- our new professional network
I’ve attended ADE (Amsterdam Dance Event, the world’s largest gathering of electronic dance music enthusiasts) many times, and it’s definitely a great way to connect with like-minded people who share our love for music.
That said, the sheer number of conferences, events, meetups, demos, showcases, workshops, parties, gatherings, etc., can be overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time at ADE.
The ADE Pro pass does offer some advantages, but it is quite expensive:
- Access to the list of Pro pass holders, which allows you to arrange meetings with the type of people you’d like to meet in advance.
- Access to some parties. While access to the bigger parties is not guaranteed and is getting more challenging each year, there are plenty of excellent parties by second-tier labels and DJs that are easily accessible with the Pro pass.
- Access to conferences. In my opinion, these are mostly boring, but they can be interesting if you’re relatively new to the scene. I only attend one or two talks at ADE, whereas last month, I attended six talks at the much more intimate and globally cheaper Berlin Dance Music Event.
- Access to networking opportunities.
- Access to demos, new gear, demo drops, etc.
A much cheaper option, but without some of the Pro pass features, is the ADE Lab pass.
As is typical of these events, most of the really good stuff happens ‘off event’—label parties, DJ lock-ins, private parties, etc., that you still need to wrangle an invite to. Some of the best parties I’ve attended during ADE were not linked with ADE (I paid or was invited on guest lists or popped into some free ones). Also, many people from the industry go there without a Pro pass because it’s the best way to have face-to-face meetings. Some favorite places to meet are in the hall of the Andaz hotel (always very busy; more than once, friends of mine introduced me to interesting people there with whom I’ve since collaborated) or the Hoxton hotel.
If you go to ADE, make sure you get good shoes. ADE is spread across many locations, and the easiest way to get from one to another is on foot, so you’ll walk—and dance—a lot. Also, bring an umbrella. I have never attended an ADE without encountering rain. Spend time finding proper accommodation, preferably in or near the city center, as they tend to be super expensive during that week (mind you, 400,000 people flock to Amsterdam for ADE!).
And, very importantly, build your schedule. There are so many conferences, events, shows, and meetings that you’ll have to make choices. Put everything you plan to do in advance on your calendar (though it will change due to circumstances and opportunities). If not, you may wander randomly and not gain much benefit. If it’s your first time, it can be overwhelming.
Something is sure, with or without an ADE pass, it’s an expensive week. Hotels almost triple their rates during that week due to the influx of almost 400,000 people to Amsterdam for ADE.
On the other hand, I’ve always met super interesting people during that week, established connections with tier-2 and tier-3 DJs and labels which led to collaborations and releases, physically met people I’d previously only met online (nothing replaces face-to-face connections), discovered new artists, even kick-started the career of an artist, had fun, felt ashamed of never having found the time to visit the world-famous Rijksmuseum, drank a bit too much, and always came back re-energized—and poorer.
Additionally, IMS, BMC, and BDME are much smaller conferences and therefore much easier to handle than ADE.
A tip for those who’ll go to ADE: try to find a slot to visit the Our House Museum (should be accessible with the Pro pass). It’s one of the most amazing experiences I’ve had in a so-called museum.
ADE, as well as other conferences, is a great place to learn, to make genuine and lasting connections, and to have a good time!
