Face The Music Co-Programmer Zac Abroms gives us ten quick reasons why Melbourne's fave music industry summit will blow the rest out of the water in year ten.
It's a summit, not a conference
You go to a conference and you see the same names taken out of their bubble wrap once a year to talk the same safe nonsense. You go to a summit, though, and you witness a meeting of the minds, a spectacular congregation of the varying camps of the music industry.
It's small
We've trimmed the fat and tailored our program to feature only the sharpest minds of the day. We believe that for the price of a summit pass attendees should receive genuine opportunities to meet the folks presented on stage and we're delighted to tell you, that's precisely what happens at Face The Music.
It's cheap
Dirt cheap. As much as a tenth of the cost of some of our competitors. Full conference passes grant you access to keynotes, panel sessions, workshops, speed meetings, live music showcases, parties and networking events and they'll only cost you $140 ($112 if you're a student). That's cheaper than a new pair of jeans.
We focus on the present
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Not the past. We don't book speakers who boast about how good they had it in their day. It's not their day, it's your day. We're here to share knowledge that's relevant, practical and applicable to you and your career right now.
We're focusing on Germany
Germany is the third-largest recorded music market in the world. The home of Berghain, Krautrock and Kraftwerk. The Victorian Government's Music Passport program aimed at partnering with the industry to bring change makers and deal breakers to Melbourne from a single key market. In 2017 Music Passport will bring six Germans to Face The Music including Silke Westera from touring powerhouse FKP Scorpio and Bjorn Pfarr, Head Of Booking at Reeperbahn music conference and festival in Hamburg.
It's not just about music
Who said a music summit has to be anyway? At the tenth anniversary of Face The Music there'll be dancing with choreographer Amrita Hepi, cooking with Kirin J Callinan, film with Her Sound, Her Story, mindfulness and meditation with Sacha Stewart and virtual reality with Dutch LCD Soundsystem collaborator Roel Wouters.
We pay our bands
Just because it's an industry showcase doesn't mean the performers shouldn't be remunerated. Music is art and we at Face The Music believe, nay insist, that art always has a value.
It's during Melbourne Music Week
A nine-day celebration of the city's thriving, world-renowned music scene. This year's hub is located at St Paul's Cathedral. Why not pop down Wednesday, 22 Nov to take in The Age Music Victoria Awards at 170 Russell? Break up the two-day summit with Live Music Safari on the evening of Thursday, 23 Nov and stick around for the Zoo Laneway party presented by Section 8 and Ferdydurke featuring Briggs and Fatima & Alexander Nut.
It's in Melbourne
Australia's undisputed music capital. The city that gave you The Easybeats, Skyhooks, Hunters & Collectors, Nick Cave, Tina Arena, Kylie Minogue and Eddy Current Suppression Ring. AC/DC played a gig on a heckin' flatbed truck driving up the guts of it. Not to mention: World's most liveable city seven times over anyone?
There's a boat
You heard us right, a boat. Got a problem with that landlubbers? Pull on a captain's hat and come aboard the SS It's A Summit for a leisurely 90-minute river cruise on Melbourne's iconic Yarra after two days of intensive summiting. The drinks will be flowing on us! Did we mention Canadian DJ Chippy Nonstop is playing? (No, that would be bragging.)
