Bob Wiseman at the Rock Can Roll Festival

I have been popping into various events at this year’s “The Rock Can Roll Festival” – on right now ( October 23 – 26.) Liz Pickard (Liz Band and Liz Solo) and the team have done a swell job of bringing in artists, musicians and some digital muckrakers to talk about their work. And the work is inspiring – especially for digital media peeps like me.

One thing that is definitely striking me is how many musicians are now dabbling in creating their own music videos or short films – some of it especially to accompany their music. If there were going to be something new in the music scene, I’d say this is it – the marriage of visuals to the performance.

What’s cool about it is that in this artist-centred business model now – you CAN do this. The price of the tools is now within reach. You can hire some media artists to do it for you, or you can do it yourself, like Bob Wiseman and Danny Keating are. Of course, the the two really like filmmaking – so that helps.

Bob Wiseman made some interesting points – he’s been making videos to accompany his stage shows during his performances. He says it serves a few purposes. It sets him apart from the kajillion other musicians out there, and that’s good – because there ARE a kajillion musicians out there and getting attention is difficult. The second thing that is good is that when performing, the video projections on stage actually make people stop and stare and listen. It’s something different. He is also interacting with the videos – they aren’t just background, so it’s part of the show – and it is funny.

The third good thing about his videos is they allow him to tour solo. Being in a band is tough. Being the band leader is even tougher – you have to take care of the people in your band. You have to make sure there is ample money for all, and foods and bed setc. You have to take care of them emotionally too – because you are the leader and asked them out.

Bob said this – which supposedly was echoed in earlier workshops – it’s better to be friends with the people in your band than choosing them for their musicianship. It’s a “tough gig” being in bands.

So touring alone with a projector, laptop and collapsible screen has become a viable option for Wiseman. He toured Europe last year this way opening for Feist.

I have to run now – The Rock Can Roll Festival evenings are filled with numerous shows in 4 different venues.

Danny Keating Info here.

Liz Solo and Liz band

Hope to see some of you tonight and don’t miss out tomorrow’s closing show for The Rock Can Roll Festival with Bob Wiseman’s digital show and The Subtitles at The Ship.

Related posts:

1. Serena Ryder at St. John’s Folk Festival Here’s a video of Serena Ryder closing at the 2009 St. John’s Folk Festival. Held in Bannerman Park in the city, the festival is part of the “St. John’s Time”...
2. The St. John’s International Film Festival is in the Air It’s Saturday morning 9:45 AM and I am at Hava Java Coffee House and Espresso Bar downtown on Water Street awaiting Jenny Rocket who is late bringing in the morning’s...
3. Moving Stories is the New Festival In Town Moving Stories Films – the festival of short films based on books – is the new festival in town. Moving Stories Films is a 90-minute curated program of short films...
4. Down to the Dirt CD Soundtrack Release Party This Friday October 10th, 2008 – don’t miss the Down To The Dirt Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Release party featuring Mark Bragg and friends. “Down To The Dirt” was  produced...
5. Down To The Dirt At The Toronto Film Festival Down to the Dirt - the feature film based on the novel by Joel Thomas Hynes is screening at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Now that’s a big deal...
6. Running With the Artists One of the reasons I moved to Newfoundland is because I have a strong romantic notion based on an idealized version of Paris in the twenties – one where artists...