AS Live: Email

Today I had a meeting with Helen about mine and Abbi's Madistone Gig Guide VT. We decided that we need to have a bit of an interview in there so that it made the piece more interesting. We realised that there was a contestant on the Voice who lived locally and thought that we might be able to get an interview with her. I emailed her manager to ask if being a part of "Unsigned" would be something she would be interested in.

I am that they get back to me within the next week

I was also talking to Lauren Woodfall and she said that she knows a women called Zoe Sparkle who organises alot of the music events around Maidstone and she is also a very good talker. I think she would also be good to interview to get more information on the Maidstone music scene.

I have drafted up an initial shooting script which I will show Helen to see what she thinks.

AS Live VT: Presenter

The production team auditioned a few presenters and decided that this girl, Jessica Cootes, would be perfect for the VTs. After seeing the video of her audition I would have to agree she is very good at presenting and interviewing she has a good clear voice and a friendly expressive face. I've started to think of ways we can use her in the Gig Guide VT to show the variety of music venues Maidstone has to offer.

VT Locations

Today we went round to all the pubs in Maidstone to find out if they did music at their venue and whether it would be a potential place for us to film our VTs in. The places I liked the most were Earls and The Druid Arms. The landlord at Earls was very enthusiastic about the whole things and was telling us all the different things we could film such as the set up, sound checks and we could interview the bands after in the room they keep all the bands equipment. He was also suggesting camera angles we could get. The Druid Arms had a nice stage outside in the courtyard which we thought would be a nice contrast to the indoors stage in Earls. Again the manager at Druids was enthusiastic.

Here are some pictures of the venues we viewed.


We also found out that there is a music festival in Maidstone at the beginning of May where there are different bands playing each day at several different local venues. This might be a good opportunity for us to film some pick ups as it will show Maidstone as a busy music location.
http://www.maidstonefringefestival.co.uk/

I'm the producer of the Gig Guide VT and I have already started thinking of some good ideas after looking at these locations.

VT Research: How we want the VTs to look

Lauren has said that she would like the video to be point of view as if the camera is a person going to a gig. We have also discussed what we want the final VT to look like. We want the video to be quite fast passed and and exciting. Dean showed us this music video to give us an idea of what the end VT should look like.

VT Research: We've Made Some Phone Calls

Today we rang all the possible music venues to see if we could film there for our Gig Guide VT. 

I phoned The White Horse and I spoke to the landlord Lee and he said that he would be happy for us to film and we can go and visit the venue whenever we like to make sure its suitable. He said that on Saturdays he has bands playing and on Sundays it's more a Jam/ open mic night. 

The White Horse

46 London Rd  Maidstone, Kent ME16 8QL01622 752141

I also phone Pizza Express and they said that they would be happy for us to film but we would have to make sure it was alright with the customers on the day and to ask the bands in advance whether they would mind being filmed. I was speaking to the manager and she told be to contact the Pizza Express office in London as they are the ones who deal with the booking of the bands. We know that one of the bands we are interested in, Soundcasters, are playing at Pizza Express on 19th April and so this may be good to film.

Pizza Express Maidstone
32-34 Earl Street  Maidstone, Kent ME14 1PF01622 683548

Contact for Pizza Express Head Office:
Charlie - 08456027017

When we go to visit the venues we will have to talk to the landlord/manager to see if there is any interesting stories about the venue which we could talk about in our VT to make the venues more exciting and make the VTs more interesting.

VT Research: Maidstone Music Venues

I have started to look at music venues in Maidstone and there are definitely more then I first thought. Here are a few that I found.

Pizza Express

Hazlitt Theatre

The Flower Pot

Drakes

The White Horse

Earls

Maddie and Abbi have both done in depth research on each of these place.

Abbi's blog
Maddie's blog

I also know that Chicago’s sometimes has music events.

60-61 High Street
Maidstone
Kent
ME14 1LF

Where To Find Us »

Tel: 01622 692299

Email: crc-maidstone@atmospherebars.co.uk

VT Research: Famous People from Maidstone

I thought I would do some research into famous people who were born or live in Maidstone to see if we could use some well known names in our Guide to Maidstone VT. Here's who I found, I'm not really sure if any of them are relevant to our programme but I though I would put it out there anyway we might find a place for these not very well known names.

Peter Wolfe

Known as Wolfman, he is a poet and musician born in Maidstone. Front man of Wolfman and the Side-Effects. He is friends with Pete Doherty and from time to time Wolfman and the Side-Effects would support Babyshambles and The Libertines.

Other musicians:

Nicky Moore – rock and blues musician – Vocalist in Samson
Mike Ratledge – musician - Soft Machine
Guy Fletcher - keyboardist in Dire Straits and his involvement in Mark Knopfler’s solo career after the band split in 1984.

Shaun Williamson

English actor best known as Barry Evans in Eastenders and playing a version of himself in Extras.

Paul Mackenzie Crook

Born in Maidstone. British actor and comedian best known for his roles in The Office and Pirates of the Caribbean.  

Ross Kemp

Best known for playing Grant Mitchell in Eastenders and his documentary series Ross Kemp on Gangs used to play for Maidstone rugby club.

VT Research: Gig Guide

I have began doing some research for the VTs as we don't know who the bands are yet we can only really focus on the "Guide to Maidstone" VT. I've started looking into potential places to film and website which could be some help to use when making the guide.

I found this Maidstone music guide from 2008 which has some good interviews and articles which we may be able to use.

http://www.maidstonemusic.co.uk/_assets/files/mm-guide-001-web(1).pdf
Maidstone also has its very own music website which we may be able us in some way. Maybe giving them advertising on our website for something in return.
http://www.maidstonemusic.co.uk/

I have also found that there is a recording studio in Maidstone which could be a potential place to film at.

http://www.nsprecordingstudios.co.uk/index.html

NSP Recording Studios
Unit 8a The Builders Yard,
Heath Road,
Boughton Monchelsea,
Maidstone,
Kent,
ME17 4GY

tel. +447878215396
email. james@nsprecordingstudios.co.uk