THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 19th

12:00-1:30 LUNCH SCHMOOZE

Kick-off IMC '09 with good food and great music, and plenty of networking.

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1:30-3:00 "Media Challenge" PANEL (Bill Pere, John Kerecz, Jimmy Iles, Craig Harris, Christine Ohlman, Noel Ramos-moderator) In the face of corporate consolidation, rapid changes and dizzying technological advances, what's an indie to do? How important is airplay these days, and how do you get some? What are the best ways to get press and media coverage? What are the best ways to promote via the media. The goals formerly obtainable only through radio airplay are now accessible to Indies through a variety of opportunities created by the new technologies. This panel will also discuss leveraging the "new radio" for exposure and networking through the media itself.

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3:00-4:00 Looking for Press in ALL the Right Places WORKSHOP (Noel Ramos)

Noel has published a music magazine for 20 years. He'll relate his experiences and results of surveys he's conducted with media peers. What grabs their attention? What convinces them to print one band's story over another? What do booking agents like to see? What else should you keep in mind? Has the advent of EPKs changed things? These answers and more from the perspective of those you want to target. Examples of press kits will be shown, and a free hand-out of Noel's 7-page "Press Kit Primer" will also be available for all workshop attendees.

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4:00-5:00 A Discussion with Christine Ohlman

Instructor, Christine Ohlman grew up loving equally the sweetness of a Memphis horn line and the raunch of an electric guitar riff, whether played by Muddy Waters, Keith Richards, or Pop Staples. Teased her blonde hair into a beehive in honor of Ronnie Spector and never looked back, forging a career as a songwriter in the process. She's the current, long-time vocalist with the Saturday Night Live Band who sang at SNL's 25th Anniversary telecast, The 2009 Obama Inaugural Gala in Washington, D.C.; Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary bash at the Garden (with George Harrison, Chrissie Hynde and others) and the Central Park Summerstage Tribute To Janis Joplin (fronting both Big Brother & The Holding Company and the Kozmic Blues Band); appears on Grammy nominees A Tribute To Howlin' Wolf (with Taj Mahal and Lucinda Williams) and Charlie Musselwhite's One Night In America (with Marty Stuart); sings the theme song for NBC's 30 Rock; worked on a musical with Cy Coleman; duets live whenever possible with blues legends Eddie Kirkland and Hubert Sumlin; collaborated with Marshall Crenshaw on a critically-acclaimed track for Labour Of Love: The Music of Nick Lowe and Big Al Anderson on Pawn Shop Guitars, as well as with Ian Hunter on his latest, Shrunken Heads; edited Andrew Loog Oldham's autobiography 2Stoned; worked with Bonnie Raitt, Ry Cooder & others on the Rhythm & Blues Foundation Awards -- all the while continuing to torch clubs up and down the Eastern Seaboard in support of her recordings (Strip, The Hard Way, Radio Queen, and Wicked Time, Strip, 2008 career retrospective Re-Hive, and 2009's upcoming The Deep End, featuring special guests/duet partners Ian Hunter, Dion DiMucci, and Marshall Crenshaw, plus Levon Helm, G.E. Smith, Andy York, Big Al Anderson, and others) with her band Rebel Montez (Michael Colbath-bass; Cliff Goodwin-guitar; Larry Donahue-drums).

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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20th

10:00-11:00 Tripling Your Audience with Targeted Songwriting

Are you reaching only 30% of your potential audience? The other untapped 70% is only a few key words away. You do not have to sacrifice artistic integrity to reach a wider fan base. You just need to know some of the central factors in effective lyrical communication, and then decide how you want to apply them. The difference between songs that are liked and remembered by broad and diverse audiences as opposed to those that have a narrow following lies in a few easily applied techniques and an understanding of how people prefer to give and receive information. This workshop, based on Bill's internationally used "Songcrafters' Coloring Book", provides practical application of the information presented in The 8 Keys to Success in the Music Industry" and is an effective followup to that presentation.

