Getting into the music business

By Natasha Evans
BBC Blast reporter, Bristol

Bimm helps budding musicians get on stage

You're young, enthusiastic and want a career in music. You could join a band, go to college, try busking or enter a talent contest, but where do you start?

I've been looking at some of the ways to break into the music industry in Bristol. In the first part of this series we are looking at the Bristol Institute of Modern Music (Bimm).

"What do you want to do in 10 years time?"

"Be in a band."

This response is familiar among thousands of young aspiring musicians.

When students audition for Bimm, they are asked about their career ambitions.

The worst thing you can do is think you're doing ok Mark Clayden, head teacher of Bimm Bristol

Like any ambition, it won't necessarily go your way, and Bimm does not pretend its students will be the next Jimi Hendrix.

I met Mark Clayden, head teacher of Bimm Bristol, to see what the institute is all about as part of my investigations into accessing music.

After viewing the common room, lined with Post-it notes from musicians looking for other band members, Mark pointed out that there was an even mix of South West and world wide students.

"Students are here from Italy, France…"

After viewing the tutorial rooms, Mark explained that Bimm encourages professionalism. He said it's crucial and often forgotten.

Bimm musicians do have to sit at their desk and produce material, edit what they have, and re-edit what's finished.

"The worst thing you can do is think you're doing ok," warns Mark, who has played bass and vocals with the band Pitchshifter since 1989.

Bimm believes in "streamlining" music - to "do simple things well", he says.

It became obvious at this point that Bimm makes no attempt to hide thet it's geared towards music supply and demand.

Standing in the main drum tuition room, riddled with electric kits, I asked what he thought of "selling out".

Bimm is nestled in an artistic urban heart

Mark Clayden makes it clear that if you hope to get anywhere in music, you're going to have to supply a demand.

"Many turn up at Bimm with 60 songs ready written," but find their skills lie more back-stage, he observes.

Undeniably, this can be shattering for any aspiring Travis Barker or Duffy but in an industry, it's important to be honest about strengths and weaknesses.

Bimm has been criticised for promising a career as a musician but not delivering but it seems that Bimm helps build a career in the music industry holistically.

But many have made it.

The Kooks emerged from Bimm Brighton, as well as Kate Nash's drummer, and many more.

Bimm is an option in accessing a career in contemporary music, from management and sound engineering, to performance and musicianship.

But the thing that strikes me about Bimm is its honesty.

It is aware of the industry and economics, but is always mindful of the hopes of upcoming musicians. Like anything, it's finding the ideal balance.

"It's organic," says Mark. "But experience is necessary".