Few individuals in the music industry today can claim as deep a knowledge of the independent music world as Steffen Franz. As the Founder and CEO of Independent Distribution Collective, Steffen works daily with musicians of all genres to help them navigate the changed world of music today.

Now, this longtime instructor of Planning for Success will himself be leading a P4S lecture. Steffen will outline the path he took from dancehall innovator to entrepreneur, and DJ to award-nominated executive.

As always, all Planning for Success are free with RSVP.

What: Planning for Success with STEFFEN FRANZ (IDC)
Where: 832 Folsom St. - San Francisco, CA

When: 10:00AM - 12:00PM ::: September 7th, 2010
Who: Steffen Franz - Founder, IndependentDistro.com
How Much: FREE w/ RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

About Steffen Franz
President and Founder of Positive Sound Massive Recordings and Independent Distribution Collective and is also Label Consultant for Epiphyte Records. Stand Out Selector, aka Steffen Franz is well known as a dancehall innovator. As a DJ/Producer/Remixer and the owner of PSM Recordings, he has brought his conscious reggae vibes to people from New York to Hawaii (and San Francisco in between). Since forming PSM, Steffen worked as reggae buyer for Rough Trade Records in San Francisco, and as Reggae Editor for American Music Press. From 1994 to 1998, Steffen was the Production Manager of the Paradise Lounge /Transmission Theater in San Francisco. In the summer of 1998, he began tour managing Mix Master Mike, traveling the globe on Mike's solo tours as well as with the Beastie Boys. Steffen has also tour managed Linton “Kwesi” Johnson and Lee “Scratch” Perry across the USA.

In the Late 1990s, SOS DJ’d hundreds of shows throughout California, Nevada, Washington, New York and even Australia & New Zealand, where he played opening and break sets for the Beastie Boys "Hello Nasty" World tour. SOS has produced tracks for artists such as Nicodemus, Shinehead, Barrington Levy, Rocker-T, Jamalski, Wookie J., Karney, DJ Collage, and San Francisco’s New Dealers. In the past few years, SOS has been running Positive Sound Management which currently represents Rocker-T, Poetz4Peace, Haji Mike, Cas Lucas, Ian Collins, and Karney. SOS also plays bass in the rock band Not For Not, raps in Karney and is a member of "biL" a dancehall, surf, hip hop, band.

Other recent developments include launching Independent Distribution Collective in 2004, which grew from 9 labels to over 200 products in 3 years, and now includes digital distribution and film and DVD distribution. Recent studio works include production of over a dozen albums including: Nuffsed "Ignite the Fuse", Rastrillos "Se Acabo El Reve", Haji Mike "The Storyman", Jahson Ites "Forward Outta Babylon", and new releases from Bhi Bhiman and Lou Dog Trio.

Steffen also now brings his diverse experience and knowledge to bear as an instructor for the music business classes at Pyramind, and to consulting for Pyramind's label, Epiphyte Records.

House music is a vital part of the San Francisco music scene, moreso than almost any other city in the country.  And Deron Delgado is one of the innovators and entrepreneurs who has been at the heart of it for years.  He'll be joining us at Pyramind Studios on Tuesday August 3rd for an exclusive Planning for Success guest lecture.

As the owner of the digital download site Stompy.com, Deron has seen all sides of the electronic music industry, from DJ to producer, and promoter to website founder.  Not many people in the industry can boast experience quite so broad.

Which is why we're thrilled to be hosting him for this informative guest lecture.  For those interested in learning more about how electronic music is made and distributed, and the in's and out's of the industry today, this is a lecture you won't want to miss.

What: Planning for Success with DERON DELGADO (Stompy.com)
Where: 832 Folsom St. - San Francisco, CA

When: 10:00AM - 12:00PM ::: August 3rd, 2010
Who: Deron Delgado - Owner, Stompy.com
How Much: FREE w/ RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Pyramind Studios COO/Composer and accomplished guitarist Paul Lipson steps to the Planning for Success stage for our Tuesday July 27th guest lecture. Paul will be speaking about a topic he's become familiar with over his extensive career: the challenge of maintaining balance while achieving both business and creative goals.

He'll also touch on the topics covered in his popular blog entries, including a discussion about his "Art vs. Craft" entry, which attempted to distinguish the characteristics of artists versus pure technicians.

And of course, no talk by Paul would be complete without a discussion about the music industry today, including an exploration of the burgeoning field of game audio, and how students and musicians alike can get ahead in this increasingly competitive field.

As always, Planning for Success lectures are FREE w/ RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

What: Planning for Success with PAUL LIPSON
Where: 832 Folsom St. - San Francisco, CA

When: 10:00AM - 12:00PM ::: Tuesday, July 27th
Who: Paul Lipson - Pyramind COO/Composer - www.PaulLipson.com
How Much: FREE w/ RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

For more than 30 years, attorney Edward R. Hearn (www.internetmedialaw.com) has focused on intellectual property and business matters related to creative artists and media-based companies.

Over that time, it’s almost impossible to list all the areas of focus of Ned’s law practice. Just a few of them include: entertainment, internet, and computer software businesses; intersecting content, media, and technology and in the digital internet environment; multi-media and internet web-based productions; licensing, distribution, and marketing; copyright and trademark matters; merchandising; sponsorships; film, television, and video productions, and many, many more.

On Tuesday June 15th, he’s bringing this deep and extensive experience to Pyramind Studios for a very special, and highly-informative Planning for Success guest lecture.

Ned will be speaking not just about his personal path to success, but sharing his accumulated legal wisdom about pitfalls for young musicians to avoid when beginning to dip their toes into the digital music age. Plus he’ll be answering your music-related legal questions and sharing his perspective on some of the positive developments and unfulfilled potential of today’s music industry.

On Wednesday April 21st, she's coming to Pyramind Studios to continue that mission in her second Planning for Success guest lecture.

Once again, she'll be sharing her life story from punk pioneer to hearing health advocate, as well as showing great films about the inner workings of the ear, plus taking impressions for custom musician's earplugs... a necessity for any working musician who enjoys going out to concerts today.

RSVP to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it