First break for next generation UK music promoters with Make Your Mark

A successful live music promotions company, which has worked with some of the best breaking artists in today's music industry (such as Scouting for Girls, Dirty Pretty Things and Guillemots) has teamed up with the national enterprise campaign Make Your Mark to offer aspiring young music promoters across the UK the chance of a lifetime.

Curious Generation is offering the opportunity to help support people aged between 18 and 30 who are passionate about boosting the live music scene in their local area and have a genuine interest in running regular events. Curious Generation will provide credibility, expertise, advice and some financial support for young promoters who can source the best acts on a local and national level, promote and manage regular live music events and oversee technical details. In return the young promoter will receive a percentage of the profit share and can gain valuable industry experience and contacts, in addition to their normal work or study.

The opportunity applies to any live music from pop to classical and Curious Generation co-founders Alex Martin and Charles Baybutt are especially keen to hear from people who want to get into the music promotions business but do not know how to go about it, need support or do not necessarily fit what they think is the stereotype.

Alex Martin and Charles Baybutt

Alex Martin, said: "This is a great way for young people with a passion for live music to get involved with the music industry. The promoter's job requires brilliant contacts, from agents and music labels to management and press. This is a unique chance to build up those contacts and get established in the business with a bit of support from us. So if this sounds like something you would be interested in, we want to hear from you!"

Hannah Bourne from Make Your Mark, said: "The music industry is calling out for enterprising types to come up with fresh ideas. This is a very special opportunity for young people to get a foothold in the music business and be entrepreneurial while doing something they love. What better way to make money than promoting gigs and liaising with the hottest acts and venues?"

Paul Latham, President, UK Music and Venues at Live Nation, said: "This is an exciting time to be involved in live music. With income streams dwindling from recording contracts there has never been more demand from artists to tour. Therein lies the conundrum for any aspiring, or indeed established, promoter; how to deliver the artists aspirations both technically and financially.

"Talent is not just what appears on the stage, there is also an art to understanding and developing the potential for those performers. I look forward to seeing the progress of those who take part in Make Your Mark in the Music Business."

Young people who are interested can apply either individually or as a group via:

Make Your Mark In Music (www.makeyourmarkinmusic.org), which also includes a host of hints and tips about how to get into the music business.

Make Your Mark is the national campaign to unlock the UK's enterprise potential. It aims to inspire people to have ideas and make them happen, especially those with untapped potential. The not-for-profit campaign is backed by an unprecedented coalition of businesses, charities, education bodies and government.

It was founded by the four leading UK business membership organisations - the British Chambers of Commerce, the CBI, the Federation of Small Businesses and the Institute of Directors. Their Director Generals sit on Make Your Mark's board. It is also supported by the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform and is endorsed by the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown.

National organisations working closely with the campaign include:

Arts Council England; Association of Colleges; Black Training and Enterprise Group; Business in the Community; Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform; Department for Children, Schools and Families; Enterprise Education Trust; Learning and Skills Council; National Council for Graduate Entrepreneurship; National Education Business Partnership Network; National Federation of Enterprise Agencies; Prowess; Quality Improvement Agency; Scottish Government; South-East England Development Agency (representing Regional Development Agencies); Shell LiveWIRE; Social Enterprise Coalition; Specialist Schools and Academies Trust; The Prince's Trust; UnLtd; Young Enterprise

Make Your Mark (www.makeyourmark.org.uk)

Curious Generation is a live music promotions company, with experience of running 30-35 events per month in venues ranging from 100-1000 people; these events are a mixture of residencies, club nights and headline shows in London, across the UK and abroad.

Co-founders Alex Martin and Charles Baybutt are ambassadors for the Make Your Mark in the Music Business campaign. Artists that Curious Generation have worked with include: Dirty Pretty Things, Akala, Guillemots, Captain, The Hours, Scott Matthews, Sophie Solomon, The Upper Room, lethal Bizzle, Cold War Kids, Vincent Vincent and the Villains, Scouting for girls, the noisettes, Infadels, The Young Knives, Art Brut and the Holloways. In addition to working with all levels of artist, Curious Generation remains committed to its original ethos - to help source, develop and work with the most exciting cutting edge bands, artists and DJ's.

Curious Generation (www.curiousgeneration.com)