We all love a good conference, convention, seminar, workshop, showcase, class or get together. We’re social animals after all and love learning new stuff -- Especially if it has anything to do with our passion in life.

So what have you planned to learn this year? If music, recording, artistry, songwriting, playing… if creativity is your passion, it’s good to get out there and dive in with the best of them. There are plenty of good conferences, seminars and classes for musicians all over the world.  Several of these opportunities will help us hone our craft while allowing us to network with the finest movers and shakers in the industry. Aim for the sky, right?

When you plan to attend anything which helps meet your goals in life, its great to be prepared. There are some basic tools you should have ready to bring with you, especially if trying to get in front of industry professionals:

1. Business Cards: From swanky to basic, the business card is the fastest way to hand off your information without being pushy or amateurish. The card has your name, number, email and website info. (If you have one). You don’t need to add your home address or home phone. It’s better/safer to use a cell phone or business phone. When your business card is done right, the person you hand it to will be able to find out who you are, read all about you, and lead them to your music all in the half second it takes you to hand it to them. So arm yourself with one and don’t leave home without it. You can get business cards pretty much for free at www.vistaprint.com, but never have the printing companies’ logo printed on the back of your card.

2. CD, Flash Drive or iPod: If you’re a music-making song broker, get heard. Have your music or song ready to hand off or play at moments notice. Music supervisors, music libraries, record executives and producers are looking for the next big thing, so get in front of them and prove who you are. If you don’t have media (CD, or jump drive) to hand out, please see item #1.  Hand them a business card with website they can go to hear your music. You can sign up on MySpace for free and download a few of your tunes there. As a note: having your music to hand out on a custom printed flash drive with your name, logo, band name, website or phone number printed on it is just plain cool…

3. Note Pad and Pen: Basic, right? But you’d never guess how many people asked me to borrow a pen at the last convention I attended. Ridiculous. Don’t come off as a non-pro. Be serious about yourself and that self-respect will carry you a long way. Besides, you’ll be taking so many notes in the conference classes, you’ll probably run out of ink, so bring two pens just in case. Also, industry pros have been known to give out their personal email addresses in their classes. It’s another way to get heard by sending them a quick email you attended their class, along with an MP3 of one or two of your best songs. If they want to hear more, they will let you know, believe that.

4. Micro Recorder: Not a must, but great to have. Mini-cassette or digital will work. Listen, I used my iPhone (free app) and downloaded all my recordings from the last TAXI convention I attended to my computer. I still refer to them and am so glad I caught some of that great information on media.

5. Bring a Snack: You get up early, grab your business cards, your note pad, your pen, your micro-recorder, your CD’s and flash drives but you forgot to eat breakfast? Classes often start as early as 6:00 or 7:00 AM, so just in case, bring a snack and a bottle of water. I know, I sound like your mom, but just do it. You’ll be glad you did.

6. Bring Cash: At every convention, there are opportunities to purchase stuff. Books, equipment, CD’s, Books on tape, etc. Some vendors don’t take checks and some may not take credit cards. You may need to pay to park. Never know… It’s great to have cash on hand. Also may come in handy if you forgot your snack.

While At The Convention:

P     Get Organized: Check-in and grab your bag and badge. Read the program and highlight the classes, seminars, panels or performances you want to attend. Check the timing of each one. Get there early so you can take a seat in the front. All of these details will help to make your experience less stressful. You’ll have plenty of time during breaks and lunch to socialize and network. Networking will add more of an impact to your career.

P     Be Calm: Cool and collected, right? You may see celebs, paparazzi, major players your favorite drummer -- You are a just as important. No need to be needy, loud, drunk, obnoxious or star struck in front of them. Keep your cool and if you want to ask a question, do it, but have something important to say or ask, and take notes. Remember, you are increasing your knowledge, power and path to becoming a better you.

