Martin Atkins
"16 Days In China"
"Tour: Smart (Part 1)"
DVDs reviewed by Carl Macki
Label: INVISIBLE
Genre: Alternative/Punk
Run Time: 65 mins
Audio: 5.1 SURROUND
Price: $14.96
Distributed exclusively by MVD
Martin Atkins documents his 2006 trip to Beijing, China,
where he recorded the cream of the Beijing music scene crop.
Description:
Martin Atkins
(member of Public Image Limited, Brian Brain, The Damage Manual, Pigface, Murder Incorporated, and Killing Joke -- and has worked with other major bands like Nine Inch Nails, Revolting Cocks and Ministry) documents his trip to
Beijing, China in 2006, where
he recorded a disparate assortment bands and musicians including
Tibetan singers, scratch DJ and other fellow travelers along the path
of cultural heterodoxy under the radar of the Capitalistic Communist
regime that holds power in China .
Exclusive studio footage including the recording of the China dub soundsystem album,
and breakthrough Chinese artists including Snapline, The Subs, and P.K.14.
Cultural Revolution Poster slideshow,
videos for Snapline's "Pornostar" and China Dub Soundsystem's "Yellow Cab."
Also includes trailers for the Tour: Smart and Look Directly into the Sun DVDs.
This is a priceless hand-guided tour of China's underground music scene in its largest city by Atkins, who is part artist, part educator, part entrepreneur and part carney. I found it compelling but actually enjoyed the companion DVD sent along a lot more.
Martin Atkins - Tour: Smart Part 1
This DVD is actually based on a book that is in multiple editions on boasts over 100 contributors.
It covers theory and practice of key issues like how to tour without making a detour; how to market your band and music; and the importance of merchandising while on the road. Much more.
Atkins also has taught a course on the business of touring at Columbia College in Chicago, and the DVD is divided into short modules or nuggets much like mini courses.
Admittedly, he conveys a lot of common sense advice that the serious tour planner might already know -- such as doing budgets to calculate the optimal tour sites vis-a-vis expenses -- and how to be polite when showing up for a gig in a strange venue.
However, it certainly does not hurt to review these matters and face the facts of economics without flinching. It is a business after all, and with Martin Atkins thirty plus years in music and touring, he does give some very sage advice.
I especially liked his demonstration of how to operate a multi-color silk screen press, and how to think creatively about merchandising T-shirts and other band related paraphenalia. Atkins is voluble and charming as he exponds on issues such as sound, software, contracts, transportation, "sublimating" the band name, driving tips, health, accounting, packaging, making friends -- in general how to live well and securely while on the road while at the same time build one's fan base and extending the reach of one's music.
Exclusive studio footage including the recording of the China dub soundsystem album,
and breakthrough Chinese artists including Snapline, The Subs, and P.K.14.
Track
Listing/Features:
Bonus Materials:
Bonus Materials:
Cultural Revolution Poster slideshow,
videos for Snapline's "Pornostar" and China Dub Soundsystem's "Yellow Cab."
Also includes trailers for the Tour: Smart and Look Directly into the Sun DVDs.
This is a priceless hand-guided tour of China's underground music scene in its largest city by Atkins, who is part artist, part educator, part entrepreneur and part carney. I found it compelling but actually enjoyed the companion DVD sent along a lot more.
Martin Atkins - Tour: Smart Part 1
| Label: | INVISIBLE |
| Genre: | Instructional |
| Run Time: | 65 mins |
| Audio: | 5.1 SURROUND |
Distributed exclusively by MVD
This DVD is actually based on a book that is in multiple editions on boasts over 100 contributors.
It covers theory and practice of key issues like how to tour without making a detour; how to market your band and music; and the importance of merchandising while on the road. Much more.
Atkins also has taught a course on the business of touring at Columbia College in Chicago, and the DVD is divided into short modules or nuggets much like mini courses.
Admittedly, he conveys a lot of common sense advice that the serious tour planner might already know -- such as doing budgets to calculate the optimal tour sites vis-a-vis expenses -- and how to be polite when showing up for a gig in a strange venue.
However, it certainly does not hurt to review these matters and face the facts of economics without flinching. It is a business after all, and with Martin Atkins thirty plus years in music and touring, he does give some very sage advice.
I especially liked his demonstration of how to operate a multi-color silk screen press, and how to think creatively about merchandising T-shirts and other band related paraphenalia. Atkins is voluble and charming as he exponds on issues such as sound, software, contracts, transportation, "sublimating" the band name, driving tips, health, accounting, packaging, making friends -- in general how to live well and securely while on the road while at the same time build one's fan base and extending the reach of one's music.
If one doesn't want to spend thirty bucks for the 800-page book, this is a good alternative.