Professional Development Sessions

Attending these professional development sessions will help you explore and improve community connections both within and outside the arts, foster unique collaborations, and inspire innovative ideas.  Your takeaways will ultimately enhance the collective growth of the arts community,  to allow you to grow your programming, organizational capacity and increase your community impact.

Don’t wait. Reserve your spot today.

Artist PD – Thursday Oct 24

Your Guide to Navigating the Touring Industry

Whether you are a new artist or a seasoned touring artist, this session is for you. If you are looking to market yourself in Canada or the United States, you will learn about all aspects of showcasing, learn about digital marketing, how to work with agents and discover effective methods to broaden your influence within communities. Throughout the event, you’ll have the chance to engage experts from MB Music, MAN, Manitoba Indigenous Touring Network, and Prairie Debut, and MB Legal Clinic for the Arts. 

 Beyond the structured presentations, you’ll also have the opportunity to take part in informal roundtable discussions. For those interested, there’s the option to present a pitch or deliver a mini-performance, receiving constructive feedback from the panelists. This segment involves showcasing one song along with your pitch while the presenters are in attendance.

Music Business 101 - 11:00am-12:30 pm

A session with Mezzo Soprano Rhonda Head (Manitoba Arts Network) and Cassidy Mann (Indigenous Music Development Program, Manitoba Music).

Music Business: Embark on a journey into the heart of the music industry. This comprehensive course is your gateway to unlocking the fundamentals of the music business, empowering you to forge a thriving career as an independent music artist. Gain a firsthand understanding of the intricate processes involved in recording, manufacturing, radio airplay, press reviews, distribution, sales, booking, and promotion of your music.

 

In this session, you will delve into the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry, equipping yourself with essential knowledge and skills to thrive in the digital age:

 

  • Music Business Foundations: Uncover the core concepts of the music business, including the intricacies of copyright and royalties. Grasp the essential legal and financial aspects that underpin the industry.
  • Maximizing Royalties: Navigate the complex landscape of royalties, learning how to identify and collect royalties from various sources. Discover strategies to ensure you’re not leaving any potential earnings on the table.
  • Embarking on Your Journey: Learn the crucial steps to kickstart your career as an independent music artist. From building your brand identity to cultivating your audience, lay the foundation for a successful musical journey.
  • Cracking the Code of Music Streaming: Demystify the realm of music streaming, understanding how platforms like Spotify and Apple Music function. Explore ways to optimize your presence and earnings on these platforms.
  • Monetization on Social Media: Unleash the potential of platforms like Facebook and YouTube by monetizing your music and content. Discover how to effectively capitalize on these avenues to boost your income.
  • Navigating Publishing and Distribution: Gain insights into the intricate world of music publishing and distribution. Learn how to get your music out to the world and ensure it reaches the right ears.
Lunch & Roundtable Discussions - 12:30-1:30 pm

Roundtable Discussions: Engage in lively discussions with fellow participants and experts. Share experiences, gain valuable insights, and network with like-minded individuals.

You will have an opportunity to participate in three different sessions including:

  1. Pitfalls of Touring and Showcase Applications – Cheryl Ewing, Showcase Manager 
  2. Expanding your Impact as a musician – Po Yeh, Prairie Debut
  3. The Indigenous perspective: Collaborating with Indigenous artists and how to access the Manitoba Indigenous Touring Network – Rhonda Head
  4. Artist Management & Working with Agents – Josh Marantz, Artist Management
  5. What MB Music Offers – Cassidy Mann (Indigenous Music Development Program, Manitoba Music).

Each session will last 20 minutes. You can leave and join another table if you find that the information presented is not of value to where you are in your career.  Lunch will be provided. 

Unlocking Opportunities: Elevating Your Career through Effective Artist Showcasing - 1:30am-2:30 pm

Facilitated by Rhonda Head (Manitoba Arts Network), Cheryl Ewing (Showcase Manager) & Po Yeh (Prairie Debut) and Cassidy Mann (Indigenous Music Development Program, Manitoba Music).

Are you ready to take your career as an artist to the next level? Whether you’re a budding talent or a seasoned performer, our workshop is tailored just for you.

In the dynamic landscape of the entertainment industry, the art of showcasing is a powerful tool that can propel your career to new heights. Join us in this engaging workshop as we delve into the strategies and insights essential for leveraging artist showcasing as a stepping stone to success.

