Onwards (issue one) by Yarra Bend Press

HIGHER EDUCATION CREATIVE ARTS MAGAZINE SUMMER 2014

features reviews profiles news 1

foreword

For those who choose a creative learning journey, the notion of life-long learning is certainly true. There is no graduation ceremony or testamur safely stowed behind glass that ends the quest to write more potently, play more beautifully or sing more sweetly. This came home to me most recently when I attended Genre Con in Brisbane, a conference that celebrates the skills of those who choose to write in genre.

issue one editors in chief

Matthew Latham-Black Christina Ratcliffe

One of the highly successful practitioners who presented was Regency Romance author Anne Gracie. Anne has written more than 15 Regency-era historical romances for Berkley, USA and Penguin Australia and has been published in sixteen languages. She has also achieved industry recognition by being shortlisted three times for the prestigious RITA award (USA), having won the Romantic Book of the Year (Australia) twice, plus the National Reader’s Choice Award (USA), and having been listed in Library Journal (USA) best books of the year. Given Anne’s achievements, it might be expected that Anne has nothing more to learn, and yet she spoke about the self-doubt that afflicts her each time she starts a new book. Anne continues to hone her craft and, like those who feature in onwards, Anne is a past member of the NMIT learning community.

Dr Karen Simpson Nikakis

contributors

Nick Meeny Jessica Tait Amanda Kontos Christina Ratcliffe Matthew Latham-Black illustration

Shawn Lu Felicia Choo

creative director

Brad Webb

printed by

Blueprint

download @

www.nmit.edu.au/yarra-bend-press/ digital-publishing/

www.NMIT.EDU.AU/ ybp onwards is produced as part of the NMIT Bachelor of Writing and Publishing Yarra Bend Press live work studio activities. For more information contact us on 03 9269 1833 or visit www.nmit.edu.au/bwap

Head of Program and Senior Lecturer

editors

Welcome to the first issue of onwards. It has been an amazing experience to work with such dedicated people on this magazine. Thanks to Brad Webb who worked hard alongside the editing team; and thanks to my fellow editor Christina Ratcliffe. Highlighting the dedicated artists who have poured hours of their life into their craft, it is a joy to commemorate their endeavours with this magazine. Being my final semester of the Bachelor of Writing and Publishing, this has been a great opportunity to go out with a bang. Over the course of this final semester, I have made every attempt to make it my best. To me this has been what onwards has largely about, proving myself, and making something I believe in.

Matthew Latham-Black

The creative arts encompass so much that we find enjoyable in life: reading stories, looking at the illustrations in magazines and comics that bring another dimension to storytelling; listening to music and songs either as a staged event with a band and lead singer adding extra meaning to the lyrics, or as an essential component of a story told by animated film. Artists of every genre can learn to make a living from their imagination in a world whose culture is underpinned by words, art and music. All three creative arts are taught at NMIT’s Fairfield campus where this inaugural edition of onwards was produced. All three are represented in its pages. Students of the Bachelor of Writing and Publishing introduce you to students past and present from their own course and the other creative arts degrees of Illustration, Music and Music Industry. Enjoy!

Christina Ratcliffe

page four

page twelve

page sixteen Are you, or have you, studied or worked at NMIT? Then why not submit an article to onwards issue two, your magazine of culture, news and events covering the creative arts at NMIT. We welcome general writing submissions of 1500 words or less as well as expressions of interest for: • NMIT creative arts articles • Colour illustrations and photographs • Comic and cartoon concepts • Feature articles and essays • NMIT related book reviews • NMIT general interest stories Send your work to ybp@nmit.edu.au

From The Coursesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Mouth

How writers find their voice Amanda Kontos 4

Storytelling has been around for as long as we can remember. We’re taught to identify with it as young children and then, as we grow up, to slowly find out way out of the nest and make our own stories. As writers we learn to jot everything down on screen or paper. We learn to mould and sculpt words to make them beautiful, prolific and real, but we forget that oral story telling is just as poetic and beautiful.

