No Mixer this Month. I am going to go back to the drawing board and start them up again in 2009. They simply aren't as effective at helping the scene connect as I had hoped they would be. If anyone would like to go meetup at Nick's tonight they are open, the Chip is behind the bar, the food is great, hell I may even still go down there.

Officially though, no mixer tonight.

Yeah that was fun back at Ralph's for sure. Someone should start those up again or hang out at some of the open jams that are happening all over the city.

Personally I don't have any problems networking, I love going out to see shows and I am fortunate to play with some real talented people. I really wanted the networking mixer to be less about listening to music and having what is essentially a open mic, and more about talking about bigger ideas, how to market your band in and out of the city, how to record, artists meeting bands that need art, people making movies talking to people who want to be in movies etc. etc. A creative meet-up of sorts, with no formal outline and no agenda. These things still happen, I think that they just aren't happening in this context.

We did Networking Mixers for just over a year every month, then took a couple years off, I started them again a few months ago and they have pretty decent. I saw a lot of people networking but I didn't feel that it was truly being taken advantage of. I am going to rethink my approach and try something in January. I don't blame anyone for not taking advantage of useful things if I don't do a good enough job advertising their usefulness.

Yeah I would expect it to be music oriented if I was organizing it. I would be happy if you used the site to promote a artists meetup though.

The mixer never purposefully excluded any groups. Frankly, if artists and writers wanted to show up and network they could have, I still feel that perhaps it was my fault for not marketing the events better. I wanted it to be more organic than the ones that I did years ago. Less formal but more productive. I really wasn't organizing these events for me but for everyone. I try to keep in mind some of the obstacles of a event like this before I start throwing out the apathy card but it is very tempting sometimes.

As far as adding entertainment to showcase. It has been suggested countless times, always by people in bands :), I just don't like the idea. I am seeing music or playing music constantly and I feel that a night of mixing it up with other musicians without having to stand in silence while someone plays is more desirable. I would also be forced to book the act and then be concerned with the quality of the act and all that stuff. That's just me though, if someone came with a plan and wanted to help me with any of this stuff I would consider it.

It's not always apathy, though, Duncan, though I understand how you might feel that way. For me, with five little kids running around my house, and with evening obligations sometimes for school, as well as playing out once or twice a week, I just don't have an extra weekday evening to be out. (I also clearly won't be brunching at the Abbey anytime soon).

In a few years my situation will be different, but that's the reality I have to face right now.

that wasn't directed at you Jim, in fact I think you guys do a good job of getting yourselves out there. I just sometimes wonder how much work people really do when it comes to this stuff. Like I said, I blame myself in some ways in not making it more effective for people.

Regarding bands Gabe, and others, I just don't see the upside to having bands at an event like this.

"The Worcesterite Networking Mixer is a casual get together, on the first monday of every month, for musicians, promoters, writers, designers, club owners and anyone interested in being involved in culture in Worcester to meet up and network with people like yourself.

This is a free event, there is no agenda. You can bring your cd's, business cards, flyers and meet other people involved in the Worcester scene."

Considering this thread has evolved into feedback about the mixer I would like to offer up a few thoughts:

1. when I read the pitch of the mixer I do get confused...it seems to be directed at one aspect of the scene in Worcester but then invites anyone involved with culture in the city....so I question the scope of the audience being targeted.

2. With that in mind; how is culture in Worcester being defined?

3. Its a free event: conscious of it or not; people don't trust things and don't commit to things that are free. Perhaps it would help to have the mixer less often but charge a door fee and have food and a cash bar.
I worked the Business After Hours mixer that the chamber of commerce held 2 weeks ago. Business after hours they charged $10 to members and $20 to non members. More than 250 people showed up. It was a fantastic networking opportunity that also had no agenda. just people talking eating drinking and making connections.

4. Duncan, In your reply to Jim you question "I just sometimes wonder how much work people really do when it comes to this stuff. Like I said, I blame myself in some ways in not making it more effective for people."
Maybe they don't know what to do?
Perhaps the reincarnated Mixer could kick off with a loose agenda about "how to promote yourself" or "the business of music" or some other topic that could stimulate interest, attendance and conversation. Maybe even a guest speaker.
This point goes back to who the mixer is trying to attract and what they are going to get out of it.

5. I feel strongly that the sharing of information and other resources help build a stronger community, and this website definitely keeps that in mind. I think it would be a good idea to overflow resources posted on this site into the mixer.

that's what i have for feedback for now. what does everyone else think?

80% might be a stretch Scott, but I understand what you are saying. Many of us have been either been playing or have been behind the scenes in this city for a very long time and know the majority of the people in the city involved with music.

I can't speak for Duncan, but what I have always taken this thing to be is for folks who are newer to the whole process of trying to get your band a show, trying to get bands for shows, or trying to get involved with all the other things surrounding live music in this city.

Even if you think you know everyone there are always people you don't and always new people, bands and venues popping up and maybe just maybe if you put your heads together with them you can both further your own causes.

We are already working on something through artsworcester that should be starting in the new year.

Can I be Grand POOH-BAH????
PLEEEEZZZZ

Free Hats!!!

I had 2 problems with the last version of the mixer...

1) Monday nights...after all the years of Christina setting aside nights so I could have band practice, it has been my turn to return the favor, so Mon & Wed have been out for me.

2) I know in the last version I would try as a band member to mix with other bands and bookers to get shows, promote the band, make friends, whatever. This was cool for the first couple, but as you alluded to, after a while it was the same couple bands like us and craig, and Dickie and Eric.

Don't get me wrong, I loved to see them, but on the useful scale, it started to wane. There was also really no way of identifying people (NAME TAGS) so you didn't know who to target, and it was a bit tough to strike up conversations with any one and every one to try to figure out who you were talking to. I always thought it would be good to take a cue from AA and have a quick...hi my name is...

3) the new version I came in as a member with out a band. I didn't go to all of them, so it could have been different on a night I wasn't there, but all the people I talked to where already in a band trying to get gigs, Eric and Dickie, or selling salsa.

Those are my observations...that and its awesome to have some one like Duncan who isn't afraid to beat his head against the wall to try to get stuff like this together.

What I may turn this into is something more of a private workshop type thing, maybe at my house or someone else's house. And although I was kidding about the Water Buffalo Hats, I am not kidding about something like a membership based groups of musicians all contributing and organizing group events. This is something I would advertise up here, but ultimately it would be a private thing. Scott Riccuiti and I have talked at length about this idea, so I at the very least it will be a club of two.

Don't you think making it membership based sort of defeats the purpose?
I know I really have no right to talk, as we never made it to any of the second incarnations...
but monday nights were/are tough.

The idea is wonderful, but making it an "exclusive" club seems to me would just be the same ol' bunch of people who already play out together. Not much new blood.

My 2 cents.

well, I'd like to try and be more involved. Does it count that I myself am not the actual musician in our family?