Not many music-related panel events nor conferences truly give me much hope about bridging the gap between those in offices, and those on the ground, yet they do always light that fire within me. I thank those organising panel events, although most of them being organised with the sole purpose of receiving funding in mind, for that.
One of the last panel events I attended did give me some helpful insights, and some thoughts simply confirming that I am not alone in thinking some of my thoughts. Some tips were given to a room full of presumably music industry professionals, and I think these were very much worth sharing.
Bluntly stated; we should stop using the word funding, and change this to investing, we, the music industry, should also stop acting as the victim, and take back the meaning of working in music and sharing it with the world. We need to change our language, break stigmas, and show the good music can do, not just within our industry, but within every single industry galivanting the earth. An example given was dementia patients being able to benefit from music, helping it jog their memory. This is very simply stated, but does portray the power music has on every single soul walking this earth. No wedding nor funeral goes by without music being played, music is everywhere.
We need to be more positive, take back the terms “business” and “entrepreneur”, and truly start seeing this as our careers. There is no need for us to make excuses, or to explain to others why we “still don’t have a real career”, because we do. The reason our aunts and neighbours don’t see what we do as a serious career choice, is simply because they don’t understand it. I am a part of the problem, as I soon gave up trying to explain what it entails booking artists, organising live events, webinars, and a multi-venue festival to those not within the industry. I also stopped bothering trying to explain what it means to be an artist manager, but I think I might have to start explaining these rolls again if I want to be taken seriously.
We get to our next issue; the gap between those working in the industry from an office and a nice desk chair, and those working the actual grassroots events that are the breeding ground for new talent. Sam Fender started out playing open mic nights, however he was lucky enough to have one of those suits attend one of his first gigs, and got to where he is now. The suits, however, are only rarely seen at the grassroots events, if they aren’t paid for it. To me, this is the issue with many panel events and conferences, there is no conversation between those manning the wallets of the industry, and those needing the money to be able to help the next Sam Fender take a step up the ladder. We need conversations between the different levels of the music industry, we need the grassroots promoters, events and festival organisers, and the policy makers in one room, and to have honest conversations about what is needed at every level.
Besides that, I find that, something that is also needed for holders of drivers licenses, the suits should at least once a year come out of their offices and organise an event. Sure, it’s where they might have started their journey thirty years ago, but the musical landscape has changed, and unless they understand the challenges we, the grassroots music industry, face at this very moment in time, they’re not worth their salaries.
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