Event news - The History of Public Address

Sound system evolution through the 20th and early 21st centuries… and beyond???

Speaker: Jim Cousins www.soundimprovementservices.com

Join Creative Networks to hear Jim talk about his approach to sound system design; he’ll be inviting discussion on current audio quality, potential hearing damage and the question “where do we go from here…?”

THURSDAY 26 SEPTEMBER 2013, 5.45PM UNTIL 8.45PM - WWW.CREATIVENETWORKSONLINE.COM
BIRMINGHAM CITY UNIVERSITY, MILLENNIUM POINT, CURZON STREET, BIRMINGHAM B4 7XG

INCLUDING THE MUSIC NETWORK 4PM UNTIL 5.30PM - WWW.BIRMINGHAMMUSICNETWORK.COM
AND BIRMINGHAM SCREEN IMAGE NETWORK 4PM UNTIL 5.30PM – www.birminghamscreenimagenetwork.wordpress.com

Jim’s early career was as an electronics engineer working in the aircraft and medical industries. He then joined a five-year hearing and speech project which led to employment in the pro-audio world, designing live sound mixing consoles and bespoke recording consoles for Midas Audio Systems. Manufacturing consoles for artists like Frank Zappa and designing theatre systems for the musicals Evita and Cats, he also worked with Pink Floyd for the original production of The Wall.

Frustrated that live sound system designs didn't keep up with the superb audio fidelity of the analogue mixing consoles at that time, Jim next became a freelance consultant working on a wide range of sound systems and, of course, very large scale outdoor events. His largest event, dubbed Popestock, was in 2000 with a single audience of over two million people and the furthest person being a mile from the stage. That event led to a nine-year stint with Martin Audio, originally as senior projects engineer and then as product manager.
Jim set up Sound Improvement Services in 2010, providing sound system and acoustical consultancy plus bespoke loudspeaker design for specialist use. He also writes technical articles, user-guides and training material for manufacturers, teaches Smaart v7 (audio measurement) and presents one-day classes on bass system control and room acoustics.

Creative Networks brings together all parties involved in screen and sound media in the West Midlands, promoting both successful business development and collaboration.

To join this FREE event, please register at www.bcucreativenetworks.eventbrite.co.uk or email creative.networks@bcu.ac.uk or call 0121 331 5400

Alternatively, register online www.creativenetworksonline.com

Job Opportunities - GBSLEP

Another job opportunity spotted on the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership GBSLEP website. The links to apply will go live on Monday 2nd September so go take a look before the crowds
They say..
'At the forefront of the national LEP movement, GBSLEP is looking for three talented and enthusiastic individuals to support the Board to deliver its Strategy for Growth. Focusing on project management; communications and engagement; and professional, policy and administrative support; the successful applicants will have a key role to play in driving forward this exciting agenda.'

Job Opportunities Spotted!

Rob, who's a member of the Digital Media Businesses Steering Group, emailed us yesterday to say 'Do you post Job Opportunities?' Well, yes! He'd spotted these job opportunities posted on LinkedIn and wanted to share them with the DM community.

The first opportunity is with Connecting Element, Digital and Social Media consultants based in Birmingham. They say 'We regularly scout for new talent to join our friendly team of digital professionals, which include consultants, content writers, social-media monitors, SEO experts, developers and designers.
Interesting in working with us? Call Karen on 07776 257932 or email your CV and one or two work samples to karen@connectingelement.co.uk'

The second batch of opportunities is with Red Eye, who say they are 'Conversion Rate Optimisation Specialists' with expertise in email marketing and web testing and optimisation. (I hope I got that right!). they have a whole list of jobs on their website, including this one for an Email Designer

'Email Designer / Executive – Milton Keynes
RedEye are seeking a talented Email Designer/Executive who will be responsible for the design, and building of emails for our client base. You will be creative, motivated and able to hit the ground running on a variety of tasks.'
Visit the jobs page on thier website for more http://www.redeye.com/about-us/jobs/

Innovation in Growing Cities - Nesta Event

We saw this event in Nesta's latest email newsletter... Sounds perfect for those with an interest in Birmingham as a centre of innovation

Date: 24.10.2013 10:00 - 16:00
Location: Birmingham
Join us at this major innovation event in Birmingham to explore the central theme of social innovation in growing cities.
This free two-part event will provide Local Enterprise Partnerships  (LEPs) and other organisations with the practical tools to grow jobs and use open data effectively.

