SEM is Proud To Support

Clubbed: A visual history of UK club culture

A Night of Music, Artwork and Talks

Presented by FLOOR

Former Music Business student Alice Woods has had a busy year. Since finishing the course at SEM her project FLOOR Music Talks has gone from strength to strength. The Manchester based project has seen Alice host a series of events, panel discussions, Q&A’s and workshops offering likeminded people a place to meet, listen and talk about electronic music.
This month FLOOR announced its biggest event to date, the official book launch of
Clubbed: A Visual History of UK Clubbing.
We spoke to Alice about the event and her activity with FLOOR.

You previously studied the Music Business course at SEM and talked about how it gave you the knowledge and confidence to take your idea and make it into something real. Are there any particular skills you learnt from the course that you feel were invaluable?

Studying the course was the catalyst to get FLOOR off the ground and the skills I learnt were invaluable. From writing a business plan, to presentation and writing skills – not only did the course equip me for making FLOOR into a reality, but helped me to shape what FLOOR would actually be. I originally went into the course with a slightly different idea in mind, but through the various classes and one-to-one tuition, FLOOR (a much stronger and suited idea) was born.

Clubbed: A visual history of UK club culture

When we last spoke to you, you were in process of launching the floor talks and you’ve been running the events for a few months now. Some of your past events discussed topics surrounding Manchester’s musical identity and the city’s relationship with music. Since you started in October 2017, have you seen any noticeable changes in the Manchester music scene?

The music scene is always changing, and always will, these things like everything else in culture are cyclical and represent what’s going on in the wider world. The scene in Manchester, for techno anyway, seems to be going from strength to strength – there’s such a strong line-up of programming every weekend from a strong group of promoters. Obviously in the wider, global, music scene there have been some major movements – safe spaces, gender equality and mental health and those are also reflected here in Manchester. Although I like to think that Manchester has always been a little more ahead of the game when it comes to issues like safe spaces and gender equality – it’s still positive that these conversations are happening though, and lots of them happening at FLOOR!

Planning and putting on events isn’t an easy job. Do you have any advice for those that dream of doing something similar?

You need to be organised and committed, and really love what you do. I do this as well as promote a club night , Meat Free (luckily not alone) and organise Under One Roof – a rave for learning disabled people. This is all on top of my full time job as a brand strategist! I am very fortunate to have really supportive colleagues and an inability to go to bed early. I am just a person who likes to be busy all the time and everything I do compliments each other.

If you’re really serious about doing it, I would genuinely recommend a course like the Music Business Course – if nothing else it helps you to uncover your natural abilities, learn new skills and gives you the confidence to take the plunge.

Tell us a bit about the book launch and what inspired you to put the event together.

When I saw the book on Kickstarter, I knew immediately I wanted to get Rick Banks to do a FLOOR talk. It is the perfect blend of music and design, and of course lots of it very special to Manchester. It went from a talk very quickly to the official book launch due to timing, so we were very lucky to catch it at the right time.

The book Clubbed: A visual history of UK club culture celebrates the UK’s most famous clubs and legendary nights. Have you always had an interest in clubbing?

Yes! Like many others I spent my formative years in clubs, from attending clubnights from the age of, ehhh, 18…to then working at Stiff Kitten and Shine in Belfast and eventually moving to Manchester and starting Meat Free. It’s always been a big part of my life and friendship groups.

Do you have any Floor Talks lined up for the future?
We’ve got lots bubbling away, but can’t reveal anything just yet – keep an eye on @floormusictalks across Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

Clubbed: A Visual History of UK Club Culture takes place at The Refuge, Manchester on May 16th 6.30-late. Find out more about the event here.

Thinking about enrolling on a Music Business course? Why not call us on 0161 8334722 and arrange a chat with course tutor Tony Rigg.

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SEM is Proud To Support

Clubbed: A visual history of UK club culture

A Night of Music, Artwork and Talks

Presented by FLOOR

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