Panels

Andrew Scavotto is associate at Stinson, Morrison Hecker, where he practices both litigation and entertainment law and represents a variety of local and regional artists. Andrew assists clients with everything from basic business advice to the review and negotiation of recording contracts. An ex-musician, Andrew has maintained a heavy involvement with music in St. Louis by working as a freelance music writer, volunteering with Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts, chairing events such as last year’s Metropolis St. Louis Lot Festival, and sitting on the Board of Directors of KDHX Community Media.
 

Amy Burger (moderator) is a freelance writer, public relations professional and Live Music Editor of PLAYBACK:stl. For more than 10 years, Amy has helped organizations of all types achieve their communications goals through strategic, integrated marketing and PR programs. In today’s digitally focused world, she works with companies to use online and social media to reach and build relationships with their audiences.

Started by local music industry veterans Chris Buehler and Jason Miller, Scorch Entertainment is an Artist Development and Management Company with over 10 years experience in the music industry. Scorch specializes in creating individualized and customized marketing plans for our artists that get them heard, get them seen and get them where they want to be. They select only a handful of aspiring talent to represent in order to offer a complete, 360º hands-on approach to their professional development. Offering a range of services from traditional marketing and branding to interactive, social media and event/experiential marketing, Scorch Entertainment is currently working with clients like Last Night’s Vice to fuel their major label music career.

Anthony Spina is the Midwest captain of Island Records, staffing and running the day-to-day operations of the label’s street teams in the Midwest. He is also co-owner of Yea Man!, a Chicago-based artist management, promotions and event agency. Yea Man! utilizes social media in varying degrees to get the word out about our events and artists.

Bill Streeter is an award winning producer who makes video's about music, art and culture in St. Louis for Lo-Fi Saint Louis and Lo-Fi Sessions. He has also produced videos for brands like MTV, Mountain Dew, and Village Voice Media. When not producing video he teaches video production as an advisor to the student run television station SLU-TV at Saint Louis University. Bill also blogs about social media and technology for the Riverfront Times.

 

Kelly Fenton (moderator) began as a street promoter for a local venue in Ohio. Within six months she was handed the responsibilities of talent buyer and started focusing her energy on a career in music. Before deciding to relocate to Nashville, Kelly was festival director for a free event showcasing 40 bands on four stages in the downtown federal plaza. Once in Nashville, Kelly formed NOTeNEF Promotions and began working with several venues as well as local and touring musicians seeking extra promotion in the competitive market. Hired by DreamScapers International as a booking agent, Kelly also started managing her first band. After a year of dedication, she ventured into marketing and coordinating the company’s RedGorilla Music Fest, turning it into a traveling showcase. This multitude of experience has given Kelly a grasp on being innovative in order to further her artists’ careers.

Since 2002, Jim Morgan has been the Director of Marketing and Promotion for the International Songwriting Competition (ISC). Originally from Canberra, Australia, Jim performed in numerous bands playing drums and was the founder of an initiative called “Caught in the ACT” whose mission was to promote local artists. Jim moved to the United States in 2001 and was the Showcase Director for the nationally respected NEMO Music Showcase and Conference in Boston for several years prior to joining the staff of ISC.

ellee ven’s positive, conscious music has been heard far and wide, but this artist is much more than a singer. Her experience is a perfect example to those interested in paving their own way. ellee ven started with only a dream and is now making upbeat music that is heard all over the world. There has been no attempt at being “genre specific” as an artist, but instead a conscious attempt to stretch out and try different ideas without yielding to commercial pressures or trends. With this formula, she has managed to hone in on a genre all her own called “groovetonics.” And the experimentation doesn’t stop there. The daughter of a European designer/fashion model and an entrepreneur, ellee ven has produced a collection of leisurewear while touring the country, staged artistically themed charity benefits like “Give into the Groove” and developed an episodic cartoon based on her experiences.

 

Brian Waymire (moderator) is the founder and director of RedGorilla Music Fest. In March 2002, Brian started what would become RedGorilla with only four bands on one stage in Austin, Texas. The event became the RedGorilla Music Fest in 2007 and now showcases over 500 artists each year, making it one of the largest indie showcasing events in the country. As an artist manager and agent, Brian has developed several artists from their local markets into international touring acts. He currently manages Here Come the Mummies, AutoVaughn, Minor Kings and The Hollywood Kills.

Douglas Hall has been working in the St. Louis entertainment industry for over 10 years as a promoter, booker, venue manager and consultant. For the last two years he has been with TalentPlus Entertainment as a booking manager/agent.

Over the last decade, Mike Kociela has built an impressive coast-to-coast portfolio of concert production, event management and mobile marketing services under the Entertainment St. Louis name. Mike currently produces the Taste of St. Louis festival and is working with Hood New England Dairy Cook-off and Major League Baseball. He has produced events for the AVP Pro Beach Volleyball Tour, Qwest Communications, Crocs, X-Box, Spin Magazine, Anheuser-Busch and many others.