(moved) Where can I find filk conventions?

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Shouldn't all filkers attending a convention be obligated to attend open filk?

I've seen this issue crop up many times at filk conventions over the years. I've been on both ends of the situation...as the filker vainly hoping to see Grizelda appear, and Grizelda in the private room filk. I can see valid points on both sides.

Cautions for those who think Grizelda is an elitist filk snob

If Grizelda is an official guest, then you're right to feel angry.

If she's paying her way, however, that's a different story. She is under no obligation to attend the open filks if she would rather hang out with her friends in a hotel room. Remember that Grizelda may have paid a hefty airfare or driven for hours specifically to hang out with these friends. I can sympathize with the disappointment factor, of course...this has happened to me before as well, waiting all night for a certain filker to show up, but he/she never did.

As for friendships...this is an issue that really pushes my buttons. It is -impossible- for everyone to be equally good friends with everyone else. Certain people are drawn more closely together because of a wide variety reasons, from geography to similar musical tastes to outlooks on life to simple circumstance.

Sometimes these friends only see each other at filk conventions, which makes it natural for them to want to spend extra time in an environment where they can have a real conversation. Sometimes the friendship is also a musical one (often likely, considering the circumstances :-)).

Unfortunately some people interpret this as talented performers wanting only to play with other talented performers, snubbing everyone else.

What's sad about this is that this kind of attitude creates a vicious circle. Suppose Grizelda hears that the angry fan has been spreading rumours about her being an EFS (Elitist Filk Snob). Grizelda will be even less motivated to satisfy the angry fan. Who on earth wants to be bullied into doing something they normally enjoy doing voluntarily? In fact, Grizelda may herself become more and more disillusioned with the filking community and eventually withdraw from filking completely.

After reading this article, one filker from the Dandelion Report message boards suggested another reason why subgroups of filkers might congregate: "An excellent and tactful essay on filk elitism. An additional comment might be that the longer you hang around filking, the more people you know and the harder it is to take the time from catching up with old friends to meet new ones. It is noticeable that the 'clumps' of friends who hang around together are often people who entered filking around the same time. And I think it happens more now because the filk community has grown so much."

Cautions for Grizelda-types

If you're a guest of the concom, then you -are- obligated to be as accessible as possible to general attendees. If you're a GoH, for instance, you should consider the con a working convention. You are there mainly to entertain people, not to enjoy yourself (though if the latter happens as well, all the better :-)).

If you're not a guest, then your time is your own. You have the right to spend the entire convention in a private room filk, if you choose. But if you do, then you risk missing out on the fun and bonding in open filk as well as performances you may have really enjoyed.

Plus, remember that the filking community is very much "give and take" in nature. People will notice if you prefer to spend all your time with your close pals, and no time in the open filks. Perhaps you don't care, and that's fine, too. But be aware of the consequences.

You should also think hard about the contributions of the filk community to your own personal situation, the people who planned the convention, who possibly helped you meet the filker friends you have now, who encouraged and supported you when you were a newbie filker and didn't know anyone, and those who bought your recordings and attended your concerts. Is there any way you can "give back" to the community?

I'm not saying you need to spend every waking moment serving the community, but would it hurt to spend some of your time in the open filk, listening to others as well as sharing your own music, encouraging newcomers? Who knows...you might end up having so much fun that you won't want to leave. :-)

Final comments

And finally, a word about talent attracting talent. Apart from the context of friendships, talent does tend to attract talent to some extent. A chess player with 20 years' experience is likely to get more satisfaction out of playing with an opponent of a similar skill level. This -doesn't- mean that the chess player dislikes playing those with less experience, or consider them less "worthy" of his or her company. It also doesn't mean that the experienced chess player doesn't get a different kind of satisfaction out of playing with a new or less experienced chess player, especially if there is some other bond between them.

Also, similar musical tastes attract each other. I'll use Urban Tapestry as an example. All three of us have wildly different musical tastes, but we all get enormous satisfaction out of our musical partnership mainly because of the friendship between us. Each of us also has a different type of musical bond with other people. Allison and Paul Kwinn do great folky stuff together, for example. Jodi and Don Neill enjoy jazz improv. And I have my harp pals. :-) It doesn't mean that Paul and Don are snubbing me when they go off to do folky or jazz stuff with Allison and Jodi.

As for private room filks...I -do- sometimes feel a twinge of jealousy when I hear about a great room filk that's going on to which I haven't been invited. But I never resent the participants (for all the reasons I've listed above), and focus on doing something proactive that I can get just as much enjoyment out of, like approaching someone I've always wanted to get to know better and having a coffee, finding a fun filk circle, or encouraging a new filker.

And I always try, as do Allison and Jodi, to balance my personal time at a convention between private and public gatherings. I still get accused of being an EFS sometimes anyway (sometimes just for attending Open Filk Circle #1 instead of Open Filk Circle #2), but I'm realizing (especially after my experience with Inkspot) that it's impossible to please everyone. So rather than trying -and failing- to keep everyone happy and ending up resentful and unhappy myself, I just focus on having a good time at the convention. Since having a good time usually involves spending time at the open filk, this has worked out pretty well. :-)

Comments? Suggestions? Please post below.

Posted by Debbie at 10:09 AM | Comments (0)

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How can I have a successful chaos circle?

Learn how to take your turn.

Sounds like a rule that a parent might give a child, but it's an important factor in making a successful filk circle.



Learn how to listen.

When you're in a filk circle, are you constantly flipping through your music book, looking for the perfect follower? Are you in a state of constant tension, waiting for the right moment to jump in with your song? If so, you're missing out on one of the best things about filk circles. Successful filk circles are very much give-and-take, people sharing their music with one another and enjoying other people's music.

You may not enjoy every type of music or performer, but I believe that there is something to be learned or enjoyed in every performance. If you don't like the song, analyze (silently!) why not, and how you would improve the song, or improve that aspect in your own songwriting. If you don't like the singer's voice, first try to find -something- positive you can focus on. They may be horribly off-key, but is their tone strong? Are they enthusiastic? Do you like the song?

Also, be a courteous listener. Don't talk loudly with other people in the circle while someone else is performing or create other distractions. If you want to leave or enter the room, try to do it between songs rather than during a performance.

Basically, just give other performers and listeners the same courtesy that you would hope to have yourself.

Be aware of other filkers who want to perform.

One of the most important factors contributing to a great chaos circle is the chemistry between its members. Instead of just focussing on when you can jump in with your music, take a look around the circle and see how other people are enjoying themselves as well as being aware of who is obviously hoping to perform soon. Also see How do I get a turn to sing in an open filk circle?.

Obviously, this list is unfinished? What other suggestions do you have? Please post them below.

Posted by Debbie at 10:18 AM | Comments (1)

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How can we all benefit from LISTENING instead of always waiting to perform?

See Bill Sutton's thoughts on the topic.

Comments? Suggestions? Please post below.

Posted by Debbie at 04:50 PM | Comments (0)

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How can I use the audience to help improve my performance?

See Bill Sutton's thoughts on the topic.

Comments? Suggestions? Please post below.

Posted by Debbie at 04:52 PM | Comments (0)

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How do I get a concert?

Should you wait for a convention to ask you to do a concert? What's the proper etiquette for asking? Also see comments at the end of this page (and add your own!) as well as in this Dandelion Report Livejournal entry.

In general, concom-types seem to be open to filkers asking for concerts as long as you do so well in advance, politely, and without special demands. DON'T take it personally if you're turned down.

And above all, do remember that filking isn't about concerts. I loved Brenda Sutton's comment: "It's not supposed to be about the concerts and who has them. Filking is supposed to be about the joy of creating music with your friends. What I've noticed over all these mumbledy-mumble years is that, the folks who are really enjoying themselves, and who are really helping others to enjoy themselves as well, don't need concerts to have a good time... but they are the ones to eventually get concerts. Hmmmm. Hmmmmmm."

