Rob Da Bank on music careers

Rob Da Bank is a Radio 1 DJ and music producer. Alongside his record label Sunday Best, he runs the Bestival summer festival. He spoke about getting into the music industry and mentoring young people.

Starting out in the music industry

"The things that got me most into the creative industries were reading the NME, listening to John Peel on Radio 1, and going to Glastonbury and seeing the amazing things that Michael Eavis was doing.

"I started off as a music journalist, and then I started DJing and running clubs. All those kinds of things influenced me – a lot of being barraged by music and sound, really. 

"I think to get into the music industry, you've got to be prepared to work really hard. I did years of work experience, working for free for magazines and record labels.

"Anything to get a foot in the door, meet the right people, make the right contacts, and do something different from everyone else.

Finding ways to get into music

"Bestival, my label Sunday Best, the things that we sign, the things I play on the radio – they're different from other people. I think if you're doing that, that's half the battle. 

"People we have in for work experience ... they're not just making the tea, they're actually getting something out of it."

"Kids and young adults coming out of school now are much more independently-minded. They're all on Facebook, MySpace, Bebo – they've got their own communities. It took me until I was 21 to find that.

"Now, kids of maybe 16, 14, 12 are actually making music in this industry already. I think it's absolutely key that schools push that.

"I did four years at university, sitting at the bar drinking beer! I did French and History of Art, so really it had no relevance at all to what I'm doing now, but it taught me a lot of life skills.

"I learned how to control budgets – and how to keep myself alive without my mum and dad! But I think if there's a specific job you want to do, like sound engineering or mastering, you need to go and do the right courses.

Running a music festival

"The last few years have been glory years for festival promoters. It's been getting increasingly more difficult. I know people who are losing jobs in the festival market. But I'm not going to get all teary about it. It's what happens. It's natural competition, and we've just got to get through it.  

"People still want to go out, listen to new bands, and check out good talent. I think as long as you're really savvy to that and you're offering people new and exciting things to go and see, then they'll come out.

"It's so vital that the festival market is supported, from the government to the punters. Festivals are an integral part of the UK's summer now. They're the UK's new summer holiday. 

Working in a changing economy

"When I was a kid, there was a recession, but I didn't even notice. I knew the word, but I didn't know what it meant. Maybe my mum and dad didn't have as much money, but I was never aware of it.

"It's so vital that the festival market is supported. Festivals are an integral part of the UK's summer."

"I think if you're under a certain age, it doesn't actually affect you day in, day out – you're still making music. If anything, it's going to make some really amazing music come from somewhere.

"Whether people have lost their jobs or are just fighting against it – maybe they're angry – it's definitely going to be a creative time for music. The UK has the strongest music industry in the world, I think, and the best. 

The importance of mentoring

"We do mentoring at our festivals. We get kids from the Isle of Wight to come down for a week and see how a festival is put together.

"We also do work experience at Sunday Best – we constantly have people in, doing all aspects of work. I really make sure that we talk to them. They're not just making the tea and delivering the post, they're actually getting something out of it. 

"The creative industries are leading the charge on all sorts of fronts. They're one of the most valuable things the UK has, and I think that needs to be recognised.

"Whatever happens economically, the amazing music, film and visual artists from the UK will keep going."