Borneo World Music Expo 2014

 

 

Venue for musicians to meet head-hunters and show promoters
By Anthony Tan | Virgin Communications
email: anthonykhtan@yahoo.co.uk

 

The second edition of Borneo World Music Expo (BWME), organised by The Sarawak Tourism Board (STB) will be held on the 16-18 June at Hilton Hotel, in the city of Kuching, Sarawak, in the exotic rainforest island of Borneo.

STB is targeting a minimum of 300 foreign delegates to attend BWME and a few hundreds from music industry local delegates.

STB has successfully organised the international award winning Rainforest World Music Festival (RWMF) for 16 years as a leisure tourism event aimed at attracting foreign tourists to Sarawak as well as domestic tourists, not forgetting neighbouring countries like Brunei and Indonesia.



Dato' Rashid Khan

In 2014, STB under the leadership of Dato’ Rashid Khan CEO of Sarawak Tourism Board, took the initiative to break new ground to come up with a business event to be associated RWMF and thus gave birth to the BWME.

 

BWME will feature conferences, workshops, meetings, trade fair, music showcases and networking sessions which would develop Sarawak into a potential destination for art, culture and music.

 

Shall we start the conference session?

There will be three nightly concerts showcasing bands playing traditional, ethnic, folk, roots music, fusion and contemporary music which open the public.

Get a taste of BWME 2013 showcase reviews below:

  

This band Rafly Wa Saja from Aceh Sumatra Indonesia gave the crowd
an enjoyable evening with their fusion compositions at BWME 2013 showcase 

The Concert showcase has an important objective to expose the performers to the head-hunters, programmers and show promoters coming from Australia, New Zealand, Europe, India, Korea and Cambodia for BWME 2014.

 

The showcases at night will be opened to the public and tickets are priced at RM30 per ticket for each night. 



Lan E Tuyang performing

with his son (warrior)

Dato’ Rashid commented, “Last year the ten groups that showcased made a great impact and five were offered international concert dates or tours. One of the five, Lan E Tuyang, an ethnic Orang Ulu band went on a month long tour in Germany early this year. A sixth, Madeeh, an ethnic Bidayuh band presented at the Rainforest World Music Festival, also picked up a European agent and has an international career launched. That is a success rate we are proud of and one that we hope to match, even better, this time around”.

 

 Artists scheduled this year come from Sarawak, West Malaysia, Kalimantan, India, Java, Myanmar, and Thailand.

 

Speed Dating: One-On-One opportunity for music performers meeting headhunters, show promoters and programmers

The 2-Days BWME conferences is target for all professionals within the music industry who want to increase their contacts, pick up new skills and exchange ideas in dynamic conference sessions.

 

For BWME expo is also organised in tandem with the conference to support those who would like to promote their music industry products.

 

STB have invited over 20 international at their festivals and other venues throughout Asia, Europe, North America and elsewhere. world music programmers who will be here to share their skills in conferences, meet the delegates informally in a one-on-one discussion and to watch their live performance at the showcase.

 

These are professionals selected for their interest in and history of booking of artists from all over the world to appear at their festivals and other venues throughout Asia, Europe, North America and elsewhere.

Gerald Seligman

According to Gerald Seligman, the consultant of the Expo, “We’re using the same concept this year, but concentrating even more on acoustic and traditional music. The conference sessions will be mostly practical, with advice on how to enter local and international markets, how to professionalise, and with information on what Malaysia is doing to support the arts”.  

BWME is highly recommended to musicians, artist managers, labels, music venues, music professionals, cultural ministries, entrepreneurs, technology companies., artists who want to professionalise and reach ever-wider audiences, domestically, regionally and internationally should attend the Expo

 

It is also for those in the music industry who want to increase their contacts, pick up new skills and exchange ideas during conference sessions.

 

Sessions will include:

 

Professionalise: How to present yourself to agents, labels and concert programmers. How to write press kits, do photo shoots and how to get hired.

 

Opportunities in Asian Networks and Festivals:

Programmers from festivals throughout Asia will talk about what they look for and how best to approach them. New networks are being created -- learn about what they are accomplishing.

