Brisbane Creative Industries

Green Earth Festival // {Sustainability} {Film} {Design} {Art}

Monday, February 8, 2010 at 5:59PM

The Green Earth Festival is all about awareness and action over the environment and creatives are urged to take part in these unique competitions in short film, art and fashion design!

Short Film Competition

The Green Earth Group is looking for short films that show creativity and originality.

Theme Films can be about anything & be in any genre

Requirements Maximum running time per entry is 10 minutes (including titles and credits). All entries must have the Green Earth Festival logo placement somewhere within the film - be creative.

Entry Competition is open to anyone, worldwide. There is no limit to the number of entries a person/group can enter

Entries Close Sunday 28th February 2010

Full Details, Rules & Entry Form - Short Film Competition Entry Details

Prizes

AFI (Australian Film Institute) Membership

Pacific Film and Television Commission membership to the World Cinema Club

Plus more to come!

Art Competition

The Green Earth Group is looking for art pieces that show creativity and originality.

Theme Anything to do with environmental, green, health and lifestyle, cruelty-free, recycling and sustainable practises

Entry Competition entry is open to anyone, worldwide. There is no limit to the number of entries a person/group can enter

Entries Close Sunday 28th February 2010

Full Details, Rules & Entry Form - Art Competition Entry Details

Winners

Winners will have their actual works shown in the Art Zone at the Cruelty Free Festival 13th March 2010

Green with Envy Fashion Competition / Parade

The Green Earth Group is looking for fashion designers who are creative, original, have designer flair and are fashion savvy.

Theme Anything to do with environmental, green, health and lifestyle, cruelty-free, recycling and sustainable practises

Requirements All materials used for the Green with Envy Fashion competition and parade MUST be recycled materials and VEGAN.

Entry Competition entry is open to anyone, worldwide. There is no limit to the number of entries a person/group can enter

Entries Close Sunday 28th February 2010

Full Details, Rules & Entry Form - Fashion Competition Entry Details

Winners

Winners will have their actual works shown in the Green with Envy Fashion Parade at the Cruelty Free Festival 13th March 2010

Hannah Suarez |

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Sophie Benjamin // {Profile} {Swell MR}

Monday, February 1, 2010 at 3:02PM

Could you tell us more about Swell MR and all your other work?

I've always considered myself a writer who just happened to be musical. After a brief stint as a musician which included gigging and studying music at uni, I realised I was much happier keeping music as a hobby, and have split my time pretty evenly between journalism and the music industry ever since.

Swell MR helps creative practitioners engage with both traditional and new media to promote their work. I don't think the traditional form of "PR" really works for artists, as they do a lot of their own "relating to the public" through their exhibitions, gigs and social media. A lot (well, most!) artists are a bit shy about plugging their own work, so they find it a bit of a relief to have somebody else doing it.

What was the motivation behind starting up Swell MR? Your plans for the future of it?

At the end of 2008 was involved in a songwriting mentorship with Brisbane songwriter and member of Women in Docs, Roz Pappalardo. We didn't get a lot of songwriting done but talked a lot about the business side of art, and how artists need to take control of the media to publicise their work. Roz put the idea in my head that I'd be able to do something like Swell, but it was Brett Wood at Starving Kids who gave me the encouragement, mentoring and opportunity to make it happen.

One day, I'd love to drop the MR tag line and run Swell in partnership with an arts lawyer and arts accountant - sort of a one stop shop for all the boring but necessary bits of being a creative practitioner. I'd have to find like-minded people, which isn't easy. I still have a serious itch to scratch with my own ambitions as a writer and journalist, so we'll see, I guess.

What has been the journey like of starting up your own service?

I love being my own boss, dealing with the good people and hearing a lot of music. I don't love doing book work, and sometimes it can get pretty lonely.

One of the hardest things I have had to learn is the importance of work-life balance and looking after your health. I have so many different interests and ambitions and I've just had to accept that there are only so many hours in the day, and some of them have to be used for sleeping and bathing. My workaholic tendencies began to cost me my health and affected the quality of my work, and after becoming incredibly ill last year I've really had to evaluate why I was working myself sick.