Inviting students to submit to us for the first time was hard. We didn’t have a lecturer behind us who would hand pick students to put pieces into the journal. And like any new publication, people were hesitant. But once the finger pointing was done we had a lot of fun helping others feel the same sort of joy that we felt when we recorded our own pieces. We originally thought we could get out an issue every week, but it turned out that so much work goes into it that the decision to make it a semesterly publication was an easy one. Finding writers to contribute, who were both willing to let us publish their pieces and read them themselves, turned out to be a lot harder than one would think. Writers are mostly introverts, and emerging writers seem to be scared of their own voices.

After NMIT lecturer Alice Robinson became interested in oral storytelling, she created From the Courses’ Mouth to publish bite-sized audio podcasts of written work. She wanted to provide a place in the BWAP degree where students could fall in love with the words they’d written, but on a different platform. It all started with an idea that Alice planted just before leaving us for the joys of motherhood. Peta Hawker But every writer who finally walked through and I then cultivated that idea and made the recording studio door found the process painless. It’s actually quite magical. There’s the audio journal our own. a moment where you can hear the writer

sink into the piece and really enjoy what they’ve written. That’s what makes From the Courses’ Mouth so enjoyable. Looking at this and then back at my time at NMIT I would never have thought that I would fall in love with the art of oral story telling. I was once scared to read out my own writing for the fear of getting it wrong. Yet I had written it; I owned it, and being able to read it out myself gave me the confidence and a sense of power to believe in my own writing, to love it more than I can express. This is the joy of writing, the beauty of oral stories, and anyone who doesn’t take the opportunity is missing out. As this year ends, it marks the completion of four issues I’ve had the pleasure of working on. To celebrate this we’ve launched a digital anthology that combines all of the recorded pieces with their accompanying artwork. I hope that other students will give themselves a chance to find the same joy that I did in oral storytelling.

A single drawing of a fish Christina Ratcliffe talks to Felicia Choo, a final year student in the NMIT Bachelor of Illustration. Her parents came from Indonesia to study in Melbourne where Felicia was born and home-schooled from the age of thirteen. She commutes two hours to NMIT by public transport.

Were you always good at art? I started drawing as soon as I could hold a pen. I enjoyed art at school, but I wasn’t good at it. I wanted to learn so I worked very hard on it, but it was only in my teens that I started being serious about art as a career.

tweak colours in the future, but usually once something is done I don’t look at it again.

Can you work on an unappealing theme? Are deadlines stressful? If possible I’ll twist the theme to appeal to my tastes, and if I have no choice I either What does working hard mean to you? just deal with it or I won’t take the job. It means drawing every day even if you’re And deadlines are definitely stressful. not feeling like it. It’s no use whining about how other people are better than Do you use digital programs in your you or how you wish you could draw course or at home? We use some but better; it doesn’t work like that. if you there are lots more I’d like to learn. want to draw/paint/do anything better All editing and colour management you have to work harder. happens through Photoshop at NMIT. I also primarily use a Japanese Why did you choose NMIT’s Bachelor program called Paint Tool SAI for of Illustration? Some of my friends colours, as I don’t like how clunky that I’ve met online and collaborated Photoshop is. I always check on the with were at Ringling [College of Art internet to see if there is another way and Design] in Florida, USA, and I was of creating the effects I want. I work planning to join them. But my mother almost entirely in pen now. I prefer suggested looking around Australia first fairly cheap equipment so I don’t have and found NMIT on the internet. to be so precious over it. Cheap pens and cheap bleedproof marker paper are Where and how do you do your my favourites. best work? Does your mood affect it? Definitely alone at home. I don’t How would you describe your style actually enjoy doing work at the uni and inf luences. Do you self-censor? as I work best in a quiet space with no I don’t think what I do is particularly distractions. My output doesn’t depend scandalous. It’s like cartoons for comic on my mood so much as the quality. If books, but different from manga. I’m in a bad mood I’ll still draw because There’s a little bit of blood here, maybe I make myself draw every day, but the a bit of nudity there, but otherwise I finished product usually depends on think what I do is pretty tame. As a whether I’m feeling good that day or rule though, it’s important to keep the not. In drawing, unlike in painting, audience in mind. If it’s for kids I’ll especially in oils, I can’t go back to old pull back the gore, if not, I’ll do what pieces to work on them because once a I want. Most of my favourite artists space is filled with ink or graphite I’m are comic artists, Moebius, Mignola, done with it. Perhaps I’ll go back and Hergé, Mazzucchelli, etc. 6

