; myself, the Chief and Daw from KilkennyMusic joined by Itchy Trigger Finger frontman Jimmy Trigger would be speaking at the Artlinks seminar ‘Getting ahead in the music industry 07′ in Wicklow.

Yesterday morning the alarms went off at 6am, it was still dark outside. Myself and Daw met Jimmy at Ken’s house and loaded into the car. We hit the road guided by Ken’s G.P.S (greatest pile of shite) device. As the sun tried in vain to light up the world from behind a veil of grey clouds we finalised our main points for the talk, often watching the G.P.S curiously. According to the device sitting on the dash board, we weren’t even on roads half the time, but driving through fields and rivers!? Somebodies satellite is broken! We stopped in Bunclody to get some breakfast. Locals looked on in confusion, obviously it’s rare to see musician types up this early, especially in Bunclody, especially when they have mohawks and tattoo’s!?

We found the County Council offices in Wicklow and waited for everyone to arrive. People had travelled from various places like Waterford and Carlow. The seminar started a little late, but Davey Holland wouldn’t be speaking today so it shouldn’t affect the schedule too much. It began with a brief introduction from organiser Cathy Fitzgerald and then as MC for the day I introduced KKM Chief Ken McGuire.

Ken’s talk on using the internet to maximise exposure for your band/music was clearly of interest to everybody there. The discussion was informative with great interaction from the crowd. It’s clearly a topic that could have it’s own seminar, and Ken could clearly talk for weeks about the subject.

Next up was KKM Engineer Alan Dawson joined by fellow Itchy Trigger Finger bandmate Jimmy Trigger. The lads talk about self producing and engineering their E.P ‘The Wrong Side of Misery’. The E.P was funded by the Arts Office and they discuss the various applications involved to apply for funding. Again, there’s great interaction from the crowd, people swap stories and advice on recordings. This brings us up to lunch time, with food provided for us; everyone spends the next half hour or so mingling, drinking tea and eating lovely wraps.

After lunch I speak for an hour or so about the importance of PR for your music/band. I’ve prepared handouts about writing biographies for your band for use on Myspace and Bebo. Then how to take this biography and use it for Press Releases, along with Press Packs. There’s a little reaction from the crowd, swapping some ideas and stories, most of the time it’s unnervingly quiet, but when I question this I’m assured it’s because “everyone’s listening!”

I’m followed by Claire Egan from I.M.R.O (the Irish Music Rights Organisation) and she speaks about the work I.M.R.O do. She also explains the various application processes for bands to use when registering and answers questions about things like recieving royalties for your music.

Last but by no means least is Kenn Allen, he has worked with Hot Press Magazine, he was an Irish A&R consultant for Independiente Records, a scout for Polydor and has now set up his own record company, Faction Records. He speaks about the changes in the current Irish music industry, his current work and answers several questions from the audience. He also collects Cd’s from various bands and musicians attending the seminar.

This brings “Getting ahead in the music industry 07″ to an end. Afterwards everyone spends a while mingling again. I’m told this is “a really good sign instead of the seminar finishing and everyone just leaving”. I really think yesterdays seminar was very successful and of great benefit to everyone who attended. The seminar is still planned to go ahead in Kilkenny sometime in 2008 and we’ll be looking at the possibility of giving the seminars to transition year students.

Bands/musicians or just people interested in attending seminars like this should register for free with Artlinks and become aware of the work they do, and how much support they’re trying to provide to Irish musicians and artists.