Butler University -- Fall 2009 Midwest Regional Conference
 Keianna Rae Harrison
(not pictured), Shadowkat Nightson, Alpha Wright, and Steve Gerardi
discuss concert promotion. Butler MEISA chapter member
Amanda Gehring moderates (not pictured).
|
Nov. 7, 2009. The Fall
2009 Midwest Regional Conference was held at Butler University
in
Indianapolis on November 7th. Students from Anderson University,
Butler University, Indiana State University, the University of
Cincinnati, and Valparaiso University attended the one day event.
Panels focused on trends in music sales in the new music economy,
engineering in today's music market, and effective promotion and
marketing. Panelists included entertainment attorney Robert
Meitus of
Meitus Gelbert Rose LLP (www.mgrfirm.com),
Acoustician Gavin Haverstick of Haverstick Designs
(www.haverstickdesigns.com), Michael Kauffman of Asthmatic Kitty
Records (www.asthmatickitty.com),
engineers David Price (www.aireborn.com)
and Eric Klee Johnson (www.thepopmachine.com),
bassist Jon E. Gee of John Mellencamp's band (www.jonegee.com),
and concert promoter Steve Gerardi of SG Entertainment among
others.
Students were able to network with the panelists and each other.
Overall attendance was about 50 students and three faculty members. |
The Butler MEISA chapter hosted a benefit concert on March 20, 2010 for the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. The headliner was an Indianapolis all-star jazz supergroup featuring Michael Hackett, Jeremy Allen, Gene Markiewicz, Monika Herzig, and Matt Pivec. The opener was the Avon High School Jazz Band. A silent auction was held during the event. Items included autographed artwork and a CD from John Mellencamp, concert tickets from Live Nation, and autographed memorobilia from the Indiana Pacers among other items. All proceeds from the auction and the ticket sales were donated to the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. Attendance was around 100.
Entertainment
attorney Robert Meitus (not pictured) and bassist Jon E. Gee trade
jokes about lawyers and bass players with label CEO Michael Kauffman in
the middle (not pictured). Their panel
was on making a living in a post-major label music economy.