Photography: Livy Dukes | @livydukesphoto
Missed out on our NextGen Community Series event at Meta's offices in London last week? Find out what went down...
The second event in our free NextGen Community Series for 2024 in partnership with Young Guns Network took us to Meta's office in central London.
Featuring a talk from Meta experts about how to make the most out of Instagram, Threads and Facebook, the event also provided a space for like-minded young creatives to meet and network, as well as live performances from Youth Music NextGen Fund artists.
Panel
Hosted by Youth Music NextGen presenter Maya Egbo, the event began with a panel and a presentation from Meta experts.
Social media can be integral to the success of an up-and-coming creative. But how do you stand out in a crowded space, and what kind of content should you post on Facebook, Instagram and Threads to aid your career? The Meta experts were full of helpful tips, breaking down everything from platform algorithms to posting frequency and community management.
Some of the key takeaways for Instagram included:
- Be authentic, keep it real.
- Be consistent: post as often as you can and regularly.
- Engage your fans: responding to a comment or DM may earn you a lifelong fan.
Performances
Next on the agenda were electric performances from Youth Music NextGen Fund artists Richard Carter, Lex Gibbon and Tia Talks.
Rapper, songwriter and producer Richard Carter opened the Youth Music Awards last year, and has seen viral success with his song 'Le Monde'.
Pop singer-songwriter Lex Gibbon has been seeing success on the airwaves with several plays on Mollie King's Future Pop show on BBC Radio 1.
After releasing her EP, 'Thanks In Advance' last autumn, rapper Tia Talks has been dropping freestyles and live performances, as well as being interviewed by Sir Spyro on BBC 1Xtra.
Networking
With the presentations and performances over, it was time for attendees to meet one another. Young artists, content creators and budding industry entrepreneurs got chatting, swapping Instagram handles and email addresses to collaborate.
The Meta experts were also on hand for any further audience questions, providing more insight into how young creatives can harness the power of their platforms.
Our NextGen Community Series was designed to support emerging creatives UK-wide. That's why, as well as hosting even more free events at leading industry headquarters in London, we are coming to a city near you this year.
Sign up to our NextGen Community and be the first to hear about these events and more, as well as job, training and performance opportunities around the UK.
Young Guns Network X Youth Music NextGen Events:
- Wednesday 19th June – TBC, London Office
- Wednesday 27th November – Levi’s, London Office
Youth Music NextGen Community Events:
- Wednesday 17th April – The Night Owl, Birmingham
- Tuesday 21st May – Strange Brew, Bristol
- Wednesday 7th August – Mono, Glasgow