WOMEX - The World Music Expo

WOMEX – The World Music Expo www.womex.com

How to make the best of your event attendance

Some notes for potential delegates

Made in Berlin / Travelling through Europe / 20 Editions

Acknowledged as the most international hub

of all professional music meetings

worldwide in general, and as the most

important annual meeting point for the world

music community in particular, the 2014

edition gathered 2,400 delegates and more

than 320 artists from 90 countries.

It offers...

Photos by Jacob Crawfurd

…A bustling Trade Fair with 668 exhibiting companies from 47 countries at 280 stands , including numerous umbrella stands of countries, regions, networks and other joint-venture structures

(Stats: WOMEX 2014)

Photo by Eric Van Nieuwland

…More than 60 Showcase acts with more than 320 artists from 40 countries on 7 stages , including the Atlantic Connections stage

(Stats: WOMEX 2014)

Photo by Jacob Crawfurd

… 70 speakers and mentors from 26 countries in more than 20 Conference Sessions ; a world & jazz focus plus a special programme dedicated to global club music; Mentoring and South African Speed-Dating

(Stats: WOMEX 2014)

Photo by Jacob Crawfurd

…WOMEX Film Screenings presenting documentaries that portray music, movements and history from across the world.

Photo: Journey to Jah film still

WOMEX Key Figures

(Stats: WOMEX 2014)

WOMEX Delegates by Region

(Stats: WOMEX 2014)

WOMEX delegates told us of 90 of these events per year that they attend...

Some Key facts of for live perfomance market in Germany

* Schengen country * biggest Live Market in Europe * different deals for concerts * very decentralised market in terms of: regional sectors, various relevant regions and media channels besides Berlin as capital region *live business set-up and strategy for Germany: agent, pr-company, tools, pricing policy, tax and costs *important festivals and music meeting e.g. reeperbahn festival, eurosonic festival and more...

…The celebratory

WOMEX Opening Concert

…The prestigious WOMEX Awards –

last year going to Mariza, Mário Lúcio

Sousa and top label Glitterbeat

Records

…The WOMEX Radio Studio for live

interviews and performances

Photos by Jacob Crawfurd

SHOWCASE ARTISTS at WOMEX 14 Santiago de Compostela...............

Ajinai (China) - Abavuki (South Africa) - Baloji (DR Congo/Belgium) - Batida (Angola/Portugal) - Bostich + Fussible from Nortec Collective (Mexico) - Calima (Spain) - Césaria Évora Orchestra (Cabo Verde) - Custódio Castelo (Portugal) - Davide Salvado (Spain) - Den Sorte Skole (Denmark) - DJ Marfox (Portugal) - Dreamers' Circus (Sweden/Denmark) - Driss El Maloumi (Morocco) - Džambo Aguševi Orchestra (FYR Macedonia) - Ed Motta (Brazil) - El Gusto Orchestra (Algeria/France) - Ester Rada (Israel) - Ethiocolor (Ethiopia) - Frank Yamma (Australia) - Geng Wak Long (Malaysia) - Germán Díaz – Método Cardiofónico (Spain) - Gjermund Larsen Trio (Norway) - Greg de Villanova (France) - Guayo Cedeño and Coco Bar (Honduras) - Ilkka Heinonen (Finland) - Isa GT (Colombia/UK) - Kareyce Fotso (Cameroon) - Korrontzi (Spain) - Kuenta i Tambu (Curacao/Netherlands) - La Chiva Gantiva (Colombia/Belgium) - La Yegros (Argentina) - Lleuwen (UK) - Lula Pena (Portugal) - Maarja Nuut (Estonia) - Madeeh (Malaysia) - Mariza (Portugal) - Maru Tarang (India/Australia) - Mayito Rivera and The Sons of Cuba (Cuba) - Noreum Machi (South Korea) - Orkesta Mendoza (USA) - Otava Yo (Russia) - Oum (Morocco/France) - Paolo Angeli (Italy/Spain) - Paulo Flores (Angola) - Raúl Rodríguez – Razón de Son (Spain) - Rebel Up! Soundclash (Belgium/the Netherlands) - Rura (UK) - Sékouba Bambino (Guinea-Conakry/France) - Sertanília (Brazil) - Söndörgő (Hungary) - Spiro (UK) - Tarabband (Iraq/Egypt/France/Sweden) - Tribu Baharú (Colombia) - Troker (Mexico) - Uxía (Spain) - Vołosi (Poland) - Zoobazar (Spain)

....and a remarkable Galician Opening Concert, curated by Xosé Manuel Budiño

http://www.womex.com/programme/showcase_festival

Your WOMEX attendance...

Why Attend?

WOMEX is the best place to meet artists and music people from all over the world.

Lennart Wretlind, Sweden, Spotify

The important thing about WOMEX is seeing how many people are working for the same cause, encouraging music cultures to get stronger, letting the world know about their existence and richness, which is a mutual encouragement to get on with the work! You really feel you are part of a bigger movement, and your cultural identity counts.

Kirill Kuzmin, Tajikistan, Bactria Cultural Centre

Why Attend?

WOMEX is the most important trade show globally and the attending South African emerging artists and independent music companies are enabled to position themselves and showcase their musical products at a festival that has the potential to kick start their careers on an international level.