A single drawing of a fish Do you feel the course has prepared you for an artistic career? We’ve learned certain basics such as time management and keeping records but honestly most of what I’ve learned of the business side of things has come from friends already in the industry. Is your professional name purposely ambiguous? From experience and from what my friends say there is a certain bias against female artists. Online I go only by my surname ‘Choo’ simply because I enjoy the ambiguity, and I prefer that people take my artwork without too much of a background on me. Some people say I shouldn’t draw some things because I’m a girl and they feel weird about it – it’s ridiculous, but the world’s pretty ridiculous. For official things I’ll use my full name, but honestly if it affects my ability to get grants or jobs, that particular pursuit was probably not worth getting in the first place. if someone wants to judge me based on my gender that’s their issue, not mine. Have you had any work sold or published? I helped with the Bachelor of Writing and Publishing’s Time to Write magazine this year, and I’ve done some commercial work for an American TV series called Regular Show, and various collectors covers. I’ve sold some small zines that I made for a project last year. I’m not very interested in exhibitions; most of my work goes to group art books or zines I work on with friends. I haven’t taken any commissions yet but I’m definitely considering it. I’d like to keep living in Australia, but I expect most of my work to come from the US or elsewhere.

Felicia’s blog:

choodraws.tumblr.com

and website:

www.fchoo.com 8

How many times One in three women will experience

NMIT third year Bachelor of Writing

domestic violence. It is common. It

and Publishing student, Michaela

could be your mum, your best friend,

Joiner. The anthology includes

your sister or your daughter. It could

Michaela’s story 1:3 Women, which

be you. Would you recognize the

explores the struggles of escaping a

early warning signs? Would you get

violent relationship.

out before it’s too late? Would you go back? How Many Times reveals answers in survivors’ own personal accounts, as they tell the story of their struggle to escape the men they loved.

How Many Times is being published through the ‘How Many Times’ steering committee made up of several partner organisations and auspiced by Gippsland Women’s Health, a non-

Due for release

profit organisation aimed at raising

late 2013, How

awareness, inspiring women to create

Many Times is

exit plans, and educating them of

an anthology of

available resources.

nonfiction short

stories edited by

Graduates get real It’s coming on fast to the end of another year and some of us NMITers will be moving on to the ‘real world’. After years of committed study each of us will leave armed with new knowledge and varying goals. Some may wish for adventure and far shores, others to make it out there in the industry, and still others to strive for further academic excellence. Jessica Tait spoke with three graduates about their experiences since finishing the Bachelor of Writing and Publishing. Samantha Thomas, graduated in 2012; Peta Hawker and Megan Hanson in mid 2013. 10

What have you been doing since you finished your degree? Sam I was accepted into one of Australia’s best – and one of its only – accredited library sciences programs at RMIT University, the Master of Information Management. Peta Travelling New Zealand! Megan I have just started working

as a digital publishing associate at Bolinda Publishing, in Tullamarine. They publish audio books, but they also sell an app called BorrowBox, that distributes eBooks and eAudiobooks from all different publishers. What are your goals?

Megan Hanson

piece of non-fiction. I’d love to

Sam My aim for the future would study postgrad in linguistics, teach

ultimately be to work in a specialist library or a museum. I would be qualified for both careers upon completion of my degree, but I’m I currently playing with the idea of working in educational publishing.

English overseas and be involved in language conservation.

English overseas, most likely in South Korea or Vietnam. The plan is to do that next year. It will give me an opportunity to explore parts of Asia as well as making some money (which will be a nice change from being a student!). On a longer term basis, I’d like to work in Australia or New Zealand in some sort of editorial position. My main focus for now though is finishing off my many novels!

my understanding of systems I’ve had a f lawed knowledge of my whole life. I also get to attend a world-class university and continue my study of literature. Cons – much of this area of study involves digital information management and storage systems and I’m a hardcore analogue purist when it comes to my books and my libraries.

What are the pros/cons of the path you’ve taken so far?