What are your thoughts on websites such as The New York Times offering paid content in 2011? Do you think that this will work? Would you pay for content if not/if so, why?

Personally, I think paywalls in their current form won't work. All it will take is a subscriber with the ability to use the Copy-Paste function and it'll be all over red rover. That said, I am more than happy to pay for excellent journalism and I try to whenever possible. In fact, I wish there was a way to donate money to individual journalists, or after you'd read a really good article somewhere. Maybe this is the future?

Who could be the future of journalism?

I like that the question is "who" and not "what". I definitely think the media and publishing industries need to take a look at what the music industry has experienced over the past few years with regards to the impact of the internet and losing revenue. The internet is the future - that is undeniable - but we need to use it better and provide valuable content so people will feel inclined to hand over their money.

What do you think of current journalism (or media in general) degrees - is there room for improvement with what is being offered?

My current degree (Bachelor of Journalism at QUT) is really excellent and I'd recommend it to anyone considering a career in the media. They seem to overhaul the course structure quite reguarly to reflect changing trends in the media, which is what you want in this sort of course. I know that from this year's intake, QUT will have quite a strong focus on online media. QUT has a really strong focus on gaining real-world practical experience and the staff are just fantastic.

I think a good journalism degree must provide a grounding in the bare bones of journalism (news values, interview technique, current affairs) while helping students gain the technical skills they will need to do their job. It should also be able to give students a "foot in the door" so to speak, whether through work experience or freelancing.

Thanks Sophie!

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Sally Porteous // {Music Promotions} {Interview} {CI Business}

Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 11:50PM

I was on Twitter late one night and came across a link that Sally Porteous (@mustangpromotions) tweeted out information about her music business workshops (you can read more about it here). When I was emailing her for more info about the workshops, she would go that extra mile to talk about her business...so I decided to do a profile on Sally and Mustang Promotions!

Tell us more about Mustang Promotions and the inspiration behind starting this business.

Mustang Promotions provides business development, marketing and promotions to independent musicians and performers. So... there’s the official tag line out of the way. Realistically, anything a typical manager might do for a band, musician or creative business, we have the capability to do. I’m a big advocate of people remaining as independent for as long as possible and if they follow most successful people’s theory of building a mastermind team around them, it ensures all bases are covered. That’s not to say that I’m a mastermind, but I have had a lot of years experience in more businesses than I care to mention and this, backed up by my official degrees, provides a good opportunity for creatives to start work on their own mastermind group.

As for inspiration, music is something for me that’s just there. It wasn’t until about 15 years ago when I had the opportunity to help a friend booking a band, that I realised that this was the only thing I ever wanted to do. Fifteen years down the track, I’ve managed to keep involved in entertainment/creative works in everything that I’ve done and it’s really just something that I can’t let go of. I don’t sing, can’t play an instrument, but am just in awe of people who can throw all their energy into a song or performance. The requirement to just completely let your guard down and throw yourself in head first is a quality that I admire and aspire to achieve.

Originally it was actually going to be a merchandise company however, after jumping in head first and then doing my research later, I realised that merch is just far too competitive and you need a whole lotta capital to really make a dent. Something I’ve never had. However, as a result of my research and attempts to make that work, it developed into doing marketing for bands and over 3 ½ years has made it to where it is today.

What has been the journey like of setting up your own business?

Setting up the business hasn’t really been a struggle for me because I’m not someone that is risk averse or feel the need to find out everything then follow the rules. I started with no money, no income to support the idea and just the knowledge in my head. I sought out a lawyer to register the business and decided to start big from the beginning and register a Pty Ltd company and register for GST. It’s a lot of responsibility with reporting, etc., but from a mental point of view, it’s a ‘think big – be big’ attitude – and it’s what’s driven me all this time.