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From Mary Bertke (re: OVFF programming):

"Ask for a concert the year before. Don't wait until only three months before the concert to ask. I may make my schedule before other people, but due to Ren Faire, I like to have my schedule for OVFF pretty solid by early August at the very latest (and to me, that's really pushing late - unless I'm really tempted to cram something in, I want scheduling done by the beginning of July).

Give the person in charge of programming a CD - a burned-on-your-computer copy is just fine - with at least three songs of you performing to show them what you sound like. Remember - they may never have heard of you, or even if they've heard you, they may not remember due to con-induced sleep deprivation. Make sure appropriate contact information is included with the CD (Name, email, phone number, address).

Important: once you've been offered a concert, be gracious and helpful. DO NOT:

- Complain about the time slot you've been offered.
- Tell the programming coordinator that no one in their right mind would schedule things the way they have, and that you would do it much better.
- Attempt to make special demands.
- Complain that your concert is too short.
- Demand the programming coordinator take care of/find out for you things having to do with the hotel, registration, or anything outside the realm of programming.

While none of these will cause you to get the offer of a concert retracted, it will cause the coordinator to regret giving you a concert - a regret which will, most likely, be expressed to concoms of other conventions."

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From Judith Hayman (re: FKO programming):

"I would agree with Mary on most everything she said but one... FKO doesn't have a programming head and ninety percent of our communication is filtered through the conchair. Even the person appointed to do the final coordination take suggestions to committee. Not all concoms work the same.

Asking for a concert:

Ask. Ask WELL ahead. Know that when you ask, you are really saying 'I'm coming to your con _anyway_. I am buying a membership. I am booking a hotel room and paying for transportation. Since I'm already doing that it would be cool to be able to play on stage'. Don't assume that the convention will comp your membership for a concert.

Also don't assume that by asking you will get one. Our con awards only two or three concert spots outside the guests. It's good to start by asking for only fifteen minutes. Go back and look at Erica's comments on balancing style, gender mix, local/distant, old fave/new wave.

Make sure you note added value: Debuting a new CD, taken on a new singing partner, batch of new material, learned a new instrument, baton twirling... (no, that's Christine Lavin)

Above all, ask nicely, and take being declined gracefully.

Advice:

If you have to ask for assistance with an instrument (borrowing an instrument locally) or other equipment, stop, think twice and try not to do that. The concom is busy trying to accommodate the guests flakey requests and don't need yours.

If you can't manage without help, ask for someone local who's NOT on concom who might be a resource.

If that fails make your request at least several months ahead. The last thing a committee needs is a request for an electronic keyboard left in e-mail two days pre-con. It happened and we said "no".

Don't be a prima donna. Word gets around. When concoms talk, they talk about who defaulted, who was unprepared, who was late, who was demanding. If you're asked to cut your set by a song, do it. Do it with a smile. If you're entertaining but hard to work with, you'll be tolerated. If you're entertaining and EASY to work with, you'll be in high demand. (I will not give an example of the former, but the owner of this list and her cohorts definitely fall into the latter category of both entertaining and blissfully easy to work with).

Remember that your half-hour set INCLUDES the set up and intro. It's really a 25 min set. If the sound team is slow it's a 20 min set.

And on the other side:

I also believe that cons have responsibilities toward concerts. Set the damn schedule early. At least select those for concerts and let them know that they will have one, with a rough time range. It takes hard work to prepare a good concert set. Not all of us like to go on stage without a set list.

Run as close to on time as you can (yes, actually that IS a comment about two of the filk cons). Being ready for a concert and having it delayed and delayed may mean the performer is so nervous s/he can't function. Or is hungry, overtired, upset, etc. Or gets their concert set cut short because some other event has to take place at a certain time. Some performers deal with this, many don't.

If possible offer comps for concerts. FKO doesn't because we simply cannot afford it, being smaller."

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From Erica Neely (re: UK filk programming):

"Okay, I've done concom-y things for 2 UK filkcons, so I'll say a few things here.

Do you prefer filkers to wait to be invited?

Oh good god, no. I don't know who everyone is and I certainly don't remember everyone I *do* know at any given time. It's good to ask. You shouldn't wait to be invited. (Having said that, gentle nudging of your shy friends or mentioning to someone in programming 'have you heard X?' isn't bad either if it's low-key. Sometimes people need a little encouragement to do a concert. But it's much better if you try to encourage the people to volunteer rather than expect that programming people will be omniscient.)

What's the right way and wrong way to ask for a concert?

Ask politely and, if turned down, be gracious in accepting it. If you've done a lot of concerts at cons recently, realize that you may not get a spot at the con; most concoms strive for variety. This holds true of your 'local' con as well; you aren't entitled to a spot just because you're nearby. So, for instance, I've told the last few east coast cons that I'd love to do a spot if there's space, but I'm cool with not doing it as well, if they have other people they want to showcase; I've done a lot of concerts at east coast cons and I don't mind at all not getting one. Being easy-going is definitely a good thing.

Also, try not to take it too personally if you don't get a slot. You may be the best thing to come out of filk since Leslie Fish, but if you left it too late or if they're trying to balance certain criteria (gender mix, parody/serious mix, whatever), you may just not fit in this year. Being nice about the refusal makes it more likely that you'll get in next time.

I'm actually going to make a slight break with some of the previous comments and say that there's nothing wrong with indicating some general constraints on when you'd like a set - for instance, if you have small children and can't do much late-night stuff or if (like I used to be) you have stagefright so badly you really would prefer not to be directly after a meal because you won't be able to eat if you are...just be aware that a) you may not get your preference, b) that makes it somewhat less likely to get a spot, since there are fewer spots that you would fit in to, and c) again, be nice about asking. You are *requesting* accomodation. You should not be demanding it. And you should definitely request it in advance, preferably with an explanation as to why; the programming person will be much more likely to be able (and willing) to help you if she has prior notice (and a good reason!) than if it's last-minute.

Any other advice?

This isn't exactly advice, but I'll add it anyway. I have no idea what the periodicity of concerts at major American filkcons is. That is to say, if you've had a concert at OVFF or FKO or Consonance or whatever, I don't know how long should you wait before asking for another. I have performed at OVFF and FKO and I haven't asked to perform at either of those cons again because I have no idea how long I should wait before doing so. (Other than, in my book, longer than it's been so far. *grin*) There is definitely an art to making clear that you'd love to perform but won't be huffy if you don't get to and aren't trying to filkhog. I'd love to know what the committees for the cons think about this issue - and also how they find people for, say, performer's circles and other events that have multiple people sharing a spot (who aren't a rehearsed group like Urban Tapestry.)

Umm, I guess that wasn't a helpful answer, just a request for more info. Sorry!"

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From Lissa Allcock (re: UK filk programming):

"For UK filk cons we usually put a call out in our first PR telling people to come sign up for concerts. Very occasionally we might ask people to do a concert (or ask them if they'd like to do one) but most of our spots are filled by volunteers. Then how long they get depends on how many volunteers we get. At 16 Tones we had several shocked people who found out a bit late in the day that they'd got an hour when they were expecting to get half an hour, but everyone coped heroically. I usually prefer to give people an hour if possible, but it depends on how much material they have (or are confident of).

When asking for a concert it helps to give an idea of how much time you want and what level of tech you need, how many people are in your group if you are a group etc, but that can be sorted out closer to the time too."

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From Rob Wynne (re: GAfilk programming):

"Gafilk is a bit of an odd duck in this regard, because aside from the Guest concerts and the banquet, we only do *one* concert every year, and it is chosen by the concom from the attendees. So there really aren't any concert slots to ask for.

As for a good way to ask for them, my approach has always been the following:

'Just wanted you to know that I'm going to be attending $CON, and if there's anything I can do to help out with programming (concert, panels, etc), let me know.'

Which doesn't pressure them to give you a 'yes or no' answer, or make them feel like the only reason you're coming is to try and get an audience from them. but that's just my own personal opinion."

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From Alan Thiesen (re: Consonance programming):

"Filker question: 'How do I go about getting a concert at a convention?'
Ask politely, several months in advance.

