Gathering hits right note for Nelson musicians

A rare gathering of New Zealand music industry representatives and musicians including Nelson-born Sharon O'Neill has given musicians a better understanding of how the industry works.

About 70 people from all over New Zealand gathered at the Nelson School of Music for the four-hour seminar on Wednesday which covered production, collaboration, mentoring and other tidbits of information musicians could use to advance their careers.

O'Neill performed at Sunday's Taste Tasman event with a local band which also featured her keyboard-playing partner, Alan Mansfield, who is probably best-known for his involvement with rock band Dragon. Mansfield said it was "seriously good fortune" that he had met and played with so many influential people in his career and told the audience of musicians that people skills were a major part of being in the industry.

"You can be a great player and be an asshole, but people will not want to work with you. And you have to bless that fact that you get gigs."

The American-born musician once played keyboard for American singer Bette Midler and was also involved with English singer Robert Palmer for 25 years. Palmer was the "coolest music influence" in his life.

Ruby Bay-based musician Liam Ryan, formerly of The Narcs, said having such great musicians and music industry representatives in the same room was a "historic moment".

He emphasised the importance of keeping in touch with the "globalised industry".

O'Neill talked about the importance of recording good quality demos. After recording her 1983 album Foreign Affairs, she was told to go away and write a single to release because there was nothing good enough on the album. She went away and wrote Losing You, but it was her song Maxine off the album which ended up being the biggest hit.

"When you think you have everything right, they sometimes say, `No, we can't hear it'."

During the seminar, the crowd also heard from Australian Performing Rights Association, Creative New Zealand and the NZ Music Industry Commission representatives as well as Kiwi record producer Alan Jansson.

Seminar organiser Aly Cook said it was a great day and a good chance for the "region's musical family" to make connections.

- © Fairfax NZ News