Kirsten Grebasch's blog

Free Rehersal Spaces in Berlin

Kirsten Grebasch — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 09:48:26 +0000

Watch out for spaces for the music scene at Kultur Räume Berlin

OPEN CALL // Plan one of our Music Pool Community Events //

Kirsten Grebasch — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 15:33:55 +0000

We would like to open up our platform of Music Pool Berlin community evenings for you to co-create, not only to participate as guests and listeners. Is there a topic which you would like to discuss with peers? Are there any persons you would love to hear speak? A particular venue where you would like to meet up and exchange? Or, maybe you want to suggest a different format outside of the classical panel conversation.

We will provide a budget to pay for your guests and for your curatorial work, as well as rental and tech fees for the venue, and will also be available to consult and support with our curatorial experience, if you like. You can also apply if this is your first time curating something.

Through expanding our programming involving guest curators, we would like to add more and different perspectives on making music professionally in Berlin, as well as make the program more relevant for the various music communities in the city.

To apply, get in touch with a brief email, sketching your idea and your motivation and background to your curatorial idea at info [at] musicpoolberlin.net (subject: Guest%20Curation%20Music%20Pool%20Community%20Event) until 17 February 2025.

Please don't submit full concept notes; we can figure all that out along the way if we like your proposal.

The last three guest-curated Music Pool conversations:

guest curator: Susanna Pavlidis - What if the music stopped - November 2023

guest curator: Hexorcismos – How does generative AI impact creator economies in music?- Juni 2023, re:publica

guest curator: Folly Ghost – Night life and safer spaces: What does safety mean in the new emerging event formats? - Dezember 2020

Berlin is culture - Stop cultural cutbacks!

Kirsten Grebasch — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 08:55:17 +0000

We support the campaogn of Berlin´s cultural scene in light of the impending budget cutbacks in the cultural sector!

Berlin is culture! Today on the Aktionstag 16.10.24 there will be a viariety of protests in Berlin´s cultural institutions throughout the city.

Sending a strong signal against cultural cutbacks.

You can help in signing the petitition against these cuts here.

Music Pool Berlin @ Radio Eins

Kirsten Grebasch — Tue, 24 Sep 2024 09:17:21 +0000

10 Years Music Pool Berlin.

Listen to our talk with Caro Korneli at Radio Eins.

Foto: Fabian Zapatka

Artist Meetup X-mas Edition // 19.12.23 // 7pm @House of Music

Kirsten Grebasch — Wed, 22 Nov 2023 09:52:49 +0000

Shortly before closing the year, we would like to open the stage again for another Artist Meetup, at House of Music, along with some specials and surprises.

The Music Pool Berlin Artists Meet Up offers a platform for musicians to share their music projects with a wider musician community, to get to know what other musicians are currently working on, and to ask for feedback, ideas or support, and find new collaborators. The meetup also creates exchanges across music scenes in Berlin.

This time we will have 6 slots for artists to present (along with the specials & surprises), and would like to focus on live performances this time. Each artist or band has about 10 min to play 2 songs/tracks, with a basic set up. You are very welcome to use your slot also to ask the audience for feedback or talk about what you are looking for. After the performances, there will be music and drinks, and time and space to get to know each other. To chat more about the presentations, to discuss potential collaborations, to exchange ideas and contacts. And to move better together than alone. There will be ways also for those not performing on stage to present what you are looking for or offering. We look forward to another meetup of exchange - between scenes, different interests and experiences, and on new joint pathways.

If you would like to apply for a performance slot, please write in a short email to artistmeetup [at] musicpoolberlin.net (subject: Application%20Artist%20Meetup%20X-mas%20Edition%2019.12.2023) why you would like to present along with a link to your music, by December 4th.

It´s worthwile to show up also if you´re not presenting but Please register to attend here.