Do you prefer filkers to wait to be invited?
No. If you don't ask us, we may ask you, especially if you're preregistered, but don't count on it.

What's the right way and wrong way to ask for a concert?
To quote Erica: 'Ask politely and, if turned down, be gracious in accepting it.'

If we turn you down, that doesn't mean we don't think you would put on a good show. There isn't time to give concerts to all or even most of the worthy performers. Sometimes we have to make arbitrary decisions, and sometimes we make mistakes, but we do the best we can."

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From Lori Coulson (re: OVFF programming):

"OVFF tries to get filkers that aren't often heard in the Midwest and at least one 'new' filker. Because of the demand for concert slots, the concom often debates who is to be offered one.

We like to be told if a filker is planning on attending and is interested in a concert slot, with this caveat: Don't wait until 2-3 months before the con to tell us you're available. By that point in time our schedule is usually set. [1]

The right way to ask for a concert? Be polite, and do it as soon as you know you'll be attending the con. Offer to be a back-up should an already scheduled filker be detained.

The wrong way? Telling one or more of the concom that we *have* to give you a concert slot. (And yes, this has happened.)

In order to avoid the appearance of favoritism[2], OVFF has a rule that we do not give a filker or filk group a concert slot in consecutive years.

Other advice?

Please remember that we have only 6 concert slots. Out of these six, there's one for the GoH, one for the Toastmaster/mistress, and one for the Interfilker, leaving only 3 slots for our Programming person to fill.

[1] Many of the OVFF concom participate in or attend RenFaires, Pennsic or Worldcon -- since this eats up a great chunk of time in August and September, we try to have our schedule locked in before the end of July.

[2] Would you believe me if I said we didn't have favorites? Didn't think so.

Lori Coulson
ConChair, OVFF 20"

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From Mike Richards (re: UK filk programming):

"The conventions I've been involved with, I've generally waited for someone to ask us for a concert slot. Some groups get slots tentatively booked in (eg the n'Early Music Consort) in advance of them asking, but they still have to ask. In my experience it's rare, though not completely unknown, for specific non-Guests to be asked if they want to do a slot.

So: no, I don't prefer filkers to wait to be invited, I'd *MUCH* rather they came forward and asked me The right way to ask for a concert: something like, 'I was wondering if it would be possible for me to have a slot at ? Say for about 20 minutes? It would be me playing a few songs on my gamelan.'

The wrong way would be someone telling me they were going to do a concert, OK?

Advice. Hmm. I've still not been to a con in the US or Canada (one day, one day...) so I can only really speak about the UK ones.

1. If you aren't used to playing in front of other performers, do an item in the sign-up "open concert" a few times first; it's different being up on stage than in a circle.

2. Ask the concom nicely, and don't be downhearted if their program is full or you get given a shorter set. Be as flexible about timing as you can.

3. Plan your set. Time it. Include some patter and applause time. Include time for stage set-up and tear down. That's how long you need. For novices, it's worth talking to more experienced performers for some of the tricks.

4. Let the tech crew (if any) know well in advance what you'll need. Don't change it at the last minute if you can help it.

5. Don't go for every year unless people are asking you to do so or the program is relatively quiet. The UK cons have packed programmes so a lot of people do a slot every few years.

6. Don't be afraid to try. You don't have to have been singing in circles for 20 years before you can do a concert slot!"

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From Lee Gold:

"I think filkers should write to say they expect to be at the convention and would like to help out. They might go so far as to mention what sort of songs they could sing if given a concert.

From then on, it should be up to the concom. The staffer should feel free to ask if the would-be concert singer is interested in

a) staying around for other concerts that day

b) attending open circles that day

Consideration should be given to singers who'll be involved in other parts of the filk program.

Concert time should be given well in advance so the singer can prepare the material. It should not include set up and take down time, which should be budgeted separately.

Concerts should not be scheduled opposite each other. Concerts should not run so long that people on a normal sleep schedule (i.e. those who go to bed by midnight) can only attend an hour or less of circles. (You know if your concert schedule is apt to slip 5-10 minutes or 2-3 hours, and should use the likely time that circles will start, not the scheduled time in evaluating the above.)

I advocate scheduling a singing of 'Banned from Argo' and any other songs that many people in the region wish to avoid while a minority very much wants to hear.

Theme Circles need at least two people willing to anchor them, and this is a good spot for people not up to attracting a signifiant concert audience."

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From Chris Croughton:

"Depends on the con. At British and German filkcons, you ask for a spot (having ascertained what sort of lengths are being offered), in whatever reasonably polite form you like and providing as much relevant information as you can. Something like:

Hi, I'm , I'd like a 30 minute set please, I'll be playing my trumpet and singing at the same time, with a friend helping on vacuum cleaner in one song. I'd prefer a Saturday or Sunday morning spot if possible, because I'll be arriving late on Friday and leaving early Sunday. Thanks...

Or fill in the form in the PRs.

It helps if they are flexible on time, and if they aren't known possibly something about the type of music they do (or poetry/pietry or whatever) can help to place them somewhere sensible.

Don't demand a concert slot, or whine. That will put people off. If you had a spot last year, in general don't bother asking this year (there are exceptions for groups who don't get any other opportunity to perform together, and if you want to volunteer with a statement like "if you happen to need something to fill a spot, I'm willing" it can be useful especially if you can fill in with very little notice)

However, I gather there are some cons which invite all of the performers. I don't go to those..."

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From Eric Gerds:

"I am so glad that I no longer chairman of Con-Chord just for this reason.

Scheduling the concerts was always a headache and was the total no win situation because it was impossible to keep everyone happy. The philosophy we had was that while song circles were important for filking we had monthly house filks that did that. The Convention gave us the opportunity to showcase people from out of town and outstanding locals and to give them an opportunity to shine.

How to get a concert?

1) Make sure that the convention you are going to does have a concert and filking to start with.

2) Find out who is in charge of the concerts and contact them well in advance of event to let them know that you are available to perform if there is an open concert slot.

3)Do not get angry if you do not get a concert slot. It's not personal, there is a limited amount of time and there are normally way too many people to fill those slots.

4) Even if you don't have a concert, perform in the song circles and do the one-shots. Let people see that you should have concert next time.

How to have a good concert and/or how to be invited back next time for a concert.

1) Practice, practice, practice - No kidding: know your songs!

2) Choose your martial carefully. A good mix of your new and best martial will get the best response.

3)Know how long it takes to perform your songs. Have enough songs to cover the performance and a few back up in case you are given extra time. Also know which songs you can cut in case there is less time.

4)When planning your performance include time to get on and off stage and time for you to talk between songs. Keep the introductions of your songs short as possible.*

5) Show up early for you performance. Don't make people run around looking for you.

*The worst offender of this happened many years ago when a big name filker started off their concert telling a 15 minute story and gave a about 5 minutes of introduction for each songs. Then complain when we said that that they had run out of time. The filker was offended at us saying that they had not finished all the songs that they had planned."

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Posted by Debbie at 01:02 PM | Comments (0)

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How do I get a turn to sing during an open filk?

SCENARIO: Grizelda is a filker who sings a capella and tends to be shy. She is sitting in a fairly large open chaos filk circle and after listening for a while, wants to perform her song. However, she has no idea how to signal that she wants to do a song because every time someone's song ends, another filker leaps right in. Grizelda has no obvious instrument, so the other filkers tend to overlook her. Eventually she gets frustrated and leaves.

The following has been culled from responses posted at the end of this page, rec.music.filk, and this Dandelion Report entry.

What Grizelda could have done:

- Sit where people can easily see her, like in the front row or inner circle. Even if she doesn't use lyrics, it might be good to have something resembling lyrics (even a sheet of paper) in her lap to clue people into the fact that she has something to perform. From Phil Parker: "The bottom line is, almost every filk circle will support you once you actually get over the threshold to get yourself noticed, but you have to start the process yourself."

- When it's time for people to signal they want a turn to perform, Grizelda needs to find some way of getting attention. Suggestions from filkers included slapping a clipboard, strumming someone's guitar or having someone do it for her, beating on a drum or ringing bells, standing up, holding up lyrics, waving your hands. Make eye contact. Lee Gold suggested standing up and starting to sing (and sitting down after you get the circle's attention).