I spend a lot of time networking, I have my own mastermind group, I get advice from as many people as I possibly can and I also have my own mentor and coach. Even though I am the sole Director, employee, bookkeeper, marketer, manager, sales executive, etc., etc., my years of experience have taught me solid processes and systems and when I come unstuck, there’s always someone I can call on for help. Also, the government websites have heaps of information, as well as the local economic development divisions. My local chamber of commerce also provides a wealth of people to connect with and help me through.

Could you please quickly run us through an overview of what the week could be behind MP?

Well, about 40% of my week is spent on Mustang Promotions. I also work full time and study part time, and have teenage kids and a hubby. Thankfully my hubby looks after most things at home and everyone is 100% supportive of my love of music. I’m lucky to have positioned myself where everything that I do is in the same hemisphere. My job is in events, my study is in creative industries and all of this provides wonderful opportunities and information for Mustang Promotions and my clients.

So, it’s a bit hard to nail down my Mustang week because it depends what my clients need me to do. I do spend at least 2 hours on a Sunday morning working ‘on’ my business, the rest of Sunday is generally working on clients objectives, Monday to Friday is for my day job and evenings are spent either on clients’ needs, networking or going out to see a gig or band. Saturday it’s back to clients work again, and that could be anything from funding applications, gig bookings, writing press releases and promotional material, writing marketing plans or mapping out strategy. I hold client workshops on Saturdays and Sundays as well and if necessary, this might of a night time during the week. And of course, when uni is in session, there’s generally two lectures to attend each week and then all the research and assignment work that goes with that.

Although it all sounds very busy (and it is), the key is planning and being realistic and honest. I used to pretend I was this big company and we had staff and was 100% committed to the business, and I had very few clients. Eventually I figured it was better to be honest with people and tell them that I had all these things going on and I would only commit to what I had the resources to do. Low and behold, the clients came rolling and in and people really seem to value my honesty. I’m also lucky to have a flexible job so if I need to take some extra time for business or assignments, I can.

Oh, and I have a magnificent diary system as well – which I use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week!

Semi-random question! Does Music drive Fashion? or does Fashion drive Music? (referencing a topic discussion from a Music Stimulants event)

Short answer – no, and no. I think they are complementary and they are certainly inspired by each other. They have many things in common but I think if you asked a fashion designer and a songwriter, the process they go through to create what they create, they would both come back with very different answers. Fashion is visual or kinetic, music is auditory and generates emotion – sure they both make you ‘feel’ something but I think fashion is about how it makes you feel now, in the moment (I can’t say I’ve ever put something on and remembered what I was doing last time I wore it) whereas music pulls something from our memory and you can inevitably always attach a tune to an event. Secondly, it can be motivating, sad, happy or exciting and encourage you think about something in the future.

But in saying all this, whilst I know my musicians inside out, I’m slowly getting to know other creatives, hence my inspiration to do my Masters in CI. The main purpose of undertaking this study was to get out of my own head and my own opinions and really learn about every creative endeavour – so far it’s been brilliant.

What are your hot tips for upcoming musicians, independent labels and other music businesses?

First and foremost, follow your instinct and stick to what you love. Think innovatively, question everything and don’t stop until you find the answer. Creative work is intangible and often very difficult to ‘sell’. It’s either loved or hated, people either will buy it or they won’t. This being the case, you must be a realist about your expectations, understand and evaluate your market and focus on your niche. A lot of people try to be all things to all people, just pick one group and focus on that, when you get that right, pick another one. And if at the end of it all you realise that you don’t have the money, time, resources or energy to reach Wembley Stadium, then be okay with being the local pub band – just work on being the absolute best local pub band anyone has ever heard. Whatever you do, do it to the best of your ability.

As for specific market trends, digital is certainly the buzz word on everyone’s lips and if you’re going down this road, find something to differentiate you from the masses. More importantly, try not to do what everyone else is doing – successful music if you look back through history, is generally that music that pushed the boundaries, bands that didn’t follow the pack, audiences that didn’t want to be told what to listen to. Don’t lose your artistic integrity by focussing too hard on the business, but at the same time, realise that you are running a business and your processes should be such that you have differentiated whether you are a hobby musician (then stopping beating yourself up when you don’t get on that festival) or a serious business person, who’s running the most fun business on the planet!

