Music University is a full-day music industry conference on Saturday, October 19, 2013, at Drake University’s Harmon Fine Arts Center (2505 Carpenter Ave., Des Moines) featuring panels, forums, workshops, and presentations by more than 20 national and local speakers.
VIEW PANEL SCHEDULE | VIEW SPEAKER INFORMATION
REGISTER
Click here to register now.
– General – $25 advance, $30 day of
– Student/Musician – $15 advance, $30 day of (advance registration free for Drake students)
– Group – Register 4 or more from the same organization for $15/person (advance only)
EVENTS
Friday, October 18, 6:00 p.m.-ish, times and location TBA. Pre-Conference ‘Approximately Nels Cline‘ Documentary Screening & Networking. Everyone is welcome. Admission to documentary included with registration, $5 without
Saturday, October 19, 8:30 a.m. — 4:45 p.m. – Drake University’s Harmon Fine Arts Center. Conference. Registration required.
Saturday, October 19, 6:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m. – Gas Lamp. Post-Conference Showcase. Performances by Dick Prall and other to be announced. Free for the public to attend!
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
8:30 a.m.
Registration Opens
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Des Moines Music Scene: The State of the City (free for all to attend, registration not required)
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Breaking Through The Clutter: Getting Press Coverage
Do It: Get Gigs and Tour
The Art of Making Great Records
Everything I Learned about Business I Learned from Rock and Roll
11:15 a.m. -12:15 p.m.
Keynote Presentation: Nels Cline
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Jam with Nels Workshop
Run it Like a Business
I Made a Record. Who is Going to Listen?
The Show Must Go On: Behind the Scenes with Production Professionals
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Quitting Your Day Job: Creating a Successful Career in Music
It’s All About the Plan: DIY Marketing
Hitting the Road and Staying There
BiLT Guitars & Lutherie Shop: Behind the Scenes of Des Moines’ Own Guitar Factory
3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
As Seen on TV? Music Videos Done Right
The Future is Wrtten: Have a Plan
One-On-One: Publicity, Legal, and Reaching Your Goals
Sonic Factory Production Workshop
SESSION DESCRIPTIONS AND SPEAKERS
View the panel descriptions below and get to know the speakers at desmoinesmc.com/education/music-university/speakers.
9:00 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
Des Moines Music Scene: The State of the City
Calling all Des Moines music creators, workers, and lovers! Join your fellow citizens for an open forum discussion on your dreams and vision for Des Moines music. What kinds of music do you want to see more of? What issues need to be addressed to allow musicians, venues, promoters, and others working in the industry to be more successful? What do we need to create? What do we need to get rid of? Have your voice heard and be a part of making a better Des Moines through music. This forum is FREE to all – Registration not required.
Speakers: Open Forum Discussion
10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.
Breaking Through The Clutter: Getting Press Coverage
The media is a powerful tool to spread the word about your music. A good review in a notable publication could be a springboard to bigger things in your career. But, how do you get the attention of a writer when bands bombard them everyday? We’ll cover the basics from press releases to bios and hiring a publicist to what writers think makes for a good story beyond the standard review.
Speakers: Joan Hiller (Riot Act Media), Matt LeMay (Pitchfork), Marc Hogan (Spin)
Moderator: Jill Haverkamp (On Pitch)
Just Do It: Get Gigs and Tour
Members from two of Iowa’s hardest working touring bands (Mumford’s and Dead Horse Trauma) discuss how they took the first step to the stage. This is a session for musicians looking to book and promote their first shows, locally and beyond.
Speakers: Nate Logsdon (Mumford’s), Eric Davidson (Dead Horse Trauma)
The Art of Making Great Records
Recording music is more accessible than ever these days. Getting the tools is easy, but making something meaningful with them can be a challenge. This panel will focus on the art of making a great record, whether it’s in your basement or in a world-class studio.
Speakers: Kieran Kelly (Multi-Platinum Producer) Brandon Darner (Producer, Imagine Dragons), Steve Capp (Engineer, Aretha Franklin, Eminem)
Moderator: MaryBeth Doran (musician)
Everything I Learned about Business I Learned from Rock and Roll
Join Drake University Entrepreneurship Professor Tom Swartwood for a discussion with two Iowa musicians about the parallels between running a business and running a band. For anyone interested in starting/running a business of any sort. Pairs well with Running Your Business as a Band.
Speakers: Dave Deibler (musician, House of Large Sizes), Patrick Tape Fleming (musician, Poison Control Center)
Moderator: Tom Smartwood (Drake University)
11:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
Keynote Presentation: Nels Cline
Nels Cline, lead guitarist for Wilco will deliver the keynote presentation at Music University. Cline’s recording and performing career – spanning jazz, rock, punk, and experimental – is well into its fourth decade, with more than 160 recordings, including at least 30 for which he is leader. Born in Los Angeles in 1956, Cline has received many accolades including Rolling Stone anointing him as both one of 20 “new guitar gods” and one of the top 100 guitarists of all time. His keynote presentation will be followed by an interactive guitar workshop with local musicians.
1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
Jam with Nels Workshop
Nels Cline will lead an interactive jam session with local musicians. Registered musicians will sign up for this workshop at the conference. Space is limited.
Run it Like a Business
Making music is about following your passion and expressing yourself through your art, but like it or not, once you start making money as a result, you’re running a business. This panel will cover things you need to think about to run your band as a business successfully, including legal and copyright issues, and exploring alternative revenue streams such as securing placements in television and film.
Speakers: Brandon Clark (Entertainment Lawyer), Tobi Parks (Sony Music)
Moderator: Mickey Davis (musician, Is Home Is, MAIDS)
I Made a Record. Who is Going to Listen?
