Texas offers world stage for music students
The Manchester College's HE music students enjoyed a trip of a lifetime to Austin, Texas in March to visit the South By South West (SXSW) 2010 music convention.
Approximately 40 second year students studying on the FdSc Music and New Media Management and FdA Popular Music and Production courses were taken to Texas to showcase their work on a world stage.
The five day trip is an annual event in the music division's calendar, giving the students the opportunity to experience and take part in one of the largest music industry events in the world.
The rationale for the trip was for students to engage in work placements, attend industry seminars, showcase their own professional work, represent the college and experience the music industry in operation.
A placement was organised with the production manager at SXSW, allowing both live sound and music management students to get practical experience of managing a stage, including front of house, stage management, backline teching, load in / out, and liaising with bands. With three bands appearing every hour over a five day period, the level of responsibility was intense.
Paige Swift, stage manager for the Gear Alley stage, said: 'The students were extremely helpful in getting bands on and off stage, not to mention maintaining the list (running order). They were knowledgeable about what they were doing, pleasant to work with, had good attitudes, and their experience was obvious.'
Other work experience opportunities included promoting and helping to set up showcase gigs for Filter Magazine and Dickie’s Clothing. Plus, the college’s business development manager for the arts, Phil Ellis, managed to organise a showcase event at the British Music Embassy – the venue where all the main UK events were held – which enabled five of the college’s own music students to perform live.
College courses were also promoted at this event and the first compilation of the college's new record label, 'We Are FuturEcho Records' was launched. Similarly, students performing used this as an opportunity to give out CDs of their own work to the attendees.
The students attended a great range of seminars at SXSW covering many aspects of the music industry, including 'Where goes English folk music?', 'Making money as a songwriter in a world of change', 'Effective online marketing platforms’ and ‘DIY or Sign With a Label'.
Some of the students had their demos played in one of the A&R sessions and received useful feedback on their work. Others met the head of RCA records and the head of A&R for Warner Brothers records, who offered work experience opportunities. Overall, there was much dialogue with musicians, record label representatives, radio DJs, music journalists, recording studio owners and many more key industry contacts.
Phil Ellis said: 'This is an invaluable experience for students, which focuses their thoughts on their goals, enourages a reflective approach to their learning and inspires them to work hard to achieve their ambitions. They had the opportunity to network, receive professional feedback on their work, perform to large audiences from different cultures and watch a huge variety of different bands. They returned home with a clearer understanding of their strengths and weaknesses and what they want to achieve in their career.'
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