Words by Kinch Kinski There was a wealth of knowledge to be had at Face the Music. I only made one whirlwind day, but here are some key bits and pieces I picked up. Start Me Up: Tips from the Grant Genies gave advice on the art of nabbing a grant. If you employ a grant writer, you should still have input in the process. Collaborate, don’t delegate – no one likes an application that reads like PR. Budget properly – if your proposed budget doesn’t balance or doesn’t make sense you won’t get the grant. Those assessing grants are industry professionals; they’ll notice fluffy numbers and immediately put up red flags. Backstage with the Agents of Live Music emphasised building a team through persistence and quality, unique and ‘premiere’ shows and well-planned regional touring to get the most out of Australia’s limited markets. They also focused on collecting raw data from Facebook analytics and ticket sales that can be provided to promoters and – assuming it is positive – land you better gigs. Chutzpah or Kibosh had some great insights into how to ‘give good press’. Don’t just ask editors for an interview or tell them about your show, find … Continue reading FACE YOUR FUTURE