This panel will center on a discussion on how to go about releasing an album. What formats should you consider? Should you try to work with a record label? What should you consider when designing your album art? How should you plan to actually get people to listen to and buy your record? These questions and a lot more will be addressed. For those making great recordings and looking to actually sell them. Pairs well with The Art of Making Great Records and DIY Marketing: It’s All About the Plan.
Speakers: Matt LeMay (Pitchfork), Christopher Ford (Maximum Ames Records, DMMC), Brian Sauer (Saturday Mfg.)
Moderator: Byron Dudley (musician)
The Show Must Go On: Behind the Scenes with Production Professionals
This will be a discussion with Des Moines production professionals on how they got started working behind the scenes. For those interested in learning about alternative opportunities for careers in the music industry and for those already working in show production, stage design, live sound, etc.
Speakers: Paul Thompson (Stage Manager/Tech, Dolly Parton, Lynyrd Skynyrd), Ben Mars (Bassist, Gregg Allman, Gavin DeGraw and Show Producer, Bow and Arrow Productions), Burke VanRaalte (First Fleet Concerts)
2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Quitting Your Day Job: Creating a Successful Career in Music
Join multi-platinum producer Kieran Kelly to hear his perspective on creating a successful career in music. Hint: It’s easier than you think; if you’re willing to open yourself up to new ideas, possibilities, and opportunities. For all interested in working in music, one way or another.
Speaker: Kieran Kelly (Multi-Platinum Producer)
It’s All About the Plan: DIY Marketing
If you’re ready to promote the heck out of your music and don’t have a clue where to start, this is the session for you. Develop a website, create a video, contact the media, take press photos, get your music on the radio… it all can be overwhelming, especially when you don’t have a plan of attack. This presentation will cover how to lay the foundation for your marketing efforts to make sure you develop a plan that will deliver results.
Speaker: Jill Haverkamp (On Pitch)
Hitting the Road and Staying There
Knowing how to book a tour is one thing. Knowing how to do it well is another. This discussion will focus on how to tour effectively and sustainability, how to get quality shows, communicate with promoters, marketing shows from a distance, and when/how you should consider working with a booking agent.
Speakers: Dick Prall (Tour Manager for Wilco, Musician), Andrea Troolin (Manager for Andrew Bird), Sam Summers (First Fleet Concerts, Wooly’s), Bob Nastanovich (Pavement)
Moderator: Andre Perry (Mission Creek Festival, Englert Theater)
BiLT Guitars & Lutherie Shop: Behind the Scenes of Des Moines’ Own Guitar Factory
Hidden away in a little corner of Des Moines, with little fanfare or to-do, is the Lutherie Shop and BiLT Guitars, builders of fantastic custom guitars played by everyone from Nels Cline (Wilco) to Dave Keuning (The Killers). BiLT doesn’t worry about making a bunch of noise about themselves; they just make the tools that make the noise and let the artists take care of the rest. Get a look at how they do it in this tour and q&a session. Registered attendees will sign up for the workshop at the conference. Space is limited. Shop is within walking distance from the conference.
Speakers: Tim Thelen and Brandon Darner (BiLT Guitars)
3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.
As Seen on TV? Music Videos Done Right
MTV may not play music videos much anymore, but the Internet has stepped in as the new outlet for music videos and the medium is as popular as ever. The Internet has provided a method for marketing an album and creating original content as an extension of a recording. Music videos are particularly powerful tools for standing out in an online music scene that is filled with a seemingly infinite number of new artists and music to discover. Learn tips for making your own video, getting it done on any budget, and then actually getting people to watch it.
Speakers: Bruce James and Caleb Smith (DEFT), Dylan Sires (musician, music video producer), Patrick Tape Fleming (Poison Control Center)
The Future is Written: Have a Plan
The formation of a band can be quite organic in nature, often a result of luck, determination, and fateful meetings. That’s a beautiful thing, but you shouldn’t rely on fate to take your band to the next level. This discussion will focus on keeping your band on track by identifying expectations of each band member, spreading out the workload, and tactics to overcome personality clashes. In addition to, how to get ahead by creating a plan, goal setting, and networking within the industry.
Speakers: Dana Halferty (Parlours), Seth Peters (Dead Horse Trauma), Dick Prall (musician), Brandon Clark (lawyer, musician), Max Wellman (musician)
One-On-One: Publicity, Legal, and Reaching Your Goals
Sign up for a 10-minute one-on-one session with any or all of three of our Music University experts. Joan Hiller will provide insight, feedback, and advice on your website, EPK (electronic press kit), press photos, publicity plan, etc. Brandon Clark will provide legal consultation, on anything from booking contracts and management deals to publishing issues. Andrea Troolin will give advice related to your specific goals as an artist. Registered attendees will sign up for these at the conference. Space is limited.
Sonic Factory Production Workshop
Join Kieran Kelly and Brandon Darner at local recording studio Sonic Factory for a hands-on demonstration on producing in the studio. More details to be announced. Registered attendees will sign up for the workshop at the conference. Space is limited. Within walking distance from the conference.
Speakers: Kieran Kelly (Multi-Platinum Producer) and Brandon Darner (Producer, Imagine Dragons)
WHAT IS MUSIC UNIVERSITY?
Music University is a music business education program designed to provide musicians and industry professionals the resources, connections and skills to progress in their pursuit.
The Music University series launched in 2007 with panels, q&a’s, public forums, and how-to’s. Today, Music University has expanded into a full day conference launching on Saturday, October 19 at Drake University.
SUPPORTERS
Music University is presented and organized by the Greater Des Moines Music Coalition in partnership with Drake University and the Iowa Arts Council, a division of the Department of Cultural Affairs. Support is also provided by sponsors: Greater Des Moines Partnership, Fantasy Records, and On Pitch; as well as partners Saturday Mfg. and Tikly.