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Thursday, November 05, 2009
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Category: Music
Well, FAR-West is almost here! Many of us will be gathering today for the free pre-conference concert (http://far-west.org/Pre-Conf-Concert.html) and the
tote-bag stuffing party/jam. Exciting!
I'm writing to remind you of a few things and give you some hot tips on maneuvering the private guerrilla showcases (PGS's). Much of it is also applicable to the conference, in general. These are written for musicians, but the basic ideas apply for non-musicians, too!
I'll be your friendly neighborhood PGS "Hall Monitor" (Floor Monitor?), keeping an eye out and making sure things go as smoothly as they can. I will help ensure everyone complies with the room/hotel/floor rules, and
will also be available to help resolve any problems that might come up. Look for me somewhere on the floor, often lurking around the New Stars In the West room
(365) or the Susanne Millsaps Memorial Coffeehouse (Ste 341).
Much of these reminders are PGS "etiquette," so please take note.They are gleaned from my years of experience with the PGS's and from collected suggestions and gripes of other people at the conference. It will help make things easier, better, and more FUN for all of us during the guerrilla showcases if we ALL keep these tips in mind.
Looking forward to seeing/hearing all of you!
Drive carefully (for a sign to put in window of car: "Wave if you're FAR-West bound" http://far-west.org/FARWestBound.pdf)!
Please do read this. It's long, but worth it...
In Harmony~~
Dana Charnofsky
PGS Floor Monitor
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Promptness/Timing
Most of you have 30 minute sets at your guerrilla showcases. Unless told otherwise, be aware that THIS REALLY MEANS 20-25 MINUTES of playing (defer to
the host in each room, and follow their rules)! The rest of the time is for changing over, packing up, traveling to the next showcase, etc. As you've noticed, the schedules
are booked tightly, and things need to run ON TIME
everywhere, to make it work. So be courteous and make an effort to arrive a few minutes early -- if possible -- for each showcase you're performing in. CHECK IN with whomever is running the room, so they know who you are and they know you've arrived. Don't assume they know you. Get ready to set up and start quickly and begin on time.
WATCH your playing time -- set a timer if you need. Seriously, people will thank you for it. End a few minutes before your stop time. NEVER go over and end late! If you're scheduled for a 30 minute set at 11pm and start at 11:05, don't assume you can play until 11:35. Unless you're told otherwise, be sure you are done by your original end time. Ending early shows you are thoughtful
and courteous. It will give you time to wrap things up, pack up, and clear out so that the next performer can get started on time. Do NOT stand around chatting with audience after a showcase. Take it out into the hallway,
quickly, away from the door, and keep your voices down out there. Remember, there are other people performing, even when you're not!
PGS Hallway Etiquette
Hall etiquette is often a big problem. Please help to remind everyone to keep volume down. It is exciting, but the really animated (loud) conversations need to be taken off the floor or saved for later.
Also, be aware of traffic flow. At peak times the hallways get crowded and it can be hard to move! Try to stay to the side and allow people to pass through. Often folks will be rushing from one showcase to another -- don't run! We have had crashing accidents with bodies and instruments, and it's a shame. If everyone tries to stay aware of the traffic, it'll be easier for us to get where we need to go on time. Do not leave instruments sitting out in the hall for long, and PUT THEM COMPLETELY UP AGAINST THE WALL, if you set them down temporarily.
Noise
Along with keeping speaking volume down in the hallways, we all need to be respectful of the music coming from every room. Remember, the PGS's are all
unplugged. Bass guitars may have small amps, and keyboards with built-in speakers can also be kept at a low volume. No mics allowed.
Even without amplification, there will often be loud singing or playing and it will be hard to hear anything else (groups, of course, will have more volume). Sometimes three doorways that are quite close together will all have
loud music coming out -- yikes. Let's not compete! If someone's set gets loud for a few minutes, don't freak out. That's dynamics. If it goes on and on and on, and
it's directly across the hall from you, politely ask if you can close their showcase door. If you are quietly performing next door to a blaring quartet, please continue playing so the people who are there to hear you can do so. And if you know you are extra loud, or your room is emitting high volume, please shut the door for a while. Be understanding. It's a shame when this causes conflict, so let's all chill and try to be friendly about it, okay?
Hotel Room Rules
Your PGS hosts have all signed contracts with the hotel regarding their music rooms. They should be aware of the rules that are expected of them -- things like no fires allowed, no trampolines(!), no diving boards(!!), etc. When you are in someone's room, please be respectful, as they are responsible for it.
