JK I remember your tale from Midem last year. Is it worth coming over ? Does anyone of you care about the ARIA AWards which just happened last night ?

I'd say it's worth it for you, as I suspect you have the mentality and organisation to get something out of it. You also seem to have enough different projects to be able to play at different levels (there's nothing worse than coming with one project and realising it has no commercial hope on the first of five expensive days). The trick is ample planning beforehand. so book early and start combing the database to set up those meetings. The Australian indies are there every year. Maybe you can get a reduced entrance fee through them.

But don't forget that the actual deals are usually done after Midem.

I went last year specifically for certain reasons KZ.

It was the first time I could travel again after my parole finished and I wanted to show I was determined to continue with a high profile (you would not believe the amount of young executives who asked me who I was and said they had entered the industry believing it was full of characters like me - I was in "the suit" and the Rolls!).

I wanted to meet old friends (Seymour Stein, Steve Greenberg, David Massey, Harvey Goldsmith, Roger Ames etc) and new Tipsheeters (like Michael).

I wanted to give away copies of EARTH TO KING (terrific response since with hundreds of calls and deals).

I wanted to investigate the "new model".

I think, after meaning very little, it now perhaps means more.

But Michael's advice is SPOT ON.

Will not be there for 08, much too much work and going for East African stuff in February (Zanzibar Music Festival etc). Midem 2007 was great though, not so much for the aggregator shit I had planned but especially to meet JK and Steve for tea. Ted Cohen is another great guy.