 

Opportunities in the International Scene:

Concert programmers from Europe and North America will talk about their markets, how they differ from home markets and give tips on how to break in and what to expect.

 

Using the Internet:

Self-promotion is easier than ever, learn how to use the tools that can make a difference in your career.

 

Special focus:

How artists in Sarawak are working to support traditional musical culture and how others might follow their example. Featuring Matthew Ngau Jau and others, including a session on how local governments in Asia support the arts. How they and the musicians each benefit from working together.

 

The BWME is open to all delegates who have registered whilst the public is welcome at the evening showcases. Delegate fee is RM360 and this includes entry to all the conferences, showcases as well as lunch and two tea-breaks and will also include a welcome dinner.

 

The BWME is supported by Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), and the Sarawak Convention Bureau, Malaysia Airlines and MasWing.

 

Malaysia to host FISE World Series in 2014

By Anthony Tan | email: anthonykhtan@yahoo.co.uk
Virgin Communications

Malaysia has the honour to be one of the sixth countries in the world and the first in Asia to host the Festival International Sport Extreme (FISE) World Series from 2014 - 2016 in Melaka.
 

It won the bid to host the event with the combined efforts of Malaysia Roller Sports Association (MARS) and Malaysia Major Events, a division of Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB), an agency under the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

 

FISE World Series is the world’s biggest action and extreme sports festival which showcases sports disciplines such as skateboarding, BMX, mountain biking, wake-boarding and inline skating.

 

 Standing left to right: Nicole Bricq, Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz,

                       Seated left to right: Herve Andre Benoit, Idroose Tambarin

The recent memorandum of understanding to bring FISE to Malaysia was signed by MARS president Idroose Tambarin and Hurricane Action Sport Company general manager Herve Andre Benoit.

 

It was witnessed by the Minister of Tourism and Culture Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz and France’s Minister of Foreign Trade Nicole Bricq.
 

Mohamed Nazri said, “The synergy between sports tourism and our UNESCO heritage destination Melaka will highlight the best aspect of what Malaysia has to offer in terms of extreme sports and tourism experience.”

With Malaysia beating 18 other countries, he added, “This is truly going to be a memorable and historic occasion for us all.”

 

Melaka will host the inaugural FISE World Series 2014 from 4-7 September is targeted to bring in 10,000 attendees comprising 3,000 international participants and tourists from all over the world and generating an economic impact of RM28 million to Malaysia’s economy.

MyCEB chief executive officer Zulkefli Sharif remarked, “With years of hosting major events, Malaysia is certainly capable of bringing to life the grit, action and outdoor spectacles needed for a global action sports festival like FISE.

Mountain Biking

“The race to win this bid was tough but Malaysia’s winning mix of venues, facilities, hospitality and the value for money confidently placed the country ahead of the pack. We cannot wait to thrill sports athletes, spectators and tourists from the world over with what Malaysia can offer, especially in conjunction with the Visit Malaysia Year 2014 campaign.”

 

Malaysia last hosted an extreme sport event, Asian X Game, in 2006.

Idroose said, “As extreme sports enthusiasts, we are truly thrilled to be the pioneer in this region to organise the FISE World Series. The strong government support has resulted in the confidence of Hurricane, the rights owner to the FISE World Series to choose Malaysia as the host country for its 2014-2016 series. We have extreme sport talents in Malaysia and it will be a waste if we do not provide them a platform to harness their skills and show the world what we have can be of world class.”






Wakeboarding

Extreme sport is still in its infancy although the sport has been in Malaysia for about 10 years. It has been stagnant due to lack of competitions and promotion of international events in the country.

With the FISE taking place, he quipped, “We hope it will revive the interest in the extreme sports locally once again.”

 

Malaysian Convention and Exhibition Bureau Targets Australian Corporate and Incentive Groups

By Anthony Tan email: micemalaysiabeyond@gmail.com

With Malaysian Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) successes in bringing over 9,000 participants from China under its “Malaysia’s Twin Deal Programme” launched in China last September, it is now targeting Australian corporate and incentive groups in Melbourne and Sydney to Malaysia.