Highlights of the workshop:

  • Strategic Showcasing Techniques: Discover the art of strategic showcasing and how it can effectively amplify your presence in both local and international arenas. Learn how to curate your performances to resonate with your target audience and leave a lasting impact.
  • Forging Relationships with Agents: Agents can be instrumental in advancing your career. Gain insights into the dynamics of artist-agent relationships, learn how to effectively communicate your vision, and understand the steps to establish fruitful partnerships.
  • Community Engagement and Impact: Beyond the stage, artists hold the power to make a positive impact within communities. Discover how to extend your influence beyond your performances and create meaningful connections with your audience.
  • Expert Perspectives: Our workshop brings together industry experts from renowned organizations such as MB Music, MAN, Manitoba Indigenous Touring Network, and Prairie Debut. Learn directly from those who have successfully navigated the path you aspire to tread.
Empowering Artists: Legal Advice on Contracts, Intellectual Property, and Rights 2:30-3:30 pm

Join us for a valuable session where you can receive expert legal advice without the hefty price tag. The Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts, staffed by law students from the University of Manitoba Faculty of Law under the supervision of experienced lawyers, offers free legal assistance tailored specifically for artists.

In this session, you’ll gain insights into crucial topics such as contracts, negotiations, intellectual property rights, and more. Whether you’re unsure about your next legal step or need clarification on your rights as an artist, our team is here to help.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to access professional legal advice that’s designed to support Manitoba’s vibrant arts community. Simply connect online to learn about the resources available to you through the Manitoba Legal Clinic for the Arts

Practicing Pitches/Song Sharing Circles - 3:30-5:30 pm

Pitch and Feedback Opportunity: For those seeking personalized guidance, you’ll have the chance to present a 5 minute pitch or a mini-performance. Receive constructive feedback from our panelists, helping you refine your approach and presentation skills.

You must sign up for an opportunity to practice your pitch, or song sharing circle with an audience of peers and presenters. You will be given constructive feedback to help you increase your effectiveness. Spots are on a first come, first served basis and is limited to 6 spots

Sessions

Knowledge Café

benefit of membership

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25 FROM 9 AM TO 11:30 AM

The Knowledge Café brings people together, with discussions led by a facilitator, to explore hot topics, share experiences, and build connections in the evolving arts and culture industry. Its goal is to tap into collective knowledge for deeper understanding. Set in a relaxed, informal environment, the Café encourages open dialogue and learning. There will be two rotations, with the same topics repeated twice.

TABLE TOPICS:

  1. Writing Grants and Tips from Funders | MB Arts Council
  2. Intellectual Property and Copyright | MB Legal Clinic for the Arts
  3. Festival Planning: The Essentials for Success | Devin Latimer & Anthony Kost
  4. Building First Nations Connections | Janet Head
  5. How Community Development Elevates the Arts | Kris Doull, Community Development Branch, Municipal Affairs, Western Region
  6. How to Engage Young Audiences | Akshay Vaid
  7. Challenges and Opportunities for Rural Artists | Tammy Sutherland, MB Craft Council
  8. How to Get Mentorships Going in Your Community | Shawna Dempsey and Aliana Alarcon, MAWA
  9. Navigating the Nuances of Arts Presentation | Jane Ireland

SESSION 1: Cultivating New Audiences Through Relationships

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25 FROM 12:30 PM TO 2:00 PM

Facilitated by: Trudy Schroeder, former CEO of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Winnipeg Folk Festival.

Panelists: Brandon Friendship Centre, Immigration Partnership Winnipeg, Arts Accessibility Network of Manitoba, Prairie Hope High School, and Arts Forward, Neepawa.

Developing new audiences is a challenge. Who do we target? How do we reach them? How do we program to create interest from diverse populations? This workshop will explore how we can build and increase our audiences through community connections, identifying relevant programming, and understanding the passions of our communities and regions.

MEET THE WORKSHOP FACILITATOR

SESSION 2: Palette to Palate: The Intersection of Food, Beverage and Artistic Expression

Friday, October 25 from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm

Presented by: The Northern Arts and Food Project, a Collaboration between Creative Manitoba and Food and Beverage Manitoba.

How do we create memorable and engaging experiences for our audiences? Bringing back and expanding our audiences means recognizing that people are now looking for an immersive experience that connects them to the art, culture and community. This workshop will explore how we can create experiential events through the use of food. Presenters will talk about case studies where cultural events have successfully integrated makers of all types – food, beverage, and art – into the encounter, resulting in remarkable experiences.

