For the last 6 months I have been travelling to Bristol on the first Wednesday of each month to BMIN meetings, I would suggest musicians and music industry professionals might consider making the same trip as it is becoming increasingly worthwhile. In the last two months I have got an invaluable listings database from another member, booked one of our acts for a Bristol radio live session, with the likelihood of more exposure for our other artists, and started conversations about some of the artists coming up to record in Stroud.
Now the name Bristol Industry Music Network might make you think that it is only for Bristolians, but it is very much a south west network. They have great speakers at many of their monthly meetings including UKTI representatives, and I always bring back a list of contacts and info to check out. The meetings are held in the Colston Hall and they supply sandwiches and coffee to oil the wheels of discussion. The membership are a lively passionate bunch who represent a cross section of interests, from Artists to studios, from radio presenters to artist mentors, and well established ‘institutions’ of the industry, to the bright young things that are forging the future of the scene in the South West.
Membership at the moment costs just £10, and there are an ever increasing number of member benefits, you could probably save your membership fee on strings and insurance alone.
To test out the waters you can go along to a social at the Colston Hall Wednesday 15th July (tomorrow), or go to their monthly meeting on the first Wednesday of every month. The meetings usually start with networking over coffee and sandwiches, followed by a business section around a big table, sometimes speakers attend, and then another networking session at the end. Speakers recently have included Conal Dodds from international booking agents Metropolis, Chris Knight from UKTI, Oliver Mochizuki and Derek Ahmedzai from Fundsurfer.
Check them out at:
Or better still go and meet them, they don’t bite, well not all of them anyway! The Colston Hall tomorrow Wednesday 15th July at 6-8pm or Wednesday 5th August at 12-2.
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