- From "redaxe" on LJ: "If your song is a "follower", that is, it is related to the song currently being sung, wait until after the song and clearly and loudly state "I have a follower!" In most polite chaos circles, people will listen to you at that point. If there is a list of songs to be sung, speak up ANYWAY. Tell people you want to sing, and you can take your place in the list."

- Ask a more assertive person for help in getting a turn. From Bill Roper: "Find one of the filkers who is singing regularly (but maybe not the one who is singing most often :) ). Whisper in their ear that you've got a funny/serious song on a particular topic and if they could find a place where it would seem to fit in and introduce you to the circle so you could sing it, you'd appreciate it. This usually works, although you may need to wait a bit until the mood comes around..."

- From "vixyish" on LJ: "Grizelda can speak as soon as a song ends and say 'could I perform something?' Even if she speaks at the same time as someone is strumming their guitar, I've never *once* seen a circle that didn't respond to exactly that with either 'Sure, go ahead, and Bob will go after you!' or 'Sure; Bob's up right now, and then you'll be next after him.' I've literally never seen this fail. Filkers are marvelously welcoming and accommodating people, if only you SPEAK UP. Just say something."

- If the circle is really big and aggressive, trying to get people's attention is going to be more hassle than it's worth. I've seen too many instances where half a dozen filkers start yelling "I HAVE A FOLLOWER!" the -instant- a performer finishes a song or recital, all trying to yell louder than the others. I generally leave to find a smaller circle when the atmosphere reaches this point, whether or not I'm in performance or listener mode. If Grizelda feels similarly, she might consider the following:

- Look for a smaller filk circle, perhaps bardic. If there isn't one, then she should find some other filkers who would be willing to start one with her. From Kay Shapero: "In general when you see a lot of folks sitting around and only a handful singing, it's probably time to consider bardic or pokerchip."

What the filk circle could have done:

Keep an eye on the circle and help encourage those who seem shy or unable to break in. Without being obnoxious about it, you could ask, "I haven't heard you do anything yet. Do you have something you'd like to perform?" Sometimes just that encouragement will help a shy filker find the confidence to start.

From Scott Snyder: "I believe that asking a shy person to stand up, shout out, or otherwise bring attention to themselves is basically saying 'The solution to being shy is: Don't be shy', which of course, is not a solution to the problem.

The problem here is one of the circle itself, and what needs to change is not Grizelda's behaviour, but the behaviour of the group. Even a chaos circle should pay attention and notice when someone is possibly ready to sing, and offer that person a turn. Of course, the reality is - this rarely happens. Which is why Chaos works for small groups but breaks down in large groups.

Moderated Chaos is the only situation where I've seen chaos actually work across all skill levels of performers, and would mean that situations like Grizelda's would be minimized.

Now if ol' Griz is going to sit on the outside of the circle, with her head down, and not make any attempt to get the attention of the group - then another group is the answer for her. You have to be somewhere that you feel comfortable enough to stand up and be counted."

From Dave Alway: "A filk circle is a community -- a social -- event. At root, courtesy and etiquette, the morays of any social event, are the keys to a "chaos" filk circle that welcomes new filkers."

From Lee Gold: "I should note that this sound likes what I term Piranha Chaos, and is apt to frighten off shy guitarists too. The long-term solution is for shy people to form their own, smaller circles or for all the singers to be a bit less frenziedly competitive. Singers will feel more secure at doing this if the singers frantically struggling for the next song are queued up rather than having to compete just as frantically at the next moment of silence, and shy people may then ask to be put on the queue list."

From Paul Bristow: "Ultimately, though, this problem really should be addressed at source: ALL performers, however good and however popular, should have the good grace to check around and see who else is waiting to sing, rather than just jumping in every time they happen to have a good follower. Be disciplined: Ration yourself."

ALSO SEE:

Faq entry: Any tips for shy or nervous filkers?
Faq entry: What's the difference between a 'bardic' and 'chaos' filk circle?
Faq entry: How can I have a successful chaos circle?


Trapped in a Chaos Circle
TTTO: "Computer Wizard," Cynthia McQuillin? (not sure about the
attribution)
Words by Justin Eiler

Notes: Sort of a first-person perspective on "Filksingers,
Filksingers..."

I'm trapped in a Chaos Circle,
The songs would make a brave soul shake with dread.
I can't get the attention of the singers,
And this filk-sing may go on 'till I'm dead.

I don't have a guitar to get attention,
(Or club the jerk who's singing ose--off key!)
It's been nine hours--I didn't bring my lunchbag!
Oh, will this circle be the death of me?

I'm trapped in a Chaos Circle,
So next day, when the filkers go to bed,
They'll find me dead, but my song will now haunt them...
It's that damn song you can't get out of your head!

Posted by Debbie at 06:13 PM | Comments (9)

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What makes a good Filk Guest of Honor?

If you've been invited to be a Filk Guest of Honor, be sure to ask the convention committee about their expectations, read the contract (if there is one). But the truth is that what makes a good Filk Guest of Honor isn't always always spelled out in the contract.

POLL: In your opinion, what makes a good Filk Guest of Honor? I'm interested in perspectives from both a convention attendee and someone on a convention committee (and heck, from past Filk Guests as well :-)).

Please post other suggestions using the comment form at the bottom of this page. Also see the responses to this Dandelion Report LJ entry. Also see:

How does a good concom work with a guest?

Some responses so far:

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Lissa Allcock:

"Be involved (beyond just your own performances - attend a reasonable selection of programming, bring something for the auction, take part in a workshop, hang out in the communal areas chatting with members, go out for dinner with a large group of fen, attend the late night circles - some or all of the above)

Look after yourself (don't overdo it so that by Sunday morning you can't get out of bed you're so tired)

Have a good time (people like to see that their guests are enjoying themselves)

Don't stick only to the friends you already have (be open to the development of new friendships)

Do not be a filk hog (even if people ask you to sing lots in the circles, try not to perform too often)

Be prepared for whatever programme item(s) you are involved in (putting together your songlist for your concert while at the con gives a bad impression)"
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From Judith Hayman:

"I suppose I can speak for FilKONtario in this.
First off, every thing that Lissa said is right on target.

I'd add: let the con know your limitations asap. At FKO we tend to ask a GoH for a concert, a workshop and a theme filk (which they host). But we also specify attendance at some of programming, at the banquet, at some of open filk. If that's too much, we need to hear about it.

Be flexible with travel plans and recognize that being a guest means you DO need to have extra time. We really want you there as early as is reasonable (I know bedlamhouse prefers guests in on Thursday) and we REALLy want you to stay until after the dead dog because that's the part the concom gets to relax and enjoy.

Don't surprise us with an sudden request to bring someone. Tell us that early.
We don't pay travel for spouses or spousal substitutes by the way...

Let us know if you're planning to bring 800 attendees on stage with you. The stage might not take it...

We're organized at our con. We expect you to be too. Those decisions about what kind of room you want, when you expect to travel, who's doing your bio, do you have a photo, etc aren't that hard, but we kinda need them for our planning.

Please understand that when we ask for something by a due date, we actually meant that. Progress report has a mailing date and don't even think of making us late with the program book."

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From Phil Parker:

"There are two different ways a filk GoH can be very successful for a convention, and getting one person who can do both may be asking for too much, so the committee should try to decide what audience they're trying to reach with the filk guest and pick a guest that fits.

One kind of guest is someone who is a big name draw, who will fill the ballroom for a concert and deliver a show that makes the general fans who came happy. If that is their job, the committee shouldn't be expecting them to also be on 6 panels and spend 12 hours in the open filk, and if the non-core-filk fans were happy with the concert, but the filk fans were disappointed that the guest wasn't there for them for the whole con, that's OK.

The other kind of guest is a guest who's really there for the filkers. Their concert may really impress the core filk audience, but probably won't pull in people who are only somewhat interested in filk. This kind of a guest needs to be available for the core filkers for a large chunk of the convention. Being visible on panels is good, and participating comfortably and well in open filk is a must."

