2011 Schedule

Friday, April 29

Keynote (Kenny Curtis, Sirius/XM Kids Place Live) & Opening Reception 6-9 p.m.

Saturday, April 30

Panels:

10-11:10 a.m.

How to Succeed While Really Really Trying

You have to take a lot of steps – some forward, some backward – to get to where you can actually make a living doing music for families. What makes the difference between those who “make it” and those who don’t? In most cases, it’s a plan. Here, we’ll talk about formulating, implementing, adjusting, and evaluating that plan.
Panelists:

Rachel Loshak (Gustafer Yellowgold)
Jim Cosgrove (Artist)
Bari Koral (Artist)
Ezra Idlet (Trout Fishing in America)
Kathy O’Connell (WXPN Kids’ Corner) – moderator

11:25-12:15
Social Networking and Fan Development When Your Audience Can’t Type Yet

Your audience is kids, but your customers are parents. Here, instead of focusing on broader-based publicity and marketing, we’re talking about the one-at-a-time work, whether through online social media, outreach to mommy/daddy bloggers, or in person.

Panelists:

Ashley Albert (The Jimmies)
Jonathan Coulton (Artist)
Sarah Geist Rosen (SKG Publicity; Publicist for Laurie Berkner, Putumayo, others)
Nick Bonomo (Siena Entertainment)
Jeff Bogle (Out With The Kids) – moderator

12:30-1:30
Playing Nice: Collaboration and Raising All Boats

The past year has seen a ton of regional and national cooperation, from things like the Kindiependent collective in the Seattle area to festivals featuring family artists working together to make a great event (sometimes supporting charities along the way). Here, we’ll discuss how the total can be more than the sum of the parts. Panelists:

Dean Jones (Dog on Fleas; Producer)
Frances England (Artist)
Bill Childs (Spare the Rock Records; Spare the Rock, Spoil the Child)
Johnny Bregar (Artist)
Stefan Shepherd (Zooglobble) – moderator

1:45- 2:55
Building a Brand for your Band

Like so many successful products, your act can be more than an album and a low-budget music video. Since brands have taken over the “arts patron” role traditionally held in the past by record labels, trendsters and strategic marketers have dove deep into the seeds of a brand to uncover what it is that people MUST have and what drives a customer to a product. As the musical business shifts to be more about lifestyle branding, you too can traverse this new landscape with a higher concept about what will make your particular brand appealing to the widest audience or appealing directly to your niche customer base. The path to brand success enables access to distribution, better booking and longevity in the market.

Panelists:

Laurie Berkner (Artist)
Linda Simensky (PBS)
Robbie Schaefer (Sirius/XM Kids Place Live)
Secret Agent 23 Skidoo (Artist)
Jim Olsen (Signature Sounds)
Liz Gumbinner (Cool Mom Picks) – moderator

3:10- 4:00
Money: Where is it?

There’s a lot of conventional wisdom out there about where artists can really make money – SoundExchange, PRO, radio royalties, music licensing, sponsored tours, educational music (including recordings and live), and so on. Let’s get beyond the conventional wisdom and talk about where the money really is, and what tradeoffs, if any, are in play when you go after those sources.

Panelists:

David Weinstone (Music for Aardvarks)
John Simson (Founder, SoundExchange)
Christopher Sinnott (ASCAP)
Josh Rabinowitz (Gray Advertising)
Jonathan Sprout (Artist) – moderator

Mentor Sessions/Discussions (limited enrollment, signup process announced soon)

12:45-1:25
PR: a general guide – mentor session

Ready to release your album? Taking your show on the road? Learn the basic ins and outs of how to approach various types of media from radio to print to online. Find out what they are looking for and what they need. Mentors:

Kathy O’Connell (Kids Corner)
Sarah Geist Rosen (SKG Publicity; Publicist for Laurie Berkner, Putumayo, others)
Stephanie Mayers (Festival Five)

1:50-2:25
Live Tech/Studio Basics – mentor session

Sometimes you show up at a venue to find a great PA, multiple monitor channels, and a skilled sound tech. Sometimes it’s a single mike and a crappy speaker. We’ll talk about doing the advance work to avoid (or at least anticipate) the latter, and how to help venues help you sound your best. We’ll also spend a little time talking about what to prioritize in studio choices. Mentors:

Rudy Trubitt (Artist/Producer)
Johnny Bregar (Artist)
Tor Hyams (Producer)
Marty Beller (They Might Be Giants Drummer; Producer)

4:15- 5:15
Kindie Music in the Broader World: Reaching a Wider Audience- discussion (room 1)

Now that kindie music is beginning to thrive, reaching a global audience is more important than ever. In an effort to not under-serve or ignore the diverse goals of parents and audiences, we will focus on how to expand your approach and introduce your audience to more styles of music, and how we as a community can be more welcoming.
Discussion Leaders:

Monique Martin (Central Park Summerstage)
Dan Zanes (Artist)
Mona Kayhan (Putumayo Kids)

4:15- 5:15
TV Bible Building- what you should know before you start pitching - discussion (room 2)
There are many steps along the road to making a great show for kids. Creating a plan and a “bible” is key to allowing the creative process to thrive and, ultimately, having a successful pitch. As you forge your way from recording albums to producing visual media, take some time and build it right the first time. Then you’ll be ready to pitch!
Discussion Leaders: