City of Sydney to hold free seminar to support live music

PRESS RELEASE:

Three business experts are banding together to encourage Sydney businesses to support local artists and improve night time event offerings by doubling their work places as live music venues.

The free City of Sydney Business 101 seminar, ‘Bringing in the music’, on Wednesday 10 August, will feature Richie Haines, operator of several Sydney properties, and Young Henrys brewer and co-founder Richard Adamson, sharing how companies can collaborate with venues to make live music a mutual benefit.

With a long background in the Australian live music industry, Damian Cunningham will join the pair at the seminar to disclose the ‘all you need to know’ about setting up a performance venue, including which red tape needs cutting.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the seminar would teach attendees how to make a venue work, how to find and employ the right musicians, how to build audiences and how to work with sponsors.

“This free business seminar aims to boost local businesses while opening up new performance spaces for musicians in Sydney,” the Lord Mayor said.

“While licensed venues like pubs and clubs typically host most live music, the seminar will encourage operators of community spaces, such as local cafés, bars, restaurants and small businesses, to take part in the music scene and its economic benefits.”

“Small and medium businesses are the heartbeat of our local economy and we want to do everything we can to provide them with new opportunities for growth.”

Richie Haines serves as the operations manager for the Riversdale Group, overseeing the redevelopment and repositioning of many of the group’s projects across NSW and Queensland.

Case studies will be given on how he turned The Marlborough Hotel into a three-level entertainment venue including Tokyo Sing Song and Miss Peaches; The Vic on the Park Hotel into an iconic, inner west live music institute and a Brisbane backpackers hostel into a live music venue, recording studio and music hub.

“Performance venues play a critical role in creating a vibrant culture,” Mr Haines said.

“Transforming these spaces is all about giving the community and the live music scene the space they need to thrive.”

Richard Adamson has been running a Young Henrys Live night every fortnight for two years at The Marlborough Hotel, that is operated by Mr Haines, and looks forward to discussing how venues can work with sponsors to achieve great outcomes for live music.

“As a brewery, we are inspired by music, arts and culture. Both co-founder Oscar McMahon and I have played in bands for years and know the trials and tribulations of being an artist playing in Australia.

“By working closely together, I believe companies like Young Henrys can assist venues in making music a successful part of their offering,” Adamson said.

Damian Cunningham has more than 12 years’ experience working in logistic roles for national festivals and tours. He is the director of audience and sector development at Live Music Office and also runs his own live music services company.

During the seminar, Mr Cunningham will demonstrate the Live Music Office’s recently launched online venue kit that provides businesses with site-specific guidance for properly setting up a venue.

“It’s essential to have a good understanding of what’s involved with hosting live music,” Mr Cunningham said.

“Live Music Resources online toolkit offers templates from artist contracts, stage plot and input lists to press releases and event budgets – all the resources needed to help new and existing venues run a successful show.”

The “Bringing in the music” session will be held at Customs House from 6.30pm – 8.30pm. All sessions are free, but bookings are essential.

For more information and/or to register, visitcityofsydney.nsw.gov.au