Aged 15-25? Thinking about a career in the music industry and need some advice? Hear from industry professionals about their jobs and career opportunities at the forthcoming FReeZACentral Workshops in Mornington, Geelong, Melbourne, Ballarat, Mildura, Gippsland and Wangaratta in September/October.

FReeZACentral is part of Victoria Rocks, a Victorian Government initiative, and is managed by The Push and Mushroom Marketing, to help budding young artists and music industry workers kick start their music industry careers.

FReeZACentral annually runs eight free music industry career workshops for 15 to 25 year olds around Victoria each year. Better yet, if you attend a workshop and are aged 18-25 years, you're eligible to apply to the FReeZACentral Mentoring Program. Each year over 50 young people at paired with music industry mentors and organise a tour and CD release.

As always, the workshops will cover:

Performance – the artist’s perspective
Technical Production - sound/lighting/engineering/recording
Event Management – staging events and managing tours
Music Business – band management, business affairs and more
Marketing & Publicity – media, promotions, marketing, publicity

This year’s workshops will feature music industry professionals like:

- Catherine Haridy (Mngr Eskimo Joe, Bob Evans, Fmr A&R Mushroom &Warner)
- Megan Washington (Washington)
- Lindsay Gravina (Birdland Studios, producer for Jet, The Living End & more)
- Michael Crafter (Confession)
- Jimi Maroudas (Independent Producer (Eskimo Joe, Bertie Blackman)
- Natalie Bell – (Director, Milefire Management, Oh Mercy, Whitley, Muph & Plutonic, Plutonic Lab)
- Mark Lang (Skipping Girl Vinegar)
- plus representatives from Big Day Out, Soundwave Festival & Touring, Roadrunner Records, Destroy All Lines, The Espy, Samurai AV

(*PLEASE NOTE: Speakers vary at each event, see website for details)

By attending the FReeZACentral Workshop Program and completing assessment sheets, participants can get free accreditation towards a nationally recognised Certificate 3 or 4 music industry qualification, and access further free accredited training through NMIT.

Upcoming Workshops

Mornington - Tuesday, September 7
Peninsula Community Theatre-Complex, Cnr Nepean Highway & Wilsons Rd, Mornington
5.45pm - 8.30pm

Geelong - Wednesday, September 15
Pan Studios, 17 Rutland St, Newtown, Geelong
5.45pm - 8.30pm

Northcote - Saturday, September 18
Northcote Town Hall, 189 High St, Northcote
12.45pm - 3.00pm

(*PLEASE NOTE: Includes FREE ENTRY to Washington & Vasco Era all ages show presented by Darebin FReeZA Committee, Darebin City Council & Darebin Music Feast, Northcote Town Hall, Saturday 18 September - more info at musicfeast.com.au)

Ballarat - Tuesday, September 21
Ballarat Learning Exchange, 36 Camp St, Ballarat
5.45pm - 8.30pm

Mildura - Wednesday, September 22
Sacred Heart Hall, Wattle/Langtree Pde, Mildura
5.45pm - 8.30pm

Gippsland - Wednesday, October 6
East Gippsland Tafe, 48 Main St, Bairnsdale
5.45pm - 8.30pm

Melbourne - Saturday, October 9
Melbourne Town Hall, Swanston St, Melbourne
1.15pm - 4.00pm

Wangaratta - Wednesday, October 13
Wangaratta Performing Arts Centre, 33-37 Ford St, Wangaratta
5.45 - 8.30pm

For more info and to register for the FREE workshops, head to www.freezacentral.vic.gov.au or call The Push on (03) 9380 1277.