The Big Schmooze! happens usually on the 4th Thursday of the month (for the months of Sept. - Nov. & Jan.- June) at  Long & Macquade music store in downtown Toronto, 935 Bloor St. West, 7 - 10pm. It includes informative music industry Panels and key note speakers providing  often overlooked tactics for exposing your band,finding revenue streams to fund your music or project. Every Schmooze features emerging artists via showcasing. Remember that all members attend for $FREE so sign up and get in before the events fill up! !! 

The Big Schmooze! takes a breather for the summer - please check back in September for the next event.

Saturday March 27th 2010

!THIS EVENT IS POSTPONED TO A LATER DATE TO BE DETERMINED....

ANNUAL DEMO-LISTEN DERBY  

_{(**Please note - date shift for the Schmooze  event this month (usually held the last Thurs. of the month) is due to the 13 free music industry seminars offered from March 6 - 31st happening at Long & McQuade music stores. This series called L&M University happens every March. For details about this special series please Click Here.)}

•    Bring in submissions between 12:30 - 1pm
•    One track per person\band only. Indicate which track to be played.
•    All submissions will be drawn randomly at the Schmooze event.
•    We will review as many submissions as time will allow.

Panel:

Doug Romanow - Toronto-based producer and owner of  Fire Escape Recording.  His production work has won numerous awards including Juno-nominations and Best Producer awards for Michael Pickett, an ECMA nomination for Pop Record of the Year for Erin Crosby, and an Artist of the Year award for The Satallites at the National Reggae Awards.  Douglas produced the debut album for Isobelle Gunn, a Hamilton trio performing at the 2009 Canadian Country Music Awards

Dulce Barbosa - db Promotions & Publicity. Past and present clients include: Roch Voisine, Olivia Newton John, The EarthTONES, Carlos Morgan, Shobha and many more.

Joe Chisholm - President and founder, IndieCan Radio the  XM syndicated highly acclaimed hit podcast. 

BONUS!! - Get a free copy of Canadian Musician Magazine when you attend this Schmooze!

Date: Sat. March 27th 2010
Time: 1pm - 3:30
Where: 935 Bloor St. West, Long & McQuade Music Store (upstairs in big seminar room)
How Much? $10.00 or $Free with Schmooze Membership (register for your free membership)
Why? Schmooze your face off, have a blast, learn about the music industry!

Feb 14 2010

Please Note: The Big Schmooze is hosting a free Songwriting workshop Hook, Lines and Sinkers at Winterfolk Festival on Feb. 14th. For Details and location of this seminar please Click Here

Stay tuned for details coming soon for March 25th Schmooze!

January 28th 2010

WHAT NOT TO DO!

An evening of sage advice for the independent artist on the major pitfalls, misconceptions and common mistakes blocking progress . Learn not only what to do, but how to think differently and gain fresh insight by understanding how the music industry really functions.
 
Key Note Speaker:
Mark Zubek, Producer

As one of Toronto's busiest indie record producers and songwriters, Mark Zubek has an instinctive ear for the "hit-single."  In the past 17 years, he has produced, written, recorded and performed with Grammy winner Betty Carter (Verve/Polygram), Blaise Pascal (Sony/BMG), Jen Chapin, Wynton Marsalis, MapleMusic breakthrough artist Hilary Weaver, as well as over 200 indie artists.  Zubek has 2 solo jazz records out on Fresh Sound Records, and although he is featured on the Upright Bass in the Penguin Guide to Jazz Encyclopedia, he is also proficient on drums, electric bass, guitars and keyboards.  After a ten-year stint producing records in New York City, Mark moved back home to Toronto, where he is currently based.

Date: Jan. 28th 2010
When: 7pm - 10pm (please arrive early for best seating)
Where: 935 Bloor St. West, Long & McQuade Music clinic room)
How Much: $10.00 or FREE with Schmooze Membership

November 26th 2009

HOW TO GET THE PUBLICITY YOU DESIRE!

As an indie artist there seems to be countless avenues and opportunity to
getting the word out about your music and yet, success is an elusive moving
target when it comes to getting the eyes and ears of the media.
Join our panel of savvy music industry publicists as they address the top
strategies to cut through the clutter.