Instructor, Bill Pere was named one of the Top 50 Innovators and Guiding Lights of the Music Industry by Music Connection Magazine. He is the author of the internationally acclaimed Songcrafters' Coloring Book: The Essential Guide to Effective and Successful Songwriting and has released 16 original CDs, and several for other artists. Bill is President of the Connecticut Songwriters Association, and his benefit concerts have raised almost $1,000,000 for charities.

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11:00-12:00 Your Creative Compass: How to Achieve Sustainable Creativity in a Busy Life (Kay Pere)

We often focus on learning the business of music and craft of songwriting, but it is important not to overlook the wellspring from which it all comes -- our creativity and inspiration. Sometimes it seems difficult to find inspiration, to try something new, or to just have the time to create amidst the demands of a busy schedule. This workshop will address these issues and provide practical tools and strategies for insuring that your creative self never disappears under a heap of day to day demands on your time. You'll learn ways to deal with writers block, finding subjects to write about, making the time to write and be creative, how to separate pure creative flow from analytical crafting.

Instructor, Kay Pere is a multi-dimensional music educator, performing songwriter and social activist, whose creative work embodies a message of hope, healing and humanity. Kay enjoys a wide reputation as one of the premier vocal instructors in the Northeast. In this capacity, she has presented vocal workshops for the Garde Institute for Creativity, the Connecticut Songwriting and Performance Conference, the New England Music Expo, Seattle Songwriters Workshop, and IMCs in Philadelphia, Charleston, and Dallas. She has been the official vocal coach for several multi-state competitions. Kay delivers fresh piano propelled Folk/Pop with soaring melodies, innovative chordal harmonies, and well-crafted lyrics in performances across the US and Canada. She is Associate Director of Local United Network to Combat Hunger (LUNCH) and a Director of the Connecticut Songwriters Association. Kay's CD, "Even Better Than Chocolate", described in the press as having the "comforting power of a steamy cup of cocoa and cream -- minus the calories, " was recorded in Nashville with Grammy award winning engineer and producer Michael Hopkins.

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12:30-1:30 Music Licensing: The Really Sexy Art of Getting Paid (Jordan Tishler)

How cool would that be? Hearing yourself in film, and getting paid! It's like double dipping! But musical artists and producers need to know how to get there and how to protect yourself along the way. Come find out how it gets done. We will focus on publishing v. licensing, what rights to you hold and what makes them valuable, for what and when do you get paid, what sorts of music are good candidates for licensing, why and how to work with third parties, who is out there to help you and how do they work/differ. Myths abound: Get the straight dope from Jordan Tishler, multi-award winning music producer and licensing guru at dBE.Music, a firm dedicated to licensing independent music for use in TV and Film.

Instructor, Jordan Tishler runs Digital Bear Entertainment devoted to Artist Management, Record Production, and Licensing for TV and Film. Through his production, mixing, and career guidance, Jordan has propelled forward the careers of hundreds of artists, including The Motion Sick, Melodeego, Capt'n Kneal, The New Collisions, James O'Brien, Marie's Children on various labels. Jordan holds degrees from Harvard, and has training on multiple instruments. He has studied with Grammy Award nominated Golden Ears David Moulton and with post modern classical composer Ivan Tcherpenin. He also played bass in Boston punk luminaries Underground Society and Origin of Species. DBE owns one of Boston's premier recording facilities and an active sister company, dBE.Music, specializing in placing writers' songs in film and television. Jordan speaks regularly at music conferences like IMC, NXNE, SSCM, MMC. Jordan is Chairman Emeritus of the Audio Engineering Society (AES) Boston section, is a voting member of the Recording Academy, and received a 2005 Immie Award for service to the Independent Music Community.

