DMP is a collective of photographers, filmmakers & sound engineers who produce live shows of original, (and mostly) local musicians, in order to document and expose the talents of each artist involved.
People gather, imbibe, get to know one another, listen, dance and revel in the moment. A few months later, they can relive the experience online or stumble across a previous show they’ve missed.
Photo by Mark Smith
From April 2008 until March 2010, DMP booked 45 original bands & musicians local to Greensboro and/or surrounding counties in North Carolina to perform under our hot lights. Our media team, numbering over 40 independent professionals, have produced 45 live albums & music videos over that time period, as well as more than 2,750 photographs — all Creative Commons licensed to allow for non-commercial reuse.
All for FREE.
Moving Forward
Community building; promoting the Greensboro music scene; helping bands become DIY in distributing their craft; connecting with the local creative community — we’re extremely happy with the results of our first few years. Quite frankly, it’s been a blast. Back in the real world, though, a monthly production with an all volunteer staff hasn’t proven to be sustainable over the long haul, so we’re making a shift in our approach in order to continue to do what we love.
Musicians receive a good amount of empathy when it comes to not getting paid for their craft, but there are plenty of talented sound engineers, photographers and filmmakers struggling to make a living as well. So as we have supported musicians by providing professional quality media of their performance free of charge, DMP has decided to focus on developing an avenue for paying these other independent artists.
photo by CharlesMedia Photography
We’re capable of show documentation ranging from music videos to live albums to show photography to CD release party mini-docs. If you can think it up, we can produce it — both on-time and with a certain degree of bad ass.
If you’re interested in either hiring or participating with the dotmatrix project, please check out the following that pertains to you:
Venues: Whether you’d like to hire DMP to document a specific performance or partner with us to provide a media option for your performers — while marketing your venue through art and community building — please contact me, DMP’s Executive Producer, Sean Patrick Coon, and we’ll figure out a way to work together.
Labels: If you’d like to own a showcase of live performances of your catalog of artists — for sending off to booking managers, for promotions, for sale, etc. — contact me, Sean, to work together on producing a show.
Bands: Not on a label? Trying to get your name out there and play the better venues? You bring the sonic goodness and stage presence; we’ll produce a sick set of media for you to shop around after the show. We’ll work together to find a venue where the door can cover most of DMP’s costs, book the show and then you’ll drag everyone from your ex-girlfriend to Aunt Millie out to support you. You get the album/video/photos for as close to free as we can make happen & our team gets paid for their hard work. Have another band you want to play with? The more the merrier. Contact me, Sean, with ideas.
Media makers: While we currently have a team of media folk onboard who’ll get first crack at paid gigs, we’ll be documenting friends’ shows around town, here and there. If you want to get on and flex your skills, contact either Elizabeth Lemon (Photography Lead), Michael McQueen (Film Lead) or Don Ravon (Music Director/Sound Engineer). It’s a fun time, you’ll get good exposure and who knows, we might just be able to land you a paying gig down the line.
Everyone else: Have a drop dead brilliant idea for the evolution of DMP? Want to review local performances on our blog? Are you a part of a company that supports the arts, interested in underwriting a number of performances? Get in touch with me, Sean, and let’s discuss.
We love what we do here. We love you.
In music,
Sean