How to… Sessions
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Our brand new ‘How to… sessions’ are here to help you spring in to 2022 with knowledge and advice on some of the most burning questions about developing your music career. Industry professionals will share their expertise across touring and live bookings, funding and the best strategies for releasing your music.
The sessions will take place on Zoom, and are designed to cover a range of genres and levels of experience. This is a free event but will be ticketed so make sure you book a place.
How to get funding
– with Westley Holdsworth (PRS Foundation)
Monday 21 February, 6pm-7pm
During this session we run through what the PRS Foundation is and what they do with a focus on relevant funding schemes that are on offer before looking through an application form and budget and highlighting top tips for a successful application. Westley joined PRS Foundation in August 2018 as Administrator and Keychange Project Assistant before being promoted to Grants Coordinator. Previously Westley was the International Coordinator at the New Zealand Music Commission helping to launch and grow the international careers of a diverse range of artists. He has held a range of roles relating to music in the UK and New Zealand and toured extensively in many bands.
How to get booked by venues and festivals
– with Jo Thornton (Sage Gateshead), Martha Hill (Women Are Mint) & Rob Gibb (Progressive Artists)
Tuesday 22nd February, 6pm-7pm
In this session we’ll look at different approaches to getting booked to perform live, from artist-led DIY tours to working with a booking agent, and some inside info on what venue and festival programmers are looking for.
Jo Thornton (Head of Contemporary Music at Sage Gateshead)
Jo is Head of Contemporary Music at Sage Gateshead and outside of her day job she works with other music companies from the North in business development and fundraising. Prior to working at Sage Gateshead she was Deputy CEO at Generator NE where she led on investment and oversaw talent development which included the events and festival programme.
Martha Hill (Artist and Founder of Women Are Mint)
Northern musician Martha Hill makes alt-pop that is both hard hitting and catchy as hell. With their latest EP “Dog Hearted Man” being championed by the likes of Radio 1’s Annie Mac and Jack Saunders, as well as features in CLASH and The Line of Best Fit, it’s no wonder Martha Hill has been awarded the PPL Momentum fund to help them in the creation of their next project.
Martha is also the Founder of Women Are Mint which is a North-East festival that celebrates and supports female musicians.
Rob Gibb (Booking Agent at Progressive Artists)
Rob Gibbs runs Progressive Artists, a London-based independent booking agency representing forward-thinking talent. Clients include Anna Meredith, BC Camplight, Kathryn Joseph, Erland Cooper, Peaness and Flamingods. The agency takes a hands-on approach, investing time into building careers for the acts they represent.
As an agent Rob has nearly 10 years experience working with independent artists. He began his career putting on small shows in north west London whilst still a student. He started working as a live agent for a small agency representing mainly DJs and heritage artists in 2012, before starting his own agency in 2013. In 2017 he launched Progressive Artists with fellow independent agent Shane Daunt. Progressive Artists now represents 35 acts across multiple genres and over the past 5 years has helped deliver thousands of performances across the globe.
How to release your music
– with Bradley Kulisic (Singing Light Music)
Wednesday 23 February, 6pm-7pm
Bradley Kulisic runs the newly established music management company Singing Light Music, working as artist/label/campaign manager for, amongst others, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, Holy Moly & the Crackers, The Dawdler, Palace Winter, Archie Bronson Outfit, The Hives and Hudson Records. Now based in the North East,he has worked in artist management, distribution, label management and marketing since 2002. During this session Bradley will provide examples of release strategies and offer up inside knowledge on how to release your music.