Thank you so much for sharing your journey so far with us and for also providing some great tips for independent musicians, bands and music/creative businesses! Hannah Suarez

If you loved this: Music Stimulants Discussion, Does Fashion Drive Music? Does Music Drive Fashion, Music Business Workshops // {Mustang Promotions}, How To: Gain an edge with White Noise // {Music} {The Edge}, Alison St Ledger // 2high Festival 2009 Mentor {Music}, Enterprise Connect // Creative Industries Innovation Centre, Creative Innovation // {Website} {Entrepreneurship}

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How To: Gain an edge with White Noise // {Music} {The Edge}

Thursday, January 28, 2010 at 2:34PM

Budding musicians and bands in Brisbane will soon get an opportunity to develop the skills vital for making it big in the industry.

Local digital distribution company Musicadium, in conjunction with the Edge, are presenting White Noise- the first of its kind and set to hit Brisbane on the 15^th-20^th of March this year.

White Noise consists of a series of free workshops for up and coming artists to be held at the Edge, a brand new state-of-the-art creative facility in South Bank.

The two sets of three-day sessions, now looking for applicants, will include workshops and seminars on songwriting, recording, distribution, management, marketing and promotions.

Local and national music industry professionals will host each seminar or workshop, passing on invaluable insight and information to the young artists.

The sessions will culminate in a showcase held in the Edge auditorium, which will provide an opportunity for the public to see the progress made by the artists over the course of the program.

Musicadium Promotions and Development Manager Tim Price said the program could lead artists to the big break they’re looking for. “The music industry is at a real tipping point at the moment. With the information they are given, these artists will get the chance to be at the forefront of the industry as we head into a new decade.”

The Edge, a new initiative by the State Library of Queensland, is a brand new creative space nestled amongst the cultural precinct in Brisbane’s South Bank. Equipped with the latest technology, The Edge is one of the first dedicated creative spaces in Australia.

White Noise will be making full use of the space during the event, which boasts recording studios, rehearsal rooms, Apple Mac labs and a large auditorium.

Applications for artists can be downloaded from www.musicadium.com/whitenoise, and must be emailed to whitenoise@musicadium.com by the 28^th of February. There are only 20 spots available for each 3-day program. Artists with varying levels of ability from a variety of genres are encouraged to apply.

For more information about White Noise, please contact Julia Bridger on 0400036399 or at julia@musicadium.com.

If you loved this: Things are hotting up for The Big Jam, Music Stimulants Discussion, Does Fashion Drive Music? Does Music Drive Fashion, Music Business Workshops // {Mustang Promotions}, 2high Festival Artists {Music} {Performance} {Exhibitions}, Alison St Ledger // 2high Festival 2009 Mentor {Music}

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Creative Innovation // {Website} {Entrepreneurship}

Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 12:05PM

Calling all creative professionals….

At the end of February 2010, the Creative Industries Innovation Centre (CIIC) will launch a new website for creative professionals, www.creativeinnovation.net.au

What is creative innovation?

When we talk about ‘creative innovation’ we’re interested in how those working in the creative industries – whether as designers, content producers, artists, filmmakers, architects, to name but a few relevant fields – are actually working to improve the way industries perform.

At its simplest, ‘creative innovation’ is about promoting the application of creative thinking, technologies and processes across the innovation economy. It highlights the contribution of creative companies and individuals to the wider innovation economy as a whole.

By promoting creative innovation, the CIIC will serve to enhance the profile of the creative industries across Australia’s innovation economy, building stronger connections and networks between creative companies and promoting emerging market opportunities and developments.

About us

Creative Innovation is an initiative of the Creative Industries Innovation Centre (CIIC), which is supported by the Australian Government’s Enterprise Connect program, and the University of Technology, Sydney.

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Social Inkubator // {Creative Ideas} {Entrepreneurship}

Wednesday, January 20, 2010 at 5:07PM

Who will be Brisbane's next future generation of young, social, creative entrepreneurs?

