Tag: networking

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How To Start Your Own Music Industry Meetup

Hello, everyone! We are thrilled to learn that you were able to find time in your day to browse the latest content on our blog. The post you are about to enjoy is a guest piece from one of our favorite contributors, and it offers information that can help anyone aspiring to one day work in this crazy business we call the music industry.

This blog exists to promote the future of the music industry, and to do that we need input from people like you and your music-loving friends. If you have any questions about the content in this article, or if you have an artist you would like to see featured on this blog, please contact james@haulix.com. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

There’s something truly wonderful about finding a community within a community. You know what I mean. You live in one place your entire life, but never really get to know the communities you’re a part of. You never get to make the connections that can ultimately make or break you, and so you never really get to feel like you totally belong.

When I first moved to San Francisco, I struggled to find friends. As a 26-year-old working from home, meeting new people, especially people interested so deeply in what I was (music) wasn’t exactly easy. But within a few months I befriended SF Intercom owner and Balanced Breakfast co-founder Stefan Aronson, and was soon introduced to 30+ new friends, all sharing some part in the music industry. It was brilliant. An incredibly simple concept that I had never even thought of: get everyone within a city’s industry together on a weekly basis to talk shop, network, and help propel one another’s dreams. I was in love.

So when I moved back to Boston after my seven-month stint on the west coast, I knew I wanted to bring all of the ethos and passion behind Balanced Breakfast with me. I quickly began putting together the skeleton of what would become the first east coast Balanced Breakfast.

But Boston and San Francisco aren’t the only places with thriving music scenes and a lack of like-minded community. In fact, I’d venture to guess most cities suffer from a lack of strong community feel within the music scene. So how can we change that? Here’s what I did. Hopefully it can inspire you to start your own music industry meet up. Maybe even another Balanced Breakfast? 

Find interested people

Naturally, this is the hardest part. Finding the people that will eventually make up your music community. Although paid sites like Meetup.com are great for a lot of things, they weren’t a site that I used during planning this. In fact, I spent no money at all in putting this together. To find interested people, I posted on just about every social media site I could think of: Facebook, Reddit, Twitter. I scoured existing music industry groups in my city on Facebook, posted in subreddits dedicated to my city, and tagged well known Twitter sites for Boston to let people know that I was putting together a weekly industry meet up, and to ask for their input on location. I even found another industry meet up along the way, and attended. Not only did I meet new people to invite to BB, but I discovered there really is a desire for this kind of thing. It’s a lot of old fashioned grassroots promotion, but in the end, it let people know we existed. 

Location & Time

The second hardest part was actually finding a location and time that worked for everyone. Once I knew Boston would be the easiest area for people to get to, I had to find a location that was fairly central, and could accommodate larger groups, because I dream big. Eventually I decided on 2pm (to avoid busy brunch crowds) and a place called Trident Booksellers and Café on Newbury Street. Bonus: It was also a bookstore, so we could peruse while we waited for a table!

Topics

The last piece to this puzzle was just figuring out format and topics. Luckily, I had seen my SF counterparts in action on this one at least a dozen times, and went off their format. But play around with what works best for you and your community. Focus on topics depending on who it tends to attract. Is it primarily musicians? Media? Bookers? Cater your topics to your primary audience, but don’t forget to make sure it’s broad enough that everyone can find interest.

And there you go! It really is that simple, cheap, and easy to put together a meet up of your own. And once you start gaining momentum, the sky is truly the limit. The SF Balanced Breakfast recently put on a one month residency, which featured a ton of bands from the meet up, and not only was it a great way to showcase our own talent, and get to know each other’s passions, but it even attracted outside attention and press furthering the strength of the community. 

So what are you waiting for? There’s a whole city of musicians, media, promoters, and more just waiting for their community to be born.  Interested in starting your own division of Balanced Breakfast? Get in touch with us here. In Boston? Join our meet up here. 

Angela Mastrogiacomo runs the Boston Balanced Breakfast, a group of music industry professionals that meet once a week to talk shop, network, and build a stronger music community. She is also the owner of Muddy Paw Public Relations and Infectious Magazine.

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Industry Spotlight: Andrew West (The Noise Collective)

Hello, everyone. Thank you for taking a few minutes out of your day to read about the industry we all contribute to on a daily basis. We have been searching coast to coast for someone working on the kind of project highlighted in today’s piece, and we hope the advice they have to offer inspires others to follow in their footsteps. 

