Teacher Feature 10-25-2015

It's true I gave up an evening of personal music-making to participate at this event, but I still think its worth noting in my personal musical development efforts... I learned lots, and got to practice a few things, and enjoyed a really diverse, high quality musical line up!

It turns out someone can "emcee" and make announcements while the musicians are changing over their gear, even though I was told at first this wasn't possible!  Too bad I hadn't been invited to emcee, and that I just barged the stage to do so, lol.  In fact, I wish I had done so earlier to ensure our event started on time, and I wish I had planned more than 1-2min of news to share between performers, because it turns out it took much longer than the provided estimate for the sound techs/stars to do the change overs.

I think if I were to ever perform in such a setting I would "rush" the stage when the musician before me was finished, rather than politely waiting for them to collect their gear and come off the stage, before grabbing my instrument and getting into the sound check in motion game.  Would that be rude, or professional?

The crowd turn out was awesome, and I counted at least 65 familiar faces that I had personally invited to attend, and I was grateful for the thanks and enthusiasm they shared with me through out the night about such a fun and entertaining evening!

I also learned to place any sponsor banners on stage BEFORE the sound equipment gets loaded in, and/or to measure beforehand because it turns out our stand up banners did not fit on stage.  I also learned to keep the prize table and front of the stage free of clutter as it really is distracting in photos afterwards...

I was disappointed in the teacher merch sales, as it was a rare opportunity for them to showcase their professional productions that lend so much credibility to their role as music teachers.  I'd meant to "highlight" one recording at a time from the table as part of their intros, and forgot.  I also should have had prices marked, someone sitting at the table welcoming curious on-lookers, and I should have passed some around for folks to hold and have a look at up close....

I think we did a good job of thanking our sponsors for the swag.  And, it was great to know that some of our customers saw it in the paper as well as hearing about it in the store.  And, for sure it was easy to see who was putting on the evening's festivities as soon as you came in the door though!  Do you think the event will have the intended impact of reminding folks in Guelph that the store is worth visiting? I sure hope so!

Random Performance Review Notes...

I liked it when my "new" boss finally started to acknowledge my talents, contributions and especially, my future with the store/company, on Mariposa Friday.   

It was also cool to find out from a customer that apparently, my g.s. mini will fit in the overhead bin on an airplane!

I also enjoyed my chance on the store PA to say "Attention Shoppers! Now is the moment in Customer Appreciation Day when I get to introduce another of our students…."

It was nice talking with co-workers about how we work in a challenging district, and it was irritating when the said boss suggested I  leave the cardboard for the boys to break down and toss, as i had been doing it everyday for months.... 

It was cool to learn that we were selling more ukes at our location than any others, and I even enjoyed a co-worker's teasing  “but it has nothing to do with you right? How you are perpetually keeping the tree stocked and tuned?”  I got a good laugh when he added, commenting on the management style, that it would be a "heavy video watching week" lol.

Campfire, Season Ten #1

T-Bru took this photo

Did you see the fb comment where someone asked if the Campfire Session were just for men?  I guess there were a lot of guys in that particular photo...  I thought for sure this gathering felt extra super specially feminist.  I especially liked the tunes my buddies led!

News from the Folk Music Ontario Conference 2015

What a shock that a homicide occurred Saturday evening sometime between 8:30 and 8:40 PM in front of the Lone Star Restaurant in plain view of hotel rooms facing East. The Toronto Police asked  anyone that saw or heard anything, please contact Detective Sgt. Carbone direct at (416) 808-7400, or to provide anonymous tips at 1-800-222-TIPS.

By any chance did you see any of my posts on Folk Music Ontario’s official twitter page?  I was excited to be on “duty” as Social Media Coordinator.  I did share a few instagram, and Facebook photos on my own accounts, as well as several tweets… it was a fun project to have as a way to earn my conference registration.

a uke player in a Sylph tunic?!

My roomies-of-the-year and I enjoyed lots of passionate conversation, and lots of laughter, and played music.  It was grand to listen to lots and lots and lots of music… Did you attend because you think you can build a meaningful career in the music biz without losing heart and soul? I’m certain many left richer in experience, gig calendars and festival line-ups, as was the President’s Message in the program...

Speaking of the program, I thought the piece authored by Aengus Finnan of Folk Alliance International about the keynote speaker was interesting.  Donna Walker-Kuhne delivered the 8th annual address, "generously sponsored by Long & McQuade."  I thought the logo placement was awesome, it seemed like the company has sponsored all the past keynote speeches, with a list of past speakers.  This year's talk was from a down-to-earth person opening the doors and windows on the house of issues, assumptions and misunderstandings on the noble and daunting responsibility of audience diversification.

