The Buzz Newsletter 6th May 2009 Coventry University

6 May 2009

OPEN YOUR CREATIVE MIND “Knowledge is nothing, Imagination is everything.” (Albert Einstein)

by TEO BELEAGA

Image courtesy of Dean Stockton

A graphic designer graduate, with no other previous background, has gone through producing, directing, creating, branding, and leading a multinational company, only to find that his favourite job is still to explore his imagination. Dean Stockton, Senior Creative Director for Chellomedia, held a fascinating presentation at the Coventry Conversations last Thursday. Mr Stockton tackled the subject of creativity, discussing about how global it has became, the significance of logos and brands and most importantly about how creativity has become a rather scarce quality in today’s Photoshop & Co. world. Sloppiness, as he confessed, “has become a bug bear” in his life. Looking back to the days when he started working for the BBC, professionalism was crucial, “a matter of life and death”. Because not being extremely impeccable, in all the areas, meant you were fired. On the contrast, nowadays, it is easier for people to give in to the pressure of time, speed and information that exists around all of us, “...but at the end of the day, it’s very important that you look at things properly. It’s the basis of everything creative.” Also it’s because any creative job brings with it an editorial and manipulative responsibility that many are not aware of. “Whether you’re an artist, a cameraman, a photographer or a Photoshop artist, the moment you take a picture or make a representation of something, you’re editing life, you’re editing reality.”, said Dean Stockton To set the scene for his presentation, we were invited to see a very short film, about perspectives in life, shown by the Guardian a couple of decades ago. “It’s all about the way we see things, it’s so important!” says Mr Stockton. Then we are challenged to unveil the meaning behind a few tricky logos. Warning: “Always look at things in detail!” The point he is arguing: “The creative mind can be very different from the

logistic mind”. Moving on to concept, Dean Stockton advices: “If you really believe in what you do, and it is a brilliant idea, fight for it, because at the end of the day it’s always better to ask for forgiveness than it is to ask for permission.” Also, students are urged to think in advance ‘where the piece of creativity is going to end up?’ and warned that now “you have to come up with a concept that works across all media” What’s the trick to make it in today’s media? You have to be a creative. “The days of you saying I’m a TV designer/ creative, I’m a print creative, are gone. You have to be a creative. If you want to go along in this business you have to be an all along creative.” And you must reinvent yourself. “Just reinvent yourself, don’t sit there and say ‘This is what I do and I only do this and I’m not changing’, because you will be left behind, because the world is moving so quickly” advices Mr Dean Stockton He adds that students must think outside the box, outside their computers and use their minds. “The computer is not

the answer to everything; the computer is just a tool ... is no different than a pencil ...your mind is better than the computer”.

http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://images1.wikia.nocookie.net/ http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=http://www.michaeltyler.co.uk/

“Be Specific and Aim High!” by ADAM MANNING

Peel’s producer. And when she had a thank you lunch, he said to me ‘I’m starting a rock magazine programme in the autumn, would you like to do a ten minute weekly talk?’ I said ‘Of course’, and that’s how I got onto Radio One” he explained. The two time Classic FM presenter also encouraged students who fancied radio as serious career aspiration to stay in the UK, and not to be tempted to cross the continent with the mindset that they’ll be more successful there. “Anybody who seriously loves radio, and wants to work in radio, must work in this country, because the biggest audiences are the BBC audiences. Radios One, Two and Four have giant audiences. In the US most radio is local; many radio stations don’t have a listenership higher than your average pirate radio station.” According to Radio Joint Audience Research, the BBC Radio has 33 million listeners, which beats commercial radios listeners by 2 million, and proves that due to the licence fee, the diversity of BBC radio appeals to the British public. Students looking at going into radio would stand a better chance with the BBC, as they’re more susceptible to agreeing to new innovations that strive towards their compulsory remit to inform, educate and entertain.

12 Hours Rock Festival

by ADAM MANNING

A third year Coventry University Music student is organising a rock music festival on the outskirts of the City, at the Spencer Sports and Social Club, on the 9th May. The event called “12 hours of rock” is programmed to run from mid day until midnight. 21 bands have been secured, with a few more yet to join the list of local bands. This include LP45, a band full of ex Coventry University Music students and female singer and song writer, Kristy Gallagher; also, an ex Coventry University student, with both artists having supported well known music sensations Nizlopi. A former guitarist of local band Pressure Pill, Johnny Ross, has managed to create the event in aid of the charity Missing People. However, Johnny’s other aim is to encourage musical interaction in the area, with opportunities like this providing the

perfect platform for future successful bands that have originated from Coventry over the years, such as The Specials and The Enemy. “From my own experiences playing in Pressure Pill”, says Johnny, “ it seems that for new upcoming bands it can be difficult to get a foot in the door, as a lot of the established local events and venues seem disinterested when it comes to putting on and promoting new types of local music. Hence why I wanted to personally pick bands that I thought would put on a great show, and also to give some bands that are just starting out the experience of gigging with some more well known local musicians.” With renowned music festivals in the city that run for similar amounts of time, such as the three year old “Covfest” festival and the charitable music event “Covstock”, what makes this festival different from the others? “My concept was to get all the artists

together under one roof for a day of music, so that people could come down, spend the day and not have to leave the venue to trek around town to see different bands”, replied Johnny, whose intention is to experiment and find an ultimate festival experience for the hardcore music fans of Coventry. As Johnny confirms, the title “12 hours of rock” is rather confusing: “There are a wide variety of musical acts playing, from acoustic acts of the folk and singer-songwriter variety, through to punk, metal, indie, alt, classic rock and more” Admission is £2 to the main hall where all main acts will perform, but the entry to the acoustic and bar room is free. Food and drink will be available throughout the day and all money raised will be given to charity.

The student and staff newsletter of the Media and Communications department of Coventry School of Art and Design Edited by Teodora Beleaga Submissions invited to [email protected] with thanks to John Mair, Alice Tester and Adam Manning

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Effervescent radio music presenter Paul Gambaccini was advising media students to “be specific” and to “go right to the very top” for a job in the industry, at last Wednesday’s Coventry Conversation. Gambaccini’s experience of getting where he is today is a combination of close thought about his self and taking advantage of the contacts around him. “I started at the top, I recognised what I liked and who was in charge of it, and I went to that person. I went for a specific thing that I wanted to do”. Gambaccini has created two ‘comically’ musical manuscripts and has sent them off to the editor of music magazine Rolling Stone, which resulted in him being editor of the magazine after 3 years of contribution. Writing reviews for the magazine eventually took him to the UK; and it was here during the early to mid 70s that he met people who had indispensable contacts which resulted in his 37 year presence in BBC radio up to this very day. “I got on Radio One through interviewing John Peel; then I interviewed Elton John whose publicist was the wife of John