THE islands are alive with the sound of music and Autumn Curtis-Summer wants Guernsey’s corporate community to embrace it. The multi-instrumentalist is starting an agency to promote the use of musicians and back talent throughout the Bailiwick.
Her business idea is called LMent – short for Live Music Entertainment – and it made the final three at last month’s Bright Young Things competition.
‘When I was a university student I worked for a music agent and he organised my bookings and got me lots of work,’ said Ms Curtis-Summer, 29 (pictured). ‘In Guernsey, I realised that people were finding it hard to track me down as a musician because there is no central agency. If people struggle to find information of any kind, they tend to give up, so as with all service businesses, my idea is about making life easier.’
Ms Curtis-Summers’s pitch at BYT involved the surprise use of musicians planted in the audience to demonstrate the power of music at events. ‘I was surprised to get to the final. Putting together the presentation in a week proved I could do it by supplying diverse acts at short notice.’
She said the business would also serve as a means of encouraging students to continue playing instruments beyond school age by earning them money.
‘So many very talented people stop playing at that stage because they no longer have the driving force of a teacher behind them.
‘LMent would solve that and help to preserve the breadth of talent in Guernsey.
‘There are a lot of high-net-worth clients being entertained here and, at the moment, we are not making the most of the considerable local talent.
‘There are people who view the island as a backwater, but there is culture here and we need to prove that. I want the name, Guernsey, to become associated with great music, not just ‘hush hush’ finance.’
Ms Curtis-Summer said the business presented a high-profit potential because her only overheads were a phone line, laptop and basic stationary.
This impressed her mentor, Ian Walker, who used to be a session drummer himself and the pair have already discussed setting up a music holiday business with guests staying at his hotels.
Despite not winning the competition, LMent is already taking off by providing the music for an upcoming medieval family day at Castle Cornet.
Ms Curtis-Summers is also looking to organise informal free music events in Town during the summer to publicise musicians and the business.
The £2,000 she received for being a contest finalist will be used to develop a company brand and initial marketing materials such as business cards and a brochure.
A website is also in the pipeline, which will feature sound and video clips of musicians for clients to get a taste beforehand.
Ms Curtis-Summers leads a busy life combining performing, teaching, part-time work, studying and raising her two children, Elijah, 4, and Tallys-Faith, 2.
She also manages to cram into her busy schedule an active role in the Guernsey Climate Action Network.
‘There is a motto that says, “if you need something doing, ask someone who is busy”, and that’s how I live my life.
‘I’m used to living by a timetable. I’m not someone who can just chill out – I always find something to do. From what I’ve heard, to be a successful entrepreneur you need the energy and drive to make something work and I have stacks of that.’
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