In the Mix…

An analysis and critique of “The Mix” – an event

held by Salford University’s Art and Media

Department

Introduction

“The Mix” – Once a fortnight on a Wednesday during term time.

Held at the Pint Pot on Adelphi St

Organised by Tim France and Richard Rock

Recent acts have included ACMG, Big Band, Vocal Groups and University Bands

SWOT AnalysisSTRENGTHS

• Performance Experience for Students.

• Promote University Bands and Profile.

• Good Relationship with the Pint Pot.

• Enjoyable for the Students, Social

Event.

• Allows University to Conduct Exams in

a Performance Setting.

• Allows Students to gain experience in

• Large Pool of Music Talent to choose

from.

• Run by Experienced staff members

• Free – both in terms of cost of acts and

cost to consumer!

SWOT AnalysisWEAKNESSES

• Bad Venue for Live Music.

• Every 2nd Wednesday.

• Very Poor Advertising and Promotion.

• Run by Experienced Staff Members

• No Social Media Profile at all.

• Lack of Interest from Music Students

• Perennially poor Attendance

• No Knowledge of Event outside of Adelphi Building / Arts Directorate

• No Budget

• Missed Opportunities

• Students feel “obligated” to attend – results in non attendance.

• Bad Reputation

• Stagnated, in need of refreshing and rebranding.

SWOT AnalysisOPPORTUNITIES

• Bigger Audiences

• A&R Scouts may attend

• Greater Artist Exposure

• Financial Profit

• Manchester has the largest student population in Europe

• Multiple Degree Programme Participation –Film, Media & TV Students can get involved

• Students Union involvement

• Increased Student Participation in Planning the Events

SWOT AnalysisTHREATS

• Volume of other nights on in Manchester / Salford

• Other events – Champions League Football, Phones4u arena etc…

Solutions

1. Change the Day.

• Have the event on a Thursday or Friday night as more people are happy to go out for a few drinks at the end of the week.

• Reduces the competition with other free events.

• Increases the catchment of audience to outside that of just students.

• Makes it more of an “event” to attend rather than just a gig on a Wednesday – people plan what they are going to do at the weekend all week. Encourages hype and talk about it in the week preceding.

Solutions

2. Change the Venue.

• The Pint Pot is not an ideal venue for gigs.

• Why are we not using the Students Union on the main campus??

• No student accommodation close to the Pint Pot.

• No room to dance or enjoy the music.

Solutions3. Increase Social Media and Advertising

• Currently advertised in a one line email from Richard Rock, ask digital media students or art students to create a poster to be emailed out or put up around all university campuses.

• Open a Facebook, Twitter and Soundcloud account and post recording of previous gigs and promotion of upcoming events, including a progamme of the acts and a brief explanation of who they are, what they play etc...

• Create a Facebook mailing list.

• Advertise to ALL Salford Students, not just those in the Adelphi building that already know about it anyway.

Solutions

3. Increase Social Media and Advertising

• Advertise to Students from other universities, negotiate a deal with

RNCM, Manchester University and Manchester Met whereby we advertise

their events in return for them advertising ours.

• Showcase the bands on Shock Radio in the weeks preceding the event. Ask

listeners to get involved, maybe a shortlist of 2 or 3 covers to be played by the

bands at the event, vote for your favourite and they will play it (alternatively a

“live lounge” version).

• If the event becomes bigger, advertisement on Skiddle and Resident Advisor

becomes practical to capture a larger audience.

Solutions

4. “Thinking outside of the Box” ideas!!!

• £2 entry, first drink free – Give people something physical such as a ticket and an incentive to attend. Negotiate the drink price with the bar.

• Student Promoters – Responsible for raising the profile of the event, canvassing and selling £2 entry tickets. Rewarded with some free drinks at the event.

• Get Film and TV students involved, if we had a better venue they could record the live performance and gain experience in location recording and post production. If bands know they were getting a good film of themselves out of the event more would be encouraged to come and play.

Solutions

4. “Thinking outside of the Box” ideas!!!

• Freshers Week “Mix Festival” – Have a stage outside the students union

on the main campus with 3rd year bands performing and a beer tent.

Freshers would flock to it! The first Mix of the academic year would be

then be full creating a buzz about the event.

• Offer Module Credits for students willing to put a serious amount of time

into the event, perhaps an events promotion module, or make it part of

studio and location recording or PDCI.

Conclusion• In it’s current format, The Mix is failing to attract much attention or excite

the the target audience.

• It needs time, dedication and an advertising budget to be improved.

• Students, particularly music and film/TV, need to be much more involved.

Eventually to the point at which it is run solely by them.

• The venue needs to be changed.

• However there is a massive opportunity to make it into something much

bigger.

In the Mix…