Martin Atkins’ Band: Smart Book Release and Signing VIP Reception
2112 Chicago
Fort Knox Studios
Monday 6/25/18

Martin Atkins and his new book on how to survive and be successful in the music business.
If anyone can continually provide keen insight with a deft sense of humor to help you succeed in the music business, it’s without a doubt Martin Atkins.
So here it is: Band: Smart.
Succeed in the Music Business On Your Own Terms, a heavy tomb of a book, filled to the brim with insightful nuggets on all things from merch, marketing and promotion, and of course, photography, and much much more.
The VIP networking reception prior to Martin having a short talk at 2112 proved to be a wonderful time, all here to help celebrate in all things Martin Atkins, getting to meet and greet with the guy, have him sign your copy of his new book, and get a quick pose photo with none other than yours truly- Bobby Talamine.
Gotta work the room for Martin, because even on a Monday night here at 2112, a lot of people have shown up for this event.
You cannot emphasize enough the importance of Martin Atkins, and how much he means to the Chicagoland music community, let alone the world.
I’ve known Martin since his days drumming with Killing Joke and his label Invisible Records, based out of Bridgeport.
Honestly, since Martin’s drumming days of yore, he truly hasn’t changed much, except for the mad professor white hair.
Outside of that, it’s still F bomb this, F bomb that.
And of course Martin Atkins and his mantras on living: Happy to be alive (obviously) and – “Get the Fuck out of Bed”, which usually is posted first thing in the mornings between 5:30 and 7am on Facebook depending on the day.
Make no mistake: Martin Atkins and the simple things in life mean a lot in the long run.
You yourself chose this crazy / nutty profession.
So what are you going to do about it?
Honestly, if Martin had a way to Taser you safely to proceed to whatever’s gnawing at you- trust me, that would be in his bag of tricks alongside his god awful air cologne, packages of old and stale muffins and electronic phones dating back to 1985.
I think being tasered by Martin would be a good thing.
Anything to get the fuck out of bed – or at least- snap you out of the funk you’re in.
Cheers- Bobby Talamine – Music Photographer