I rate Helga and Pete on those subjects and think there’s a real need for some people to get their heads around this stuff and see that it’s not as scary or difficult as they might think. That, and I’m still shaking my head at the berk who told me “Oh, I don’t do business cards” when I asked if he had any contact details.

More info (including booking) on the Fierce Earth website.

If want to read about the purpose of/thinking behind the course then Pete’s written about that here.

On 16 and 17 October 2010 I’m hosting a weekend session designed to help creative people take control of their online lives. The course will be aimed at online beginners/intermediates and will cover:

• Websites
• Mailing lists
• Social media (YouTube, Flickr, Slideshare, Audioboo and others)
• Social networking (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn)
• How to boost your profile
• How to work with others online
• How to approach journalists and bloggers (and what to send them)

Places are limited. Tickets cost £150 plus booking fee. It’ll be more than worth your while. Book now.

There’s also ONE £100 ticket for the first person who books. Be quick – once it’s gone, it’s gone. Wow, that went quickly.

Some context

The Internet has changed how artists can do business. See this recent article in the NY Times for examples of that. The problem is that, when it’s possible to do anything, it can be hard to know where to start. That’s where this course comes in.

We’ll help you get set up with the solid foundations of an online presence. We’ll also show you how to make use of it but the overall takeaway from the course will be this:

If you do nothing else online, at least have these basics in place

What’s more we’ll do all of this using free tools and we’ll put you in control of using them.

Why do this course?

As a result of running Created in Birmingham I’ve seen hundreds of artists and creatives and the ways they portray themselves online. I’ve learnt a few lessons from doing my own projects and running my own business too.

There’s (almost) nothing I haven’t seen, I know what can reasonably be expected of a busy person and I know what works.

Full information on the course and booking details are here.

Can’t make it to this course?

Sorry to hear that. If you’d like to be kept informed of future sessions then please sign-up here:

NB: Meshed Media owns this mailing list and will keep your email address private.

• Women In The Arts – speakers include Sarah Love (MTV and BBC 1XTRA), Sacha Brookes (Galaxy), Reena Combo (Editor, Lifestyle) and Justice Williams
• Live Performance – speakers include Skinnyman, Baby J and Witness
• Digital Dialogues – speakers include Karen Pearson and Simon from Doubleshot
• Music Moguls – speakers include Nigel Wells (CEO RWD magazone), Jordon Kesington (Urban Music Awards CEO), Disorda from Suspect Packages and Don from RGS Entertainment

Places are free but limited. Click here for more info.

(Reminder – vote for Created in Birmingham, we’re back in 2nd place now!)

From the Digital Central post:

We’re running two workshop in the next month and we’d like to recruit a small number of individuals to help us test the game. Participants get their hands on a free Nintendo DS and Brain Training Game.

The workshops are on:

Wednesday 19th March (Central Birmingham)
Friday 4th April (central Birmingham)

With a launch event over lunchtime on:

Friday 25th April (Coventry)

If you are interested in attending you simply need to be an individual working in a creative industries company.

See the flyer for more info. Note that places will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis and participants need to be able to attend all three of the events.

The Making the Transition seminar is all about how to make the transition into work or employment within the music industry. Speaking at the seminar will be a selected number of key local music industry figures. They will share with you their stories and experiences within the music industry. Their knowledge will give you an insight into working within the music industry and will help you to make decisions to further your career, increase your own employability and create new work opportunities.

Speakers include Gavin Monaghan, Joe Robertson, Robin Valk, Clare Edwards, Andrew Dubber, Jon Cotton and John Mostyn. The day-long event is free (booking advised) and takes place at South Birmingham College on Saturday March 8th.

Full details in this PDF (4.7MB) or at the MySpace.

The events are aimed at supporting mid-career makers wishing to engage in discussion on ideas for new work and developing new markets. The intention is to provide an opportunity for debate, the exchange of ideas and the practical working up of plans for new work and new markets.

21st Jan sees “In Conversation with Leading Practitioners” with “In Conversation with Curators and Gallery Professionals” following on 11th Feb. No mention of cost so I’m guessing they’re free though booking is essential as numbers are limited. Full details including speakers. via D’log

The ideal opportunity to meet other music leaders and musicians informally, whilst learning new or improving on existing improvisation skills. Models can be taken away and used in sessions with young people.

You will need to bring your own instrument, preferably acoustic, although there will be some amplification available if required (enquire for more details). All instruments, voices and musical styles welcomed – the more diverse the better.
For further details contact Kate Adams on 0121 236 7978 or west-midlands@musicleader.net.

If you could drop me an email stating what instrument/voice you will be bringing, that would help the proceedings.

To enter submit “three ideas that you think could work as a 4Talent multimedia feature, along with a current CV and links to a showreel and/or examples of your work.” The successful 10 applicants will then be invited to a workshop featuring “a screening of some best-practice examples of our films, alongside an expert insight of what works for different formats, from talking-head profiles to thematic mini-docs.”

“You’ll then have the chance to introduce yourself and pitch your ideas to the rest of the group. At the end of the day, the best four will be picked by a 4Talent Commissioning Editor and one of our pro producers to receive a £500 commission, and they’ll explain the strengths and weaknesses of the various pitches.”

The Birmingham session is at Maverick Television on Tuesday 16th October. Full details, including examples of what they’re after, on the 4Talent site.