Where are you headed with your music? Are you pursuing it full-time, or does your family or financial situation not allow it?
Artbar
Many independent musicians struggle with not being able to pursue music full-time. That's largely because making interesting music simply isn't enough. At least for the first few years, you need to invest not only time but also handle your own PR, label work, and booking, learn to navigate the music scene, and deal with legal matters. Performance fees and income from music sales or streaming often don't even cover the costs of creating, recording, and promoting the music.
What does it actually take to pursue music full-time? How is professionalism and success defined in the music scene, and who defines it? What are "industry standards," and what do you need to reckon with if you want to release a record that gets noticed? What role do stereotypes and social expectations play? And is it possible to find your place in the music scene and a sustainable pace that lets you keep the joy of making music and avoid burnout?
This workshop is suited for young musicians who are already creating and recording music and trying to get it out into the world. During the workshop we'll discuss your needs and possible approaches to building a distinctive career outside the classic templates of the music industry, which don't work for everyone.
You'll be guided by musician Ewelina Chiu, aka Ai fen, whom you may know from the duo ba:zel, as well as from her solo work and latest album I've Been a Body, which explores physicality and motherhood and combines piano compositions with expressive vocals and drone. She'll be joined by Marie Čtveráčková, who currently works not only in music and running Synth Library Prague, but also researches music export as part of Palacký University's CIRG research group.
The workshop is followed by an Ai fen concert, once again accompanied by the Oswald duo, who also collaborated on her current album.