What you can expect:

++ 6 performances

++ Raffle with prizes

++ peer to peer networking with drinks and music

++ door: 7:00 pm, performances and prize draw start 7:30 pm

Networking

21.11.2023 NEW DATE 1st Co-curated Community Event: What if the music stopped? - On Empowering the Music Community by building stronger bonds

Kirsten Grebasch — Thu, 28 Sep 2023 08:24:09 +0000

A Music Pool Community Event discussing how we can improve conditions and build a stronger network.

The writers, and now actors, strike in the USA is a significant example of creatives uniting to challenge major companies and the unfavorable conditions in their work. But what about the music industry? In this engaging session, we will address important questions impacting the music industry. Recent challenges, especially those highlighted during the pandemic, have made it evident that musicians and other participants in the music business often had to face numerous challenges on their own, underscoring the need for change. This, coupled with the ongoing issues related to music streaming and limited alternative options, lead to the following discussion topics:

Could a Strike be Possible in the Music Industry?
Enhancing Working Conditions
How can we build a stronger community within the industry?
Navigating the Streaming Dilemma

But here's the twist: We're not here just to dwell on the problems. Our focus is on finding solutions and empowering our community. Join us for an inspiring conversation filled with fresh ideas and a positive outlook.

Guests: (tba)
DJ: (tba)

Guest curator and moderator: Susanna Pavlidis

Susanna is a project and artist manager with a focus on digital marketing under her own brand, SATHENNA, with international experience in PR and marketing, including positions in Mexico, Spain, and Germany. After completing her master's degrees and gaining years of experience in the corporate PR and marketing sector, Susanna decided to change her career path. Her entry into the cultural sector, particularly the music industry, coincided with the onset of the pandemic, which immediately exposed her to major challenges but also helped her recognize the industry's deficiencies. Many questions arose regarding certain processes within the music business, and after hearing "I don't know, it has always been like this" too many times, she decided to take action. Starting with a panel discussion, she aims to ask her questions and provide a platform for the topic, hopefully finding solutions together.

Location: House of Music

Time: 21.11.2023 // doors:7pm Strat 7:30pm

TICKETS

Networking

WE NEED SPACE - First Comparative Space Needs Study

Kirsten Grebasch — Thu, 13 Oct 2022 10:55:08 +0000

We don't have to tell you that the spaces for creative people are getting less and less, nor that not every space is suitable for artistic production. Because you are the experts when it comes to saying how a space for your artistic work should look like, please fill out this survey!

Tell us what you need, because the recording of space requirements is an important basis for argumentation in the context of urban development.

The survey is conducted by a scientific team of the TU Berlin on behalf of the Kulturraum Berlin GmbH together with PROSA (Project for the Creation of Artistic Work Spaces of the Bündnis Freie Szene Berlin e.V.).

08.02.//17:00//Community Afternoon public funding: grants & projects with Musikfonds

Kirsten Grebasch — Thu, 27 Jan 2022 11:26:32 +0000

In the second part of the Q&A session on public funding programs for music, colleagues from the Musikfonds will answer your questions. The Musikfonds also has application rounds in the spring for project funding as well as for individual grants.

After a brief presentation of the funding programs, most of the time will be devoted to your questions about the application process and the grants. Together we will discuss the application process based on your specific needs. Many of your questions do not only concern you individually, but many others have these questions as well. In addition to questions about project conception, budget and project description, we would also like to know what common mistakes are made in applications, for example, and what the funding bodies recommend paying particular attention to from their experience in project accounting and cooperation with the juries.

The aim of the Music Fund is to support contemporary music of all genres in its diversity and complexity. The emphasis is on music whose focus is on artistic expression rather than commercial marketability.

With the language, we will be guided by the participants. Questions can be asked in German and in English.

