Amsterdam Dance Event October 2007 Reviewed

lalalala fu*kin amazing weekend

The ADE is in its 12th year and it was fully sold out. This conference is focused totally towards industy professionals by day and by night every club in Amsterdam is host to some of the worlds top names and really good underground talent. Absolutely kicked the living shit out of Sonar. Sonar is more party oriented. This is a different monster. One where shit actually happens.

Everyone was really mello. People were just open and talking to each other. you cant go there and not end up talking to someone. Nothing might come of it but at least you are out there. There was always something to do as well. Time flew and this weekend was over before I knew it. I was the only Irish attendee at the conference.


Wednesday

Was up till 5:30 getting my shit together (making, burning, packaging CDs, packing clothes etc..) then had to get up at 7 to catch my flight. I couldnt see straight with tiredness. I think I signed up to some credit card at the airport. I have to look into that. I was really out of it with tiredness.

Arrived in the dam at around lunch time. Got the train to Central, hit my favorite coffeeshop the Speakeasy, checked into the Flyin Pig Hostel, got absolutely wakt out of it (was tired too) and went for a nap.

Got up and went to the official ADE Launch party in the Escape Studio. Free Heineken all night, music from Monochrome who were this years Heineken Thirst Studio Global Competition Winners. They played nice groovy Minimal/Techno. Sound guys. They were using a Korg Electribe which i had just bought.


Thursday

Registered at the Felix Meritis for the day program. The Felix is a nice rustic old building equiped with a network lounge, 2 business lounges with internet access and two panel rooms. A nearby hotel was also used to provide an extra Panel room and a business lounge/meeting area.

Seminars:

21st Century Record Label
Covering the ins and outs of of running a label and discussing where the money goes from artist through to retailer.

The Clubbers Circuit 2007
Panel of promoters discussed the evolving club scene and how to keep on top of trends and how they operate in their respective markets. Panelists included Jenni Chochrane of MOS and Olaf Boswijk, Manager at Club 11 (my favorite club) due to close in the next year due to problems with the building.

N.E.W.S Cocktail hour
N.E.W.S showcased Dutch talent in the Networking Lounge while providing an open bar 5-6 (nice touch lads). Got talking to a dude who ran a Dub Step label in the UK. funny shit.


Thursday Night
Well got back to the hostel pretty late. went for a nap and woke up at 3:00 am. So with that i literally ran straight out the door to Club 11 for the Innervisions Night. performances from Dixon and AME. good craic. Olaf was up the front for the whole night.


Friday
Spent a lot of time in the Business Lounge chatting with people and messing around on me Drum Machine. Plus I had attended a lot of the seminars last year.

Seminars:

Territory focus: Eastern Europe
Panel discussed whats popular in Eastern Europe at the moment and the best way to approach operating there. Acoustics were bad in the room and the panel wasnt as good as last year. still a worthwhile discussion though.

Territory focus: Ibiza
There was a large focus on how to break tracks in Ibiza which was good. No real revalations. panelists included Armin Van Buren and Steve Glen Hulme (Pacha)

Bowling!!
Artists/Managers/Djs were invited to bowling with yet another free bar. Taxi's picked us up at the Felix Meritis and dropped us home. nice. This was really good craic. I was teamed up with Noisia, their manager Walter Flapper, a Music Lawyer and one of the guys from Buma Culture. The lads from Noisia were really good actually and gave me some good tips. I actually got an award for worst bowler in the end of it. a pair of the oldest bowling shoes in the place. Hilarious. In fairness to me, i never played bowling before but i was doing pretty OK towards the end. Too little too late eh.


Friday Night
Went to Club Escape for what i thought was going to be Kevin Saunderson but instead I found myself being entertained by some guy with weird hair. He did OK. Woulda much preferred Kevo. Had a good night though. Met some cool heads.


Saturday

Final day of the ADE. It really does fly by. This is traditionally the quietest of the days as most people are hangin or all business is taken care of. I spent the early part of the day watching football. Got to the Felix to catch a Q&A with Kevin Saunderson. That was cool. He was a mello guy. Spent the rest of the evening playing with my drum machine in one of the Business Lounges.

Saturday Night
Watched the Man United Match which went well. Then I watched the Rugby World Cup Final. Had planned to go to Club 11 but the people I was with didnt have an ADE pass and it was sold out so we went to the club on the ground floor. It was grand. Good laugh.


Sunday
Man was I tired on Sunday. Spent most of the day on my drum machine in the hostel. Did a small bit of record shopping. Then went for a few drinks with people from there. No more parties.

Monday
Decided to catch a late flight home so spent the whole day just strolling around. Did some proper record Shopping as there is a good spot right beside the hostel. Found a bar that plays Techno all day. Pity i didnt find it sooner. Then flew home.

Hasta Luego Amsterdam