Loud Response To TURN UP! Music Industry Conference

Over 100 musicians and music industry types attended the inaugural TURN UP Music Industry Conference on the Sunshine Coast last Thursday.

The free event was fully subscribed, reaching registration capacity the day before the event. The half-day conference was the brainchild of David Dean of Hostile Entertainment; attended by local songwriters and musicians, booking agents, sound and lighting engineers, songwriters, managers, creative entrepreneurs, producers, music teachers and students who took away relevant information and new contacts from the event.

Music retailing legend, business book author and motivational speaker, Barry Bull opened the inaugural TURN UP conference, with an interesting keynote encouraging delegates to be different:  “Your own unique fingerprint is what the world is waiting for.  Try to make every single note you play or compose the very best that is possible, because the quality of what you give in business reflects the quality of what you get in return. Everything you have can move to something else, something bigger, if you follow the right path. Take the bull by the horns, put yourself out there and if necessary, go out on a limb. That’s where the best fruit is”.

The TURN UP program also included three music industry panels. The panels were comprised of high-profile industry professionals, who offered their insights into topics of Song Writing, getting the Product To Market and Music Business Matters.

Songwriting

Ant McKenna (facilitator) with
Pete Townson
Elliot Heinrich
Kate Gadenne Parsons
Jeremy Neale
Ayla Scanlan

Product To Market

Angie Dunbavan (facilitator) with Rhys Fox
Alan Buchan
Howard Duggan
Sam Jones
Brett Gadenne

Music Business Matters

Andrea Smith (facilitator) with
Paul Curtis
Barry Bull
David Dean
Tim Price

Discussion Highlights

• Songs that inspire
• The songwriting process, from getting down creative ideas to releasing a finished song product
• Performing at festivals
• Making video clips, getting media exposure
• The importance of bios and professional photos
• Project and touring collaborations
• Managing the business aspects of the band
• The importance of building and maintaining positive relationships with contacts in the industry
• The do-it-yourself approach
• Balancing the need to gain knowledge about all facets of the industry for success, without neglecting creative aspects of being a musician

Breaks between panels were provided to enable attendees to interact with each other, network and share whilst being entertained by some of the Sunshine Coast’s world-class showcase artists: Van Larkins, Dubarray, Ayla, and Matt Stillert.

Feedback on TURN UP has been overwhelmingly positive, from delegates, speakers, showcase artists and the local industry amid promises the event will return and grow in 2015.

Applause for TURN UP! Quotes from Speakers

"Congratulations on the huge success of the inaugural Turn Up Sunshine Coast Music Industry Conference. It was a great afternoon and enjoyed by all with the right balance of performance and education. Well done. "
Barry Bull, Little Bull Enterprises

“Once again David Dean shows how dedicated he is in assisting the Sunshine Coast music scene develop into a genuine scene with his organisation of the Turn Up conference and inviting the likes of Barry Bull, Howard Duggan, Andrea Smith and myself to attend plus many more and offer their knowledge and experience. A champion to all, his conference was a mixture of local, state and national thinking in regard to how to turn it up a notch or two.  I’m sure it will continue to grow”.
Paul Curtis, Consume Management/ Valve records

“A strong showing of panellists and attendees, coupled with a very smoothly executed event has set the basis for an annual must-do for the music industry on the Sunshine Coast”.
Howard Duggan, Eyeball Media (scenestr)

“As with all music industry conferences, forums, seminars, the trick is to TURN UP and this one sure proved to be well worth it!  I met people who I have had only ever previously heard about and I re-acquainted with some key industry associates.  This made it a valuable experience all round and I really enjoyed speaking on the panel, it was a pleasure. Plus, the opportunity to mingle every hour was a particularly good idea!
Al Buchan, FretFest

“Thank you so much for organising the event and for having me play and speak.  It was a fantastic afternoon”.
Ayla

"The Goal of this event was to get Sunshine Coast musicians and industry personnel together in one place at one time to turn up, connect, share and network which they did”.
David Dean, Hostile Entertainment

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