SONG CONTEST BLOG

Just returned from Dfest.  The event was truly awesome.  Tom and Angie, the power couple behind the Tulsan extravaganza, cut no corners and personally addressed every detail to ensure one of the most enjoyable and professionally productive weekends I have had in a very long time.  I am confident that this sentiment is shared by my fellow panelists and the 30,000 odd music fans who congregated to bear witness to the likes of Cake, The Black Crowes, Citizen Cope, Gogol Bordello, and many many others.  Whether you’re an industry pro, musician or music fan, make sure that Dfest is in your schedule for next summer!

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I’ll be making an appearence at Dfest this weekend and sitting in on a couple of panels.  If you’re going to be there, please get in touch!

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CNN published an informative guide to the world’s best music festivals, highlighting the most renowned music events, a few of which, I must admit, I haven’t heard of, including India’s Sunburn Festival and Woodstock… no, not that Woodstock.  The one in Cape Town, South Africa.  It’s a good idea to keep music festivals and conferences on your radar.  Many of them have indie programmes for their smaller stages so, if you’re quick and your music is blazin’, you may find yourself strutting your stuff in Serbia…

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As an artist, getting your ass on stage and performing to as many people as often as possible is key.  In the US, SXSW is arguably the largest draw of both music fans and artists, certainly independent artists.  Should you get on a SXSW stage?  Of course you should.  However, assuming that you are not yet well known, playing live at an over-crowded and super competitive event has its limitations.  Sometimes, you have to get off the stage in order to truly make an impact and, year after year, I’m seeing more independent artists attending music conferences, on their own behalf, and with their business hat on.  Although the largest of the lot, Midem in Cannes and Popkomm in Berlin, also offer a variety of live performance opportunities to acts big and small, the true event value is in the aimless wondering between the booths and random handshakes with industry professionals.  I’m not joking.  You’ll meet a lot more people on the floor than on stage.  If you meet someone who wants to hear you play, both Midem and Popkomm have listening rooms big enough for you to perform acoustically.  If nothing else, attending these events will teach you a lot about the current music market and provide you with the confidence to approach prospective partners who may [or may not] invest in your next recording, touring, licensing, or writing initiative.  You never know.

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