Sam Pros – I’m learning a new side Peta Short term would be to teach of the book industry and enhancing

Megan Short term, I really want to get into editorial rather than content management, which is what I’m doing now. However, all aspects of the industry are changing so rapidly it’s really hard to know where I’ll end up. I want to keep up my freelance journalism on the side, and possibly start working on a more substantial

Peta Given that I’m only two months out of the degree, this is a little hard. The pros have been getting to see another part of the world. Travelling has also given me great fodder for writing, as well as reigniting my passion for creating stories. The cons have been, well, none that I can think of. I’ve been having a grand old time, hanging out with friends, having random interactions with bizarre

on life after publishing-specific undergrad course in Australia, and that we’re the first generation of graduates who have learnt about digital publishing. I never wanted to be a full-time writer, but freelancing gave me more skills than I realised at the time. It showed that I had initiative, could work to a deadline, network, could face rejection and that I could create my own opportunities. There are lots of websites that take on students, so start small and work your way up. Maybe start your own project like a website. Collaborating with others is crucial, whether it’s an editor you’re writing for, or managing your own contributors. Peta Hawker Peta Write, all the time, whenever

you can. The most important thing people, exploring a foreign landscape. I gained from BWAP was knowing All great stuff. that my focus is on writing, more so than publishing. I think it’s also Megan The Pros – it’s great to be really important to take opportunities contributing to a company that’s as they arise. Being a part of BWAP ahead of the curve and actually doing means you have access to a lot more new things in the market, rather than publications, competitions, contacts, learning about them in a classroom etc, so use them! It’s a lot harder to second-hand. I no longer have to finish projects when you’re out in the juggle uni work, freelance work, retail real world because you often don’t work and an internship, and for the have deadlines, supportive lecturers or first time in ages I don’t have to stress critiquing classes. Basically, what I’m about money. The Cons – I really trying to say is to use the valuable time wanted to and had planned to travel, but just couldn’t afford to. Now I’m earning more money, but I have to wait to accrue annual leave! I’ve always had several jobs at a time, so it’s hard getting used to such a structured week with minimal f lexibility. What advice do you have for current BWAP students and for those about to finish and enter the real world themselves? Megan Get as much work experience

as you can, because you end up getting skills you hadn’t intended to, and they might be the ones an employer is interested in. It’s good to emphasise to employers that BWAP is the only

Samantha Thomas

and resources at your disposal while you are a student. Sam Consider all options. Often further study will enhance your job opportunities but often it can limit them as well. When you continue studies past bachelor level you often end up specialising in a particular area which will cut down significantly the jobs you are qualified for. Seriously think through whether or not going straight into the workforce or continuing academically is the right choice for you.

Get as much work experience as you can, because you end up getting skills you hadn’t intended to, and they might be the ones an employer is interested in. It’s good to emphasise to employers that BWAP is the only publishing-specific undergrad course in Australia, and that we’re the first generation of graduates who have learnt about digital publishing. 11

Sam & Carly

Former NMIT students Sam Talbot-Dunn and Carly Burgess chat with Nick Meeny about the challenges and rewards of their Certificate 3 in Music Performance Why did you decide to do the course? Carly To step outside of my comfort zone and fulfil my passion and dreams. Sam I was a practicing musician (self taught) but wanted to get real about the theory side of music. I couldn’t read sheet music but I could play instruments and sing. Were you regularly a gigging musician?

Carly (laughing) No, I wasn’t even singing

in the shower! Sam I was regularly gigging with The Promises. Before that I was gigging as Samuel Marcus and the DKylight kings, and Ruby’s Grace for seven and a half years. Was the structure of the course and classes what you expected? Carly I didn’t really have any expectations, which was great. The classes were spread out well. I loved the singing classes and hated the theory but that’s what we had to learn. Sam The format was very straightforward and the theory classes were mixed well with the fun stuff (the weekly performing in the auditorium). I think, for a muso, the best part was being thrown into a room with other musos that you may never choose to play with and it really pulls you out of your comfort zone. So you grew as performers?