P     Dress Comfortably: Don’t need to say much more here, but I wouldn’t wear my Elton John high tower platforms or my slinkiest, six inch stiletto heels and mini skirt to a convention. There is a lot of running, catching elevators, taking escalators, cramped classrooms, sitting on floors, etc. So comfort is key. On a personal note, a travel size deodorant in your backpack will go a long way…

P     Network: Probably the most important thing you can do at a convention. But do it will grace, class and poise. Know who you are, but work the angles to find out who others are. How can contacting this person help you get further in your career? Networking has brought together many important collaborations of our time. If you want to co-write, co-produce, form a band or start a business, whatever your goal -- the key is to network. And you’ve prepared yourself to do it right. So get going and come back home ready to apply the connections from the business cards you’ve collected, the phone numbers and email addresses you’ve written down, the CD’s, websites, flash drives, mixed tapes, DVD’s, books and more. Then plan on making your career happen… your way. I’ll be seeing you at the next music convention!

The SXSW – South by Southwest Conference and Music Festival

March 12 -21, Austin Texas

The SXSW Music and Media Conference showcases hundreds of musical acts from around the globe on over eighty stages in downtown Austin. By day, conference registrants do business in the SXSW Trade Show in the Austin Convention Center and partake of a full agenda of informative, provocative panel discussions featuring hundreds of speakers of international stature.

WMC Winter Music Conference

March 23-27 - Miami Beach, Florida

Established in 1985, WMC is the largest music industry gathering of its kind in the world.

Winter Music Conference, in its 25th consecutive year, is one of the most publicized annual music gatherings in the world. A pivotal platform for advancement of the industry, WMC 2009 attracted 1,910 artists and DJs, 3,228 industry delegates from 62 countries and over 70,000 event attendees for a concentrated schedule of more than 500 events presented across 5 days. Music, as one of the world’s most accessible cultural art forms, gives WMC the unique ability to cross-economic, geographic and social boundaries. Over 1.3 million visitors from 183 countries log on to the WMC website each year.

ASCAP “I Create Music Expo”  - Conference, Classes, Workshops

April 22-24 - Renaissance Hollywood Hotel, California

The ASCAP “I Create Music” EXPO is the premier conference for songwriters,composers and producers.  It covers all genres of music and include
panels, workshops, master classes, keynotes, One-on-One sessions, song critiquing, networking events, product displays, state-of-the-art technology demonstrations, performances, and more.  All music creators, producers, publishers and executives – regardless of their performing rights organization affiliation – will benefit from this unique creative event, which is designed around personal interaction, education and networking.  For more information, and to register, please visit www.ascap.com/expo.

AES – Audio Engineering Society Convention

May 22-25 – London, United Kingdom

AES Conventions are held annually in both the United States and Europe and are the largest gatherings of audio professionals in the world. Workshops, tutorials, technical papers and the trade show floor provide attendees with a wealth of learning, networking and business opportunities.

The Audio Engineering Society is the only professional society devoted exclusively to audio technology. Founded in the United States in 1948, the AES has grown to become an international organization that unites audio engineers, creative artists, scientists and students worldwide by promoting advances in audio and disseminating new knowledge and research.

International Music Summit – Conference for Dance Music

 May 26 – 28, - Ibiza Gran Hotel

The International Music Summit is an intimate high quality conference set in Ibiza – the spiritual home of dance music – focused on getting the biggest and brightest players in electronic music together for 3 days of debate and networking. This is a chance to exchange ideas and work on strategies that will make business stronger and more competitive in the future.

SF MusicTech Summit  - Networking, Summit, Panels

May and October - San Francisco, California

The SF MusicTech Summit brings together visionaries in the music/technology space, along with the best and brightest developers, entrepreneurs, investors, service providers, journalists, musicians and organizations who work with them at the convergence of culture and commerce. They meet to discuss the evolving music/business/technology ecosystem in a proactive, conducive to deal making environment.