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1:30-2:30 Your Band as a Business (Jeff Gargas)

Instructor, Jeffrey Gargas is the founder and current president of FTF Records, an independent record label and entertainment company which specializes in artist management, development, and promotion. The 3-year-old label currently features 5 regional acts in several genres. A division of the company, FTF Concerts, is dedicated to promoting local showcases and promotes over 150 concerts yearly. Gargas is a member of NARAS (Grammys) and NARIP and has been a panelist/speaker at Camp Jam 2008, MMC13, and The Tiffin Jazz Summit. He is also scheduled to speak at the Vancouver Island Music Business Conference, The Cleveland Music Industry Panel, and The Baltimore Music Conference. Along with his life experiences, he has also trained with some of the world's leading sales and motivational coaches, including Blair Singer and Eric Lofholm.

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2:30-3:30 Partnering With the Nonprofit Sector: How to do Successful Benefits that Pay You Fairly (Bill Pere)

Non-profit does not mean no-profit. Music has great power to move people to act. When effectively harnessed, an artist can significantly enhance their audience size, reach, cd sales, and income, while also effecting positive social change. Through selective partnerships with the nonprofit sector, artists can develop a following of stakeholders and partners in success, in addition to just fans. This workshop presents tried and true techniques for presenting benefit events which will (a) to expand the reach of your music, (b) cultivate new and loyal following, (c) increase merchandise sales, and (d) have their music and message make a difference in some aspect of our society. The techniques presented here have been used by Bill to raise almost $1,000,000 through his shows.

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3:30-4:30 The Performing Songwriter's Paint Box - Vocal Workshop (Kay Pere)

Unlock all the colors of your voice. Techniques to release the unique expressive palate of each song. Tools to create a vivid experience for your audience no matter what your style. Learn specific vocal and songwriting techniques which will bring you attention as a Performing Artist. Producers and vocal coaches working to encourage vocal artistry on stage and in the studio will also find value in the distinctive approach offered by this workshop. Learn to control the nuances of enunciation and vocal coloration that will make your songs carry your message most effectively.

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4:30-5:30 The 8 Keys to Success in the Music Business.

The music industry is first and foremost a people-driven business, Success is based on networking and personal relationships. In taking a song from creation to realization, there are many roles that must be filled, and skills which must be brought to bear. Understanding how a person prefers to take in information, make decisions, and communicate with others gives you an immeasurable advantage in negotiation, selling, collaborating, and working as part of a group.

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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 21st

10:00-11:00 Drumming Away The Blues: Relieving Stress through Percussion and Rhythm (Craig Harris)

Stress - we all have it. Though some prefer to think that it affects only adults, even the youngest child is suspect to its grasp. "We're hearing from teachers all the time," said Carol Venancio, training director for the Springfield, Massachusetts-based Preschool Enrichment Team, Inc.," that children come into their programs full of burdens they carry in from home environments that are stressful." With economic struggle, political conflict, and increasing fear adding to the stress of our lives, a release is urgently needed. Using hand drums and assorted percussion instruments, music educator Craig Harris provides adults and children with a key to that relief and the tools for emotional success. "When one plays a drum or percussion instrument," said Harris, "they're immediately transported into the present. Stress is about dreading the past or fearing the future." Harris' workshops, classes, and performances are multi-faceted experiences. Through guided vocal, imagery, and drumming exercises and interactive participation, preschoolers to senior citizens discover the joys of creating music, using hand drums and percussion instruments to strengthen their ability to work with a group, cooperate with others, follow directions, make decisions, build self-esteem, improve abstract thought processing, creatively express themselves, foster a lifelong love of music, establish a positive mood, and relieve stress.

