NPR Stage Ready Workshop Motivated Young Musical Talents

In addition to music and other arts, through the DC Rojc Open Air Festival 2025, we wanted to make our contribution in supporting young musicians, bands, and enthusiasts in the music sphere, specifically on a local level. This is why, at the Kotač Club in Pula, just before the musical part of the festival’s second night, we organized the NPR Stage Ready Workshop. This was a free, expert-led workshop conducted by Filip Pacak, a well-known sound designer from Zagreb.

Filip Pacak (b. 1992) graduated with a BA in Audio Production from the SAE Institute in Ljubljana and began building his professional experience during his studies (2012–2014). Although his primary focus is sound design and concert production, over the years he has also gained knowledge and experience working as a technician in the fields of lighting, video, and rigging. Pacak is an experienced technical production manager and stage manager, and in 2024 he joined the core production team of the InMusic festival. He works in concert promotion through his own agency, Subsonic Events. Since 2017, Pacak has regularly given lectures and led workshops in sound design, technical production, and event organization.

There were discussions about negotiating performance fees, preparation and communication with the media, self-presentation and promotion through social media, as well as the technical aspects of live performances. We are happy and proud that our workshop encouraged young participants to think critically, opened up a multitude of new strategic and logistical questions, but most importantly, provided them with their first real support in the music industry.

Lana, one of the workshop participants, shared her impressions with us:

I’m really glad this workshop was organized because it was very interesting and educational. It was useful to hear about what is needed and everything that goes on behind organizing concerts, and that it is not as simple as it seems. I learned a few new terms, such as rigging and rider (which I now finally know how to write, and it will certainly come in handy for the band). Besides that, the concerts were also excellent, with great bands and atmosphere. Many thanks and kudos to the organizers and Filip.

Emanuela’s experience:

Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this excellent workshop. It was very useful to finally learn how to prepare everything needed to apply for performances at clubs and festivals. It was also great to find out where to start promoting my album. Additionally, it was interesting to hear the perspective of someone who has been involved in this field for many years. I would love to be informed if there will be any similar workshops for young musicians because I feel I still have a lot to learn, and even after some time has passed since the workshop, I have many questions for which it would be great to hear expert answers.

Filip Pacak concluded:

Kudos to No Profit Recordings for organizing this type of workshop format. I believe that young people rarely have access to this kind of information, and I have personally encountered bands who come unprepared or, at the very least, unaware of all the factors that make a concert successful, both from a technical and organizational perspective. I was impressed by the engagement and ambition of the participants, as well as their ideas and approach. Through this kind of, though even more comprehensive, format, a pathway can be paved for young people, a pathway that, unfortunately, is rarely presented at the very beginnings of any practice in the concert industry.