On Tuesday December 1st Minding Creative Minds’ (MCM) in association with EPIC Working Group, Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO), Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA), MCD Productions and The Cowshed will hold its first online meeting. The MCM Meet and Greet Session will commence at 7pm and members of the music and live events sectors are invited to attend, but advance registration is necessary as numbers are limited. Just click here and follow the instructions; https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJwkdu-hqjkiGN2CYfA_tLtKyNUx0sx4lFPh
The aim of our MCM Meet and Greet Session is to enable attendees to share their experiences, share advice with each other and have a conversation with their peers as we strive to get our sector back to full health. By holding a MCM Meet and Greet Session, Minding Creative Minds wants to help in building resources and facilitate an atmosphere of help and support for all and encourage an open conversation within our community. Some may wish to tell their story, others may have questions, some may wish to attend, leave their cameras in the off position and just listen. Whatever works for you in attending, works for us.
In this first meeting hosted by Stuart Clarke of Hot Press, we are privileged to confirm Psychotherapist and author, Siobhán Murray (https://www.twistingthejar.com/) and Podcast Host and Mindfulness Based Therapist, Niall Breslin (Bressie) as special guests. Stuart will chat with Siobhan about her work, and in a wider realm her advice to our sector. We anticipate the meeting will initially last a little over an hour. To start meetings will be online, however, once Covid-19 restrictions are loosened we will be able to eventually meet in person! When registering for the event, you are also welcome (if you wish) to submit a question for Niall (Bressie). Time should allow for ten questions to be answered. If you prefer, your question can be anonymous, just follow the instructions to enable this when registering.
This first meeting is very much an introductory event and will rely on feedback from attendees in order to gauge the format of and scope of future events as we strive to get the balance right between information offered and enabling people to contribute and speak openly.
The effects of Covid 19 have hit all sectors in Ireland, however, we know first-hand how severe our music and live event sectors have suffered. For some the mental health repercussions has created a greater sense of isolation and of course we are not on our own; the entire industry is going through this trauma at this time. However, our individual stories impact us all in different ways. There is not a one size fits all fix.
In this time of deep personal struggle for many, it’s become more obvious how important music and the arts are to the well-being of our society, and I don’t doubt that there will be a renewed appreciation for the arts as a result. It’s very encouraging that Minding Creative Minds Meet and Greet sessions will enable our music industry community to come together to support each other and share valuable information. By helping each other our artistic community can emerge from this period stronger, wiser, and more unified. I’m really looking forward to meeting, and being inspired by, colleagues, friends and peers at MCM’s first Meet and Greet on December 1st. – Ann Marie Shields, Minding Creative Minds and Head of Careers, Industry Liaison and Events at BIMM Collage.