Sam We had to compromise so it

was difficult playing with other genre musicians but I really grew as a performer. Asking a heavy metal drummer to play his kit softer and compromising with musicians from different backgrounds isn’t easy – it’s really good because you 13

Sam& Carly wouldn’t otherwise create the sounds (eg reggae and creative surprised) but asking performers to adjust the way they perform and compromise is really confronting. Carly The improvised singing was really challenging. Having to just sing off the cuff was tough and uncomfortable but made me a better singer. Sam and Carly took 2012 off to live in Western Australia.

Photos by Carly Burgess

Sam I generally play and perform folk ballad-style songs but I got forced into Cemetery Gates by Metallica – and it worked and sounded great! But I’d

never go near that stuff if I wasn’t in zone and doing something like going the study environment. to a uni allows you to meet others in a similar space. Have you studied music anywhere else? Carly No, not even at high school. Nick Yes, I found that with my writing, I Sam Yeah, but I was a bit nonchalant and hadn’t submitted anything for publication didn’t learn anything at the time. I won’t until I did this NMIT course. blame the teacher for that one. (laughs) After a year away and the rigours When did you start performing together? of constant touring in Fremantle Sam During Certificate 3 we were in the what has spurred you to return and same ensemble class. Carly sang once with complete Certificate 4? The Promises. Carly I can see how much I’ve grown and Carly That happens a lot – a lot of developed as a performer and returning bands form by students meeting each to study again will start the growth. other during courses like this one. Sam I learnt the songwriting skills, as Then they start playing the odd gig in learning structures and formats and I and take it from there. A lot of big now understand what key I’m starting a bands meet at uni whether they’re song in, melodies and tempos that work studying music or not. well, the practical and technical skills. I didn’t have that after Certificate 3. After Why is that? a break I’m playing with The Promises Sam Like attracts like, musos find each again now I’m back in Melbourne. other, jamming together, going to each other’s gigs. Getting out of your comfort Who else is in The Promises?

Carly Burgess and Sam Talbot-Dunn performing at a wedding in South Perth in 2012. 14

Lead singer, guitars, eukelele, harmonica. Tony and I do the songwriting and the band produces the songs as a whole. That’s Tony Robinson – banjo, guitar, acoustic, lead, vocals, and Rob Kidd bass, and Craig Hadlow on drums.

Sam

Do think you’re better for having undertaken the study? Sam Oh yeah. The exposure to working with the other musicians and different styles of music that I otherwise wouldn’t have exposed myself to and the foundation of knowing music theory. . . it isn’t hard to measure how important that is, it’s crucial to not get stuck in a creative rut. Who was your favourite lecturer?

Sam Enio Pozzebon. He was really

supportive of the students. He would take the time out to help with whatever project you were working on and gave honest, clear feedback. Carly Jack Pantazis. He was totally professional and knew a lot about theory. He’s a working professional musician and was happy to pass it on. We both

loved Melanie Atma – she taught some realistic instead of an abstract idea. And of the singing classes. then to not be afraid of the online stuff. So how important is it for the lecturers to be current industry professionals? Carly I don’t want old knowledge; people who currently work in the industry can give me up-to-date feedback. Sam At least current or ex-industry. If they haven’t experienced it, how can they teach us how to survive in the industry? Carly I agree. I don’t want to be just given information. I could read books for that or just look it up online. I want to learn from people’s knowledge or experience. Sam Offering a course online doesn’t have all that - it’s like disassociation from human contact. You get taught what not to do, as well as what to do, from someone who has walked the path before you.

What would you want to say to someone who’s considering doing a Certificate 3 or 4 in music at NMIT? Carly If you don’t know where to start this is a great place, and if you’ve already started you will definitely expand. There are a few hundred musicians here at any one time, it’s such a big network. And you get to meet so many like-minded people. I met Sam there. Sam Don’t let these places be shut down. (TAFE funding cuts). It feels like the learning institutions are dehumanising learning. How do you learn to be around other people if you’re doing it all online from home? Creative people need to be around other creative people and this is a great way to do it. If you How does the classroom offer more don’t have the community of musicians than online? (writers, artists) then you won’t get it in Sam It’s such a melting pot of experience. the community. Add to that an industry professional and their successes, failures plus what comes Carly carly@carlyburgess.com.au from the text book, it makes the industry Sam surfhawaiisam@gmail.com

Sarah Billington: The busy writer making a life for herself one book at a time Amanda Kontos Sarah Billington has been one heck of a busy bee since she left our beautiful, manicured campus. She loves to write about zombies, laughs, suspense, and love – but her favourite topics are those awkward moments you experience in life. Come to think about it, who wouldn’t? That’s where we writers get our best material.