This blog exists to promote the future of the music industry, and to do that we need input from people like you and your music-loving friends. If you have any questions about the content in this article, or if you have an artist you would like to see featured on this blog, please contact james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. We can also be found on Twitter and Facebook.

Growing up in a town known for farming in the southwest corner of Michigan I had absolutely no idea how I would ever meet the kind of people who could help me make a name for myself in music. I asked everyone I knew if they knew anyone in entertainment, but the best anyone in my little world could do was offer was a distant cousin who may or may not have been a stunt double for David Duchovny once upon a time. His name was also David and no, he did not offer much help.

Eventually, I entered college and learned the hard truth that sometimes in life the easiest way to get what you want also requires the most work. I could stand around for years waiting to be introduced to someone who could help me, or I could put myself out there and see what – if any – attention my work would draw. I launched a music blog not long after, which put me in a position to meet publicists, and over the next several years I used my skills as a writer to navigate the industry. Whenever a major event presented itself, such as SXSW, I went with a hundred business cards ready to be dispersed. I knew if I ever wanted to leave cornfields in the rear view mirror I needed to know people who understand what it took to live as a music business professional. It took almost a decade, but I eventually found my way.

If I had stumbled upon a genie or some kind of wish-granting deity while on my journey into the industry, the one thing I would have asked for before anything else would have been an easier way to meet people with similar interests in my desired career field. That kind of magic never came my way, unfortunately, but for the better part of the last two years a group of industry professionals in New York City have been putting on the kind of events that would have made my younger self jump with joy. They’re called The Noise Collective, and in the interview below founding member Andrew West explains how he and his team and doing their part to further unite the industry at large.

If you would like to learn more about The Noise Collective and their plans for the future, please make it a point to follow the group on Facebook. Additional questions and comments can be added at the end of this post.

H: Hello, thank you for joining us. Would you like to introduce yourself to our audience?

A: Sure. My name is Andrew, and I work with The Noise Collective.

H: It’s great to have you with us this afternoon. I know you’re based out of New York, but as the majority our readers live elsewhere I am going to go out on a limb and say many people may not understand what The Noise Collective is based on its name alone. Could you shed a little light on what is you do?

A: A couple of years ago myself and a few others I knew found ourselves in New York City without really knowing anyone there. We were new to the city and we discovered there wasn’t really a mixer or networking event for people in the music industry. So we came up with the idea of The Noise Collective. It’s not really a panel or anything, it’s more like a room where you can hangout and get to know people every month. It’s a chill environment to interact with people from the industry with passions similar to your own.

H: When was your first event?

A: Our first event was around a year and a half ago. I think it was January 2013. It took a few months to plan, between deciding where to hold it and whether or not we wanted to have bands play. We eventually thought that having bands playing would take away from what we were trying to do. Plus, there is so much going on in New York City every day of the week that having live music would force us to compete for venues. Removing the music aspect allowed for us to create a chill networking environment.

H: Do you remember how many people showed up for that first event? How have your numbers developed since launch?

A: We had around 200-250 people. It was packed. We did it at this place called Brooklyn Stable, which is a bar, and everyone was pretty excited about it. Our team was really confident in the event, and we put a lot of effort into the promotion. It worked out so well that we eventually had to move to a bigger venue.

H: Oh wow. That’s really impressive. So where do you hold your events now?

A: Idle Hands. You may not know this since you’re not in New York City, but it’s kind of like THE music bar to go to. One of the owners is very heavily involved in music, and a lot of the bands playing in the area will go there after their show to hang out. They have different theme nights and all kinds of events, so we figured it would be a good place to host our gatherings.

H: You had a CMJ showcase in 2013. Are you planning another for 2014?

A: CMJ is basically New York City’s SXSW. It’s held in October every year, and last year we hosted a showcase that had four artists perform. It was great. There were about 300 people there and again, it kind of took the brand to another level. We’re planning to do it again, and there is a part of us that wants the same venue, but we haven’t actually gotten that planned out yet. That’s something we’re working on this week.

H: You talked a little bit about the goals you had when you launched The Noise Collective earlier. Have those goals and the things you hope to achieve with each event changed since that time?

