The Lawrence music scene is preparing to tune into this year’s 11th annual MixMaster Music Conference, expanded to provide a free health clinic for workers in the music industry.
This year’s conference takes place over two days — Friday, Sept. 6 and Saturday, Sept. 7 — at the Lawrence Public Library and several local venues.
The conference, presented by the Lawrence Music Alliance, aims to empower and connect local artists and music industry professionals.
“This independently organized conference is committed to making valuable resources accessible to all, with a focus on fostering collaboration and education among musicians, producers and industry insiders,” organizers wrote.
MXM2024 consists of an array of workshops, discussion and networking opportunities “tailored to meet the needs of the region’s music community,” according to the organizers’ news release.
MXM2024 will host live music showcases at local venues on both evenings, including Lucia, The Bottleneck, Eighth Street Taproom and the Replay Lounge. The event will bring a wide range of artists spanning several genres, including Draper Family Band, Kelley Hunt & The Five, Kadesh Flow, Swallowtails, Sky Smeed, Bad Alaskan and more.
Workshops will be held throughout the day Saturday, Sept. 7 at the library.
The opening workshop, “What Works: Careers & Defining Success in Music,” will be hosted by facilitators Nick Carswell, Eddie Moore and Julia Othmer. The session, set for 10 to 11:15 a.m. in the library auditorium, will focus on career strategies to achieve success in music for independent artists.
Another workshop, “45 Revenue Streams in 45 Minutes,” will be hosted by Randy Chertkow, author of “The DIY Music Manual” and “Making Money with Music.” Attendees will view a breakdown of ways to make money as independent musicians, as well as maximizing income as an artist. This session will run from 2 to 2:50 p.m. in Meeting Room C.
One of the most popular sessions, according to the website, is “Demo Dip” — an opportunity to get real-time feedback from a panel of experts on your music and hear new samples, as well. Submissions are now open and can be made at this link. This showcase opportunity will run from 3 to 4 p.m. in the auditorium.
Health clinic
MXM2024 is offering a health clinic designed specifically for musicians in partnership with the Midwest Music Foundation.
Dr. Allen Greiner from RockDocs, along with physicians from the University of Kansas Medical Center, will offer screenings, wellness programs and opportunities for musicians to share health conditions and concerns.
AudioGirl Consulting will offer free custom earplugs to the first 15 qualified musicians and industry personnel who apply.
In addition to health services, Molly Gotobed from the Community Health Council of Wyandotte County will be providing information on health insurance and Medicaid enrollment.
The conference says that appointments for these services are highly recommended, though walk-ins will be accommodated as time permits. Email rhonda@midwestmusicfound.org to make an appointment for any of the services.
Tickets for MXM2024 available at this link for $10 to $25.
The full schedules for the conference and live showcases are available on the website, mixmaster2024.com.
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Natasha Torkzaban (she/her), a contributor to The Lawrence Times since June 2023, is a recent graduate of Lawrence High School. She was an editor-in-chief of The Free Press at Free State High School before becoming an editor-in-chief for The Budget at Lawrence High School for 2023-24. Read her work for the Times here.
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