While sitting in our NMIT classrooms she was tapping away at her first novel, The Kiss Off, and its sequel, as well as short stories, and self-published them all. She also started Billington Media, her own small business for editing, book designing, copy writing and ebook formatting. She has put her experience into helping those who want it, and runs day-long, step-by-step workshops on preparing a manuscript for self-publishing. Sarah has regular clients and is editing sales documents and books. Right now she’s working on a nine-book series for an author who was referred to her by an existing client. She’s definitely getting a reputation with her clients.

have the pleasure of hosting Sarah as an author in their line-up, which I can imagine will be exciting for them all. With the good comes the even better: when her contract with Lonely Planet is up, Sarah is planning to move to England for a year, travelling as well as researching her next book. We know that authors are only as good as their research. We wish Sarah the best for her year abroad and can’t wait to hear more from her.

But that’s not all this busy writerbusiness owner has done. At the start of the year she had a freelance editing gig as well as a submission read for Month9Books, an American speculative Young Adult fiction publisher, and in June she secured a contract position with Lonely Planet as a digital editor. Sarah has always dreamed of being able to work full time in the publishing industry and it looks like she’s made it. Congratulations Sarah! With the new work she’s managed to earn a steady income and royalties from her book sales. I’d say she’s living every writer’s dream. Her only problem? She has hardly any time to write! The lovely people at the Coal Creek Literary Festival in Korumburra will 17

Full of ships Shawn Lu came to Australia in 2007 from Singapore. He had been studying business information technology but hadnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t seriously considered art as a career until after his compulsory National Service. In Melbourne, Shawn completed a two-year TAFE course in visual arts, followed by NMITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Bachelor of Illustration degree at Fairfield. Now in his final semester, Shawn discusses his art with Christina Ratcliffe. 18

Why did you choose NMIT’s Bachelor of Illustration? Besides this being the only illustrative art degree in Melbourne, I had heard good things about the course and how it was run. I prefer illustrative art because of the immediacy of a narrative that’s prevalent in most of my work, rather than having to search for one. Is anyone in your family artistic too? My granddad painted. He was a surgeon, but he liked to paint landscapes and flowers in the traditional Chinese style. I would sit and watch him and I suppose I learned from him. But pen and paper is definitely my favourite medium now. What motivates your art? Music, movies, friends, just talking. . . I find myself working with ideas from pop culture, 80s films and animations. I’ve not really thought about having a particular theme. I jot down ideas on my iPhone or visual diary. What are your favourite themes? I’m not sure. Maybe old sailing ships – I don’t know why. And cars, lately. Possibly because they both give that feeling of movement. With the ship drawings I get very involved with the line work and almost imagine the waves beating against the wood of the ship. If an assignment theme doesn’t appeal to you, does it affect your creativity? There’s not much freedom of choice of themes in the first year of this course. In the first year they expect us to know how to draw, so we do what we can on the set theme. In third year we’re pretty much left to our own devices and we have the whole year to complete whatever we set our assignment to be. I’m working on a body of nine illustrations as well as a sculptural installation at the moment. But there will always be boring subjects. It’s part of being a practicing illustrator. The fun part is thinking of ways to make it interesting. Can you see yourself making a living from your art? I might struggle for one or two years but I’m pretty sure I’ll have some jobs lined up. I took some time off last year to freelance, and this year I’ve had three jobs. I take commissions as well. I’ve done music album cover 19

