FAR-West

Reminder to all hopeful artists for Official Showcases at FAR-West 2012 Conference

Reminder to all hopeful artists for Official Showcases at FAR-West 2012 Conference

The deadline of Friday, May 18, 2012, is looming. If you want to be considered for an Official Showcase in Irvine in October, 2012, stop what you’re doing and fill out the application, save it and attach it, and send in three links to live performances – all in one email. Everything you need to know is right here at this link: http://www.far-west.org/official-showcases-2012.html

And a few more questions that have come up:

1.       Each link you send us should be for ONE song. The ONLY exception is if a single link contains the ONLY three songs that you want to submit to the judging process.

2.       No more than 18 minutes total. Got it? No longer than 18 minutes! We can’t get judges to  help if we bog them down for weeks on end.

3.       If you don’t presently have the budget or availability to tour the FAR-West region, please do not apply for an Official Showcase position this year. Wait until you’re ready to tour.

4.       If you were a Showcase Performer within the last 3 years and aren’t absolutely certain that a new album project will be finished by April 2013, don’t apply this year. Start gathering good videos now for next year’s submission.

5.       Video quality does not need to be MTV-flashy. This isn’t a video competition – it’s a representation of your 3 best songs and your audience connection – even in a cell-phone video, that quality shines through. That connection is what will be helpful to the judges in winnowing the field from many to the Proud Dozen.

6.       No, you may not submit free-standing mp3 files. We are not sending files around to the judges. We are sending links inside a judging scoresheet.

7.       Yes, you may submit an audio-only link if it is accessible on the web, but not a free-standing audio file.

8.       No, do not direct us to your Reverbnation page and ask us to go surfing and “pick ones that you like.”

9.       No, do not send us to your SonicBids page unless it is to a specific single live performance.

10.   YES – do hurry up and get in your application and links. The first round of performer scoresheets are being sent out tonight. Don’t be left out.

Thanks from the Official Showcase wranglers: Peggy Glenn and Laure Falter. Thweet, hyahh. Giddyup!

Peggy Glenn
FAR-West Official Showcase Co-Wrangler
714-803-4755

FAR-West Networking Center

Dear friends,

The FAR-West Networking Center is much more than just an "Exhibit Hall." It's the hub of business connections among performers, presenters and others at the conference. It’s the point where you have the greatest potential to meet the greatest number of conference attendees.

There are just 40 tables available in the Networking Center for the 2012 Conference. We are keeping the prices low: half tables are $55; full tables are $90 for the duration of the conference. Electrical service is available at all tables for an additional (bargain!) $10. Tables can be reserved on the Conference Registration site and all exhibitors must be registered for the conference. In addition, exhibitors must submit a Networking Center Contract.

Networking Center business hours on Friday and Saturday are 2 pm - 5 pm. For more info, see: http://www.far-west.org/networking-center.html

or contact Steve Dulson
tinkersown@ca.rr.com

Panels and Workshops at FAR-West

Panels and workshops coordinators, Steve Brandick and Gigi Johnson, are putting together the sessions and looking for interested presenters for the following topics:

Audience Building
Finding Your Touring Niche
Where the gigs are
Use of Data and Social Media to Build the Audience
Capturing Live Performances
Understanding Digital Distribution
Southern California Folk Scene
Finding Brand Sponsorship
One-on-One Song Critique

If you have some expertise or experience in any of these areas and would like to help, email them directly:Steve Brandick <music@brandick.com> and Gigi Johnson <gigi@maremel.com>

Meanwhile, take advantage of Early Bird registration rates.
http://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1061374

Howard Larman Memorial Scholarship

Would you love to attend FAR-West but just don't seem to have the funds available at this time? If so, then you may be a candidate for a scholarship award through the Howard Larman Memorial Scholarship Fund. The Howard Larman Fund was created specifically to give partial and full registration scholarships to artists who would otherwise be unable to attend due to financial hardship. Artists interested in applying for the 2012 scholarship may submit the online application by August 3, 2012. (Electronic submission preferred.)

For more information and to download the application, go to:
http://www.far-west.org/hlms.html

Take advantage of Early Bird rates and register soon.
http://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1061374

Susanne Millsaps Memorial Coffeehouse

Sponsored by FAR-West, the Susanne Millsaps Memorial Coffeehouse provides scheduled showcase opportunities on a non-juried basis. Three performers are scheduled for each showcase slot, performing one song each, "in the round." The Susanne Millsaps Memorial Coffeehouse will take place on Friday and Saturday afternoon (onstage) as well as on Thursday and Friday night (as a PGS).

Booking for the SMMC is first come, first served, based on the order that people register for the conference. During online Early Bird registration you will have the chance to check off a box indicating that you'd like to be considered for a slot in the showcase. If you mark the box, you will be eligible in the order that you signed up. Later this summer you will be contacted by email to confirm if there is a slot for you and to schedule your specific showcase time.

Take advantage of Early Bird rates and get priority if you register soon.
http://www.regonline.com/Register/Checkin.aspx?EventID=1061374

Official Showcase applications

Official Showcase applications are going hi-tech this year. Hi-tech, low expense, low in-box clutter.

Hello everybody, now that we’re a week into this whole deal, it appears that a little clarification is in order. I am using a system that’s different from what you’ve used in the past.