Facilitated by: Katie Daman
Panelists: Margruite Krahn & Melanie Gamache

MEET THE WORKSHOP FACILITATOR

SESSION 3: Developing Meaningful Engagement with Business

Friday, October 25 from 2:15 pm to 3:30 pm

Facilitated by: Trudy Schroeder, former CEO of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Winnipeg Folk Festival.

Panelists: Section 6 Brewing, Manitoba Hotel Association, Business Council of Manitoba, Westman Communications, and D & B Sprinklers.

How do we change our business and corporate engagement strategies to move from sponsorship to partnership? How do we speak their language? Why does a business buy into the arts while others pass? What do they see as the compelling pitch? This panel will explore how the arts can create a business case that benefits both the arts and business.

MEET THE WORKSHOP FACILITATOR

SESSION 4: Contact to Contract: Understanding Each Other

Friday, October 25 from 2:15 pm to 3:30 pm

Who doesn’t love a good role play? Join us for an exploration of the Agent-Presenter-Artist-Manager relationship. Our panel will dive into scenarios where players must collaborate on tour strategies, negotiations, contracts, riders, advancing, performance, and settlements.

What prompts a quick response from an agent, manager, or presenter? What information do players look for in an inquiry about an artist? What’s essential to include in an offer, and what should be avoided? As the panel discusses the process, the moderator will introduce various scenarios, highlighting the bumps in the road.

Come join our ‘players’ as we delve into the diverse realities of touring and presenting. Presenters might take on the role of the artist, or managers might step into the artist’s shoes, shedding light on the complexities and challenges of booking a show. It’s an opportunity to gain insight into both the individual and shared challenges of bringing art to life.

Facilitated by: Josh Marantz

Panelists: Rich Hamon, EMCA Concerts, Pinawa (Presenter); Artist Keri Latimer: Leaf Rapids; Nima Talasaz, Sakamoto Agency

MEET THE WORKSHOP FACILITATOR

SESSION 5: Strengthening Your Ecosystem: Connecting Across Sectors

Saturday, October 26 from 9:15 am to 10:45 am

Facilitated by: Trudy Schroeder, former CEO of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and the Winnipeg Folk Festival.

Panelists: Rural Development Institute (RDI); Community Futures Westman; Community Development Branch, Municipal Affairs; Rural MB Economic Development; & Brandon First.

Traditional operational approaches in the arts ecosystem have, for the most part, remained unchanged over the past couple of decades. Arts organizations are beginning to recognize the need for significant organizational transformation to adapt to new community demographics and conditions. In order to increase connectivity, capacity building, and audience development, the arts needs to build community partnerships and collaborations with other sectors.

This panel discussion will help kick-start this process for arts organizations and presenters. Panelists will discuss best practices for creating partnerships and collaborations with community stakeholders where the arts is a significant leader and participant. The panel will explore examples of community and economic development, tourism, business models and social enterprise.

MEET THE WORKSHOP FACILITATOR

Ask the Experts Sessions

Convening Conversations: Sparking Ideas.

Gain insights from industry leaders, mentors & experts

Book a 20-minute time slot with an expert:

Attending Ask an Expert meetings can be a valuable investment of time and effort for anyone looking to expand their knowledge, seek guidance, or make meaningful connections in the arts and culture ecosystem. It’s an opportunity to engage with experts who can provide valuable insights and potentially have a significant impact on your professional or your organization’s journey.

Participants will sign up in advance for 20-minute long one-on-one conversations with a listed expert. There will be 3 rounds, so each expert can have 3 different 20-minute conversations with different people. We will ask participants to come prepared with questions. A group of people from the same organization can all attend the one on one session

Sessions are 20 minutes with each expert.

Scheduled Times:

7:30PM – 8:30PM – Friday, October 25
3:30PM – 4:30PM – Saturday, October 26

Pre-registration required → registration available in September

Sign-up will be offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

Questions?

Registration & Payment Support

Manitoba Arts Network
admin@mbartsnet.ca
1.866.919.2787

Are you new to Showcase and unsure of what to expect? Wondering, “What’s in it for me?”

Jane Ireland
2024 Showcase Ambassador
manitobashowcase@gmail.com

We look forward to seeing you at Showcase 2024!

Please note: The 2024 Showcase brochure will be uploaded in Aug – Sep 2024.

Make sure to share your experience during the Conference using the hashtag #MBSHOWCASE24

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