10 things I learned from the 2015 MN Music Coalition Summit

Last weekend I attended the 2015 MN Music Coalition (MMC) Summit in Saint Paul, Minnesota.  The summit is an annual collection of speakers, guest panels, social hours, and concerts (I enjoyed listening to Chastity Brown Friday night).  After a kickoff at Summit Brewery, the daytime events took place at McNally Smith.  As the sun went down, the activities moved to the Amsterdam Bar and Hall.     In no particular order, here's a list of things I learned:

1. Registering a solo artist or band as an LLC in Minnesota is a smart way to protect yourself as a musician.  In Minnesota there is a one-time $135 filing fee, if you do it yourself by mail.
2. The starting, low budget cost for a music video is $2-3k when you're not doing it all yourself.  I've been curious about this but never really heard what the typical first video costs.  Nor had I heard about more complex videos shot in Iceland with digital special effects that cost $80,000.
3. MMC events are a great way to meet other musicians and people who support the local music industry.  In addition, the summit is a great way to get one on one time with artists like Dar Williams, who opened up the event Friday afternoon.
4. Dar made a point to tell us several times that Minnesota is rare and lucky to have MMC as a multi-genre music organization that helps artists connect with the resources they need to be successful.    I'm glad I joined MMC last week!
5. Speaking of which, if you're already a member of the Minnesota Association of Songwriters you can join MMC  at a discount.  I ran into MAS members Wayne Hamilton and Nigel Egg at the Summit kick-off.
6. Making a formal band agreement sounds a lot like a pre-nuptial agreement. In the beginning nobody really wants to talk about it, but it can save some unnecessary stress later if situations change.  Attorneys like Walt Lehmann can help you figure out the details.
7. If you've looked into services like TAXI, you may have wondered if there are local firms providing a similar service.  Chased by Flying Monkeys is a music licensing company that places regional musicians in TV and film.
8. Meeting a music professional as part of 'speed mentoring' is easy and fun.  I had an opportunity to chat with Barb Abney, who recently joined Go 96.3 as a DJ.
9. While listening to composer Michael Croswell talk about the importance of making an artist statement, I realized that I need to update my music business plan, untouched since I wrapped up the  Reinvention album.
10. Springboard for the Arts is another Minnesota arts (not just music) organization worth looking into.   They are an economic and community development organization for artists and by artists.

I hope to see you at the MN Music Coalition Summit next year!