In the week that writer John Sullivan, creator of Only Fools and Horses died, it seems fitting that the Talking Heads hosted its first Music Instrument sale.

It wasn’t planned and Mark the landlord was quite open about his inspiration: “I had a space in the diary and wanted to see what happened.”

This chance to sell CDs and other music related ephemera easily tempted me to be a Del Boy for the night.

Going under the banner of Showcase UK (Independent Traders) I set my stall out with Eamon Nancarrow’s autobiography Holywood Star, Tom Ashford’s début soundtrack ‘Point to Point‘ and the south coast compilation Showcase Sett.

Also included in this plethora of musical taste and style were the début albums from Coast and LST.

Other tables were festooned with quality guitars, amps and pedals that were quite tempting. There was also Dave (not Rodney), who lives opposite the venue and who normally sells his vinyl online. He thought it would be different to have a go in the real world. Luvely jubbly!

Hamish, the bass player from Coast, came down to fill me in on their current good news which involves supporting Bryan Adams and Bon Jovi in Germany. And I met Southampton’s punk poet Sean McGowan, who is building a great vibe on YouTube. More about them in coming weeks.

Even though first night nerves kept buyers away, the idea is promising and you never know, this time next month, we’ll all be millionaires.

First published by the Southern Daily Echo 29th April 2011

It could have been the perfect April Fool. Put a funny image next to a column about new music and simply ask people to scan the page with their smart phone to unlock a message that will take them to a web page.

Oh the laughs we could have had watching people wave their communication device over a newspaper.

Funny thing is, it’s true! The image does have  a secret message inside. Below is the column from the Daily Echo and the image and if you are not reading this with your smart phone, give it a go!

It is not often I get really excited about technology but, when something beautifully simple comes along and works like magic, I immediately think about how it can help musicians.

QR Code (in Daily Echo)

The image on the right is one such piece of tech that you might have already seen but not known what it does.

It is called a ‘QR Code‘ with QR standing for ‘Quick Response’.

In that jumble of squares can be encoded text, special offers or in this case a web site address.

To unlock this secret message you use a smart phone which has a barcode reader or scanner.

If your phone doesn’t have one there might well be an app online waiting for you.

QR Codes were created by a Japanese company in 1994 where they now are used for selling and offering everything, everywhere!

In the UK it is taking time to catch on, mainly because mobile phone companies haven’t leapt on the idea and educated their customers in how to use them.

However now you have seen one I am sure you will see many more and discover a few hidden treats.

This QR Code takes you to a page that will give you a free mp3 from Tom Ashford’s debut soundtrack ‘Point to Point’; which is where musicians can utilise this marketing idea to good effect.

The square can be easily created online and added to tickets, t-shirts and CD covers giving every artists the chance to give their fans something personal. The QR Code above was created by http://qreateandtrack.com/

A scan of the original column from the Southern Daily Echo (1st April 2011) can be seen here

Daily Echo column 1 April 2011

With 5000 people applying for 100 positions at Southampton Airport’s jobs fair last week its obvious that demand outweighs supply.

But at least they knew where the jobs were.

In the music industry we know people are looking for new talent but it is very hard to find the right door to knock on.

Which is why the site ‘Audio Rokit‘ could be the next port of call for the south’s song writers.

It’s a new service that alerts musicians to which labels, publishers and managers are looking for new acts or particular styles of music.

All the postings are screened and according to their spokesman Dave: “we only list what we call ‘aspirational’ opportunities that are offering the musicians something useful.”

Being four weeks old you won’t find any major labels involved just yet, but that could actually be a bonus: “musicians tend to look up to the majors,” Dave explained. “But in reality it’s the smaller labels that are more likely to listen to and nurture talent.”

This collective of big and small independents has already thrown up some interesting opportunities. From a request for classical musicians & circus performers to an opportunity to work with legendary producer Trevor Horn.

It isn’t a free service, and that might put some musicians off as all they seem to do is continually pay out and get nothing in return, but the convenience of all these opportunities in one place tips the balance in the artists favour. See more at audiorokit.co.uk

Every musician has influences and can always look back and tell you where they have found inspiration and the tricks they have borrowed.

And all would love to spend a day with their heroes asking pertinent questions.

Well, if you are a fledgling producer or someone who loves recording sound, there is a great chance this month to work with someone who knows the studio inside out.

Until his new album is released his handle is ‘ArtfulMark’ but originally he was in Artful Dodger, the very successful producers behind Craig David.

He’s giving some ‘intense’ workshops and masterclasses in Totton’s River Studios and also “…hoping to spot some new talent and help to develop them alongside the new project.”

The ten hour masterclass will cover every aspect of studio production plus allow plenty of time to ask about the tricks of the trade.

Plus this is open to groups as well as club DJs and MCs: “A band would definitely benefit as a large part is developing your ears and learning the importance of arrangement.”

Mark’s current output is on soundcloud.com, a web site he finds as helpful as the old club nights as it gives: “genuine instant feedback on the music. Its like having the crowd in the studio with you.”

The end product of the masterclass will be an original track with each student having a percentage of the publishing.

So if you have to pick a pocket, maybe Artfulmark’s pocket is the one. Contact him on Twitter @artfulmark