Panels

Promoting - 2pm Saturday 3rd October

Underground versus Mainstream – For the music or for the money?

Do the big club brands set out to be big or just start for the love of the music? How do you create a brand identity?

This session is for club night and event promoters of all levels who are looking for creative ideas and inspiration.

The Panel

	Jimmy Kennedy (Gatecrasher) Gatecrasher resident and promotions mangager Jimmy Kennedy has been at the forefront of the Birmingham clubbing scene for the past 10 years and has DJed at some of the biggest club brands throughout the UK as well as Europe and America. After a six month spell living in New York with his brother (Carl Kennedy) and playing regular slots at GBH (Centro-fly) and Pangaea with names such as Sandy Rivera, DJ Disciple, Benji Candelero and the Chemical Brothers, Jimmy returned to Birmingham to start his own brand ‘Strawberry Funk’ and booked DJs such as Jeremy Healy and Norman Jay.
	DJ Dan (Propaganda) DJ Dan is the UK’s biggest alternative DJ, playing to around 10000 people every week. He is also the creator of Propaganda, the UK’s largest indie night with regular club nights in London, Bristol, Birmingham, Manchester and across the UK. Propaganda has been featured in Heat Magazine, The Independent, The Daily Mirror & NME, while the audio visual extravaganza regularly features guest DJs including Lily Allen, Zane Lowe & The Kaiser Chiefs.
	David Mitchell (Poker PR) David Mitchell is co-founder of Hat-Club, which is approaching its 5th year. Hat-Club’s unique theme and international resident DJs have seen it travel the globe with successful tours year on year. From grass roots with a club night, David now runs Poker PR, a leading creative media agency within the dance music scene. Poker PR is a fast growing agency providing services to some of club land’s leading brands - from online marketing, event management, new media, artist PR, and record label promotion. Recent clients have included M-Audio, Pure Pacha, Ministry Of Sound, Mixmag, and The Zoo Project.
	James Benenson (Urban Nerds) Urban Nerds was born in March 2007 when James Benenson decided it was high time the often stale and fashion focused nightlife of East London woke up to the sounds of London’s underground. Devoted to providing a platform for emerging genres such as grime and dubstep, nearly 3 years down the line James and his two partners have firmly cemented Urban Nerds on the London club scene.
	James Rompani (Urban Nerds & STEP:ONE) James Rompani first started promoting underground dance music in 2001 at the age of 18 whilst spotting an opportunity at University. Also whilst at University he worked as the music editor for Hooker magazine, a magazine supported and part funded by Cult Clothing. After teaming up a collective of dedicated designers, producers, DJs and vocalists under the guise of STEP:ONE, he is now one of three promoters who run Urban Nerds, a successful brand and club night that has worked with some of the biggest names in the business, from Fabric and Matter, to DMC and Mixmag.