Amp up your visual presence!

During this event, you'll have the chance to receive a free one-on-one marketing audit tailored to your band. Our expert facilitators will dish out tips, techniques, and insights to help you elevate your visual branding game and stand out in a crowded scene.

Co-presented by the Kingston Music Office

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ANDREW MCLACHLAN

Andrew McLachlan was a full-time design Professor and Program Coordinator in the Graphic Design Program at St. Lawrence College for 18 years. In his professional design practice, Andrew won a Juno Award for Best Album Design (the Tragically Hip), Gold and Silver Design Awards from the Canadian Council of Advancement of Education, and was recognized by Communication Arts magazine for Art Direction. He has served on the Registered Graphic Designers of Canada Education Committee, and holds a Masters degree in Distance Education. Besides The Tragically Hip, he has designed album packages for Emily Fennel, Georgette Fry, Buck Jones (his former band) and other local artists. He continues to work on design and music projects, as well as writing his own songs and playing guitar in two other bands.

JEN OCHEJ

Jen Ochej stumbled into tour management by accident. Sticking up her hand to pitch in for local musicians on the East Coast turned into an award-nominated music blog, which turned into a gig as publicist for In the Dead of Winter Festival, which led to a series of fortuitous conversations with Basia Bulat, Jim Bryson, and Kathleen Edwards, and before she knew it she was interning at Eggplant Entertainment, a management company in Toronto which handled artists like The Tragically Hip, Sam Roberts Band, Hannah Georgas, and more. She's still not entirely sure how it all happened but she wouldn't change a thing.

After her internship, Jen dove headfirst into live music as a Tour Manager and has spent the better part of the last decade on the road with Lights, Jessie Reyez, Rupi Kaur, Amanda Rheaume, The Dears, The Summer Set, Ria Mae, and more. In 2023 she was named Road Warrior (Tour Manager) of the Year at the Canadian Live Music Awards, and now she's on a mission to share everything she's learned in her years on the road with aspiring TM's, DIY artists, and everyone in between.

MARY MEGAHY

Mary Megahy is a Radio Announcer, Music Director and Curator from the GTA. With 10 years of experience in the radio industry, Mary has travelled across Canada working on air, music directing, and content creating for several different radio stations, receiving a nomination for Music Director of The Year at the Canadian Music and Broadcast Industry Awards. She has a deep passion for music, pop culture, and fashion. In her downtime, you can find Mary enjoying dining hot spots, practicing yoga, or listening to Drake.

ROB HOWARD

A renowned marketing and branding authority, Rob's career spans over 25 years. While his professional experience encompasses tourism, economic development, retail and consumer goods, Rob's passion has always been for music. In 2018, he co-founded Kingston Live to help elevate the many talented artists and live music venues that comprise Kingston’s music economy, and to forge a destiny for the city as Canada’s First Capital of Music. Since then, Kingston Live has amassed a devoted audience, as the volunteer-run collective continues to grow its media footprint and cultivate its community of live and local music-lovers.

MELISSA EAPEN

As a Kingston entrepreneur, Melissa co-owns Improbable Escapes, a company specializing in escape rooms, and Visual Menace, which offers services in production design, art direction, prop design/fabrication, and special effects. Her feature film credits include "Angel Three" and "Den Mother Crimson," along with numerous music videos, short films, and gallery installations.