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

First Production Meeting

Once we were all told our jobs we got into our teams and started thinking about what we needed to do. We looked at Lauren's pitch for the show to find out what she wanted to get out of the shows VTs.

"In each episode, the first VT features another presenter informing the audience of a guide to the area in which they are broadcasting from; this includes places to see music, venue guide and quirky facts about the area. The second VT is an 'On the Road With...', whereby the presenter meets up with one of the bands and explores their routines and traveling to a venue, possibly including pieces about roadies and fans. The third VT may look into the band members day jobs, or special pieces on 'Inside the Recording Studio' with a producer."

The rest of the VT team and I started to think about ideas for the VTs. We knew that from Lauren's pitch that the only one VT we could properly start thinking about was the 'Guide to the Area' one so we began thinking of what music venues we knew of in Maidstone as these would be potential places to film the VTs. We are all going to research Maidstone facts and find out more about what unsigned bands really are and where would you find them.

We then had a production meeting with the whole group and we all need to come up with a title for the show by Monday. A Facebook page also been set up so that we can all communicate easily and find out when bands are playing so that we can all start thinking about who we want on the show and what we could put in the VTs.

I think this project is going to be really fun but alot of hard work but if we all pull together and work as a team I think we can make a show that we are all proud of.

My Job Title

Today we were all given our jobs for the As Live production. I was put in the VT team and on the record day I will be the vision mixer in the gallery. This was the job I wanted and I can't wait to take on the challenge. I know that being the vision mixer will be a stressful job and I will need to be able to think on my feet and work well under pressure but I think I can do it. I'm also looking forward to working in the team for the VTs as I think we will all work well together but we will all have to work really hard to make sure the VTs fit the style and standard of the show.

As Live News Interview Practice

Today we worked in teams and I was with Maddie, Dean and Dan. We had to record a news interview about fuel prices as if it was live, I was on camera and heres what we came up with.

Pitch Day

Today was the pitch day and I was so nervous but I felt confident in my pitch and thought I had prepared well. In the pitch I got across all the point I wanted to make and was able to answer any questions that Helen, Hans and Colin had. Pitching my idea made me really excited about my programme and made me think that I would like mine to be the one to be commissioned. When the winner was announced I was a little disappointed but I was very pleased for Lauren as she had a very good idea and it was quite similar to mine. I look forward to working on Lauren's show and I have put my name down for Assistant Produce, Vision Mixer and also to work on the VT teams. I'm really excited about this project and I'm hoping that as a team we can produce a programme we are all proud of and is even better than last years Pub Game.