(However, Lissa added to the above comment: "I'm not totally convinced by this. I don't think anyone in filk should consider their name so important that they only need to do their concert, but then I guess I was writing about being a GoH at a filkcon. Being a filk GoH at a more general con is a different beastie. I think my reason for feeling that is that it's because it's not specifically the filkers who are footing their bill at a general con, whereas it is at a filkcon and this makes a difference in relation to what the filkers in general have a right to expect of you.

In a side note I point out that they only have the right to expect this of you if you are the GoH (or some permutation thereof). If you are merely a BNF but are paying your own way you are entirely entitled to do whatever the heck you want. It's your dime, it's your choice."

Phil agreed: "Certainly, the guest who does a great concert but nothing else is a bad fit for a filkcon. The kind of convention where they would be a good fit is probably not a convention I'd really want to be at at all -- one that doesn't have much filk at all, but identifies a particular performer as someone who is popular enough with the not-really-filk-fans to be a draw.")

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From Bill Sutton:

"Try to find out from the concom what they want you to emphasize, along the lines of Phil's post.

Attend the open filks, but (and this is my own opinion, concoms may vary) if you've got a lot of concert time don't sing too much in the open filk. Be there to listen and enjoy the other filkers at the convention.

Unless the concom specifies that they want you to close down the filk (and cooperates by not giving you other work to do too early the next day), go to bed at a decent hour so you have plenty of energy (as oreouk said, take care of yourself).

Don't assume that the con is paying for meals - confirm in advance.

Spend as much of your non-programmed time as possible in public areas of the convention where you can meet and talk to attendees.

Don't upstage other guests or concerts if possible.

If something goes badly, discuss it with responsible concom members (if any) in private. If something goes well, mention it in public.

Remember, you're a Guest and not a Ghod. The attention and handling many conventions give to a guest can go to your head, so be prepared to remember those days when the neighbors circulated petitions to get you thrown out for bad musicianship ...

Be Prepared. If you leave things to the last minute you will give a performance that sounds like you left it until the last minute. On the other hand, don't overprepare or overstress. It is likely that the qualities you exhibit in your normal convention-going are the ones that got you the guest slot, so don't try to change yourself to be something you're not.

Thank the concom.

If you need to use some of your time at the convention for professional activites (as will be the case with many writers being guested to a town where a publisher or agent lives or works), this is acceptable if minimized and if planned with the concom as far in advance as possible."

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From Lee Gold:

"- singing ability & repertoire songs not boring
to the local filkers
- energy & personality
- manners that fit in with the local filkers"

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From Lynn Gold:

"You need to be a good entertainer. This isn't just musical performance skills; this means good patter, being upbeat, and leaving everyone feeling better when you left the room than when you walked in (or at worst, the same).

You need to interact with everybody and be nice and gracious, no matter how much you want a 2000 lb weight to fall on a person. There are exceptions, such as the annoying heckler who makes your performance impossible (in which case, you're doing the rest of the room a service by cutting them down), or the filkhog who doesn't respond to gentle coaxing.

If you're a draw, so much the better. Trust me when I tell you this IS a consideration when it comes to filk con planning. If, by inviting you, I have reason to believe folks will come and support you, so much the better. If the local folks are clamoring for you, that works as well.

When you're at the con, be AT the con. DON'T hibernate in your room. DON'T have a private filk all night with a handfull of BNFs. DO be "out there." DO go to the filk circles and hang around. There are few things more annoying than a GOH who is "above" going to the filk circle. I've been to three cons where I can remember the GOH not being in the circle one of the nights and believe me, people noticed!

In the circle, make everybody feel welcome, even if they're not making your kind of music. Filk is inclusive. In a room with 20 different people you're going to get 20 different tastes in music. Keeping someone from performing because they're not making your kind of music is downright rude. I can think of one performer I'd hesitate to nominate for Consonance GOH because they barged in and cut me off as I was about to sing in a circle (after patiently waiting my turn) years ago to shift the theme to THEIR kind of music (the theme of the circle was something else)."

Posted by Debbie at 09:12 AM | Comments (5) | TrackBack

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How does a good concom work with a guest?

Related to the previous poll question about what makes a good Filk Guest:

How does a good concom work with a guest?

I'm especially interested in replies from concom members and those who have been Filk Guests in the past.

Please post your suggestions using the comment form at the bottom of this page. Also see the responses to this Dandelion Report LJ entry.

From Bill Sutton (GAFilk):

"Communicate with your guest early and often.
Don't assume your guest knows the drill. He/she may never have been a guest before, in fact may never have travelled on someone else's dime before. Be prepared to walk through every part of the process, from arranging transportation through checking in when the billing is to the convention.

Be specific and explicit when offering the guestship as to: what the con is paying for, what the con is NOT paying for, what activities are expected from the guest, what activities are NOT expected, requested arrival and departure dates. Specify treatment of "guests of the guest" such as partner, children, groupies, etc. in terms of memberships, banquet tickets, room arrangements, and such like.

If the guest is arriving by public transportation, provide someone from the concom to pick up at the particular terminal/airport/station. The only exception should be when the guest is spending time before or after the convention on his/her own - in this case, it is OK to leave transport to or from the hotel up to the guest, but be sure everyone understands the plan.

Don't monopolize your guest! You brought the guest in to be available to attendees of the convention, not as private entertainment for the concom. The reason I like to ask guests to arrive Thursday and leave Monday is so the concom can spend some time with them before and after the convention.

Don't Overprogram! A guest who is doing a concert should have at least an hour and a half (preferably more) of completely free time (time when it is understood he/she will be totally unavailable) prior to the concert. A good rule of thumb is no more than 2 hours of focal point programming (panel/concert where heavy contribution is expected) and no more than an additional 2 hours of "being there" programming (banquet, "meet the guests" session, etc.) per 12-hour convention day. Pro-rate for Friday and Sunday, of course, and remember that autograph sessions can be exhausting for some guests.

Don't expect that your guest will automatically become a regular attendee of the convention in future years. Sometimes this happens, but frequently guests simply get invited too many places to add them all to their list. After all, you probably brought this guest in because your convention isn't a normal stop for him/her."


Related FAQ:
What makes a good Filk Guest of Honor?


Posted by Debbie at 10:07 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

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How can I get the most out of a filk convention?

Let me say straight off that my answer to the question will not satisfy everyone. Everyone is unique, with their own expectations and likes/dislikes. I'm hoping, though, that at least some of this might be useful to at least some of you. :-) Please PLEASE do share your own advice and experience in the comments section!

I'm going to updating the following to integrate some of the advice posted.

Expect ups AND downs.
No convention is going to the Perfect Filk Convention experience. There will be glitches here and there, some bigger than others. Rather than let any get you down and ruin the rest of your weekend, try to focus on the positive instead of spending the time complaining and being miserable.

Don't focus only on performing.
This is the most popular way of setting yourself up for disappointment at a filk convention, especially at one with huge filk circles. It's inevitable that you won't perform as much as you'd like to, and that there will be songs you'd like to perform but can't for whatever reason. From Phil Parker: "If you want to sing more than a couple of songs, look for a small friendly circle (usually in an alternate room). The main room sing with 30 or more performers will probably have great music, but you won't get to sing much."

Make a point of talking with at least three people you've never talked with before.
Shy people can aim for one person, the more outgoing might want to aim for more. Who knows? You might make a new friend or two.

Visit the con suite.
I've always found the atmosphere in the con suite to be very friendly, welcoming. People in the con suite are there to relax and chat, munch on munchables. They also tend to be very open to newcomers and lots of conversation.

Make a point of listening to at least three filkers you've never heard before.
And I mean -really- listen, not just listen to out of one ear as you're idly flipping through your music book, looking for something to play. The one-shots are always a great way to do this, and so is the song contest.

