Off The Couch

Off The Couch (OTC) is a series of live music events run by and for young people 26 years and under. It’s a program philosophically committed to engaging young people’s participation and provides opportunities for:

Training and skills development
Pathways to the music industry
Becoming part of a team that will be responsible for planning all aspects of a major event

OTC also provides a multitude of performance opportunities for young musicians to perform their original music in a professional arena. The making and performing of music to one’s peers and community is essential. Music IS youth and youth IS music.

OFF THE COUCH (OTC) BACKGROUND

Carclew’s Off The Couch (OTC) has made a substantial impact on the South Australian music industry by providing performance and training opportunities for emerging South Australian musicians. This program has showcased such talent to more than 58,900 audience members over the past 13 years. 606 bands and musicians have pounded the boards at OTC events, cutting their teeth in live performance and wowing audiences across the city. These performances could not have taken place without the strong support system that finds its roots in the OTC Team, a dedicated group of volunteer music event coordinators (618 Team members over the last 13 years). They have organised, promoted and implemented the OTC events, proving that OTC is a premier music event by, for and with young people 26 and under.

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

OTC was developed in response to the lack of performance opportunities for young and emerging musicians. This need is as crucial and relevant now as it was when the program began, as the making and performing of music to one’s peers and community is still recognised as essential to the social health and well-being of our young people. Off The Couch assists in creating a vibrant and sustainable city living culture by encouraging cultural activity through participation as well as presentation. OTC also engages music lovers on many levels: as event coordinators, promoters, stage managers, musicians and audiences. Many well-known SA bands played their first public gigs at an OTC show.

Further to this, OTC now hosts an annual industry showcase during the Fuse Festival where the top level OTC bands play to a national and international band management reps, record label representatives, tour managers and festival producers. This is an invaluable opportunity for young bands to gain the exposure to propel them forward in the music industry.

Throughout February, March and April 2009, there will be free OTC events in public live music venues.

TAKING PART

Each year there is a ‘call-out’ for both musicians and team members to take part in a continuum of opportunities to develop and expand their performance and industry skills. Date for next round to be advised.

Off The Couch programs present musicians and bands from all genres of music. It is a prerequisite that the majority of the musicians are aged 26 years and under and that predominantly original music is played.Bands who are keen to apply can download the application form found on the right hand side of this page under RESOURCES. Applications are accepted all year round as Off The Couch has now grown into multiple events. When sending in an application, please ensure that you include a band Bio and Demo CD. The Demo doesn’t have to be great quality, we just want to hear what you sound like.

TRAINING FOR MUSICIANS AND TEAM MEMBERS

The Team members will have the opportunity to participate in music industry training. Experienced industry professionals will give weekly free training sessions in areas such as sound engineering, marketing and promotions and stage management. Musicians will have opportunities to attend seminars that allow access to industry professionals from management through to record company and legal representatives.

TEAMS

Teams of young people will be appointed to steer and program the events. They will make up the creative, administrative, production, promotion and logistics teams. Training for the Team and musicians will occur regularly and assist in creating career pathways and educate young people with the skills needed for working the music industry. All the different musical genres will be showcased at the gigs, while an e-newsletter will go out monthly to hundreds of SA music fans to promote the program and the events.

OTC TEAM MEMBERS WILL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO:

Program the OTC Events: Assess the applications from the bands and musicians, program the OTC gig line ups accordingly as well as receive training in both constructive criticism and listening objectively to the music applications.

Produce the OTC Events: Event manage and coordinate all production aspects while receiving training in the fundamentals of sound engineering and stage management.

Promote the OTC Events: Implement the publicity and promotion of each event. Photographers, designers, publicists and writers will have the opportunity to shine as part of OTC. Team members receive access to a variety of training workshops and seminars free-of-charge including: review writing, stage management, sound engineering, marketing, gig promotion, band photography, press kit information, tips on how to get gigs in venues and stage performance for bands. There are also opportunities to attend the Fuse Festival Conference and sit in on info sessions from Ausmusic SA and APRA.

CONTACT

Drew Landt – Off The Couch Coordinator