Brands need culture. Culture doesn’t always need brands. On Wed 4th November, UD and TheFutureIs bring Travis Beckford and three people who sit on the brand side of the table – Amani Bouri, Marci Beckford & Ruth Kilpatrick to tell you where the line is. Members go free…
A brand slides into your DMs. Free product. A post. Maybe a fee. Maybe not.
Is it a good deal? A bad one? Or the start of a whole new lane in your career?
Most creatives work it out by trial and error. Usually error. On Wednesday 4th November, the next Industry Takeover Series business seminar skips that part. The Brand Deal: A Creative’s Guide to Working With Brands puts you in a room with people who make these calls every day, and gets them to talk straight.
UD × TheFutureIs
All through November, every Industry Takeover Series event is a partnership with TheFutureIs, and this one is hosted by its founder. Travis has done radio, A&R and management, and in 2018 he launched TheFutureIs to open up routes into the industry for the next wave of artists and execs. He knows the business from both sides. He’s also not one for the polite version. Expect him to press his guests on what a real deal looks like, and what a bad one costs you.
Who’s talking
- Amani Bouri (Digital PR Lead, Europe, adidas): reads cultural and social trends and turns them into PR, social and digital strategy that gets the brand seen. Before adidas, she worked with McLaren Racing and PepsiCo.
- Marci Beckford (TheFutureIs): building the bridge between brands and the next generation of talent.
- Ruth Kilpatrick (artist development and freelance consultant): artist manager and creative producer with more than a decade across live, radio, funding and new music.
What you’ll get
- How brands actually work inside culture. The honest version, not the marketing deck.
- The real routes in. How each guest got into brand partnerships, and what the journey looked like.
- What’s happening right now. Live examples of music, sport, fashion and culture crossing over.
- How to spot a good deal. What separates a partnership worth doing from one that just uses you.
Who it’s for
Artists, creatives, and anyone building a career with brand work in the mix. Chasing your first partnership? Come. Already in the room and want to do it smarter? Come.
The details
- When: Wednesday 4th November 2026, 7pm–9pm (doors 6:30pm)
- Where: Talent House, 3 Sugar House Lane, London E15 2QS
- Tickets: £5 general admission at UDtickets.com
- Ages: 16+
Members go free
Talent House Membership is here, and members get in free to this one. Membership also unlocks member-only writing camps, opportunities and more. Not a member yet? Find out more and register your interest HERE.
More from UD × TheFutureIs this November
- Wed 11 Nov: Bedroom to Banger with Greatness Jones. The producer behind tracks for Giggs, Kojey Radical and Ray BLK breaks down a real track from idea to placement. Members £5, general admission £10.
- Wed 18 Nov: A&R Masterclass. Travis Beckford and Ruth Kilpatrick play and critique real tracks live, and tell you how A&Rs spot talent. Members free, general admission £5.
The next brand that comes knocking will have a plan. Make sure you’ve got one too! Book your place →
The Industry Takeover Series is supported using public funding by Arts Council England, with support from PRS Foundation and PPL.
