Believe it or not, there is indeed such a thing as party science. But you're not going to learn it by running the club circuit like a lab rat on double doses of Ritalin. If you really want to develop yourself into a certified master of the electronic music industry's means and methods, you'll have to hit the decks hard during Winter Music Conference 2011.
For 26 years now, WMC has served a dual purpose. There are the all-night club orgies. And then there is the five-day crash course in -- as the conference's official website puts it -- "the advancement of the industry."
No doubt, you can partake in both the debauchery and the study session. Just be sure to keep your drugs in the club and your beat calculator in the classroom.
To enjoy the WMC educational experience, you'll need to pay $395 for last-minute online or walk-up registration. (It's steep, but you shouldn't have waited this long. You've already missed four deadlines.) Next, plot your own personal curriculum from the conference's full schedule of Q&As, seminars, panels, exhibits, and demos.
Start slow when class convenes this Tuesday at the Miami Beach Convention Center with a beat-matching battle hosted by ex-93 Rock jock Naughty Natalia and local Latin mixmaster Felix Sama. Later that afternoon, explore your inner feminist for the Women in Electronic Music panel before slinking off to fondle fresh, sexy geek gear like STR8.150 turntables and Serato Video systems at the Stanton: Innovations in DJ Technology exhibit.
On Wednesday, though, get a serious dose of party science when the former vice prez of Napster and current CEO of massive online music purveyor Beatport, Matthew Adell, convenes with RM Entertainment Group's Bruno del Granado for a discussion about the music biz in the internet age.
Of course, there's also the International Dance Music Awards at Dolce Ultra Lounge (1501 Collins Ave., Miami Beach) on March 10, a night of fist-pumping glitz, glamour, and self-congratulations with cameos by Crystal Waters, Diplo, Mark Farina, and dozens of others. (Your $395 registration gets you one free pass. But if you wanna bring a buddy, you'll need to dig up another $45.) And then Saturday, the whole thing wraps with, austerely dubbed Closing Remarks with Paul Van Dyk, a keynote lecture by the well-respected German party professor.
Now it's all gonna be pretty intense. So don't forget to take copious notes, little lab rat. You do want that PhD in party science, right?
Winter Music Conference 2011 Schedule of Events
Tuesday, March 8
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Registration open (Hall B, Upper Main Lobby)
9 a.m. Technology, product, and gear exhibits open (Hall B, Lobby)
10 a.m. WMC Live DJ sets (Hall B, Lobby)
2 p.m. WMC DJ Spin-Off: Beat Matching (Hall B, Lobby)
2 p.m. Women in Electronic Music panel (B-210)
2:30 p.m. To Remix or Not to Remix Latin Music panel (B-211)
3 p.m. Stanton: Innovations in DJ Technology product demo (B-112)
4 p.m. Postcards from the Industry panel (B-212)
5 p.m. South Beach Sessions: Social Awareness through Music (B-210)
6:30 p.m. Sound of Noise film screening, presented by WMC and MIFF (Regal South Beach Cinema 18, 1100 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach)
Wednesday, March 9
9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Registration open (Hall B, Upper Main Lobby)
9 a.m. Technology, product, and gear exhibits open (Hall B, Lobby)
10 a.m. WMC Live DJ sets (Hall B, Lobby)
Noon WMC VJ Challenge (Hall B, Lobby)
Noon Demo listening workshop (B-115)
Noon In the Mix: A Guide to Remixing panel (B-211)
12:30 p.m. Digital Distribution Delivered panel (B-210)
1:30 p.m. WMC and MIFF present Soundtracking for Film & TV panel (B-212)
2 p.m. Event design, planning, and promotion panel (B-213)
2:30 p.m. Q&A with Beatport CEO Matthew Adell (B-211)
4 p.m. WMC DJ Spin-Off: Scratching (Hall B, Lobby)
4 p.m. The Buzz : Media, Marketing, Social Networking, and You panel (B-212)
4:30 p.m. Stanton: Innovations in DJ Technology product demo (B-112)
Thursday, March 10
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration open (Hall B, Upper Main Lobby)
10 a.m. WMC Live DJ sets (Hall B, Lobby)
Noon Demo Listening Workshop (B-115)
Noon Label Summit panel (B-210)
12:30 p.m. Get Synched: Alternative Revenue panel (B-211)
1 p.m. The Architecture of the DJ Set panel (B-212)
2 p.m. Bass Is Loaded: Exposing Music through Sports panel (B-213)
2:30 p.m. Q&A: Being Markus Schulz (B-211)
2:30 p.m. Pioneer: DDJ-S1, DDJ-T1 product demo (B-112)
3 p.m. Exploring the Future of Electronic Music panel (B-212)
4 p.m. The Low Down for No Down: Legal Advice for Free! (B-213)
4:30 p.m. DJ & Production Technology panel (B-210)
7 p.m. 26th Annual IDMA Cocktail Reception (Dolce Ultra Lounge, 1501 Collins Ave., Miami Beach)
8 p.m. 26th Annual International Dance Music Awards (Dolce Ultra Lounge, 1501 Collins Ave., Miami Beach)
11 p.m. The Official 26th Annual IDMA Afterparty (Dolce Ultra Lounge, 1501 Collins Ave., Miami Beach)
Friday, March 11
11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Registration open (Hall B, Upper Main Lobby)
11 a.m. WMC Live DJ sets (Hall B, Lobby)
Noon Demo Listening Workshop (B-115)
12:30 p.m. What's the Frequency? Exposure over the Airwaves (B-211)
12:30 p.m. The Real Deal: Negotiating a "360" Artist Agreement (B-210)
1 p.m. Remixing & Editing Workshop, Level 1 (B-215)
2 p.m. Songwriting & Music Publishing Master Class (B-212)
2:30 p.m. Scratch DJ Academy presents Turntablism 101 (B-213)
3:30 p.m. The Recording Academy & WMC present the Producers Forum (B-210)
3:30 p.m. Remixing & Editing Workshop, Level 2 (B-215)
4:30 p.m. South Beach Sessions: Music's Sway panel (B-211)
Saturday, March 12
11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Registration open (Hall B, Upper Main Lobby)
Noon Record Collectors Show (Ocean Drive Auditorium, 1001 Ocean Dr., Miami Beach)
1:00 p.m. Demo Listening Workshop (B-115)
1:00 p.m. Closing Remarks with Paul Van Dyk (B-210)
1:15 p.m. Represent! Artists, Agents & Managers (B-211)
1:15 p.m. How To Survive in a World Where Everyone Thinks They're a DJ (B-212)
2:30 p.m. In It to Win It: The Business of Being a DJ panel (B-213)
3 p.m. Breaking Barriers: Latin Music and Today's Music Industry panel (B-211)
3:15 p.m. It's All About the Song!!! panel (B-212)
3:15 p.m. Q&A with RedOne and Mohombi (B-210)
6:30 p.m. Sound of Noise film screening, presented by WMC and MIFF (Regal South Beach Cinema 18, 1100 Lincoln Rd., Miami Beach)
Winter Music Conference 2011. Tuesday, March 8, to Saturday, March 12. The Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Dr., Miami Beach. Online or walk-up registration costs $395. Visit wintermusicconference.com.
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