Full of Ships

art, logos, and, more recently, t-shirts. I painted a ceiling in a hairdressing salon, Prophecy in Smith Street, which was real fun to work on. I sold quite a few prints at the People’s Market in Collingwood. I think it’s been a decent start, but I can’t wait to properly get into it after I’m finished with the degree. Has the NMIT course prepared you for a career in illustration? It includes lots of things beside a knowledge of drawing that are important for an illustrator to learn. I got a lot out of the industry module last semester, like writing time sheets, applying for grants, things an illustrator needs to know about working from home or freelancing. I feel every illustrator will have a slightly different practice, it really is up to themselves. The lecturers definitely keep that in mind when setting out course work and lessons. How do you promote yourself? I recently got represented by Das Automat T-shirts on Johnston Street as an illustrator. I’m on Tumblr and Instagram as ShamusLu, and the Lantern Printing blogspot as Shawn Lu. Where did your distinctive style with fine-pen crosshatching come from? There’s a 1960-70s cartoonist called Bernie Wrightson that has inspired me since I was a kid. I’m still blown away by his work. I think cross-hatching can be overdone, so I’m working on knowing when to stop, working with negative space, and proper application of line weight. What makes a good illustration in your view? To me a good illustration delivers its intended message or emotion immediately. I’m not really satisfied with my work yet. I think once you feel comfortable with your work, you won’t improve. I think I will be happy with my work when I am 70 or 80. What are your plans for after graduation? I’d like to share a studio space with some of the guys I met during the course. I find sharing a space with like-minded creatives helps your work and practice grow. I’m also planning an exhibition based on the body of work I’m developing now, and to hopefully have it in early 2014.

Nick Meeny talks with music coordinator and venue publicist Ben Thompson, one of the first Music Business students at NMIT’s Collingwood campus.

How old were you when you enrolled and what motivated you to undertake the course? I was 26 when I enrolled. I’d always wanted to work in the music industry and felt that studying music business would be a good place to start. Has the music industry changed much since you studied and if so, how? The music industry has changed massively since I studied Music Business Management. Technology is the key factor behind most of the changes. Computers and software have allowed bands to record in their bedrooms on zero budgets and the internet has allowed bands to reach audiences without the support of radio. What are the biggest challenges that music industry students need to consider and be prepared for? CD sales have died, MP3s etc happened for a while and soon everyone’s music collections will be stored in the cloud and streamed to their devices. Once an act toured to promote and sell their product, now acts release product to promote and sell tickets to their live shows. Print media is dead and social media is where people get their entertainment news. Things have changed a lot in 12 years.

Aside from your full time position, what other areas of the music industry are you involved with? I am currently the general manager for The Corner Presents, an umbrella marketing and live music logistics entity that represents the Corner Hotel and the Northcote Social Club in Melbourne, and the Newtown Social Club in Sydney. I started with the Corner Hotel 11 years ago selling tickets and have made my way up. I have previously worked as an artist manager, in music festival organisation and in music retail. When and where did you get your qualification, and what is it called? 2001 - Diploma of Music Business – NMIT Collingwood Campus.

preparing me for what to expect from the industry. I did a placement at RRR for my course where I met many local music people and where I made the contacts that got me a job at the Corner Hotel. Tell me some career highlights, Ben. Did your studies get you dancing on stage with Bruce Springsteen or lounging with Dre and Snoop in some Hollywood crib? I’ve never been too interested in hanging with famous people. Highlights for me have been seeing acts live at intimate venues before they get big (such as the White Stripes at the Empress Hotel), attending the ARIA awards, going to SxSW and music conferences all over the world… that sort of thing. Did you have expectations about the course and institution? I had no big expectations of the course, only that it may help me get my foot in the door of the music industry. That it did. Since you finished the course, how has it helped your career? The course gave me the knowledge, a massive head start on someone who hadn’t studied.

If you were not in your current job, where do you believe your studies Could you recommend a film that would lead? Are the practical skills accurately reflects the music industry? transferable to other industries? The Umm – no. The title Dumb and Dumber Music Business course that I studied sums up many in the industry. provided the knowledge to work in all facets of the music industry. Did your time at NMIT prepare you for the music industry? The Music What advice would you offer to Business Management course was anyone considering undertaking a relatively new when I started my diploma. course like yours? I think studying The general consensus in the music music business will not provide an instant industry was that you don’t study to be career but equip you with the knowledge part of the music industry. Studying to be to work in the industry. It’s really up part of the music business is now much to the individual to get out there, meet more widely accepted. My course gave people and go after what they want. me the knowledge and understanding of the business side of things. I used this knowledge to confidently see the first The Corner Hotel band that I managed through a record 54 Swan Street, Richmond deal with Liberation and a publishing cornerhotel.com deal with Mushroom publishing. Northcote Social Club 301 High Street, Northcote Did the lecturers offer real world northcotesocialclub.com experience? The lecturers back when I Newtown Social Club studied all had real world experience in 387 High Street, Newtown the music industry and did a great job of newtownsocialclub.com