Summer NAMM – Trade Show and Convention

June 18-20, Nashville, Tennessee

Preparations for 2010 Summer NAMM are underway, and everything that’s being planned has the potential to help your business Be a Hit! When the industry comes together at this mid-year gathering, music products professionals make holiday buying plans, exchange ideas, renew connections and take in the unique NAMM trade show experience. This summer’s event is the place where you can bring your business up the charts.

NXNE Conference – Convention, Panels, Film Festival and Bands

2nd week of June - Toronto, Canada

The NXNE trade show and convention attracts over 2,300 delegates for celebrity interviews and music-biz panels that ask tough questions and dish out straight answers. Our demo listening and mentoring sessions tell you what you need to know to keep your career going deep into the 21st century. Past guests include Police drummer Stewart Copeland, head Sex Pistol Johnny Rotten, guerrilla songwriters Steve Earle and Bruce Cockburn, Peaches, Patti Smith, Thomas Dolby and Stones’ ex-guru Andrew Loog Oldham.

At the same time, the NXNE Film Festival screens a tight program of hand-selected music movies, from concert classics to the latest indie docs from Rio to Rwanda.

Popkomm – Int’l. Music Business Market Conference and Festival

September 8 – 10, Berlin Germany

The Popkomm Trade show and Conference will cover central topics such as the live sector and also digital business, mobile music, pop and politics, music in movies, games and commercials.

It will also deal with important artist and music fan relevant issues. The Popkomm festival is a stepping-stone for unknown artists and newcomers who will have to chance to play along with international headliners.

SMES – Southeastern Music Entertainment Summit

September 24 – 26 – Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

For artists that live far away from the usual music centers, getting started is just that much harder. Without an infrastructure of labels, venues and more, artists seldom have the chance to get face time with the people who can open doors for them. The Southeastern Music and Entertainment Summit (SMES) aims to change that for urban artists in the Southeastern US. The Summit brings regional artists and industry pros face to face, creating a chance for artists to network and learn. The King of the Ring freestyle and producer battle gives up and coming hip hop artists a chance to perform in front of panel of judges made up of music business reps and producers

CMJ – Music Marathon and Film Festival

October 19-23 – New York City, New York

The CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival 2010! Join us October 19-23, 2010 in New York City for five days and nights of over 1,200 artists and 120,000 fans in more than 75 of the city’s greatest nightclubs and theaters.

In addition to hundreds of showcase performances, cutting-edge films and informative panels, CMJ 2010 will feature exclusive parties, meet and greets, seminars, mentoring sessions, community initiatives, networking events, Q&As, special events, and exclusive areas like the Exhibitors’ Loft and Artist Lounge.

ADE Amsterdam Dance Event – Electronic Music Conference

October 20, 21, 22, 23 - Amsterdam, Netherlands

The Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) is the leading electronic music conference and the biggest club festival for electronic music. Founded fourteen years ago, ADE first came to light in 1996 as a small conference with a few hundred music professionals and a festival program in 3 clubs with 30 DJs.

Now in 2010, ADE has grown to become the ultimate platform to meet international business partners, introduce businesses to a worldwide audience and get in touch with new people, new music and new trends.

In The City – International Music Convention and New Music Event

October, Manchester, United Kingdom

A large music fesitval hosts bands across Manchester. It’s also one of the largest city based music fesitvals with showcases for unsigned bands. ITC promotes the need for innovative, rebellious, forward-thinking answers to the questions that make up so much of what they do; ITC brings the sharpest, most fearless minds in the creative industries together to provide those answers. Controversial, intelligent characters from across music, film, photography, art, new media, computer gaming and more all coming together in one place to debate, discuss and do business.

TAXI Road Rally – Music Convention, Songwriting Panels, Classes

Early November – Los Angeles, California

TAXI offers an annual, three-day music convention. Your ticket to the Road Rally is FREE with your membership to TAXI. And you get to bring a guest for free. The panelists you'll meet at this private, members-only convention are all high-level music industry movers and shakers who will give you truthful answers to your questions, and speak from their hearts. You'll also find them to be much more accessible than panelists at other conventions. This is a great convention that gets bigger each year. The networking opportunities are tremendous.

