September 4, 2009
SOCAN mentors hopefuls at inaugural PEAK Performance Project
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| Some of the people behind the PEAK Performance Project: (Left to right) Bob d'Eith, Executive Director, Music BC and Tamara Stanners, Assistant Program Director, 100.5 The PEAK FM. (Photo: Lynn Ross) |
SOCAN's Lynn Ross presented four SOCAN info sessions to 19 finalists at the inaugural PEAK Performance Project "band camp," held Aug. 27 - Sept. 1, 2009, at Rock Ridge Canyon in Princeton, B. C. The sessions were presented as part of an intensive one-week training program in the music business -- including live performance, songwriting, marketing and promotion -- designed by Vancouver rock radio station 100.5 The PEAK FM and provincial organization Music BC to develop British Columbia-based emerging artists.
Don MacLeod and Dane DeViller hosted songwriting seminars for the artists, whose assignment was to write a song called “In A Minute.” The top four songs were performed by finalists Tea, TV Heart Attack, The Left and We Are the City, with Tea’s song taking first place.
Musicians (and SOCAN members) Barney Bentall and Shaun Verreault presented live performance and touring seminars to the artists, while Music BC executive director Bob d’Eith led several workshops on funding and music law, and producer/sound engineer Jeff Dawson offered some instruction in music production. The artists attended workshops during the day, and in the evenings took part in showcases that were judged by a panel of music industry professionals. There was a true sense of community at the camp, with artists co-writing together, and cheering each other on during the showcases.
The PEAK Performance Project is a seven-year, $5.29 million contest open to all musicians in British Columbia. Every year for the next seven years, 20 finalists from British Columbia will take part in the band camp, benefiting from mentorships from some of the music industry’s top professionals and performers. All of these artists will have the chance to perform live in Vancouver on the PEAK Performance Stage.
Of these 20 artists selected each year, five will record professional demos to be released under the project. From these, the top three will be crowned each year as the PEAK Performers of the year and will share $275,000 in cash for career development. The first-place winner receives $150,000, second place receives $75,000, and third place receives $50,000.
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