About me
Where to start?
My first business was Plastic Raygun records, set up with friends soon after graduating. I spent the following years travelling the world as one half of Phantom Beats, releasing records, DJing for hundreds of thousands of drunk people, and having a top ten hit with one of our artists.
I’m now a “creative industries ninja”, as coined by a friend, due to jumping around working on several different projects at once.
I am a creative industries consultant, working with lots of organisations, including the Welsh Assembly Government, and delivering talks on creative business etc…
I’m managing director of Dizzyjam, a brand new, and brilliant, merchandising service for the independent music industry. Launched Sept ’09 after years of “planning”.
I’m the founder of NOCCI, global network creative, entrepreneurial, or just downright interesting folks. I founded this in 2007.
Alongside Claire Scantlebury I run Ignite Cardiff, an regular informal community event that encourages people to share their ideas, passions and thoughts in 5 minute rapid-fire talks, and TEDxCardiff an event that brings world class speakers to Cardiff in order to inspire, inform and entertain. Both events are free, and organised voluntarily to encourage networking and knowledge transfer among the creative, web and business communities.
In early 2009 I set up a quick, temporary wifi map just for Cardiff, but the idea rapidly expanded to other cities and other countries. I am now in the process of setting up a global wifi map with Chris Duran. He lives in Australia, and we have never met. An internet business in the truest sense! It will be a “wikipedia of wifimaps”, and truly user generated.
I’m a music industry mentor for Community Music Wales, working with disadvantaged young people.
I’m also training for a triathlon, and tend to like doing something a bit physically challenging each year. The more outrageous the better. Endurance walks and marathons completed. Looking for 2011′s challenge already. Got an idea for skiing across the arctic circle, or walking to Outer Mongolia in moon boots? Let me know, as I might want to join you!
There’s lots of other bits and pieces. If you’d like to know more just get in touch…
Hi Neil
Your note in the tent made me laugh! Hope your on good form thought i would say hi
All the best
Nigel
Hi Neil,
Any chance you could add the option to subscribe to your blog by email? I’m too erractic in checking my Reader but would love to keep abreast of your writings easily (and lazily) by having them plonk into my inbox…
Hope you’re good, take care
Noreen
Hi Nigel,
Only just seen your comment. Hello!
Noreen. That’s added. Let me know if it does/doesn’t work for you.
Cheers!
Amazing what you find out innit. Just had a look at (and updated a couple of venues on) the Cardiff WiFi map.
Great resource.
Thanks Marc!
Brand new Wifimap site coming veeeery soon…
Coffee/pint sometime?
Hi Neil
Caught your talk at the Bath camp last week, very entertaining. I work with a couple of record labels (NRK and SUAD) so it was interesting to hear your story. If you should need any design or know of any labels that do be sure to give me a shout.
cheers
Adam
Thanks Adam. Glad you liked the talk!
Like your site – good stuff…
Will bear you in mind for future projects.
Cheers,
Neil
Hi Neil
Would like to meet up and talk about mentoring. In the process of setting up a mentoring programme for young social entrepreneurs in Wales.
Cheers Sam