The inaugural sales mission Australia by Ho Yoke Ping,

MyCEB’s General Manager of Sales and Marketing, is

offering the first package. Deal 1 offers value added support

for participants.

Among the privileges lined up are complimentary canopy walk at Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve, choice of cultural showcase activities, a ‘Feng Shui’ talk by renowned Malaysian ‘Feng Shui’ master or a Malaysian cultural experience, shopping discount vouchers, welcome cocktails and police escorts.

She added, “Deal 2 offers incentive rewards for Corporate and Incentive Planners and is based on cumulative numbers of participants.

“The Corporate and Incentive Planners will be able to redeem vacation packages to one of the destinations either Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu or Kuching inclusive of return air tickets, accommodation at five-star hotels, spa session and other goodies.

“These destinations are the top ‘must visit’ incentive destinations in Malaysia, known for its lush rainforest, fantastic beaches and heritage sites.

“MyCEB would give each participant a special welcome packs containing a personalised - Welcome Letter from MyCEB CEO Zulkefli Sharif, an eco-friendly reusable drinking bottle, Kuala Lumpur map, Malaysian cultural postcards and an exclusive tote bag."

MyCEB CEO Zulkefli Sharif

The Twin Deal programme is applicable to corporate and incentive groups from Australia and confirmed bookings must be made between January and December 2012 with the groups’ arrival from January 2012 to 31 December 2013.

Ho is offering additional incentive for the first 30 bookings.

“MyCEB would like to invite all event planners in Australia to grab this opportunity and to experience what Malaysia has to offer in terms of incentive products and services. The first 30 planners to booked a cumulative group of 500 participants to Malaysia will stand a chance to redeem an iPad 2,” she added

Meeting planners and incentive agents who need more information about the Twin Deal can call MyCEB @ +603 2034 2090 or email sales@myceb.com.my

MALAYSIA'S Business Tourism "TWIN DEAL PROGRAMME" for China extended its successful promotion

By Anthony Tan email: micemalaysiabeyond@gmail.com

This programme extension will include Hong Kong & Taiwan for 2012

The Malaysia Convention and Exhibition Bureau (MyCEB) has extended the “Twin Deal Programme” to 30 June 2012 due to its success and extension request by incentive planners. MyCEB has also extended this programme to cover incentive planners from Hong Kong and Taiwan this year.

The “Twin Deal Programme” is to reward both, incentive planners and participants, to hold business tourism events in Malaysia.

Deal 1
MyCEB will offer value added support for participants ranging from a group of 50 to 500 participants. Incentives include:
A Malaysian cultural performance for gala dinner
A choice of team building activity or a half-day city tour
Welcome gifts
Fast track immigration clearance
Shopping discount vouchers
For groups over 500 participants, addition to the above:
Provides support towards food and beverage costs
Personalised gifts
One return trip with police outriders

Deal 2
MyCEB is offering incentive rewards for meeting planners or agents who bring in an accumulative 500 participants and above.
For example, for an accumulative group of 5,000 participants, meeting planners are entitled to two return business class air tickets from either China, Hong Kong or Taiwan to Kuala Lumpur,
3 nights’ accommodation at a five-star hotel,
A half-day city tour plus shopping vouchers worth RM2,000 (USD670)

The Malaysia’s Twin Deal Programme (China) is applicable for meetings and incentives of more than 50 participants originating from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan and the events must be held in Malaysia by 31 December 2013.

MyCEB’s general manager of sales and marketing, Ms Ho Yoke Ping said “The extension will provide more time for incentive planners to take advantage of this unique offer. MyCEB would like to invite all event planners to grab this opportunity and to experience what Malaysia has to offer in terms of incentive products and services. So far more than 9,000 participants have signed up for the programme”.

Meeting and Incentive planners or agents can to contact MyCEB on Tel +603 2034 2090 or email sales@myceb.com.my for further terms and conditions for the Twin Deal.