After 3 years on Steve Brogden’s Best of the West Committee, I’m a huge fan of process to accomplish a complicated task. Therefore, I’ve devised a system (a process) that uses links-not files, and email-not snail mail, and live performance assessment-not CD or mp3 assessment.

All information will be gathered up, disseminated to judges who are spread throughout the FAR-West region, and put through a two-stage judging process. We don’t have the budget to duplicate reams of paper, and we want to preserve your resources – you don’t have to send CDs. We’re also not about to clutter up our judges’ email inboxes with hundreds of mp3 files. Links – links – links. Three links – a separate one for each performance that you wish to submit.

So, you ask: Why, this year, did I request links to your live performances? Great question! I was charged with filling the 12 coveted Official Showcase slots with the very best artists who are tour-ready, audience-pleasing, presenter-pleasing performers. Not musicians - not singers – not songwriters - not guitar players – but, entertainers. The whole package. How many of you remember Bob Stane’s “acceptance” speech at the Best of the West Awards a few years back? And his discussion in the Honorees’ Roundtable moderated by Sonnie Brown? He extolled the virtues of “Entertainers”: people who will fill seats over and over and over and leave audiences begging for more. Your goal in applying for an Official Showcase (and PGSs also), is to show presenters the best of your stuff so that you leave the conference confident that you’ll be booked if your style and material matches their audience profile.

My job as co-wrangler of submissions for Official Showcases is to select a slate of 12 top-tier entertainers so that presenters are ready to book their entire season from the artists we showcase at the 2012 conference. Lofty goal? Yup! But I’m gonna give it my best shot with the wonderful assistance of my co-wrangler, Laure Falter – a presenter.

The only thing that’s low-tech is our payment system for the submission fee. We thought we had a working PayPal account, but that is still to be sorted out. Rather than delay the submission process any longer, we decided that Julie would take your money via phone call, mail or fax.

Julie does money – I do application and links. Got it? We live 80 miles from one another, and I’m not willing to send your credit card number via email.

So, read this again: Application filled out online and saved as a document that can be attached to an email. That comes to me, Peggy Glenn, via email – not to my mailbox in front of my house. The info on that application will be scavenged electronically to fill in your bio in the program book. We’re all volunteers, we don’t need to be retyping your information. Please proofread your application completely, and run it by a grammar guru if you’re unsure about punctuation, capitalization, spelling, word usage, etc.

In the body of that email that has your application attached to it are three links – 1-2-3 – to live performances, either on your own website, YouTube, Hulu, some other site, or even an audio of a live performance on Reverbnation. Separate link to each performance, not one link and we go surfing. Got it? Three links!

Payment form is mailed or faxed to Julie Paris, or you can call her – she’s a happy phone person.

FAR-West Website link for applications and payment info:
http://www.far-west.org/official-showcases-2012.html

Let the games begin!

Peggy Glenn
Official Showcase Co-Chair

To All FAR-West 2012 (Registered) Musicians

To All FAR-West 2012 (Registered) Musicians

Because FAR-West encompasses all of us, we would like to pre-showcase the artists and bands who will attend FAR-West 2012. 

So, once you have registered for the conference, musicians/bands should send one (1) mp3 of 7mbs or less to Jeanette Lundgren at farwestfolk@gmail.com with
* name or band name,
* title of song,
* title of CD,
* year and label if applicable,                                                                                                                    * a representative .jpg of yourself, your band or a CD cover,                                                                    * a link to your website or reverbnation or sonicbids,
* your email address
* and permission to post this song/information on the FAR-West Reverbnation site (which auto-posts to our website and our facebook), streaming only, for up to a year from the date of our adding the song to the player. 

Here is a link to the Reverbnation Player with music from registered artists who have recently submitted their songs: http://www.reverbnation.com/farwest

Our Reverbnation player serves as a sampler of the variety of voices in our community.  We hope you will add yours.

FAR-West 2012 Official Showcases

FAR-West 2012 Official Showcases

Everything You Need To Know To Apply
Peggy Glenn and Laure Falter – Co-Chairs

Greetings artists. It’s time to submit for the 12 Official Showcase slots at FAR-West 2012, to be held October 18-21, 2012 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Irvine, CA. Six artists will be featured in 20-minute slots on Friday night, and six artists on Saturday night. We have made the process as easy, efficient and economical as possible for you, for the judges, and for your wallet. Submissions will be accepted until May 18. Please submit early so that the judges can get to work right away and not be deluged at deadline. We hope that the information on the website answers all of your questions and makes it easy for you to submit.

For Complete Submission Information, go to http://www.far-west.org/official-showcases-2012.html

Showcase Eligibility for Solo Singer/Songwriters, Duos/Trios, Bands

1.Not a Main Showcase Performer at FAR-West in the last 3 years unless
          a.within 6 months either side of a new CD release or
          b.newly formed duo, trio, or band

2.Tour-ready acts – available for bookings in the western states covered by FAR-West

3.FAI membership is required to perform, not necessary to submit

Timeline: Submissions open on April 2 and close on May 18. Finalists and alternates will be notified by July 7 and public announcement by July 22.

Questions: Contact Peggy Glenn at ItzPeggy@gmail.com. DO NOT CONTACT either Julie Paris or Steve Brogden, conference co-chairs. If neither Peggy nor Laure has the answer right away, they will find it for you.