Page 36 - DemoZone Magazine Issue 003

Winter Music Conference 2015 Experience Journal!
Tuesday, March 24, 2015: We made it, we are here! I’m traveling with my DJ crew from Cali. We’ve landed at Miami International Airport. We jump in a cab and $40 later we are transported to The Catalina Hotel. We are waiting to check in and more of my friends arrive. We get slammed with $60 more per night for a double room I booked in advance. What can you say, everywhere else is booked and pricey. Oh well, it’s South Beach during Winter Music Conference, Miami Music Week and Ultra Music Fest and vendors price gauge. Hey, it’s MIA. Be prepared to be paying out-of-your-pocket for many unexpected fees here and there! After checking in, I realise the WMC headquarters is not at the Miami Convention Center this year in South Beach, but in North Beach at the Deauville Hotel.
I convince my homegirls from Cali who are staying at a B&B in North Beach to give us a ride. We arrive at the Deauville and check in. We get ourofficial WMC badges. In addition to all the panels, seminars and the tradeshow, this pass gets you into many events in Miami for free. It’s like a prepaid pass to meet and greet with the tops DJ's and producers in the world. Also all of the industry people from hardware, software, equipment, publications, radio, music labels and artist.
The networking that you do on this trip is worth the investment for your future career in the music industry. After checking in, we mingle a bit, chat with old friends and meet with new friends. Catch a few panels and workshops. Then we head back to the Catalina to get a bit of shut eye. We’ve been up for almost 30 hours straight. There’s no sleep in Miami. With a power nap and a snap we are up! First gig of the trip. We crash our friend’s pad at the Loew’s Hotel. This 5 star hotel is very exclusive. Our friend Bartell and the lovely Meg, of KTU Radio Station in New York, rents out a luxurious suite for over the week. A lot of our East Coast music friends are there. We pick up DJ Dramos on our way to the first gig at the Chesterfield. After mingling and fueling up on Bartell’s extensive open bar, I hail a Swoop. It’s a tricked out golf cart like taxi that plays EDM and gives you a free ride in South Beach. It’s a great way to get around for free and just a tip! We arrive at the Chesterfield only to find out the gig is at the White Law Hotel. No worries it’s just across the street and to the right. DJ Dark Intensity along with his invited guest DJ's Dramos, Organized Crime, and Ericka Vee kill it with their sets! Fans from around the world meet
and greet these DJ's in this intimate setting. DJ Dramos is repping New York while, Dark Intensity leads the Southern California crew into a West Coast interpretation of EDM. After the show I’m so tired that I crashed out at the hotel.
The guys and gals headed to Club Elleven in downtown Miami where Benny Banassi is playing. They get in free with their WMC badges. When they got back to the hotel in the early morning I can’t believe their story. Basically this place is a strip club that plays EDM 24/7! After seeing Benny Benassi, they kicked it upstairs on the rooftop and hung out with EDX. During this time of year, you’ll find many of the Miami boutique hotels, major hotels, restaurants and club venues hosting an array of musical events. In the umbrella genre of EDM you’ll find many hardcore sub genres of music playing at these places. For instance, if you’re into drum and bass, turntablism, techno, hardcore, deep Chicago old school house, festival, progressive house, electro, trap, down tempo, chill house, Latin house and you name it, you can find it! The WMC puts out an official guide, but if you google it, you can find just about anything you want. Sometimes it’s free but only with a WMC badge. I cannot stress how valuable a WMC pass is. You get so much in knowledge, networking and access to people and events in the industry. Also, in addition to Ultra Music Festival, you have many events with a lot of the same names at various locations. So technically, you could pretty much have VIP access to your favorite artist in a more intimate setting. How cool is that?
Wednesday, March 25, 2015: Finally able to get some shut eye, we head up to North Beach Miami to The Deauville Hotel. We catch a few panels and most in particular the Remixer Panel. The moderator was too sick to present so Flipside from the Jumpsmokers jumped in as the moderator and a panelist. Our friend Dark Intensity, DJ Summit, DJ Dirticow and DJ Lords gave a lot of insight and answers to the realm of remixes. The eclectic panel was a multi genre mixture of producers that divulged some industry secrets and answered inquiring questions of aspiring producers and radio jocks. During and after the panels there’s a non-stop pool party with top notch DJ's in motion. Open to the public with a hefty entrance fee, it’s free for WMC badge holders. After a few panels and kicking it at the pool party, we head back to South Beach to get ready for the next gig. Just a block or two South on Washington Ave., we walk to Automatic Slims where Digital Music Pool (DMP), KTU radio station and Onfire Entertainment are presenting this WMC party hosted by Bartell of KTU. DJ's include Aiden Jude, Dark Intensity, Desisto, Dramos, Michael Gloria, Prime, Raphael Valentino, and Tommy Napi with special guests Disco Fries and Cash
Cash. Party started at 9:30pm and raged until 4:00am. Free with a WMC badge, a rager for sure and a great alternative to Armin Van Buuren is playing across the street at Mansion for $125.00 tickets at the door and your WMC badge has no bearing. So we party on with our East Coast music friends! We stop for late night pizza because that’s what is open at this time and start a DJ food fight. We flee the scene half upset and half laughing. Time to go to bed!
Thursday, March, 26 2015: We barely get some shut eye as we rush to North Beach to catch a glimpse of the VJ battle hosted by DJ Serafin. In a flash of a vid we catch an Uber to downtown Miami to attend Armin Van Buuren and W&W Workshop held at the Gibson Showroom. The attendees have been hand selected by Armada Music to participate and debut their music with Armin Van Buuren, W&W and the Armada A&R team. Only 2 tracks was selected to be played and heard by Armin and everyone. Dark Intensity was one of them. Not soon after he’s swooped aside by Onno van Kemenade A&R for progressive House talent. His track is now in negotiations with Armada. Good luck to our friend. Meanwhile, we are just kicking it with Armin Van Buuren and his crew. Pinch me, is this real?
The IDMAs are tonight, half our crew went to spectate the awards at the Deauville, as we rush back to get a cat nap before the next event. The IDMA’s is the awards ceremony for EDM. Lifetime Achievement award went to Frankie Knunckles. While, Best Underground Dance Track was awarded to Shiban San for the track, “Okay”. The Best Global DJ winner was Hardwell and he also won for Best Progressive House/Electro DJ. There were too many awards to name. For more a list of winners you can go to the WMC website at http:// www.wintermusicconference.com.
Next gig, is at Haven on Lincoln Ave. It’s just a hop, skip and a jump from our pad. Hosted by Bartell from KTU. Special Guests are Tydi, Disco Fries, Cash Cash, Vassy, Dark Intensity, and Flipside of the Jump Smokers tear it up! Other DJ's include Aiden Jude, Anthony Ligotti, Armando D, Bobby Green, Chuwe, Damien Anthony, Desito, Disable, Dramos, Frank Walker, Glenn Morrison, Kastra, Michael Gloria, Prime, Raphael Valentino, Sal Cianci, Tommy Napi, and Tony Gia. The 3-D video projection on the walls and even in the bathroom sink make this club a super cool venue. It’s like you’re part of the imagery. What an awesome show! I love the eclectic styles of everyone. Boom we jump in an Uber car with Tydi and we are off to The Clevelander for his next gig and our next destination. We arrive at the Beatgasm/Promo Only Party and are greeted by the hosts Cary Vance and
MIAMI WINTER CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE 2015