A: It’s sort of the same goal in general, but we have added some things and taken away others that did not work. For example, we started having a playlist that we play during events. Unsigned bands in New York are encouraged to submit their songs for the list, which is updated constantly, and then when they attend our events there is always a chance their song will play through our system while they’re in the middle of a conversation. There are about 2000-3000 bands on the list, and we do our best to stay in contact with them regularly.

We also have these things called Spotlight Guests. We book 3 or 4 every month, and they’re just people from within the industry offering advice. We have had basically every label in house. It’s different than having a panel because our events are about conversations, not just talking.

So those are a couple of things, and we have more coming. We launched in Buffalo in June, and we are hoping to get more cities in the future. Right now, we’re getting more sponsor for our NYC events and trying to expand in that way.

H: Speaking of expansion, and you touched on this a second ago, have you put a lot of thought into expanding your events into other cities? Do you feel other people should maybe take it upon themselves to launch something similar?

A: Right now we’re building a website and developing our online presence. We did launch in Buffalo in June, and we are planning to move that to other cities in the future. Los Angeles is a big one, and Philadelphia is on the list too. 

I think it would be great to do, it’s just that there are only 6 of us on the team here. We’re hoping to spread the word to other cities where these events can kind of take on a life of their own. A lot of these cities, I think, could really use something like this.

H: Great. Well, that’s all the questions I have for you this afternoon. I think what you’re working on is really interesting and whether or not its nationally recognized I wholeheartedly believe there is a demand for this type of event and hopefully you can continue to spread your efforts.

A: Thank you very much.

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Journalism Tips #3 – ‘Networking’

Hello, everyone. Thank you for taking a little time out from your weekend to read up on the latest industry advice and insight. We are thrilled to be sharing the third chapter of our ongoing ‘Journalism Tips’ series, and to be honest we think it might the best one to date.

We are always looking for new ways to expand and further refine our efforts here at Haulix. If you have an idea for this blog, or if you would like to learn more about the digital distribution services we offer, please do not hesitate to email james@haulix.com and share your thoughts. If you prefer social media, feel free to reach out to us on Facebook and Twitter.

I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one who’s heard “it’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Don’t take this as the beginning of some blogged bash towards education, because believe me; if you’d like to get anywhere, you need to be able to walk the walk, if you already plan on talking the talk.

Which brings me into what this is all about: Networking.

It’s all up to you to decide how far you take your efforts, but networking is one of the most important things you could do for your career. I’ll speak from my own experience in saying that if it wasn’t for networking, I wouldn’t have made my first footsteps towards a career in the industry.

In today’s day and age, the first sort of networking that probably comes to mind would be social networking. But who’s to blame? Society thrives off the internet, and this is the easiest method of communication, because you can do this from just about anywhere, including your bed early in the morning, a bus bench, a crowded elevator, your work desk, and your sofa after a long day.

If you don’t have any friends who work in the industry, whether in journalism or the music business itself, make some. It could start with something as simple and easy as a twitter follow, and from there, things can only grow. Make sure to genuinely interact with them via retweets and @ replies, and over time, they may or may not follow you back. Further down the road, you can be a bit more social by asking questions for advice or you could even take it a step further and offer your help by writing at their site. You’d be surprised at who would actually take the time to help you out.

At this point, I would consider it to be more acceptable to send Facebook friend requests. Speaking from my own experience, I know I’m more likely to accept requests from people I’ve at least had some conversation with over Twitter or some other form of social media. But that’s just me. Ultimately, be sure to see and treat Facebook for what it is: a personal method of staying connected with others.

To those of you who are more seasoned when it comes to journalism, my only advice to give is to make sure that your network extends past your bubble of a community. For example, if you write for a punk/scene oriented publication, I suggest networking with people at other publications, say, NPR and Pitchfork, because it’s always nice to have connections across the board.

Now let’s talk physical networking. We all know SXSW (and any other major music conference, for the matter) is the place to be for meeting others from similar walks of life, but have you thought about such as record stores and venues? Photo pits are only so big, and backstage areas really aren’t as exciting you think they can be (at times), so why not take the opportunity to make conversation to help make the time pass by a little quicker? During events as big as Warped Tour, the line for press credentials can take a while to sit through, and you’re literally surrounded by other press members. The ideas you can get from others could help you exponentially, and even more if lasting connections are made.

