On a warm Sunday in late May, Martin Atkins brought his “Tour:Smart” presentation to the Hare and Hounds in King Heath. For those who missed our earlier blog post, Atkins is a musical entrepreneur with a packed C.V. that includes; drummer/producer/author/label-owner/presenter/lecturer/publisher/filmmaker – and self confessed “crap” DJ…

It was hard to argue with his philosophies on touring and the music industry – and few tried. His decades of insider experience have given him the confidence and insight, not to mention the stage presence, to easily engage an audience. The eclectic crowd included several hard-core “Killing Joke” fans, worried musicians, a smattering of academics and bar patrons curious to know what all the swearing was about. Atkins didn’t disappoint, with almost two hours of industry mantras, anecdotes, a very old mobile phone, and plenty of Red Bull. A big thanks to Birmingham City University’s School of Media and AHRC partner Capsule for their help in putting this event together.

A warning to those with delicate ears. This clip contains strong language.