Marc Reck

Finally i’ve moved sites, and can start blogging again!! …………….Maybe this would be a good time to introduce myself.

Like it says on the right, i’m a Dj, Promotor, and part time Musician and Producer living in Birmingham, UK. I also do other things, like making websites, editing videos, create publicity, etc, and have a fairly broad understanding of the online environment, thanks to a level 4 course with Dubber. I’m also learning to be a Music Educator, have got qualifications in Events Management, and this year i’m looking to take all that i do to the next stage.

2007 was a great year for all of the above. On the djing side i was fortunate enough to play some inspiring gigs, including the reopening set of the legendary Que Club’s main stage (thanks Boogie), the La Traviata after party for B’ham Opera (thanks John), playing my first big festival (through the Archangel agency), djing with a live string quartet, performers, and vjs at Project X Presents, and getting my first “set of the year” review at Custom Made. (thanks to Rick/Mark & Shona). I also got to perform with 2 groups of dancers and a vj for our Peace Not War set, and four percussionists and 6 belly dancers at our first two Mr Elephant events!

Mr Elephant was a big highlight and milestone for me on the promoting front, not only grossing the biggest bar take ever for the venue (the then Epic Skate Park) but also seeming to appeal to a wide range of people, who filled the venue with a proper festival atmosphere, and who really got into the activites and workshops we had going on. After the skate park lost its license, i’ve been working hard plans for 2008, which includes a new website, (which i’m building live, but will be ready for March 1st),  and various plans, involving community workshop providers, community artists, and local promoters. Mr Elephant is basically on a mission to engage, explore and interact with Birmingham and its culture through our events, radio, website and workshops, sharing what we can along the way.

Project X Presents was another highlight of last year, and we’ve got our next event (tomorrow!!), and another big one pencilled in for June 2008. Tomorrow will see the launch of Object X, which is basically a team of electronic geniuses and rocket scientists (literally) who will be making interactive installations, such as the swivelling sofa phone, and a billy jean lightup staircase! We have some great music, including Shana Tova, and Koala Grip, and Rich Batsford Live from Australia via web link, with performance and visuals. I’ll be djing the last 3 and a half hours with Steve Lopan, and my new 4 dex and efx Traktor Scratch, with entire record collection. I am somewhat nervous, as i wasn’t planning on taking any bookings til April, but its Project X, and i can pretty much scratch now, so it should be just as sock rockin, but a lot more diverse. Its only a fiver in, its on at Concrete (the Old Boiler Rooms venue on Vyse St, and its open from 10 - 4am.)
And in the music section, the highlights in 2007 have to be getting to play my first two tracks out at the Que Club (Drop Beats Not Bombs), the Custard Factory (Stupid Underground), and the Rainbow Warehouse (Project X Presents). I have had an idea for 2008 for a collaberative project, fusing my binaurul recordings, with all the instruments in my studio, including my Traktor Scratch setup, and some musicians from Birmingham. Should be fun, and i’m going to detail the process and the recordings on another site i’m working on called Reckorder.

On the three websites, i’m also going to be uploading tutorials, as have realised that i don’t need to wait until i’m a qualified educator to share what i know. I can do it here, for the above three headings, and really that’s what i should be doing. So expect to also see tutorials and videos on djing, promoting, and producing here and on the other two websites over the course of this year. As always if you might be interested in any of the content you find, subscribe the the rss, or the mr elephant newsletter on that website for the updates, and for the Mr Elephant site especially, we are really hoping that people will get involved and share their tips, which should be fairly easily once the viddler comments plug in is stable (i been helping with the beta testing, and its looking great)

All this aside however, this year i really do have to find ways to generate a regular income, as working for the love of something does not unfortunately pay the bills, so I have decided that i need to pro-actively contact bars, venues, festivals, promoters, sponsors, funders, educational settings, and potential collaborators, with some interesting and mutually beneficial proposals i’ve been thinking about in the above areas. I’m happy to say the first two have been successful, but i’m looking to really start from April. If you are interested in any type of collaboration (paid or otherwise of course), please feel free to get in touch.

Right, I’d best get back to fathoming the magic of Traktor Scratch while i wait for Dj Lopan to come over for a last minute rehearsal! Hope you all have a nice evening, and keep in touch via comments and stuff.

Oh and here’s to Created In Birmingham for winning their well deserved award! Wishing you and the mighty Creative Republic a very happy birthday. Wishing i could be there to dj your party, but this is the only chance we have to rehearse Have a sparkling celebration