Espresso shot ‘A Chance For You to Espress Yourself ’ reads the tagline for the call of submissions. And many people have done just that. Espresso Shot is fairly clear about what it wants to achieve: it gives some people the chance to speak their thoughts, and for others, a good read. You may have seen Espresso Shot around the Fairfield campus. Lying on tables in the Café and Nursery. Some of you may have picked it up and leafed through those pages. The minds behind that booklet of entertaining short stories are Jessica Tait, Nick Meeny and Terry Ninolakis (resident BWAP cool-cat). Last semester Jessica worked hard in preparing the inaugural booklet, which was well received. This semester the team have been working in conjunction with Lentil As Anything, a not-for-profit restaurant, working for the betterment of the Abbotsford community. The inclusion of Lentil As Anything into Espresso Shot is a simple plan, one with hearty intentions, to promote the good work of others. For this semester the team has done it again: sourced new authors, new stories, met with new complications, and the same deadline; all just for you to read. Completing the placemat booklet has seen them through the end of another semester, but this is not the end of Espresso Shot. Jessica has made plans for continuing this work, in conjunction with Yarra Bend Press. Where I feel Espresso Shot’s strengths lies is in its simple premise: entertain those who could do with entertaining, keep a tight hold of the reasons you are doing this, and make sure that you have a good time doing what you love. I leave you with an excerpt from Caring Too Much by Lynda Bennett from Espresso Shot 2.

Imagine walking in to a large room. It is filled with busy people of all walks of life. Some are seated at tables laughing and chatting. Others are completing business deals and celebrating, grandiosely attracting the waiter’s attention to order food and champagne. Children are squealing with delight as they play in their designated area. Those walking are heading somewhere with purpose, searching the room for their friends. You have just come in the door and scan the room for anyone you may know, where the bar is, and how to order the food. You are the only one standing still. While noting the general happiness, you observe a small patch where something is wrong. The people are not busy or happy; in fact you think that maybe there is the faintest sound of crying and some agitated action. You ask a passing waiter, who does not seem to react to your question, but politely asks if you would like a table on the opposite side of the room. You say no, but he gently takes your elbow and guides you away. He says this is a better part of the room and you will be better off there. He smiles and offers you the bright, colourful menu. You are still concerned, but another person joins your table and you find yourself chatting and ordering. Maybe the waiter was right – it will sort itself out. You hear a definite cry and there is the slightest, momentary glitch in the happiness level of the room. You stand up to see what is wrong, but immediately find yourself face to face with the senior waiter. He asks very politely if he can help you. Of course he can; he can tell you what is wrong and if anyone needs help. You are advised that it is none of your business and it will sort itself out. The person at your table says ‘you care too much’ and insists you sit down and have another drink. You do. But it is not in your nature to sit by and ignore a plea for help. You announce you are going to the toilet; you walk in that direction, but then slide around the outer edges to see the problem for yourself...

The infinite monkey theorem states a monkey hitting keys at random on a typewriter keyboard for an infinite amount of time will almost surely type a given text, such as the complete works of William Shakespeare.

However, by enrolling in NMIT’s Bachelor of Writing and Publishing you won't need to dedicate ‘an infinite amount of time’ to become an accomplished author. All you’ll need is three years and you’ll be able to publish too.

03 9269 1833 bwp@nmit.edu.au www.nmit.edu.au/bwap THE BACHELOR OF WRITING AND PUBLISHING AND NESTED ASSOCIATE DEGREE OF WRITING AND PUBLISHING IS ONE OF A SUITE OF CREATIVE DEGREES OFFERED BY NMIT THAT INCLUDES THE BACHELOR OF ILLUSTRATION, BACHELOR OF MUSIC, AND BACHELOR OF MUSIC INDUSTRY.