If you are working the convention, remember to also attend the convention.
This tip is from Heather Munn: "When working the con, plan which events at the con you Will Not Miss, and remember to get someone else to do your job for you for those times so that you can catch the parts of the con that are important to your relaxation and enjoyment."

Schedule downtime.
Tough to do in a busy convention, but I find this essential, at least for me. It may mean having to miss some programming, but every so often during a hectic con weekend I find I need to retreat to our hotel room for some quiet time, or go for a coffee or a meal with one person. Big group dinners aren't relaxing for me, though I know they are for some people.

If you like someone's music, tell them so.
Even if it means having to hunt them down later in the convention.

Do good for someone.
Introduce yourself to someone who is shy or a newcomer, help introduce them to others. Volunteer to help with set-up or to carry something or clean-up. I find that when I'm feeling down or cranky for whatever reason at a convention, this is a sure-fire way to snap myself out of it.

Get enough sleep.
Yeah, ok, I can already hear some of you yelling at me, "Sleep is for the weak and sickly!" And it's true that some of my favourite filks have been all-nighters. But nowadays, I find that I can't enjoy a convention as much running on a quarter tank of gas for several days in a row. From Phil Parker: "Leave the filk soon enough at night that you can stand to get up when you need to the next morning. If you can't stand to leave the filk so early, take a nap during the day. You can't really enjoy the con if you're so tired you can barely function. Remember the point is to enjoy what you do, not to try to do everything."

Get enough to eat.
Tough to do sometimes, especially in a heavily-programmed convention. But I find that diet really affects my mood, so I generally try to make sure I have at least two solid meals a day at conventions: breakfast and dinner. From Phil Parker: "Meals are a great time to actually spend time with friends, too. It's a good idea to arrange meals well in advance, it can be difficult and occasionally rude to join a dinner party at the last minute."

Drink lots of water.
From Alex Wittenberg: "The function spaces are dry too often, and the best way to fight 'con crud' aside from getting lots of sleep is keeping your throat in good shape."

Get some exercise.
Stop laughing, I'm serious. Sitting all day makes me restless and bitchy, not sure about the rest of you. I generally try to get at least one decent walk outside, or even inside the hotel.

Explore.
From Alex Wittenberg: "Visit the con suite many times. Roam from circle to circle at larger cons. As much as you not obligated to do everything, you are also not obligated to stay in one track." From Sue Cochran: "Attend the song contest(s), and if you can afford to, go to the banquet. It helps support the con, and it's also a nice place to meet new people and/or spend some time with old friends."

Don't try to do ALL the programming.
I find that this is impossible without burning yourself out (especially if the programming is multitracked! :-)). When you get the program schedule at the convention, check it over carefully and prioritize. From Alex Wittenberg: "Don't try to do everything and see everthing. Even though filk cons are not as packed as general cons, there is a lot going on, and you can drive yourself crazy if you feel like you need to take it all in. This is especially the case for concerts. Keep in mind that odds are the filkers you want to hear will be in the circles, so if you want to do something else, you are not necessarily missing something after all."

If you're not happy in a particular concert or circle or workshop, go ELSEWHERE.
From Alex Wittenberg: "Don't be afraid to not like something. If a concert is not to your taste, I don't think you are obliged to stay. Just don't make a scene. :) At the same time, though, don't be afraid to try something new (which I am guilty of doing to often. In retrospect, I really should have gone to Chris Malme's concert at Conterpoint)."

Focus on what positive things you did, not what you missed.
From Phil Parker: "The most important thing for me to have a good experience at any convention where there's a lot of cool stuff to do is to convince myself that the measure of a good experience is how much I enjoyed what I actually did, not how much I missed. If I was having fun all of the time I was able to stay awake, it was a great con, even if I realize afterwards that I didn't get to this great programming item or that wonderful party. I only allow myself to think negative thoughts about the con if there was time when I was not enjoying myself."

If you have a crummy time anyway, move on.
If you end up having a bad convention despite all attempts, don't dwell on it. Don't lie and say you enjoyed yourself if asked, of course, but don't try to drag everyone else down with you. Chalk the experience up to bad karma and move on. Figure out what went wrong and resolve to do what you can not to let it happen again. Focus on the positive.

Life's too short, after all. :-)

Please post your suggestions using the comment form at the bottom of this page. Also see the responses to this Dandelion Report LJ entry.

Posted by Debbie at 08:56 AM | Comments (1) | TrackBack

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What are the differences between filk conventions?

I've found filk conventions have different personalities, usually based on the people running the convention as well as regional differences. GAfilk, for example, is more of a "relaxacon" than other conventions, where the emphasis tends to be more on hanging out and socializing rather than intensive programming, and only a few concerts. OVFF usually has several tracks of programming at once, including workshops and many concerts throughout the weekend. I enjoy both types of conventions. :-)

What do YOU like about different filk conventions? Please focus on positive rather than negative; this is NOT an invitation to list pet peeves and complaints. What appeals to one person about a particular convention may not appeal to someone else. I reserve the right to remove any post that I consider inflammatory or negative. The purpose of this FAQ answer is to help promote the best aspects of each convention as well as explain some of the regional differences between conventions.

Please post your suggestions using the comment form at the bottom of this page. Also see the responses to this Dandelion Report LJ entry.

Posted by Debbie at 04:30 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack

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How to survive my first OVFF?

"I'm going to OVFF for the first time! Any tips?"

Seanan McGuire posted a great OVFF Survival Guide in her Livejournal for those planning to attend the convention for the first time. Seanan was Toastmaster at OVFF in 2005. She has kindly given permission for me to reprint her advice below:

--------------------------

A handy-dandy OVFF survival guide.


By Seanan McGuire

It has come to my attention that there are a lot of people who read this journal who will be attending OVFF for the first time this year. Hello, and welcome! Since I love you all, and want you to have the best convention experience that you possibly can, I've prepared this handy-dandy OVFF survival guide. See? It's both handy and dandy, and that means it must be good! This guide will include tips on:

* Reaching the convention alive.
* Getting a hotel room.
* Enjoying/surviving the con.
* Things to do.
* Eating food.
* Staying healthy and sane.

It will also be heavily biased towards my own opinions on all these things, because hello, so totally me. But I'm honest about my biases, and I'll be factual whenever it's fact, rather than opinion. (In short, don't expect me to falsify hotel room rates to suit my own ideas of 'fair', but don't expect me to recommend a good Indian place, either.)

Ready? Okay!

Introduction: What is OVFF?

Well, if you're reading this guide, I'm going to sort of assume you know the answer, but just for the sake of clarity, OVFF is the Ohio Valley Filk Festival, a large filk music convention held annually in Dublin, Ohio. Traditionally, OVFF has been held over Halloween weekend. This year, it's been bumped forward a weekend and is happening on the weekend of October 21st through the 23rd. Contrary to rumour, this is not because the convention hotel is haunted by evil spirits. It's just that we got tired of conflicting with the assorted Witches' Balls, and decided that changing weekends was better than being turned into a bunch of frogs.

Due to its central location, OVFF attracts filkers from both sides of the country, as well as Canada, and this sheer density of personality, talent, and amazing coolness then proceeds to act like a vortex, sucking filkers from around the world into its gaping maw. Which is really more complimentary than it sounds.

Basically, OVFF is a weekend-long party, a celebration of music and madness from all around the country and the world, an excuse to see your dearest friends, hear songs you've never heard before, meet new people, make new friends, and generally just a chance to get down with yourself in a way that is all too rare in the modern world. It's an exit, an escape, and a damn good time. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves music and doesn't live inside a plastic bubble. And if you live inside a plastic bubble, you're totally welcome to bring it with you.

You will need a membership to attend the convention. These can be purchased before the convention or at the convention. Memberships are cheaper before the convention, up until October 1st, at which point they start costing the same in advance or at the door. You will be able to put stickers on your badge if it makes you happy. This makes a lot of people happy. Your membership includes admission to all convention events, with the exception of the Pegasus Banquet. I will explain in more detail later.

Part I: Travel.

Unless you have a magical teleportation machine (and why aren't you sharing?), you'll probably have to travel at least a little to reach the convention. Let me help you figure out how to do that.