Music has provided a foundation for the diverse experiences of percussionist, music educator and journalist/photographer Craig Harris. A member of an Obie (Off-Broadway) "best musical" award-winning country-rock band in the 1970s, he's gone on to play drums and percussion on recordings and/or concerts with the Merl Saunders Rain Forest Band, Jonathan Edwards, C.J. Chenier and his Red Hot Louisiana Band, Greg Brown, Rick Danko, Rod MacDonald, Ellis Paul, the Fast Folk Musical Revue, the Hungry Man's Army, and his current band, Miles Orgasmic. A highly respected music journalist/photographer, Harris' interview-based articles, reviews, and photographs have appeared in newspapers, magazines, and music-oriented websites around the globe and he is the author of The New Folk Music, The Music Hound Listener's Guide To Folk Music, and The Music Hound Listener's Guide To World Music. Possessing teaching certification in music and early elementary education, and a Master's degree in education, he's shared his passion for music with students in public and charter schools.

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11:00-12:00 Music Without Labels (Jimmy Iles)

Music Without Labels is an educational platform created to discuss issues, share solutions, and promote the organic ecolution of the music industry. We are dedicated to reconstructing a working model for the Industry. We call this model Beat-Play. Beat-Play is an online tool that unearths the connections & capabilities of future artists and producers. By building a socially-level environment, our mission meets the growing need for a shift from power to empowerment, and recognizes the true value of artists and their fans. Beat-Play is capapble of solving, or putting a big dent in, nearly alll of the problems associated the the music industry today, for both artists, and fans.

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1:00-5:00 "Songsalive! Songcamp" (Bill Pere)

A 4-hour, high powered, focused songwriting camp where songwriters and composers can gain valuable feedback on their music, and collaborate in co-writing with other writers under the guidance of a Songsalive! songwriter mentor. Songcamp starts with a critique session on your songs, followed by an intensive co-writing session where songwriters are split into breakout groups under the guidance of a mentor to co-write and deliver a completed song. This song will then be performed to the full group, including music business execs at the end of the session.

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6:00-7:00 DISCourse Closed Session (panelists only)

A unique listening and discussion group where artists can get real world feedback on their CDs. Panelists will review submissions in a closed session (panelists only), in order to provide more effective and practical feedback during the DISCourse panel presentation. CDs and press kits MUST be submitted for review no later than Saturday, November 21st at 5:00 at the registration table. OPEN PANEL will be on Sunday, November 22nd from 10:00-12:00.

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22nd

10:00-11:00 Brand The Band A music marketing seminar created to help bands or solo artists rise to a new level of competitiveness in an increasingly difficult music industry. Brand The Band exposes musicians to the same marketing, branding, imaging, messaging and naming tools that are the industry standard for advertising, marketing and promotions professionals worldwide.

Instructor, Christopher Payne-Taylor has 20 years of experience as a creative visionary, spearheading brand creation and development, strategic market planning, advertising, promotion and public relations throughout a wide array of industries. He is an accomplished musician and performer -- an acoustic garage rocker by his own BTB-inspired brand -- with a sophisticated intellectualism and punk-flavored sensibility. Co-founder of New York punk band, Karyn Satin & the Bedsheets (his first real branding experience) in the early 1980s, he has since created numerous long-standing brands.

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11:00-1:00 DISCourse PANEL A unique listening and discussion group where artists can get real world feedback on their CDs. Panelists will review submissions in a closed session (panelists only) on Saturday, in order to provide more effective and practical feedback during the DISCourse panel presentation.

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Basics of Music Publishing (Rob Case) Overview of what exactly publishing is. Copyrights, ASCAP, BMI, etc... Great for any songwriter to attend.

Instructor, Robert A. Case, President of New Pants Publishing, Inc. (ASCAP)Old Pants Publishing, Inc. (BMI)and New Pants Music, (SESAC) is a graduate of the Colorado Institute of Art, Denver, Colorado in the USA with an Associate's Degree in Business with an emphasis in Music and Video Business. He completed studies at Community College of Denver in Business Administration and Marketing. Mr. Case's client's songs have appeared in TV show placements including Lions Gate Pictures, CW Network, Discovery Channel, A&E, Fox Sports, NBC, CBS/VHI Primetime show Love Monkey, One Life to Live on ABC Daytime, the Soap Network and South Park on Comedy Central in the US and Internationally in Canada, Mexico, Europe, and Asia.