Monday April 7, 2008
6:00 – 7:30 pm

Claudia Cassidy Theater
Chicago Cultural Center
77 E. Randolph Street

Chicago musicians will learn about the relationship between a music act and a performance venue, such as knowing if the venue is the "right" fit for the band and what to expect, including compensation. The panelists will also discuss how to prepare for a gig, once booked. This includes knowing where to park, where to load in, how long to play, the show time, when to arrive, and more. Other important venue matters include knowing if the venue has a relationship with a local radio station, record store, publication, press, or other promotional outlets.

March 10, 2008
6:00 – 7:30 pm

Claudia Cassidy Theater
Chicago Cultural Center
77 E. Randolph Street

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This panel will discuss the basics of publicity, promotion and marketing, focused on building an audience for music. Topics will include the following: getting first gigs; making first recordings; creating an identity and an online presence through tools such as MySpace, YouTube and merchandise; using public appearances to build and grow an audience; retaining an audience; growing an audience in other cities; and using new marketing tools to connect with existing and future audiences.

February 4, 2008
6:00 – 7:30 pm

Claudia Cassidy Theater
Chicago Cultural Center
77 E. Randolph Street

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• Replacing band members
• Keeping a band together
• Dealing with band-related start up business issues
• Establishing a business structure
• Navigating creative differences
• Splitting credits and sales among band members
• Figuring out band or individual ownership of equipment

Learn about the best way to form your band as an artistic and business entity from what kind of legal entity to choose, to finding collaborators, and how to go about replacing band members, what are some ways to help to keep your band together, how to best deal with band-related start up business issues, establishing a business structure for your band, dealing with changes in your band, learn how to set things up within your band so that changes in personnel or an unplanned incident or personal crisis doesn’t end your band, rehearsing and building your show together as a band, navigating creative differences successfully, how a solo artist can best approach building a backing or touring band, how to split credits and sales among band members, figuring out band or individual ownership of equipment, dividing up and delegating the work without burning out the leader who takes on the, defining all the different jobs within a band and assigning responsibility without encountering burnout from the leadership.

November 19, 2007
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Claudia Cassidy Theater
Chicago Cultural Center
77 E. Randolph Street

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There is increasing recognition that work in the arts can involve health risks such as exposures to toxic materials and hazardous physical conditions. Injuries and repetitive motion disorders can also result from practice and from work in the arts. Musicians, specifically, face many health hazards - from hearing loss and vocal cord injury to the stresses of travel and health care. This forum focuses on preventing some of the most common and disabling problems for musicians.

Monday October 15, 2007
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Claudia Cassidy Theater
Chicago Cultural Center
77 E. Randolph Street

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Everything's gone green - including the music world. Learn from the experts how musicians and the music industry can reduce their negative impacts on the environment. The panel will discuss what cutting edge approaches are now being used to conserve energy, use renewable resources, recycle, and decrease emissions and pollution throughout many phases of the music industry including at venues and festivals, on tour, backstage, in the studio, and in the manufacturing and distribution process.

September 10, 2007
6:00 pm – 7:30 pm

Claudia Cassidy Theater
Chicago Cultural Center
77 E. Randolph Street

How you come across on stage, on line, on your product and in print all play a role in getting your music heard and seen by the industry and the public. Learn how to work within a budget to achieve professional looking results for costumes, stage presentation, photo shoots, and coverage on stage and at other live events. DIY or professionals, barter and trade, agreements at venues, electronic press kits, latest digital resources.