How to maximise your time at music conferencesMarch 28, 2011

Music conferences represent a great opportunity for artists interested in rubbing shoulders with music industry professionals that can help them push their careers forward. But are you doing it right?

At music conferences, you usually only have one chance to make an impression on leading movers or shakers, so be sure not to do anything embarrassing, offensive or stupid! Here are a few hints to make the most of your conference experience.

DOs:

• Be friendly to everyone, and not only to those wearing official conference badges or lanyards. Some of the most meaningful connections might be made while waiting in line, on the shuttle bus back home, or even just chatting to others at bars near the conference. Strike up a conversation and see where it leads you.
• Organise meetings. We’re not suggesting that you overdo it and schedule one every hour, on the hour, but make sure you have some people you’d like to meet locked in. Get their email address and phone number, save it somewhere safe so you can access it easily. Make these plans solid, the old “Yeah, I’ll see you at The Strokes gig” will not work.
• Make sure you have business cards handy. There’s nothing worse than meeting someone that you really would like to keep in touch with, and realising your cards are at the hotel. That’s a missed opportunity. Even if you’re a band, get cards printed or get a few of your manager’s cards to hand out.
• Bring demos or Digisingles, and be prepared to hand them out freely to anyone who is interested in hearing your music. Gauge the appropriateness of the situation though – some music industry professionals may just not be interested and find a hard “sales pitch” irritating, and may just throw it away as soon as you turn the corner.
• Make a schedule of what you’d like to see. Again don’t have it overloaded or too full on, but you will appreciate it later, when your friends or bandmates realise they missed their favourite act or panel and you can smugly let them know that you caught all you wanted to see.
• Follow up with contacts the following week. You may have met hundreds of new people, but will you remember them in three months time? Shoot them a quick email or text, saying it was great to meet them (possibly outline where you met them to jog their memory) and you should keep in touch.

DON’Ts:

• Don’t get so drunk you can barely speak. Most people have some drinks, and the vibe of conference networking is usually very casual, but don’t be so wasted that music industry professionals can’t talk to you. It will leave a bad impression and there’s a chance you won’t remember who you talked to.
• Don’t always hang around people you know. Check out showcase gigs and panels alone – you’ll be more approachable, obviously not already engaged in a conversation, and a free agent. The best part of not following your friends and bandmates also means that you get to see all the panels and gigs that you want to see!
• Don’t assume that industry people will just naturally know about your show. Even if they say they will, always send out a polite invitation. Send out polite emails with necessary details to relevant people at the conference (either contact you know will be attending, or via the conference website’s networking facilities if possible). Make sure you connect with them at the show, and send follow up thank you emails or messages the next day.
• Don’t make vague plans to catch up or text later. There’s a good chance you’ll run out of battery or the other person will be too busy to notice your message or missed call. Bring extra battery power and make solid plans.
• Don’t say you’ll see a band or meet up with someone and not go without a reason. Make sure you stay true to your commitments as much as you can. If you really can’t make it, let the person know as soon as possible because they’ll appreciate your honesty.

Hopefully these common-sense tips will help you to navigate conferences, festivals and industry events that you get the chance to attend. It’s surprising how simple social courtesies go a long way, and remember that everyone there are also into music so you’ve already got that in common. Crack a beer (slowly), mingle, take advantage of opportunities and remember that everyone is there to see bands like yours and meet people just like you.

Written by Valleyarm’s Digital Product Coordinator (USA, Canada and South America) Sarah Hamilton, who has just come back from SXSW.