EXCLUSIVE: Electric City Music Conference announces 2022 panels and speakers in Dickson City
Today, the Electric City Music Conference released its schedule of panels, panelists, and speakers exclusively on NEPA Scene.
These educational presentations are free to performers and will take place on the NEPA Fair stage at the Circle Drive-In Theatre in Dickson City on Friday, Sept. 16, and Saturday, Sept. 17. Register online for Friday here and Saturday here.
Mentoring sessions are also available free of charge, but spaces must be reserved.
Debuting this year at the Circle Drive-In (1911 Scranton/Carbondale Hwy., Dickson City), the NEPA Fair will host music, rides, movies, fireworks, food, drinks, and other entertainment from Thursday, Sept. 15 through Sunday, Sept. 18. This new event will serve as one of the conference’s live “stages” spread across several venues in the Scranton area that weekend.
Admission to the fair, which is on sale now for $10 for a single day or $22 for the weekend via Eventbrite, will include rides provided by SwikaS Amusements, late-night movie screenings, and a full schedule of musical performances, including sets by popular local bands Burn the Jukebox on Thursday, Nowhere Slow on Friday, Modern Ties on Saturday, and Old Friends on Sunday.
“Partnering with the NEPA Fair was a no-brainer for us. The goal of the Electric City Music Conference has always been to highlight talented musicians. This partnership provides another innovative opportunity for conference participants,” ECMC organizer Joe Caviston explained.
As the largest event of its kind in Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Electric City Music Conference is more than a music festival, bringing hundreds of artists and music industry professionals together annually to meet and network while recognizing and showcasing established and up-and-coming musicians.
Friday, Sept. 16
Noon: Making the most of a music conference
Learn how to make the most of the weekend and how to successfully navigate a music conference from veterans of the music industry and music conferences.
Panelists:
Joe Caviston, ECMC, digital marketing
Jeremy Weiss, CI Records, Launch Music Conference & Festival
Vince Volz, DVT Entertainment
Suzanne Paulinski, Rock/Star Advocate
Moderator:
Johnny Popko
12:15 p.m.: Work smarter not harder – tech in music
Learn how the utilization of technology can be used to make your journey in the music business easier. Learn about solutions and how you can implement them, from tech to social media.
Panelists:
Jim Logrando, Craft Services
Jon Fry, MerchBooth.com and Special Guest App
Nicholas Mishko, 10 and 8 Management Agency (TikTok specialist)
Moderator:
Joe Caviston
1:15 p.m.: How to wear multiple hats
These days, it’s not just about playing music. Learn how to manage your time and effectively do all of the “extra” things that go into being a musician. It may seem overwhelming, but our pros will walk you through the process.
Panelists:
Jeremy Weiss, CI Records, Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center
Suzanne Paulinski, Rock/Star Advocate
Brian Cronin, That Mag
Dan McBride, Action Artist Group
Ted Felicetti, TKO Booking, Don’t Panic frontman
Moderator:
Johnny Popko
2:15 p.m.: The festival scene
Learn about how to attract the attention of large national festivals from the creator of The Bamboozle and Skate and Surf Festival in New Jersey.
Panelist:
John D’Esposito
Moderator:
Joe Caviston
3:15 p.m.: Sound healing bath with Kailin of Earth
It’s going to be a long weekend. Join us for a very special sound therapy session with Kailin of Earth. This will help bands focus, lose any negative energy, and prepare for a long weekend of networking.
Saturday, Sept. 17
Noon: How to get booked
You’re in a band. You want to play shows. How do you get those shows? Learn from a panel of talent buyers and booking agents what they look for in artists they book.
Panelists:
Jeremy Weiss, Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center
Vince Volz, DVT Entertainment, Dobbs, Khyber
Dan McBride, Action Artist Group
Ted Felicetti, TKO Booking, Don’t Panic frontman
Moderator:
Joe Cavsiton
12:45 p.m.: Record deals and publishing
“I want to get signed.” It’s what we all hear constantly. Learn the pros and cons from the pros. Lou Plaia is the head of A&R for an international record label, and Nicholas Mishko not only manages the careers of multiple artists, he’s also a publishing wizard.
Panelists:
Lou Plaia, Sentric Music Group A&R director, ReverbNation
Nicholas Mishko, 10 and 8 Management Agency
Moderator:
Johnny Popko
1:30 p.m.: A crash course in music PR
Do you need a publicist? When do you? What can you do on your own? In a time when eyeballs and attention are almost as valuable as gold, we ask a music industry PR phenom to break it down for us.
Panelist:
Stephanie Maksimow, Whoa, That’s Fresh! Marketing & Publicity
Moderator:
Joe Caviston
2:15 p.m.: Your local scene – the good and the bad
Your local music scene can help you break as a band or it can absolutely break you in the worst way possible. We discuss the ins and outs of navigating your local scene – when it’s time to break out, how to utilize it, and how to stay out of the negative aspects.
Panelists:
Neil Rubenstein, Long Island music scene legend, touring comedian
Vince Vols, DVT Entertainment
Jeremy Weiss, CI Records, Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center
Joe Caviston, ECMC
Moderator:
Johnny Popko
3 p.m.: Navigating a career in the music industry
Learn how to make a living and stay relevant in the ever-changing music industry. From major label deals, national touring, and starting over, these musicians have done it all.
Panelists:
Fred Masherino, Taking Back Sunday guitarist, The Color Fred frontman, Terrible Things frontman
Jacob Kulick, Kulick frontman
Moderator:
Johnny Popko
Photo of ECMC panel by Rich Howells/NEPA Scene