This is by no means a call to be inauthentic with others. Instead, this is a reminder that you’re surrounded by people who could one day help you down the road when you need it. I’ve had many great friendships stem from what I originally considered to be simple acquaintances gained through networking, and that serves as another reason for me to encourage stepping out.

If you have a scene, you should live in it, and by that I mean that you should meet people, build friendships, and help each other.

When he’s not listening songs from the upcoming Comeback Kid album, Adrian Garza writes at Under the Gun Review and works at the Editor-In-Chief at The Southeastern Times, Southeastern University’s student newspaper. Follow him on Twitter.

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5 Social Media No-nos Every Artist Should Avoid

Social media has developed countless ways for artists to promote themselves, but along the way a number of bad habits have developed that drives journalists, fans, and labels alike absolutely insane. Using improper marketing techniques over these channels can not only drive away fans, but prevent you from reaching potential new listeners as well. We polled over a dozen bloggers from various genres about the social media no-nos every artist should avoid and put together a list to help all you aspiring stars get a bit closer to your dreams.

1. Stop requiring a “Like” before allowing users to access your music. Even though we asked bloggers from a number of musical backgrounds when working on this article, every single person polled mentioned Facebook “Like” walls within the first few lines of their response. The whole point of promoting your music is so people will visit your page and hear what it is you have been working on, so why make it any more difficult to hold their attention than it already is? The few seconds it takes someone to notice your “Like” wall and read it may be all the time they need to decide you aren’t worth their time.

2. Avoid unsolicited direct/private messaging (AKA Spammer No spamming). Everyone knows you’re excited about your music, and for the most part people will give you a bit of their time to share your excitement with them. However, sending direct/private messages through social networks is not the way to begin the conversation. Your band may be a group of people, but online you’re a single entity that is essentially a complete stranger to anyone unfamiliar with your music. You have to break the ice to start the conversation, of course, but to do so requires more tact that blindly messaging a link to your latest release. Social networks are like mixers, they exist to create a sense of community among strangers through dialogue, but that is not the same as pitching yourself. Leave the pitching to emails and press kits unless someone asks for more information. Until then, join the conversation wherever you are able and keep an eye out for opportunities more fitting for self-promotion (ie people requesting/asking for new music recommendations).

3. Your band does not belong on LinkedIn. This one is relatively simple, but it can be apply to a number of emerging social networking sites. While there are a limitless amount of opportunities to meet people who could help your career through various groups and discussion boards, LinkedIn works best as a tool when used by an individual (or an individual representing a group). Professionals using LinkedIn are not looking to add your band, The River Run Blood Red, to their networks, but they may be interested in engaging with you as an individual. If you can create a dialogue with them through the site by leveraging the various messaging tools, then it may be possible to open a door to promote your band. If you rush it, or try to force your music on those unfamiliar with your work, no one will want to listen.

4. Stop promoting yourself 24/7. Bands are a brand in their own way, and just like many brands on social networks bands often forget the key to maximizing the effectiveness of your network: Engagement. People follow you because they support what you’re doing and want to know more, but that does not mean they want a constant stream of advertising for whatever you have to promote. You may be a group, but you’re also individuals with personalities, and that should be conveyed through social media as well as your latest activities. Fans know about your latest album, and they certainly follow because they want to know when you have new tours or releases, but they’re also trying to learn more about you as people. They want to connect with you more than they have been able to through albums and live shows, and that is the exact opportunity provided by social networks. By engaging them you’re able to create a dialogue that can eventually evolve into a digital community of fans who not only communicate with you, but others as well. If you can accomplish that, those same users you engaged in the beginning will aide you in sharing your music with others. That will lead them to start conversations with new people who could potentially fall in love with your music and the cycle begins all over again.

5. Save the drama for your blog. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, and without a doubt there will be days when you feel stressed as a band, but ranting on social networks and/or attacking others is not going to help further your career (especially if those attacks are directed at fans or members of the industry). Just like how LinkedIn is no place for a band profile, band accounts on social networking sites are no place for unnecessary drama. Fans want to know what’s going on with you, and you should keep them informed, but too much drama can take the focus away from music. Also, you must always be aware of how your accounts appear to those not familiar with your work. If your feed looks more like an individual’s thoughts than the efforts of a cohesive band focused on getting ahead, people may pass by without even giving the music a chance. Appearing driven and welcoming will get you much further than anger and negativity. Always.

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