Guest Speakers

Karthik Bala (2011)

As CEO and co-founder of video game development company Vicarious Visions, Karthik Bala has designed numerous commercially successful games including the Guitar Hero series. Vicarious Visions was originally formed as a product of a university incubator, similar to SUNY Fredonia’s Technology Incubator, at Bala's Alma Mater.
Bala's presentation focused on the patience and determination required in achieving goals and becoming successful. 
http://www.vvisions.com/about
/management.cfm

Award-winning bass guitarist for the heavy metal band Manowar, Joey DeMaio founded the entertainment group Magic Circle Music.
DeMaio lectured about the importance of merchandising, the relevance of large festivals in today's music industry, and his work with Magic Circle Music.

http://www.manowar.com/ 

Victor DeLorenzo (2010)

Victor DeLorenzo, former drummer of the Violent Femmes, currently plays with the jazz trio A Free Society and owns Joe’s Real Recording Studio.
DeLorenzo shared his musical experiences as a member of the Violent Femmes, including the lifestyle of a professional musician and his present work as a producer.

http://www.vfemmes.com/bandinfo.html 

Jon Topper (2010)

Manager of the international hit band moe, Jon Topper began his involvement with the group as a college student. Topper also heads The Live Music Summit, an annual music conference in Niagara Falls, Ontario.
Topper lectured about the importance of networking and seizing opportunities as they are presented, two factors that played a pivotal role in moe.'s management.    

http://moe.org/ 

Thursday- Rock Group (2006 & 2010)

A significant player in the early twenty-first century's post-hardcore scene, Thursday formed in 1997 and has released six full-length albums to date.
Thursday spoke about their experiences as an independent band and discussed the prevalent business practices in today's music industry.

http://www.myspace.com/thursday 

Stuart Shapiro (2003-2010)

Specializing in entertainment law, Stuart Shapiro is a practicing attorney in Buffalo, New York. Shapiro is also an adjunct professor to the SUNY Fredonia Music Industry Program, teaching MUSB-301: Music Copyrights and MUSB-320: Music Contracts during select semesters.
Shapiro enlightened students on the current practices regarding entertainment law, contracts, and copyright.

Artie Kwitchoff (2005)

Formerly a concert promoter for Clear Channel, Artie Kwitchoff now owns and operates The Town Ballroom, a prominent concert venue in Buffalo, New York. The Town Ballroom has hosted many national touring acts such as Yellowcard, New Found Glory, and Anthrax, to name a few.
Kwitchoff lectured about his career in booking and promoting musical acts for a privately owned venue.

http://www.townballroom.com/

Michael Ivins (2005)

Seen here in his recognizable skeleton suit, Michael Ivins is a founding member and bassist for the rock band The Flaming Lips.
Ivins discussed the transformation of the Flaming Lips from a small independent band in the 1980's to a famed, major-label group.

http://www.flaminglips.com/blog/ 

Dennis Drew (2001)

Keyboard player and founding member of the Ten Thousand Maniacs, Dennis Drew is currently the general manager of WRFA: Radio for the Arts, a low-power radio station based in Jamestown, New York.
Drew spoke about his career in a multi-platinum selling band and his interaction with industry professionals throughout the band's lifetime.

http://www.maniacs.com/Index.php 

Andy Karp (2001) 

Andy Karp is the former Vice President of A&R at Lava/Atlantic in New York. The acts he has worked with include Kid Rock (his first major success with Lava) and Uncle Kracker.
Karp lectured on the politics of major record label contracts and the future of the music industry.

Robbie Takac (2000)

Bass guitarist, songwriter, and vocalist for the Goo Goo Dolls, Robbie Takac currently chairs the non-profit organization Music is Art and owns Good Charamel Records.
Takac spoke with students about his use of his celebrity-level status in launching and benefiting charity organizations.

http://www.googoodolls.com/