Where is OVFF?

OVFF is located in Dublin, Ohio, in the Clarion Dublin Hotel.

How do I get there?

You can reach OVFF through a variety of methods. Many people drive; I carpooled in from Indianapolis once, and know folks who drive from all over the East Coast. This is a convenient way of reaching the con if you need to bring more stuff than a plane allows, or just want to be more mobile during the convention. The hotel does provide parking, if you need a place to stow your car. At least one person is coming to this year's OVFF by Greyhound bus, although this method requires finding someone with one of the aforementioned cars to help you make it the rest of the way.

By far, the most common method of reaching OVFF is by plane. The nearest airport is Columbus, Ohio, airport code CMH. Most airlines run their specials to Ohio during the latter part of September. If you need a last-minute flight, you might want to try one of the following sites:

Cheap Tickets.
Travelocity.
Orbitz.

Obviously, none of these sites are endorsed by the convention, and no one can guarantee you any real luck, but I've found them to be useful. All three will offer to find you a hotel room; politely refuse. You're going to want to book your own room, through the convention hotel. This both helps you get a good rate, and helps OVFF guarantee their room block (we'll discuss this more a little later).

Plane fares will vary depending on where in the country or world you're starting out, and there's no way to guarantee that what you get will be 'the best'. I recommend determining what you want to pay, and what you can pay, and then watching the fares until they give you something you like. The final price jump usually happens about two weeks before the convention.

Once you have reached the airport, you're going to need to arrange for a ride, as there isn't a reliable shuttle. You can take a taxi -- and if you split it several ways, this isn't overly expensive -- or you can arrange for a private ride ahead of time. You're on your own with this one. I usually try to hook up with somebody who has a rental car, and recommend that if you have a large (three or more) group of people, you obtain at least one vehicle for your personal use. It'll make the con a lot easier on you.

How do I actually find the hotel?

You can use the address to pull driving directions off a variety of services (or get them from the OVFF website). Here:

600 Metro Place North,
Dublin, OH
USA 43217

The hotel is located on the northwest side of Columbus, Ohio, just south of Route 161 and Frantz Road, and just off of the I-270 outerbelt. If you're going the right way, you'll probably see a lot of Canada geese.

Also, any decent taxi or shuttle driver will be able to get you there without so much as blinking.

What if I get lost?

If you get lost, call someone. I recommend calling the hotel, since it knows where it is, and your friend who happens to already be at the convention, such as me, may not really know much beyond 'um, turn right so that you pass the big artificial lake'. The hotel phone number is:

(614) 764-2200

Please do not call them to ask where your marbles are. They honestly don't know.

Part II: Hotel.

If you're local or living in an RV, you won't need a hotel room, but you should still read this section, since you'll be spending a lot of time in the hotel, whether you're sleeping there or not. Seriously.

How do I get a hotel room?

To book your hotel room, call the Clarion Dublin Hotel, at:

(614) 764-2200

The convention room rate is $85.00 per night. This does not include taxes or tips. It doesn't change when you add extra people, either, so you can split it as many ways as you like. (Please note that the legal limit is four adults. Which means that if you have more people in your room than that, you really shouldn't talk about it where the hotel staff can hear you.)

Please note that the convention room rate is not guaranteed for rooms reserved after September 28th. If you make a reservation now, you'll be dealing with the national chain, and may or may not get the 'good' rate. You may want to ask around and see if you can find someone to room with. If you are making a new reservation, despite the lateness of the hour, we would like the rooms around 150 blocked with OVFF members so that we can make noise in that room later in the evening. When you call to reserve a room for OVFF, please request a specific room number. The most necessary rooms to block are:

154, 148, 155, 153, 252, 250, 248, 253, 251. Rooms 235-265 and 167-173 are smoking rooms, so if you have allergies, you don't want to be in one of these.

If the above rooms are already reserved, please request a room number nearby.

What do I get with my hotel room?

The standards, first off: a place to sleep, hot running water whenever you want it, and a place to store your stuff. That said, you also get access to the hotel pool and workout room, and two free tickets to the breakfast buffet for every night that you stay there. (Additional breakfasts can be purchased at the restaurant for $11 each.)

There is free wired Internet access in the rooms, and there are wifi hotspots located in the lobby and the restaurant.

Tell me more about the pool and workout room.

The pool is indoors, and heated, which makes it wonderful even during the chill of an Ohio October. There isn't a real shallow end, and there is no lifeguard on-duty, so it's not a good place to dump the kids and wander away from. There are deck chairs. I tend to lounge in them. There is no hot tub, which may not seem unusual to anyone who isn't from California, but is notable if you happen to be me.

They do not over-chlorinate, and the water has never turned my hair green.

The workout room is small, with the usual assortment of small hotel 'treadmill, television, resistance machine' equipment. But it's there, and you can use it, and it's better than running laps around the halls and frightening the maids.

I can't afford to room by myself.

OVFF is a great place to meet new people, sometimes by sharing a room with them! While the convention doesn't presently offer an official 'roommate dating service', you can often find people who need OVFF roommates by posting in your LJ, or by visiting one of the filk mailing lists. Filkers are generally very helpful people, and if there's someone out there willing to vouch for you not being insane, you can probably find someone to share with.

If you've never shared a hotel room before, please, be upfront with your needs, and with any disadvantages that might come from sharing with you. For example, I am a very light sleeper, and require quiet during my sleeping periods (possible disadvantage). I don't smoke or snore (advantages), although I will room with smokers. I need half a bed, and will share with members of either gender. By putting things clearly, I increase my odds of finding a roommate.

You mentioned that tips weren't included in the room rate. What tips?

Okay. Here's the thing: if you stay in a hotel room, someone has to clean up your mess. Even if you don't let the maids in once during your stay, they're going to have to clean the place after you go. Tip your maids. Tip them whatever you can. They're nice, hard-working people who spend their days wallowing in the filth of others, and given what I've seen filkers do to hotel rooms, they deserve a little love and compassion. Tip your maids. Tip them in quarters if you have to. Call it a charge to karma, and tip your maids.

Part III: Packing for OVFF.

So you've decided to come to the convention -- that rocks! Yay! You have a means of transportation, and you have a hotel room (or an RV). Now what happens?

Now you pack.

The weather outside.

The weather in Columbus in October is usually briskly chilly, but not freezing -- think a Seattle December, or a September in New Jersey. Now, please note the word 'usually'. I have seen snow at OVFF. I have seen sleeting rain at OVFF. I highly recommend checking the weather forecast before you go, and bringing a warm coat, Just In Case.

Also remember that cold is a very subjective thing. As a Californian, I chill at a rate which causes my hardier friends from Minnesota to laugh at me in a gently mocking way. If you come from a warm climate, bring extra warm clothing. I recommend hitting your local Target (or equivalent), and investing twenty dollars in thermal pants to wear beneath your jeans. You'll be substantially happier if you never have to explain that you're doing the potty dance because your legs are frozen solid. Scarves and gloves are your good, good friends.

Inside the hotel.

It's going to be warmer inside the hotel. Much, much warmer. Not 'oh good gods, I'm going to die of hot', but definitely cozy; I've been known to spend a good portion of the weekend in tank tops and thin pants. Bring clothes that you're comfortable sitting down and hanging out in, things that you like, and that wear well. Bring comfortable shoes or attractive socks that you feel like showing off when you inevitably kick your shoes off. Please remember that you'll be doing a lot of walking over the course of the weekend, and don't plan to spend three days solid wearing heels.

Just to make things more fun, sometimes they turn the air conditioning on, and then it gets colder inside the hotel. Much, much colder. Bring a sweater or light indoor jacket, just in case you get the chills. This happens especially in large rooms, such as the main concert room, and you don't want to miss the big events just because you're chilly!

Bring a swimsuit if you think you might want to swim. Nothing is sadder than seeing everyone else having fun in the pool, and not having the option, even if you want it.

The necessities.

