Jazzahead networking

‘Networking’ sounds so formal, but it’s really just mixing with a large group of people with the goal of trying to connect with as many of them as possible.

It might feel unnatural as a musician, but it’s a vital part of growing your network and raising your profile.

During the year you might only get to meet the odd promoter at a gig or event; jazzahead! gives you a chance to turbo charge that for 3 days, so make the most of it!

Regardless of what you manage to get booked in advance, there are plenty of free drinks receptions and events where you can bump into promoters.

Traditionally, most booths host a drinks reception at a specific time over the weekend. Check when all these are and, if you don’t have meetings, go along and push yourself to chat to people you don’t know.

When you meet people, you don’t have to give them the hard sell.

The first goal is not to get them to book you right there and then (because they almost certainly won’t) but to make a friendly, positive connection with people in person and follow it up with details afterwards, by email.

Also important: check the dedicated networking sessions for artists. Again, this needs to be planned in advance, and is very worthwhile.

JazzAhead was amazing. What I enjoyed most was the access and ready-availability to decision makers. I wish that I had taken advantage of the Matchmaking Meeting service that JazzAhead offered.– Myrna Clayton (USA)

It’s maybe also worth mentioning that out of all the hundreds of musicians who’ve attended the conference, there are a few who I’ve kept in touch with ever since meeting them.

Not because I necessarily heard them play or took them onto my roster, but because they were positive, friendly and made an impression as enthusiastic, dedicated musicians who were already making things happen themselves.

Jazzahead: the round-up

Hope that gives you some extra insight to the jazzahead conference and, if you come to the next one, some ides on how to make the most of it.

I’ll be hosting a free live Q&A session for Jazzfuel subscribers nearer the time, so if you’re not already on the list, you can sign up here.

And, just to round things up, I wanted to share a few extra quotes from musicians who’ve attended in the past.

“jazzahead! est un excellent évènement pour rencontrer les artistes et professionnel de la grande famille du jazz international” – Emmanuel Feramus (FR)

“The conference is a great chance for people in the music industry to meet each other personally. Not through e-mails or calls but sitting together, having a glass of wine or a cup of coffee” – Anna Lauvergnac (IT)

“jazzahead! offers artists the opportunity to get to know concert organizers, press representatives and musicians personally over several days. This is a great opportunity to network across borders” – Nicole-Jo, saxophonist

“It’s great to meet people with the same drive and ambition, sharing passion for the music and exchanging thoughts about the now and the future” – Dries Geusens (BE)

“Good vibes, nice people, free drinks and great parties. It was my first time at Jazzahead and I am totally convinced that it is the place to be!” – Jon Døssing Bendixen (DK), Abekejser

“I think the key to getting the most out of jazzahead is attending every year. People remember you from “last year” and the personal contacts and being introduced to someone by a mutual “friend” is what sometimes counts the most” – Sunna Gunnlaugs (IS)