Local band Next Exit (all the members are in their early teens) performing at the video workshop.
It could have been bigger and better but as far as debuts go, the first annual Homemade music symposium proved successful. The event took place Saturday at the Performing Arts Building on the Hillsborough Community College Ybor City Campus. I arrived at 1 p.m. to catch Tampa resident Scott Leonard, of the famed vocal group Rockapella, give a 30 minute lecture on "The New Musical Democracy." The 246-seat capacity, newly renovated Main Stage appeared about three-fourths full.
"In 20 years in the business I've seen a lot of change," Leonard said. "The gatekeepers are still there for radio but not for reaching your fanbase [via the Internet]. I think it's pretty viable to make a living on your own without a studio or record company."
This article appears in Jun 4-10, 2008.