The value of networking at music conferences

Hey friends!

Today we’re going to talk about the value of networking at music conferences.

The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) just wrapped up so today I thought i’d talk about the value of networking at music events like ADE, NAMM and so many more.

Before we dive in I just want to say a big thank you to everyone I met up with in person at ADE this year! Whether we’ve met each other virtually already or you just stopped me in the street to tell me you appreciate my videos - thank you! I feel incredibly fortunate to have such an awesome and supportive community.

Why I Go To Events

First I want to go over why I went to ADE, and why I go to NAMM:

1. There are a lot of music industry talks / panels to learn new skills and expand your horizons

2. I want to meet people I already know online in person

3. I want to network and meet new people

4. They’re just fun

As far as the talks / panels go, it can be kind of like being back in college. There are dozens of events in music marketing, music business, music creation and more. For example I attended a talk on how promoters market live shows nowadays, and another on music streaming fraud. Some talks are very surface level but others were quite valuable.

While I was there I was able to meet a bunch of people i’ve been working with or collaborating with online for a while in person. For example, a lot of people from my ad agency Forbid Media also attended - imagine working with people for years but having never met in real life, it’s pretty cool when you finally do.

While there I also set up meetings to connect with other folks in the music industry. ADE has a ‘pro database’ where any pro member can DM any other pro member. There are employees from Spotify, Soundcloud, Downtown music etc there and it’s not too hard to strike up conversations with people from these companies.

Lastly, it’s just fun to travel, meet people and attend events. Traveling from the US to Europe isn’t cheap, so we just turned it into a vacation as it was my first time in Amsterdam and my first time in Europe. ADE also has a TON of live music at night.

Why Artists Should Go To Events

So of course, if you’re a music industry person like me the reasons above will also apply exactly to you. However if you’re an artist, producer, DJ or similar the reasons may be different.

While I was there I got to meet up with a lot of music creators, so I got to hear why they came in the first place. Some naturally just came for fun but many had business reasons as well. Here are some reasons:

1. They wanted to learn new skills at the talks / panels, such as how to market their music or how to run live shows

2. They wanted to connect with labels, and artists on labels they’re interested in

3. They wanted to meet up with other artists / producers / dj’s to possibly collab in the future

4. They want to see the future of the industry

I met a DJ that attended to network with other DJ’s at the event, to hopefully help him expand outside of his local market. I met a producer that went to meet one of the labels they’ve released through, and also connect with new labels they want to work with in the future.

There is a certain magic that happens during face to face interactions that email, phone calls and Zoom calls can’t replicate. Maybe a label didn’t answer your emails previously but after meeting in real life they like your vibe, and start taking you more seriously.

Conclusion

There are a LOT more events that happen throughout the year other than ADE and NAMM. Additionally, there are many other types of events that can be great for networking such as concerts, clubs, songwriting workshops, conventions for other media etc.

It’s great doing things on the internet, but every so often it’s good to go outside and shake some hands (and touch some grass lol).

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