Music conferences- your experiences and suggestions.

God

Creator of the Universe
ill o.g.
I'm wondering who around here has been to a music conference?

If you did, did you find the experience satisfactory? What happened? Was there a fruitful outcome? Did you get hustled?

I would like to know.

-God
 

Formant024

Digital Smokerings
ill o.g.
i dont think that ill is a potential target of interest(yet) as most of the producers here can be considered low budget but i do promote such as its does shed light to the real world of the music industry, opposed to the typical jump on the bandwagon mentality hiphop suffers from. Personally, i dont know any other conference worth mentioning besides the wmc, amsterdam dance event and any aes convention...them being the most influential. Im more the local support so i cant really relate to global/us innovations and rulings but from most its basically getting to know important connections, a means to get involved and in touch with the industry people, for them its good money to promote labels and brands and announce developments in regards to an innovative brand/product or industry perspective. But again, to me some is practical but to most its about getting that connection or dropping off the demo, to each his own profit.
 

shadeed

Go Digital or Go Home
ill o.g.
I'm wondering who around here has been to a music conference?

If you did, did you find the experience satisfactory? What happened? Was there a fruitful outcome? Did you get hustled?

I would like to know.

-God

I'm actually working on putting my own together in the near future so this topic is near and dear to my heart and current interests.

To answer your question, I have NEVER went to any industry conference and not benefitted.
I always go prepared with promo materials, biz cards, and most importanty I go to WORK, not socialize, party, and try to get at the ladies.

As for the question of being hustled, its like my dad used to tell me "A man can only be fooled (hustled) when he is looking for something in exchange for nothing" so the answer is no. On the other hand, I have met some people who said they were the "next big thing" in music only to find out that they weren't as serious as advertised.
 

Relic

Voice of Illmuzik Radio
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 83
I got hustled, I feel like an idiot, but I had heard of this guy before and when I checked around people didnt say anything bad about him.
SO after a meeting with him and his associates they were wanting like 10 grand to push the project to which I would have always said , heyell nah, so this dude wanted to just be a "Consultant" and we paid him around $300 a month.
Well he starts off with a list of things we need to get done and the prices it would take to do it.
We already had 50% OF EVERYTHING ON THE LIST AND INSTEAD OF SPENDING THE THOUSANDS HOMMIE WAS TALKING ABOUT , sorry caps, we were able to get everything for next to nothing...
Last thing he said was for $500 I can get you these cd's printed up with the covers and everything!
I had worked with him for 6 months by this point, 3 months longer than I wanted to, and that was the last time I saw him.
I work for the gov, so I cant shoot him in the face as my natural instincts tell me to do.
This happened at the mid atlantic music conf in 05.

Id like to go to one that was benificial.
Oh and the things discussed at the actual conf, have all been covered on this site, so it was unhelpful.
 

Guevara

BETTER THAN YESTERDAY
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 34
GOD, whats good homie? Good to see you around. this is kinda scattered, im tryin to recollect from memory. i went to DynamicProducer this year. i got a little attention because i participated in 2 battles on consecutive days (winning one battle (wildcard) which allowed me the oppurtunity to participate in the following days battle) and people took notice of me because they could hear what i had to offer firsthand. i attended the conference wit my TEAM w/ flyers in hand and we networked heavy. outside of the battles, the panels were dope because the panelist for the most part werent afraid to mingle, it was very easy to access the people with the knowledge of how the game works. i didnt take any trips to any of the labels but after the battle a guy by the name of Walter Randolph approached me and asked for some of my material. while we were on breaks and shit many of the producers clicked up in cyphers sharing tips, building on new muisc and just goin back and forth. a few people even got calls back from the labels during the conference. overall there was a lot of positivity in the air, lot of pats on the back and shit like that. it was kinda odd cuz normally producers are the biggest haters. and there were a couple screwfaces but everyone who i came in contact wit was peace. i even plan on puttin some work in wit these people in the near future. it was great for me mainly because i got to go for free but i think something shold be done about all these takes we have to pay as artist and producers. and example of the industry goin too far to negatively exploit artist is that Violator talent search....what a scam.Che
 
Conferences are very good for networking and getting your name into the ears of people in the industry, it is more of a promo tool and networking tool, than a finding a deal tool. Altho that could happen later. Your more likely to be remembered if the person has met you and knows what you look like, especially if you came across polite and with the right work ethic. Because music is a business, its not a game, and you are more likely to be taken seriously if you have a professional approach and appearance. I have found the music industry to be very hard work, especially once you get a deal. Them mf's will work you hard to make sure they get their return on investment.
I can only recommend a conference if you go with a good understanding of what you can gain from it, and how to make it work for you. Theres no better networking than meeting the people in person, unless you look lke an axe murderer of course. Sorry Fade, I wouldnt recommend a music conf for you, you would have to leave the machete at home.
 

AMG

God:Mind~Asiatic
ill o.g.
Anybody up on DP(Dynamic Producers)? Or been to their conferences?
 

dacalion

Hands Of FIRE!
ill o.g.
Battle Points: 259
I went to one more as an observer than to shop my work but overall I got the impression that its was more of an informative summit than anything else. There was a lot of good information but everything was general knowledge imo. The experience was ok but it could have been much better. I haven't been to another one since. Like Relic said...everything discused there can be found here.

MOF
 
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