...survival skills for making music in the 21st century. The above is a music conference that I'm currently in the process of organising. And let me tell you, organising a music conference is not for the faint hearted.
Firstly, you need to think of a topic, themed around your area of research. I would recommend something that motivates. Something you feel absolutely 100% compelled to do.
Who would you like to participate? Bear in mind, people are busy and the music industry is a strange old beast at the best of times. It can be extremely difficult to get people to commit to things.
Finding an appropriate venue can also be a nightmare. Ideally, it should be central, so that it's well serviced by public transport, as well as fit for purpose. Internet availability? Power requirements? Lighting and projection? And as this is a music industry-meets-academia conference, complete with musical performances, somewhere with a bit of pomp doesn't hurt either. Oh, and if there are no immediate neighbours that helps too. The last thing you want is your performance shut down due to complaints about the noise. So that's central, with great transport links and no neighbours. Hmm...
Have you considered how you'll market your conference? How about a website? Is a domain name available and what's your knowledge of html like? Then consider the content of your website. You don't want too many mouse clicks, but all the relevant information should be there. A timetable of the day should be outlined, as well as abstracts of the papers to be presented, artist biogs and a contact page for enquiries. Conference delegates should also have the ability to be able to book their attendance at the event online too. And what about a logo? Some sort of branding is useful, particularly if this is something you think has legs, i.e. could the conference run for many years to come?
Back to your speakers at the event; they need to be accommodated too, and ideally somewhere that is (a) local and, (b) nice. That's nice. Not just cheap or clean, which are not necessarily related. Can you negotiate a corporate rate as some of these people are academics and as such, earn an academic's salary?
Funding. Let's not go there right now, for my sanity's sake. You will have to go there though.
So far, I've been doing OK with all of the above. TOOT TOOT, he trumpeted!!! The good people at the HEA have helped with a small grant, my speakers are booked and this morning I've bought a domain, made a logo and built a very basic temporary website. I plan to have this finished by the end of the week. Plan to...
All in all though, I'm hoping it will be a fun day that will link the music industry with academia. Personally, I'm looking forward to it, not least of all because once it's done it'll herald the start of a very much-needed and welcome break!
But for now, onwards...
a l e x m o k e
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