ON THE ROAD: BUILD A SUCCESSFUL TOURING CAREER
Saturday May 5, 2012 1-4pm @ Tom Lee Music Hall
3rd Floor, 929 Granville St Vancouver
Hosted by Lana Gay, CBC Music
FREE for members/$25 general public
RSVP to: rsvp@musicbc.org with the subject CDS: Touring
(RSVP not mandatory, but encouraged!)
Live demonstration of TOURHUB by Nicolas Morin from Artistech Newmedia Inc.
Focused on the most common question asked, “How do I book a tour?”, we will cover live show booking basics, putting together your pitch, following up, and how to get that coveted opening spot for your favourite band. We will also discuss contracts, fees, and how and when to build your team.
This seminar will also include a live demonstration of the new MIA Mobile App, TOURHUB. Music BC members have free access to this amazing resource that lets you research venues across canada, enter your tour information, track your merch sales on the road, and see where other bands are playing! Members are encouraged to email us for their login information, and come with any questions they might have on how to best utilize this amazing resource.
Panelists:
J-Bird, Tour Management – Atmosphere/Rhymesayers Entertainment
Only his Mom and airline security refer to him by his birth name; most people know him as J-Bird. Getting his start in the music industry as a DJ in the 80s, he graduated from Columbia College in Chicago, and went on to own his own street promotion and marketing company called Ch’rewd. Eventually moving to Minneapolis to work for independent label Rhymesayers, to get out of the office he booked, tour managed, drove the van, sold the merch and DJ’d on Atmosphere and various other tours. He also tour managed Eyedea & Abilities, Brother Ali, MF Doom, Cannibal Ox, Mr. Lif, Arsonists, Sage Francis and some of your favorite and hated rappers and DJs. Now General Manager after 12 years with Rhymesayers, he can tell you where to get the best coffee in at least 37 states, argue with you about ticketing fees and still doesn’t understand why the venue requests 20% of merchandise.
Courtney Ewan, Booker - Biltmore Cabaret
Courtney is the Talent Buyer and Promotions Manager for the Biltmore Cabaret in Vancouver, BC. She started bookings shows in Burnaby (mostly out of boredom) in high school, and after booking her first tour at the age of 17, decided to pursue concert promotions on a more professional level. After completing the Arts and Entertainment Management Program at Capilano University, Courtney worked as a Production Manager for Sealed With a Kiss Presents, producing shows ranging in size from 100 capacity to festival events, as well as part time tour managing. In addition to starting at The Biltmore in 2011, Courtney plays in three Vancouver bands and is an avid supporter of our ever-growing music scene.
Amanda Schweers, Agent Associate – SL Feldman & Associates
Amanda Schweers works for SL Feldman & Associates, a talent booking agency, assisting in the planning, selling, and contracting of live performances bookings for artists on the roster, alongside Rob Wright. These acts include but are not limited to: Trooper, The Dudes, The Zolas, Loverboy, April Wine, The Real McKenzies, Brasstronaut, We Are The City, Five Alarm Funk, Kim Churchill, and more. Amanda is also a co-founder, and project manager for a boutique film production company called Amazing Factory Productions, specializing in music videos. She also spent nearly 7 years working with Music BC, and has worked with artists in a management role, consultant over coffee, and cheerleader/un-accredited therapist.
Maya Miller – The Pack AD
The Pack a.d. have been growing inexorably since they signed to Mint Records. Drummer Maya Miller and guitarist/vocalist Becky Black stormed off the mean streets of East Vancouver with their debut album Tintype in hand and Funeral Mixtape following shortly thereafter, both released by Mint in 2008. Since then, the duo has unleashed their brand of tribal, blues and punk infected garage-rock across North America and Europe. Mint released their third album we kill computers in 2010, which cemented their place at the forefront of Canadian independent music on the back of dozens of glowing reviews and a few award nominations. Showing no signs of slowing down, the band’s fourth album Unpersons, produced by the infamous Jim Diamond (The Dirtbombs, The Paul Collins Beat, The White Stripes), will hit shelves in September of 2011.
