musicpoolberlin.net - Design

KILLING IT WITH THE PRESS PHOTO! a hands on workshop.

Robert Witoschek — Mon, 15 Jun 2020 10:41:36 +0000

Monday, 19 July, 2021 - 13:00 to 18:00

House of Music @ RAW, Revaler Str. 99, 10245 Berlin

Lukasz Polowczyk

Language:

Englisch

Fee:

20€

Next to the record cover, the press photo is by far the most important promo asset for any artist, if not the most important one. Any way you look at it, a press photo is a direct depiction of the artist. Unfortunately, nine times out of ten, press photos at an indie level, don’t contribute much to the artistic narrative or add any emotional texture to contextualise the release. They’re usually just a person standing against some wall, somewhere, for no reason.

In the first part of the workshop we will look at what makes for a great press photo. What is the best vehicle to communicate emotion or narrative using this medium? What is engaging formally? What works to highlight the idiosyncrasy of a particular artist? In the second part, we will do a series of exercises that will:

1. help overcome inhibitions during a shoot.
2. amplify on-camera presence.
3. give the artist a vocabulary of expressions that will make for stronger compositions / photos.

Participants will not only walk away with an expanded understanding of the press photo as a communication tool, but also a whole set of new, practical skills. Many of them will also walk away with some decent press pics!

Because we’ll be taking photos in pairs and it’s imperative that we have enough cameras for these exercises, students who have digital cameras will be prioritised. Once we have half of the total participants with cameras, we will start accepting those without. The workshop was designed for artists, but we are also open to having photographers who are interested in working in the music industry. After signing up, everyone will receive an email with a list of things to bring to the workshop (regarding styling etc.).

NOTE:

Regardless of the status of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are trying to have this workshop OFFLINE. Since we will be shooting photos practically and actively here, interrupted by short inspirational input sessions, we can use the whole RAW area and the structures around the House of Music. The only prerequisites are good weather and no further escalation of the pandemic.

Workshop

Promotion & Marketing

Promo

Design

visual

Art

Photo

Beginner

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THE ART OF MUSIC PR AND VISUAL DEVELOPMENT

Robert Witoschek — Fri, 30 Aug 2019 10:03:22 +0000

Tuesday, 8 October, 2019 - 14:00 to Tuesday, 29 October, 2019 - 18:00

House of Music @ RAW, Revaler Str. 99, 10245 Berlin

Lukasz Polowczyk

Language:

Englisch

This is a practical, hands-on course about how cutting edge record labels promote records and their artists, using visual and audio visual content. Participants will learn to define key narratives (for an artist and/or a release), translate these narratives into an actual PR strategy and then define the visual tools that will be used to execute a content driven PR campaign. At the end of the course, participants will end up with a real PR strategy, a list of assets to produce and a visual brief for designers, filmmakers and other visual artists who could facilitate the production of these assets.
Outside of the standard visual tools we will also be looking into new-media solutions, as well as innovative product design.
Participants are highly urged to work on their own releases or those of affiliated artists. For those of whom who don’t have their own project to work on, a stand-in project will be provided. The course was created to cater to musicians, music industry professionals and designers.

1.Introduction to content driven PR
-types of content and visual tools used disseminate it
-basics of long term strategy
-basics of branding / defining and transferring core visual DNA to all visual content

2. Exploring personal narratives
-exercises to focus personal narratives
-exercises to translate personal narratives into a promo strategy
-exercises to translate promo strategy into visual tools used to execute it

3. An in-depth look at visual identity
-examining the possibilities of video, graphic design, photos, product design and new media

4. Communicating with visual artists
-creating a project / campaign
-writing visual briefs for designers, filmmakers and other visual artists

DATES & FEE
80 €

4 Dates,

08.10.2019
15.10.2019
22.10.2019
29.10.2019
2pm - 6pm each

APPLICATION
The work that we will be doing during the span of this course will be real work, as in: what a label and its promo, A&R and the art departments would be doing in preparation for an actual release. Hence, we would like to create a group of committed artists, ones who (ideally) have forthcoming releases, and are willing to do this work – as they will truly be able to benefit from this course.
The places are limited, and in order for us to make the final selection we urge all applicants to fill out the questionnaire below.

