Catapult Your Career
CMW ’ s Danya Dixon
David MacDonald ( 2 nd from left ) & Paper Lions sible , advises Cool . “ If you ’ ll be getting to bed at a reasonable hour , then sure , have a few drinks , [ but ] combining late nights with excessive drinking is a recipe for burnout .” You probably won ’ t be as approachable or attentive as you could be if you ’ re really hung over from late-night events the night before .
Know that many deals take place in the hotel lobbies or nearby coffee shops and bars . The lanyards hanging around peoples ’ necks are dead giveaways and almost invitations to talk to strangers outside of the conference . Mind your manners though !
EXCESSIVE DRINKING
Following up with people you meet at conferences is something the vast majority of attendees don ’ t do , thereby losing out on invaluable connections . By the time you get home , chances are you have a pocket full of new cards so don ’ t idle any longer than two weeks after the conference . Remind them of where you met and any memorable thing you spoke about . And if you meet someone and want to connect immediately , there ’ s nothing wrong with emailing or tweeting them right away . Just don ’ t pester them the rest of the conference and expect to wait until after the event is over to get a proper reply .
VOLUNTEER
All of this talk is fine and good , but what if you ’ re a cash-strapped musician or new to the industry and can ’ t afford to attend ? Volunteer ! Most conferences require volunteer support and it ’ s a great way to meet other people in similar positions . “ Aside from learning valuable skills , you also get a lot of face time with organizers and other important industry people ,” says Giuseppe Spartico .
As a volunteer at Canadian Music Week , Spartico learned about curating showcases , advancing bands , festival logistics , ticketing systems , and pretty much every other job he could sign himself up for , eventually getting hired as a festival assistant .
To sum it up , “ Conferences set people off on the right direction ,” says Deschambault – and that ’ s especially true if your plan and approach are effective .
Other Educational
There are educational opportunities around every hotel or event space corner at most music conferences . Here are a few places where you can expand your knowledge outside of the panels .
WORKSHOPS
Conferences often present things like songwriting workshops with influential artists or grant writing sessions to help you be successful with future funding opportunities .
These offer a chance for artists to learn from their idols and get hands-on in intimate settings . “ You can basically hone your craft ,” says Pop Montreal ' s Fei . At this year ’ s edition , prominent DJ Hi-Klassified gave a Beat Making workshop . “ Young beat makers [ were able to ] see how one of the leading Montreal DJs does his thing ,” she says .
They also foster camaraderie and interest from the person leading the workshop . Make sure to sign up for workshops as soon as they are announced because class size is often limited !
DEMO CRITIQUES
You know how your friends and fans always praise your band , no matter what ? This is your chance to get an honest and unbiased perspective on your music by experienced producers , songwriters , and other industry professionals . “ It ’ s not about an ego trip ,” says Damon de Szegheo , head producer at Oak Recording Studio in Toronto . Artists play one to three songs for feedback that they can directly apply to their development . “ The primary focus should be to figure out what the audience wants from you and a good producer will be the voice for that audience ,” says de Szegheo .
BOOTHS
Go explore the booths and display areas . Sponsors and participants want to tell you about the newest technologies , services , funding opportunities , and much more . “ Companies that have booths at music conferences are usually looking to help musicians ,” says says Bandzoogle ' s Cool . " Take the time to find out about the companies and services at the conference . You might find something that can help your career immediately , or in the long term .”
Many booths have wares like books or accessories for sale that are relevant to musicians and industry members . Others have some free swag or candy as your late-afternoon pick-me-up . And while you ’ re at it , make sure to sign up for sweepstakes and the like . The best education can be through experience and if you win a new guitar or trip to L . A ., consider yourself learned .
52 • CANADIAN MUSICIAN