Many people kindly provide snacks. Use common sense -- do not be greedy and take handfuls of food, then run
off to another showcase. Some hosts allow performers to leave their fliers/postcards on tables in their rooms -- if unsure, it's polite to ask before dropping them off. If you are sleeping in a music room, do not expect folks nearby to quiet down at 2am. They may be playing until the wee hours. If you want quiet, get a room on a quiet floor. Please, NO candles or incense in the rooms, as they tend to irritate many people's voices and respiratory systems!
Access
This year, again, we will have "security" at the entrances to the PGS floor. Sorry to call it that, but they are checking to be sure we do not have people randomly crowding up the hallways and showcases, when they don't belong. Security will be checking for conference badges and armbands, so be sure to wear yours at all times. That's right, this means that Aunt Flo and Uncle Ben cannot slip in to catch your 1:00am showcase, unless you've made arrangements for a $10 pass with your PGS room host. Go through your PGS room hosts for that.
Instrument Check
There will be a room on the 3rd floor where you can check your instruments for extra-safe-keeping. It will be
locked when no one is attending it. Please see the website and Program Book schedule for the times it is open. Do NOT expect to get access when it is not scheduled to be open.
Health
We will all be in very close quarters for several days. We will be getting minimal sleep and probably not eating as healthy as we'd like. Please, please take care regarding staying healthy!
Here are some simple ideas that can help people stay healthier during the conference. WASH YOUR HANDS frequently, especially after sharing instruments, handling
CD's/cards/money, blowing your nose, shaking hands, touching doorknobs... Cough and sneeze "into your inner elbow," instead of into your hands. Use antibacterial hand gel. Take Vitamin C, Airborne, Emergen-C,
Echinacea, or whatever floats your boat for immunity building. Try not to eat snacks that are left out in the open, where they can pick up germs from the air and
people's hands (nuts, M'n'M's, chips, trail mix, etc.) -- instead choose ones that are wrapped. Bring along some power snacks of your own -- fresh/dried fruit, string cheese, yogurt, protein bars.
DRINK tons of water and consider drinking Gatorade or another electrolyte-replacing drink, as the hotel environment is DRY and it's easy to get dehydrated! If it
helps, bring a humidifier to use in your room, so your
voice can get a little moisture while you sleep. Try not to smoke (or smoke less), and please do not burn incense or anything that may affect your lungs or immune system. Be considerate about wearing scents, and keep them minimum. Suck on cough drops to keep your throat moist.
How to Make the Conference Work For You
Paul Barker has written a very useful guide, previously called First Timer's Handbook, and I highly recommend
that EVERYONE read (and re-read) it before each conference! He also gives a FAR-West Intro Class on
Friday morning from 9-10. The guide and class are full of tips on how to maneuver the craziness, in order for you to get the most out of it all. The link to the little guide
is at the bottom of the FAR-West home page, in a box.
Or click here: http://far-west.org/pdfs/First-Timers-Rev2.pdf My favorite quote from How to Make the Conference Work For You: "Always remember, your primary objective is to build relationships. Your secondary objective is to book gigs. If you build the relationship, the gigs will follow."
Bring business cards, take notes on people you meet so you can follow up later, be friendly to everyone (not just other musicians -- aren't you attending so you can make connections for concerts/touring/bookings?!), ASK
people to come to your showcases, try to get some sleep, say THANKS when you see a hardworking volunteer (nobody gets paid to do this, before or during the conference), check out the Exhibit Hall where artists and non-artists spend much time networking, attend some workshops, spend some time in unfamiliar jams or
song-circles getting to know new friends, remain professional and continue playing even if no one is at your showcase -- you never know who might wander in...
You'd think this all goes without saying, but I've found it does need to be said!
Dana Charnofsky/Concerts In Harmony
Supporting Independent Music
Songwriter Sanctum monthly music series,
Sundays @ 2pm
The Church In Ocean Park, Santa Monica
November 15th
*FAR-West Performers: Lisa Nemzo, Strings of Hope, John M, Felice Peres, Dale LaDuke* December 13th
*Holiday Song Share--original/traditional songs*
January 24th, February 21st ...and more!
http://www.churchop.org/Home.html
FAR-West Music Conference
Hyatt Regency, Irvine CA
November 6-8, 2009
http://www.far-west.org
Dana Charnofsky/Concerts In Harmony presents~~
Paul Kulak & Lisa Turner BIG-Double-Birthday-Bash
Celebrating 100 Years!!
KULAK'S WOODSHED, Valley Village
November 19th, 2009, 7:30pm
Join us as we honor Paul and Lisa with a double 50th birthday bash...snacks, cake, decorations, music, and hopefully many of YOU
Performers: Severin Browne, Tracy Newman, Deanna Pino, Ric Taylor, Lisa Turner, Phil Ward ...and many others! Tune in for a LIVE webcast if you can't be present--
http://kulakswoodshed.com
================================================
~~Living in harmony
makes every day happy~~
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4:00 PM
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