FAR-West Discussion List - Frequently Asked Questions

Welcome to the FAR-West Discussion List! This document is intended to help you make the most use of this mailing list.

FAR-West is a regional chapter of the North American Folk Music And Dance Alliance. The FAR-West mailing list was created primarily for Folk Alliance members in the Western U.S.

Subscribe to the FAR-West Discussion List by visiting this link. Here you may also change from individual messages to digest formats, as well as unsubscribe. This link is at the bottom of every message that comes from the FAR-West list.

An interest in folk music, regional venues and house concerts is assumed. You do not have to be in the folk music business to participate, but keep in mind that many readers of the list are musicians and/or active in supporting folk and traditional music in the West.

Questions:

1. What is FAR-West?

2. What is the purpose of this list?

3. What topics are usually covered here?

4. I'm new to the group. What do I do?

5. Can the FAR-West list help me plan my tour?

6. Can I post my gigs to the list?

7. Can I add FAR-West posters' email addresses to my own gig list?

8. I have a gig, but I need a place to stay!

1. What is FAR-West?

"Folk Alliance Region West (FAR-West) is the western regional chapter of the North American Folk Music and Dance Alliance (Folk Alliance). FAR-West exists to foster and promote traditional, contemporary and multicultural folk music, dance and related performing arts in the Western United States including but not limited to California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii, and Alaska. FAR-West seeks to strengthen and advance organizational and individual initiatives in folk music and dance through education, networking, advocacy, field and professional development.

2. What is the purpose of this list?

The primary purpose is for FAR-West to communicate with its membership and for FAR-West members to communicate with other members. However, list membership is not restricted only to FAR-West members. Since both the list and the chapter are fairly new, most discussions have centered around planning, meetings, and the annual conferences.

3. What topics are usually covered here?

List discussions include plans for the FAR-West annual conference, FAR-West local events, and the national Folk Alliance conference. Other topics of general interest to members in the region are welcome.

4. I'm new to the group. What do I do?

You may "lurk" for awhile before "piping in." The mission of the list is primarily to advance awareness of folk and traditional music in the FAR-West region. Remember that many list members participate in other lists, and many are busy writing songs, presenting talent or securing grants. If your topic has something to do with advancing folk and traditional music in the West, it will be welcome.

5. Can the FAR-West list help me plan my tour?

Indeed it can, but only when you are looking for "fill-in" dates when you have a void between "here" and "there." The FAR-West Discussion list was never intended to be a vehicle for booking whole tours or tour/venue schedules. If a venue or a performer has holes in a tour or season that need to be filled or needs to replace a cancelled gig, the FAR-West Discussion list is an ideal forum.

6. Can I post my gigs to the list?

Although not designed primarily to be a vehicle for promotion, posting of gig information is allowed on FRIDAY and MUST have [gig] and the LOCATION in the subject line. If you are a musician, check with your venues first as their proprietors may have already posted your gig. Of greater interest (and welcome outside the usual gig restrictions) are such announcements as:

Provided such posts to the list would relate to the FAR-West region, these types of announcements would be noteworthy any day of the week. Let your subject line provide the fanfare for such announcements.

7. Can I add FAR-West posters' email addresses to my own gig list?

Traffic on the Internet flows by mutual agreement. It is strongly recommended you secure a person's agreement before adding them to a list they may not want to be on and, worse yet, making that person jump through "unsubscribe" hoops to get off it. If you are targeting a venue—or, if you are booking a venue and are targeting a particular artist—there is no better way to get through to that person than:

If you are new to setting up email lists we strongly recommend you review the widely recognized best practices.

8. I have a gig, but I need a place to stay!

The FAR-West Discussion List, to the extent possible, can provide the digital equivalent of a community bulletin board and used for legitimate requests for accommodations, advice or recommendations. Again, try to be specific in your subject line, just as you would on a bulletin board: "Need place to stay in Arcadia!" is more descriptive than "Help me!"


If you have additional questions about the FAR-West Discussion List, please contact: Tim McGraw