Registration Link here:

25.01.2022 Music Pool Community Afternoon Public Funding: Residencies & Projects (PartI)

Kirsten Grebasch — Tue, 11 Jan 2022 14:03:50 +0000

In preparation of the next public funding rounds in the spring, we organize a Q&A session with Musicboard Berlin and Initiative Musik for you to ask all your questions on submitting an application and on the funding programmes. There will be a brief introduction to the funding programmes at the beginning. The better part of the session we aim to dedicate to your questions. So that we can collectively understand and learn about the funding programmes and processes together, led by your specific needs. So many questions you may have are not peculiar to you individually, but are shared with many others. Apart from questions on project development, budget and project description we also aim to find out about what are frequent mistakes in proposals, and what the funders would recommend based on their experience in project accounting and collaboration with the juries. In discussing the different funding programmes together, you can also get an idea which programme might fit best to your needs and ideas.

We will talk about the funding programmes:
Stipendien & Residenzen (Musicboard)
Karrieresprungbrett, Pop im Kiez & Festivalförderung (Musicboard)
Künstler:innenförderung (Initiative Musik)

Questions can be asked in German and English. We aim to adapt to the language needs of the group in the session.

In the session, we will have Maureen Noe for the programme Stipendien & Residenzen and Jana Sylvester for the programme Karrieresprungbrett, Pop im Kiez & Festivalförderung of Musicboard, and Robert Schulz of Initiative Musik.

REGISTRATION LINK: https://tickettune.com/musicpool/detail/index/sArticle/222

Finanzierung & Förderung

financing

Musik im öffentlichen Raum & Straßenmusik - Music Pool Abend @Club Humboldthain

Kirsten Grebasch — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 10:43:40 +0000

It looks like live music is going to be possible again over the summer in Berlin – as long as it's outdoors at least. We want to discuss experiences with street music and busking in Berlin, as well as organizing small open air music gigs or parties.
What to consider when you want to start out playing in the streets? What kind of equipment to use? What changes if you play your music in public space? What are suitable spots? What are the legal requirements, what's allowed where and what isn't? How and where to apply for which permits? How to take care of everyone's health and safety, especially now during the pandemic? What to consider regarding the place – the neighbourhood and the environment? What's the difference between busking and an open air party – and what are further points to think about when inviting people to an event in public space? Do you need to think about things like Gema and taxes? What are experiences in dealing with the police and the city administration? And what are also current political deliberations on how to improve the situation for music in public space in Berlin?

The conversation is meant both for musicians who are curious about playing in public space to get started, and to exchange experiences for those who are already out playing and organizing.

The conversation will take place in German. You are welcome to ask questions in English.

We look forward to discussing the above and many more questions that you'll bring to the conversation with:

Laura Hagnäs - Berlin Street Music, musician

Juno Lee - compares her mental state to a laundromat in her songs, and talks about domestic violence and put-on smiles. Born in Berlin, she started her indie pop career shortly before lockdown - since then she can be heard with her electric guitar in backyards and on the streets. She is happy to share the ups and downs of everyday life as a street musician with you.

Birte Jung - holds a doctorate in landscape planning/landscape architecture and works as a freelancer in the field of sustainability consulting/urban development with a focus on sustainable events in public spaces. Among other things, she has been advising the Fête de la Musique on the topic of sustainability since 2019 and has been leading the project "Kultur im Grünen", a city-wide negotiation process commissioned by the SenUVK, since 2020. The focus is on non-commercial cultural events on public green/open spaces, dialogue with the administration and cultural practitioners to reduce conflicts over non-commercial culture in green spaces, as well as increasing willingness and developing solutions for non-commercial, sustainable and open space-compatible culture in green spaces.

Erich Joseph - works as a project manager of the Free Open Air Initiative at Clubcommission Berlin. The project is aimed at young open air organisers and offers a network for knowledge transfer and exchange with each other through workshops, round tables, newsletters and the Telegram group. In addition to his work at Clubcommission Berlin, Erich is also runs the label Inherencia, and works as a promoter and musician. He started his career in music by organising DIY open airs in 2014. He now focuses on providing guidance for young promoters to organise open air events within the given legal frameworks.

Admission free from 6pm, Conversation begins at 7 pm