MUSIC EVENTS, CONVENTIONS & FESTIVALS IN 2011

MIDEM  - Exhibition, Convention, Networking, Panels, Music

January 2011 - Palais des Festivals. Cannes' France

Explore the trends and insights transforming the music business through top level discussions, and network with key industry professionals from across the world. MIDEM is the exhibition where music professionals from across the industry meet face to face to do business, analyse trends and build partnerships.

• MIDEM brings together music leaders looking for concrete solutions and insights
• Business: make deals with your partners and identify new business opportunities
• Networking: network with potential business partners and dedicated events. Engage with key music industry players throughout the year using the MIDEMWorld online community
• Visibility: boost your company’s international profile with international media coverage, targeted advertising opportunities and customised events
• Knowledge: learn from the industry’s most talked-about senior executives and experts at a series of conferences and high-level meetings.

NAMM Show/Convention  - Networking, Entertainment, Trade Show

January - Anaheim Convention Center, CA

NAMM (The National Association of Music Merchants) is the annual three day networking and entertainment convention (by invitation only) built around new music techniques and the latest in equipment. The annual trade show is the place where music products retailers meet face-to-face with manufacturers and buyers.

NAMM is ultimately dedicated to expanding the market and giving people of all ages the opportunity to experience the proven benefits of making music.

Portomusical – International Market Tradeshow, Music, Networking

February 23-26 - Recife, Pernambuco Brazil

If you are a music and technology professional anywhere in the world, come to Porto Musical. Those who are interested in the international market and others who pay attention strictly to the Brazilian market. Porto Musical is the most important initiative of its kind. It brings together music professionals from over eight countries.

Some say the origin of House music came out of Chicago in 1981. An escape from street and gang life, house music offered temperance to the unsettled consciousness of youth at the time. It allowed them to mingle with peers, while dancing away any of their problems.

Techno music, which some say, came out of Detroit in the early 90’s, may have begun through the evolutionary progress of various new textures, patterns and sounds which were emerging from all over the world.

New electronic music devices were being created while electronic sounds were coming into their own. The kick and snare became the heartbeat of the song. The bass became the backbone driving force. The synthesizer was the melody which brought people into the nightclub doors, and kept them dancing from dusk to dawn.

Over the years, some of the different genres and sub styles which have emerged with this new sound have been called: Deep House, House, Techo, Megabeat, Electro House, Disco House, Funky House, Garage, Techno, Industrial, Electronica, Breakcore, Micro-house, Underground, Trance, Ambient, Breaks, Minimal Techno, and many more.

But in looking at where we are now, it was the music groups from as far back as the 60’s that were the veterans this new sound. Bands like “The Tornados” created one of the first techno-pop songs entitled Telstar in 1962, which became a Billboard number one hit for the band. The song featured a Clavioline, an instrument like a keyboard with a very distinctive electronic sound. Telstar was the first U.S. number one hit by a British group. The song was originally thought to be just a novelty record intended to make people think about the dawn of the space age. Little did they know at the time how evolutionary their record would become.

Since then, DJ’s and Re-mixers (both male and female) have come on the dance music scene, creating an entirely new sound of the future. With their flair for remixing different sounds, cuts and beats, many DJ’s have created number one dance singles. In doing so, they have developed a new artistry and way for them to be heard by music industry power players. Further, they continue to compete at becoming the best mixers and most popular DJ’s in the clubs. In their own right, they have become the celebrities.

With respect to all forms of music and genres introduced, there is no one sound or genre which now stands alone. Music is as diverse as the creators’ imagination. But groundbreakers, such as The Tornados and Kraftwerk have helped to pave the way.

Stay tuned, because the next groundbreakers are sitting in their studios (or sound proofed bedroom closets) right now creating the hottest ‘new sound’ as we speak. And moving forward toward the future, who knows what those sounds will be entitled. Perhaps you will come up with the next new style yourself. If so, what will it be coined? The world’s audience will definitely be listening.