To maximise the benefit of the event the day will be split into two distinct sections - a morning of presentations and conversations exploring innovating growth in jobs and an afternoon event workshop on Open Data Challenge Prizes.

The afternoon session has been designed specifically to bring together those with interest and expertise to offer to our open data challenge prize around energy and the environment and will be focused around a participatory workshop during which we will agree the challenge questions for our prize programme.

Following the session, we will issue an open invitation for ideas based on open data which address the challenges set, an innovation and creation weekend, development support to promising ideas and the opportunity to pitch for a grand prize of £40-50,000.
Speakers will include Birmingham City Council’s Leader, Sir Albert Bore and Nesta’s Chief Executive, Geoff Mulgan, amongst social innovators and experts.
You're welcome to attend one or both events but please register soon as places are limited.

Read more and book a place here

Invitation to Birmingham Show and Tell – Young Rewired State 2013

BBC and Birmingham City Council are delighted to invite you to Birmingham Show and Tell - Young Rewired State 2013
Please RSVP: digital@birmingham.gov.uk by Tuesday 6 August 2013

Invitation to Birmingham Show and Tell – Young Rewired State 2013
Come along and meet Birmingham’s Next Generation Coders


Where: BBC Mailbox
When: Thursday 8 August 2013
Time: 18.00 – 19.30
Dress code: Informal

Programme includes:

• Welcome: Catherine Hearne, Head of Regional & Local Programming, BBC Midlands
• Creating a brighter future for Birmingham: Sir Albert Bore, Leader, Birmingham City Council
• Code a better Birmingham – what next for YRS: Lara Ratnaraja, Independent Consultant
• Rising to the challenge: Birmingham Centre Kids & Mentors

What’s it all about?
Around 600 young coders will be arriving at Birmingham’s Custard Factory on 9 August as Young Rewired State’s Festival of Code returns to the city for its second consecutive year. Participants as young as 5 and up to the age of 18 will be working in over 50 centres across the UK including the local centres BBC Birmingham and Birmingham City University in the lead up to the festival. From the 5th - 9th the young coders will develop apps, websites, and digital prototypes alone or in teams using open data and will then unite in Birmingham at the Custard Factory on the 9th August for the weekend to present their ideas to Judges.

Join us at the BBC for an informal gathering of key city leaders across the public, private and community sector together with the Birmingham young coders to share and celebrate with them what they have created. Hear from them why coding, collaboration and creativity will be an important bedrock of innovation for Birmingham’s future economy and how YRS is helping them to exploit the economic, social and education potential of coding.

Refreshments and pizza!

Invitation only event: Please RSVP to digital@birmingham.gov.uk by Tuesday 6 August 2013

FUNDING OPPORTUNITY!

We all know that funding is getting harder to come by, so we were delighted that Susannah Goh of Birmingham Science City told us about this opportunity from Creative England.

The £1m pot is targeted at small and medium sized enterprises in the Creative Digital Media Sector in our region and comprises of deferred payment and/or interest free loans. If you're developing new work in the markets listed below, why not get the Expression of Interest form filled out straight away.

•     Cross Platform TV development
•     feature film production
•     Healthcare
•     Government Services
•     Games, Interactive Entertainment and Mobile Content
•     Business To Business
•     E-Learning
•     Mobile applications

The deadline for registrations of interest is: 21st August 2013. Visit the web page for more details and to submit your expression of interest.

Another fantastic opportunity!

We've had this fantastic email in our inbox this morning. It sounds almost too good to be true!

Are you a UK creative innovator? Need a grant to meet up with your opposite numbers in the Far East? Check out the opportunity being offered below...

UK-China 'Design in Innovation' Forum and Business Partnering Workshop 

This initiative is being organised by BIS/ FCO Science and Innovation Network (SIN), Innovate China UK (ICUK) and the Technology Strategy Board/ Creative Industries KTN and will visit the cities of Shanghai and Hangzhou between 14-18th October, 2013.

The mission will connect UK creative innovators and designers with their counterparts and technology-based companies in China across target sectors including creative economy, sustainability, additive manufacturing, future cities and digital healthcare.

Travel and accommodation grants will be offered to 10 successful applicants. Further information including a downloadable application form can be found on the website here. Completed application forms should be returned to richard@creativeindustriesktn.org by Monday, August 5th.