Visible Ink Valley, Volunteering Queensland and YES Brisbane are inviting young people throughout Brisbane to pitch their ideas to make a better Brisbane.

The idea is to “be unreasonable” – throw your ideas at us and together we’ll see what sticks. if you could make Brisbane a better place, and had help finding the resources to make it happen, what would you do?

On Thursday January 28, Brisbane’s young movers and shakers are invited to meet other passionate people and pitch their unreasonable idea.

The prize? You’ll become a part of the “Social Inkubator” with 12 applicants receiving tenancy at Visible Ink Valley for 12 months with support to help you shape a better Brisbane. Please note that while not every applicant will receive a tenancy, the aim of the program is to create a diverse community that should feel welcome to access resources for their project where available.

To apply, simply register your interest here and attend the application evening on January 28 at Visible Ink Valley.

If you liked this: Creative Innovation // {Website} {Entrepreneurship}, Transit Lounge - 'Business Basics for Artists', Creativity and Entrepreneurship: Michael Doneman and Edgeware, How to help out the Brisbane creative industries and your particular industry., BNE Pitch Club, IDEAS Festival wrap-up

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Music Business Workshops // {Mustang Promotions}

Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 10:33PM

Sally Porteous (Mustang Promotions) have been organising these workshops since mid-2009 and according to her, they have been proven to be a success. These music business workshops is suited for independent musicians, bands and creative businesses.

The Independent Workshop covers:

Organising the band from a business perspective - Establishing what needs to be implemented to create the business.

Project Planning – Brainstorming all the ideas, goals and objectives you have as an independent artist, and putting them in a project format to establish priorities.

Project Mapping – After establishing what you would like to achieve, putting these goals into a project map which details all the tasks that need to be done to achieve these objectives.

Prioritising – Working out which projects need to be done urgently and which ones can or need to wait.

Resources – Once all the objectives and tasks are worked out, the next step is to work out what resources you already have and what you need to gather together.

At the completion of the workshop, expect to have worked on creating the building blocks of your business plan.

The cost of the 1-on-1 workshop is $200 (+ GST) and runs for between 2 and 4 hours, depending on your needs. If you’re a band, the whole band can attend the workshop, or you can come on your own. Email/phone support is provided after the workshop in case you need any clarification in any areas. The workshop is run in a format that is easy to understand and the purpose is to assist you with putting a business framework around your music business, in a language and with tools that are easy to use and relevant.

For more information about these workshops, please call Mustang Promotions on 0408887106 or email Sally Porteous at sally@mustangpromotions.com.au.

If you loved this: Things are hotting up for The Big Jam, Music Stimulants Discussion, Does Fashion Drive Music? Does Music Drive Fashion, 2high Festival Artists {Music} {Performance} {Exhibitions}, Alison St Ledger // 2high Festival 2009 Mentor {Music}How To: Gain an edge with White Noise // {Music} {The Edge}

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Under the Radar 2010 // {Applications} {Performance}

Tuesday, January 19, 2010 at 2:20PM

Until March 2010, Brisbane Festival is looking for performance artists in their in-theatre and street feats program for Under the Radar 2010!

What is Under the Radar?

UNDER THE RADAR is a curated festival celebrating independent, experimental and new theatrical works. It is managed by and runs concurrently with Brisbane Festival 2010.

Performance works are sought for two main programme streams – Street Feats and In-Theatre.

The In-Theatre programme contains four categories – theatre, physical, sound and inter-arts. All works selected within this programme will be presented in indoor performance spaces of varying sizes and styles.

The Street Feats programme presents outdoor, roving and site specific works.

Go here to apply for the Street Feats program or for the In-Theatre program or go check out the BF09 Under the Radar site.

Make sure to go to the event write-up of the BF09 Metro Arts forum which has some helpful/interesting discussion points from last year. However, make sure that you contact the Brisbane Festival folks because they will have all the info that you need for this year's Under the Radar!

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