After a trip to the exhibit hall, I vowed to explore the possibility/benefits of joining

Actra.ca/racs (a royalty collecting society) as well as the Canadian Federation of Musicians at afm.org and I was interested in the music industry consultant's letter in the delegate bag, and might check out rocknrollaccountant.com.  I keep hoping somehow the expenses incurred over the weekend could be written off under my buddy's clothing biz...  Did you see who else was accidentally modelling one of the Sylph tunics while she worked?

Did you know that Folk Music Ontario has the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Arts Presentation Fund’s Development component) to thank for some funding?  Did you participate in the fundraiser silent auction? I noticed the guitar donated by L&M with a retail price of $569 generated a $500 bid - wow!  My favourite item might have been the free brilliant idea of Lyric postcards...

this pic is from the Official Showcase

It was cool to get invited to attend a private showcase by The Lonesome Ace String Band, and to also make the private showcase by Coco Love Alcorn and her new band! So much talent! Totally appropriate to read her description in the program "the ultimate musical spark plug." She was sharing a band mate, Drew McIvor, with Alysha Brilla, another acclaimed and enjoyable soul-funk singer/songwriter.

Drew took this pic and posted on fb

Also incredibly gifted in connecting with the audience with lovely music was Melisande, who draws from the rich heritage of Quebecois traditional songs, but adds feminism, and odd instrumentation, including sequencing.

Before the AGM on Saturday, I attended a workshop called “Maintaining Health” where we ended up discussing the need for volunteer dentists to run dental clinics for performers at festivals, as well as our desire for healthy food options at festivals and conferences, among many other issues.  It was interesting to hear Raven (Digging Roots) tell his tale, and I was glad I had followed Darlene DarlenYa to the session, where the panel quickly became a roundtable.  She provided some copies of a “road survival” kit she’d authored full of tips and useful tricks for travelling well.  The panel also included a rep from Unison Benevolent Fund, a non-profit registered charity that provides counselling and emergency relief services to individuals within the Canadian music community in times of crisis.

did you vote at the AGM? did you thank a board member for their contributions? i did!

Leonard Summer

theremin!

I always love the Manitoba Music Brunch, and this year was pleased to take in Leaf Rapids, fronted by husband & wife Keri & Devin Latimer, formerly of the popular indie folk band, Nathan... and to hear the political Leonard Summer for the first time.

The “Form and Function: Songwriting Workshop” with James Keelaghan, Ken Whiteley and Coco Love Alcorn covered quite a diverse range of topics, including ways to change your sound by trying unfamiliar instruments, the challenges of “owning” a co-written tune, how to focus a song on one main idea and save other nuggets for future, when to trust a producer’s opinion vs. your own artistic sense and more.  There were even performances of tunes by attendees for feedback.  Fantastic!

Of course it was also worth attending her amazing Official Showcase, with an audience that was a veritable who’s who of the Folk Music Community all singing along.  You can tell the human spirit is her muse, and, what a voice, and what a presence.

I would like to thank The Box Car Boys for inciting me to want to go practice trombone straight away — they were a wonderful band, with a unique and powerful instrumentation.  I would have loved to have picked up one of their cd’s, but I felt guilty because I couldn’t promise airplay on hoofbeats, so I didn’t grab one, alas!

I totally admired the stupendous voice, charisma, bravery and humour of Irish Mythen in the Folk Music Canada “Top-Notch Canadian Folk Music” showcase.  And, I want to learn more about Tim Chaisson's music.  He has three albums out already and was awesome as a member of the PEI Celtic trio the East Pointers.  Have I told you about Scott Cook's wonderful songwriting yet?

As a happy accident, it was nice to meet a new health practitioner singer/songwriter guelph-ite, who plays ukulele, and who would love to help finding our club a new home, suitable for those with mobility issues, for future gatherings!

Jane Lewis and Katherine Wheatley with Allison

I was thrilled to learn that Allison Lupton won the Songs From The Heart Grand Prize, and to snap this pic of a couple of my dear, beautiful friends/neighbours singing with her!

I drove there and back on the backroads instead of the highway.  I'm sure you can see why!

Many people have asked me to remind them about L&M’s free set up day!  Don't let me forget.

Zombie zone?