• What are the  three main mistakes when approaching the media?
• What are the key ingredients that makes for the tastiest press release?
• How to approach build and maintain your relationship with the media.
• When is the best time to hire a publicist and what should you look for in a promoter?

Wether you're an artist that is just starting out, been in the game for a while, or wish to make a career of promoting artists, this Schmooze is for you!

Panel:
Richard Flohil, is one of the most well-known publicists and concert promoters in Canada some of his most notable clients include: Serena Rider, Muddy Waters, Ry Cooder, Miles Davis, Stephane Grappelli, Benny Goodman, John Prine, k.d. Lang, B.B. king.

WIN A COPY OF STEP INTO THE SPOTLIGHT @ The Schmooze. Fill out a ballot.

Date: Thurs. November 26th 2009

 May 28 2009

INDIE SUCCESS STORIES (and cautionary tales)

What  defines success in today's indie universe?

• Who are the artists makiing solid inroads by getting their music into the right hands, selling out shows while touring or winning top honours in songwriting?

• Who's getting corporate sponsorship and how did they swing the deal?

• What does an artisit do when they've been dropped by a major label and suddenly find themselves independent again?

We'll  explore the  triumphs, trials and tribulations and  incremental steps crucial to carving out a route to fulfilling your definition of making it in the music industry.

WIN a Priority Pass to NXNE...

$FREE Screening of What Is INDIE?...

 We`ll be screening the award winning movie What Is INDIE? at the Schmooze. At a time when independent artists in the music industry have more power and control over their careers than ever before, "What is INDIE?" tries to determine just what it really means to be 'indie'. - for a preview Click here

Date: Thurs. May 28th, 2009

April 24th 2009

ANNUAL DEMO-LISTEN DERBY

Bring in your music to be reviewed by our panel of Music Industry Veterans. Here's a valuable opportunity to receive direct constructive feedback from the varying perspectives of Music Producers, Radio Programers, and Songwriters.

**Please Note:

• Bring in submissions between 7:00 - 7:30pm
• One track per person\band only. Indicate which track to be played.
• All submissions will be drawn randomly at the Schmooze event.
• We will review as many submissions as time will allow.

Panel:

Moderator: Joe Chisholm - President and founder of highly acclaimed hit podcast IndieCan Radio.

John Capek - Hit Songwriter for Rod Stewart, Diana Ross, Joe Cocker, Cher,Toto, Chicago, Olivia Newton-John, Little River Band, Heart, Patti Austin and Mannhaten Transfer.

Doug Romanow - Juno-nominated producer and owner of Fire Escape recording studio

Elizabeth Spear - Creative Manager with Ole Publishing, one of the largest indepenedent Music Publishers in the world   

Bob Segarini - legendary Broadcaster aka The Ice Man on Q107 and Serious Satellite Radio, now producer of inernet radio station  Radio That Doesn't Suck!

Date: Fri. April 24th 2009

Time: 7pm  doors open,
         7:30 Schmooze begins
Where: 935 Bloor St. West, Long & McQuade Music Store (upstairs in big seminar room)
How Much? $10.00 or Free with Schmooze Membership
Why? Schmooze your face off, have a blast, learn about the music industry!

March 27th 2009

GETTING SIGNED - THE TRUTH ABOUT RECORD DEALS
What's the deal with record deals anyway?

In this session we'll interpret the "Sign" language and attempt to decipher what 360 and Recoupment really mean. Are the words distribution and development still in our voacabulary in this age of shrinking CD sales, on-line purchasing and indie music marketing saavy?        

• What do the indepenedents offer that the major labels can't and won't?
• What are the various kinds of deals?
• We'll address the common misconceptions surrounding  the roles of A&R, entertainment lawyers and music managers, and how they all work to negotiate the best workable deal.
• We`ll take you through the process from discovery to development to deal.

Panel:

Tim Potocic  - Co-owner and president of Sonic Unyon Records & Distribution, Sonic Unyon has gown into one of Canada's leading independent record lablels releasing ovr 150 new recordings by a wide variety of acts such as Aereogramme, Ad Astra Per Aspera, A Northern Chorus, Sianspheric, Tristan Psionic, Tricky Woo and Frank Black & the Catholics.