Renneth Tshisikule, South Africa, IMEXSA

My key objective in attending WOMEX was to make international contacts in all aspects of the music business. We wanted to make inroads in the international touring scene and it's the perfect place to do that.

WOMEX delegates told us of 90 of these events per year that they attend...

Different Trade Fairs, Expos, Performing Arts Markets, Showcases & Conferences:

Find out about what they do and what they offer you .

Is their focus on:

* the live sector, publishing, digital, new technology...?

* a specific country, region or genre...?

Purpose of Trade Fairs

* Networking

* Relationships

* Trends and Innovations

* Business contacts and details ( commercial or cultural )

* Education

... and ...

Purpose of Trade Fairs

* Creative opportunity

* PR opportunities

* Confidence and presentation skills

* Consensus

* Opportunity: for you <> for your potential partners

and

Performing Arts Markets

* give visibility to our sector presence:

cultural / economic / moral

* confirm – and contribute to – global creative diversity

Focus...

* Plan

* Potential

* Preparation

* Promotion

* Presentation

* Participation

* Analysis

Photo by Eric van Nieuwland

* Follow-up

Plan & Think

Step 1 – Identify your goals

This is an investment in time, money & opportunity.

What is your return on investment?

* In terms of (just) money?

* In the ‘long-term’, in terms of career or PR?

Why are you attending, and what do you want ?

Plan & Think

Step 2 – Analyse your situation

Do you have upcoming releases, projects, tours?

Photo by Jacob Crawfurd

Plan & Think

Step 3 – Analyse the Trade Fair

Focus: What is the Trade Fair doing for you?

Photo by Jacob Crawfurd

Plan & Think

Step 4 – Analyse your network

Are you looking for business partners in specific countries or regions?

Specific areas of expertise?

Photo by Yannis Psathas

Reality and Research

Don’t be obsessed with having a showcase performance if you aren’t ready, and don’t know the market

It may be a better investment to attend an event to learn, observe, evaluate..... do the research !

Preparation

Working schedules: Check deadlines for registration rates, showcase & conference proposals and advertisements

Seek additional support:

Is there any music export body or other source of funding in your country? Do they provide any opportunities for support?

Travel & Accommodation:

Book your hotel and flights (need a visa?) Check event website for useful hints and potential discounts

Promotion

Prepare print material, CDs, flyers, brochures, business cards. Be different! But be aware of their excess baggage

Is your website up-to-date? Email address? Contacts?

Advertise in the WOMEX Guide / inserts in the delegate bags

Publish your Trade Fair participation on your website, in your newsletter, write a press release and distribute to relevant media and blogs

Photo by Yannis Psathas

Promotion

Inform your network / press / customers / social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, your own personal blog)

Make use of an event's communications channels (e.g. WOMEX's virtualWOMEX platform)

Communicate!!

Could you take part in a conference panel?

Will you apply for an artist showcase?

If so: check deadlines and procedure! Go to the www.womex.com homepage and click on the Take Part tab

Meeting Schedules

Check the 'Who is coming' list on the website or use virtualWOMEX to find potential business partners

Match Conference and Networking schedules to fit your meeting timetable

Contact people to set up meetings (!send your mobile number!)

Send some info about your product / project / company / profile

Meeting Schedules

Make sure you are talking to the right person

Bring small promo packages for different interests / samplers

Bring lots of business cards; and make notes on business cards received so that you remember people whom you have met

Don't annoy people by being too pushy

Learn to take ' no ' for an answer

Input, Context, Consensus

Find out:

Visit Conference sessions: hear what is going on in the music industry

Take part in Speed-Dating, Matchmaking or Mentoring sessions: meet potential business partners

Attend Receptions: meet other delegates in a relaxed atmosphere

Don't miss the Showcases: hear the latest talent and be inspired

Photo by Jacob Crawfurd

Why?

Be on time, and respect other people's schedules

Take notes, and take pictures

Don't push your material

Take time to browse, and don't forget to eat , drink and get some fresh air

Make sure you know the most important vocabulary in english to present yourself and your project

Follow Up

Email follow-up:

* Send an email the following week with more detailed info,

to summarise the meeting or just to say 'thank you'

* Also follow up unsuccessful contacts

* Keep promises & follow-up on ideas

Analyse:

* What was your direct result? * What is the potential result?

* Were there any problems? * Is there room for improvement?

WOMEX Sister Events

WOMEX is a production of Piranha Arts AG, which also produces :

AME - Atlantic Music Expo

Classical:NEXT

7 - 9 April 2015

20 - 23 May 2015

Praia, Republic of Cabo Verde www.atlanticmusicexpo.com

Rotterdam, Netherlands

www.classicalnext.com

Sound of the Xity 28 April - 3 May 2015

Porto Musical

4 – 7 February 2015 Beijing, China Recife, Brazil www.sxity.com www.portomusical.com

Contacts

Piranha Arts AG Kreuzbergstr. 30 10965 Berlin Germany

womex@womex.com

www.womex.com www.twitter.com/womex www.facebook.com/worldmusicexpo

Photo by Jacob Crawfurd

phone: +49 30 318 614 30 fax: +49 30 318 614 10

Frank Klaffs

ceo, Piranha Arts

frank.klaffs@piranha-arts.com

WOMEX 15 Hungary 21st edition: 21-25 October 2015

www.womex.com

Photo by Jacob Crawfurd, Eric Van Nieuwland & Yannis Psathas