HYPERTEXT ESSAY

HYPERTEXT ESSAY (500 words)

Becoming a popular musician is a dream many youngsters around the world hold and I’m no exception. There is a reason it is a dream for so many people, it’s an extremely hard industry to break into. If you are one of the lucky few who does taste success, it doesn’t last forever. But that doesn’t stop millions wearing their creative ambitions on their sleeve.

Whilst Melbourne has a vibrant, inventive music scene; it doesn’t hold the global reach that other cities around the world may do. Despite this, you have to get a start somewhere and several locally run organizations are giving untried youngsters the chance to make a start in the industry.

A current example of this is the Melbourne Music Bank, created by the Bank of Melbourne. Judged by a panel including former Killing Heidi vocalist Ella Hooper and other music industry insiders, the Melbourne Music Bank offers a ‘kick-start’ to prospective musicians worth $30,000. The package includes 2 days recording at a famous studio, a free music video, album artwork, professional photo packages, media training, managing teams, live gigs and a song featured on a Bank of Melbourne Ad. Receiving this package would be akin to a corpse receiving a heartbeat, it can bring a band to life and gain the exposure needed to make music a potentially viable option going forward. It also negates a lot of the teething problems that break up new bands, who struggle with the transition from jamming and making songs into the organization of gigs, their music and other sales to keep such a venture viable.

Another organization that offer assistance to creative beings is Music in the Sticks(MITS). It is a group that provides skills in a variety of areas related to the music industry. The areas of skill it tenders related to my creative ambitions include live and studio recording, sound production and publicity and management. Apart from the purely skills based activities they offer, MITS also organizes an annual Battle of the Bands competition in Kyneton. A friend of mine participated in the event two years back; his band's participation and performance really stoked my interest, it seemed like such a buzz to the group. The winners of this Battle of the Bands event are offered a position in the final (held at the Moomba Festival) should they pass the regional finals; they also receive a cash prize. There is a strong social media aspect, where bands and songwriters are prompted to link their own Facebook group links to the official event page.

If I were to form a band, these two competitions are something I’d strongly consider entering. They are pathways into providing the positive publicity that can lift a band to greater heights. It is the bridge between creative and personal gratification (through the writing of songs and jamming together) to success shared with others who have followed you to gigs and supported your work. 

Thanks for reading!