Ben Simons is the participant attendant at the Red Bull Music Academy 2010. In his parallel existence he DJs as Benny Blanco, is a promoter and a director of an events company. At the Academy he is charged with looking after the needs of participants from 32 countries, and making sure they are settled into the Academy and London itself. Ben contributed Monday's diary.

Being a daddy, a friend and advisor to the participants is actually quite fun. Not in an egotistical, 'I’m the man’ kind of way. It’s a pleasure to welcome people into my city, 31 years deep and I’m not bored and never will be bored of what this city has to offer. Musically it is the centre of the world. Everything is available here.  The Red Bull Music Academy has gone in hard and I’m really feeling the events and lectures. Jazzie B proved that point with his excellent lecture in the afternoon.

That morning I'd woken up feeling pretty fresh and ready for the week ahead.  After last night's relaxed journey to Brick Lane for a curry with 20 RBMA heads (some participants, some staff), we had a nice walk back over Tower Bridge. Something I haven’t done since I was about six years old.

I got in the shower, lathered up ready to wash and go. All of a sudden, the lights went off, the water stopped and I the shouted the F word about nine times. There I was, covered in soap with no water. I got a towel and wiped off the soap, got dressed and waddled to the The Academy. In spite of my day's soapy start, at the Academy things were gearing up for the day's lecture with Jazzie B. Jazzie is one of the founding members of Soul II Soul, a real community and people man and the only soundsystem soundman to have been honoured by the Queen. Quite an accolade. I didn’t sit in the Jazzie B lecture but watched and listened form outside. I sorted out the shuttle service for the evening's gig at Cafe 1001, sorted a couple of interviews, smoked a bunch of cigarettes and ate a seriously bad pizza. Jazzie B really brought home what the UK music scene is all about. Got to hand respect to that man.

Night time brought the Short & Sweet event. And it was great. I don’t think there was a single English person in there, a testament to the diversity of London culture (and to bad denim). The three participants involved all played such different styles of music and it worked really well. The short films and animations were pretty inspiring too. I bumped into Gilles Peterson and we rapped about Arsenal's season. Outside again, I got offered a £60 stolen bike for £60. The sellers lyric was, “it’s worth over £1000”. I passed.

After running the Tower Bridge gauntlet, it was back home and to bed. Time to picture what the next day will bring ...running water I hope.