Please send your application (incl. all your contact details) and your answers via E-Mail to eileen [at] musicpoolberlin.net

1. What is your artist name? Please send links to your website, social media and discography?
2. Are you working on a forthcoming release? What stage are you in and what is the tentative release date? Will it be self-released or will you be working with a label?
3. Have you worked with a label and / or publicist before – what was the experience like? What would you like to improve on the next run?
4. Do you have any skills related to design or visual arts (photography, videography, sculpture, typography, programming..anything)? (If so, send links)
5. Do you have any visual artists / designers in mind for your release? (If so, send links)
6. What are some of the most pressing topics for you, ones which you would like to address during the span of this course?

From all incoming registrations, the tutor will select 12 participants for the course based on the above questions and your answers. Therefore we ask you to only apply for the course if you can reallyparticipate in all four dates.

Please note:
In addition to this questionnaire, which technically qualifies you for the workshop, we have to ask you to also submit your standard signup data for the Music Pool Project. Since we are a public project, we have to demand that information.

Workshop

Promotion & Marketing

THE ART OF MUSIC PR AND VISUAL DEVELOPMENT - second run!

Robert Witoschek — Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:52:53 +0000

For the second time this autumn we are offering our four-part course on VISUAL DEVELOPMENT and MUSIC PR. In contrast to our other workshops, you have to apply for one of the places, because this course requires a very intensive cooperation of the course participants and first creative concepts or an upcoming publication. More information about the application can be found in the description below.

Description:

1.Introduction to content driven PR
-types of content and visual tools used disseminate it
-basics of long term strategy
-basics of branding / defining and transferring core visual DNA to all visual content

2. Exploring personal narratives
-exercises to focus personal narratives
-exercises to translate personal narratives into a promo strategy
-exercises to translate promo strategy into visual tools used to execute it

3. An in-depth look at visual identity
-examining the possibilities of video, graphic design, photos, product design and new media

4. Communicating with visual artists
-creating a project / campaign
-writing visual briefs for designers, filmmakers and other visual artists

About the tutor
CLICK HERE

DATES & FEE
80 €

4 Dates,
08.10.2019
15.10.2019
22.10.2019
29.10.2019
2pm - 6pm each

Please send your application (incl. all your contact details) and your answers via E-Mail to eileen [at] musicpoolberlin.net

Promotion & Marketing

Wednesday 25.03: Music Pool Berlin Community Evening #13: Design + Campaigns // Music Communication

Eileen Möller — Mon, 23 Mar 2015 13:10:58 +0000

CAMPAIGNS + SOCIAL MEDIA - Joe Howden will talk about recent campaigns he has worked on for musicians such as Perfume Genius, Tricky, Apocalyptica, Christopher Owens, and also his work with Björk's Biophilia project a few years back. He will show how he develops campaign strategies, builds and communicates with fanbases, and works to reach the biggest audiences possible. (in English)

RECORD COVER DESIGN - Daniela Burger will show and talk about different record cover artworks that she has designed for different German bands. Furthermore, she will present her book "The Shramps", for which she designed cover art for records that don't exist, of musicians of whom only some of them exist, and along with made up reviews by the writer Dietmar Dath. All this will give you an introduction into "thinking your cover art". (in German)

This Music Pool evening will look into two different sides of communication on music, in two languages:
**
Joe Howden runs Dark Arts, a digital and social media strategy company, working mostly for clients in the music business. He was the digital and social media manager of Björk's Biophilia campaign and head of digital at One Little Indian records. Joe has also worked as a publisher and graphic designer in the past.

Daniela Burger designs artwork for many different artists, is art director of Missy Magazine, worked on the Spex website in the past, and works as independent graphic designer for music, art and culture projects.

Wednesday 25 March 2015

at Sameheads, Richardstr. 10 (U7 Rathaus Neukölln)

Foto credit: Daniela Burger

Free Entry. No Registration necessary.

Entry: 7:30pm

Podium start: 8:00pm

Promotion & Marketing

Campaigns

Design

Music Communication