It's silly of me to say all of this, but I'm saying it anyway, since some people have never been to a convention before:

Bring something comfortable to sleep in, not just your best lace teddy. Bring one pair of underwear more than you actually need, because you may sweat a lot, and clean clothes will make you feel better. Ditto socks. Girls, bring an extra bra. If you plan to work out, bring a set of workout clothing, and a plastic bag to put it in, to keep it away from the rest of your clothes.

There are stores in Columbus -- shocking, I know -- but you'll be happier if you don't have to shop, so bring your toiletries. This should include, minimum, a toothbrush, toothpaste, a hairbrush of some sort, and deodorant. The hotel will supply little soaps, shampoos and conditioners. I, personally, don't like to use these, and travel with my own shower gel, shampoo and conditioner. This is because I am very girly, but also because I like to have control over my cosmetics.

You can get travel-sized bottles of most common shampoos, conditioners, and shower gel brands at any given super- or drugstore, such as Target, WalMart, or Longs. They also sell little bottles that you can put any liquid cosmetic into, for handy travel purposes. Lush sells solid shampoos that are divine for taking to conventions, because they don't spill.

If you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs.

If you have a tendency to injure yourself, bring supplies. I never travel without an Ace bandage and a jar of muscle relaxant, such as Tiger Balm or Blue Emu Oil.

Pack your basic painkillers, such as aspirin and Midol. If your period is looming, pack supplies. And remember that your nutrition is likely to suffer during a convention; if you take any vitamins or dietary suppliments, be sure to measure them out before you go, and bring a supply for the weekend. If you have allergies or medical conditions which may require medication, be sure to bring whatever it is you need, as no one else is guaranteed to have them along, and no one wants to swell up like a blueberry because they accidentally ate the wrong thing.

The extras.

If you're a musician, remember to bring the things you need to make music, whatever they may be. You can probably find someone to loan you a guitar -- we're nice like that -- but no one is going to be able to loan you your personal songbook, or your magical lucky harmonic. Forgetting your music when you're going to a convention about music sort of sucks. Bring spare strings, if whatever you play has strings. If you're a guitarist, remember your capo and picks.

You may or may not have much downtime, but everyone needs to detox now and then. I recommend that you bring a book you want to read, a book you know you like, a portable music player of some sort, and a variety of music for the same. If you draw, bring a sketchbook, and if you write, bring a notebook. Bring a writing implement of some sort.

Also, there is a dealer's room, and it probably will have things you want. Bring cash and/or your checkbook, and decide ahead of time how much you have to spend. You'll be happier that way.

Part IV: OVFF!

Getting to the convention.

When you arrive at the convention, you're going to need to pick up your badge. Assuming that you've entered through the main lobby, you reach registration by going to the hallway at the back of the room, turning right, and then following the somewhat windy route all the way to the rear of the hotel. The registration desk is there. If you've already registered, they'll have your badge. If you haven't, you'll need to give them money. Either way, they're nice people, and they don't bite.

Registration opens on Friday, whenever they finish setting up, and will be open throughout the weekend. They may occasionally move into the main concert room (right next door), but when they do, they leave signs clearly posted, so that you can find them.

Registration is also where you'll get your program book, which includes a schedule for the weekend, and where you can sign up for the songwriting contests, trick or treat goody bags, and Sunday night dinner run. If you want to attend the Pegasus Banquet, you'll buy your ticket here.

Thursday night.

Thursday night is not officially a part of the convention. That being said, more and more people have taken to arriving early, so that they can hang out in the hotel lobby and see their friends arrive. This is a great time to meet people, since programming hasn't officially started yet, and no one has anything they absolutely have to be doing. Folks tend to start collecting around six or seven, and stay until they get tired.

Again, this is not an official convention function, and there's no guarantee that anyone will be there. But if you're around, drop by!

Friday morning and afternoon.

This is when the con really gets started, although programming doesn't kick in until mid-afternoon. People are around and in the halls, everyone's excited, everyone's rarin' to go. Most people arrive during this window. If you're looking for people to talk to, watch for the folks in the bright orange shirts saying 'New to Filk?'. They're our official greeters, and they'll be glad to chat. Otherwise, just say hello, engage people in conversation, and generally relax.

Somewhere in this window, the consuite will open. The consuite rules. It's basically a room set up for conversation and food, and people will gather there throughout the weekend. There are games. There are tables. There are free drinks. You can hang out as long as you like, meeting people, swapping stories, and having snacks. There is absolutely no bad here. If you don't know what to do with yourself, go to the consuite.

Friday night.

Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines! By Friday night, programming is hopping, the consuite and registration are both open, and it's time for the Pegasus Concert. This is the event wherein all the nominees for this year's Pegasus Awards are presented for your listening pleasure, performed by folks who have come from near and far to entertain you. Pegasus ballots will be provided for at-con voting, and the folks responsible for counting the votes will spend the rest of the night making themselves crazy with numbers. Enormous fun.

For a full guide to Friday night programming, see your program book.

Saturday.

Saturday is the 'big' day at OVFF. Check your program book, because the offerings change from year to year. This is traditionally when you'll get the Guest of Honour, Interfilk, and Toastmaster concerts, as well as at least one of the songwriting contests. This is also when you'll get the Interfilk auction and the Pegasus Banquet. Let's look at both of those a little more deeply.

The auction.

Interfilk is the filk charity -- an organization dedicated to spreading filk and filkers around the country, cross-pollinating like some sort of crazed genetics project. To make this easier, they hold auctions at every North American filk convention, including OVFF.

At the surface, Interfilk auctions are simple. Items for the silent auction will be on display at the back of the main room on Friday night and on Saturday before the auction. If an item gets a certain number of bids, it goes to voice auction; if not, it goes to the highest bidder. The voice auction is hosted at OVFF by a state-certified auctioneer, who keeps things popping. Pretty easy, right?

Sure, except for the part where the items in the auction re-define 'weird'. We're fans, remember? Books, CDs, jewelry, fun T-shirts, and chocolate are common...but so are pre-release recordings, tapes of conventions, really weird books, oddly-shaped lemons...you name it, we've had it. This year, I'm donating (among other things) a My Little Pony that looks sort of like me, a book of poetry, and a songbook that doesn't exist yet. It gets bizarre, and the bidding gets pretty heated.

To drive the prices up, we have runners, called 'wenches': attractive female filkers dressed in skimpy clothing, carrying the items from bidder to bidder. If you bid enough, you may wind up with a wench in your lap. Be prepared.

If you'd like to make a donation to Interfilk, you can find information detailing how to do so on the Interfilk web site.

The banquet.

The one event not included in your OVFF membership is the Pegasus Banquet, where the Pegasus Awards for the year are announced, and any winners who actually happen to be present stare in stunned silence. A menu for the banquet -- it changes from year to year -- is generally available at Registration. Tickets are limited, so sign up early if you want to go. Ticket prices will be available at Registration.

Sunday.

By Sunday, no one has slept much. Many of us look shell-shocked but happy. For a full guide to Sunday programming, see your program book.

The Sunday night dinner run.

Every Sunday night, whoever's left at the convention goes out to dinner. I love this. This is brilliant. There will be a signup sheet at Registration, so that people without cars can find rides, and people with cars can offer them.

For the last several years, we've gone to BD's, which is the best Mongolian barbeque in the world. Come to this. You won't regret it.

Open filking.

Throughout the weekend, you'll find open filking. Big circles. Small circles. Short circles. Tall circles. Sitting in the hall circles. It's all there, it's all brilliant, and it's all waiting for you. Open filking will usually run straight through until dawn.

Do: find a circle that you're comfortable with. Big or small, whatever suits you is perfect. Sing, if you want to! If you're having trouble breaking in, ask someone for help. It can get rowdy, especially on Saturday night, but if you get someone to hit a power chord on their guitar, you can usually break in. Wait your turn. Don't come into a busy circle and expect to be the next one to sing. Pay attention to the mood. If everyone is singing sad songs, they may not welcome your happy song about cheery bunnies. Either wait for the mood to shift naturally, or go find a happy circle. Keep an eye on the time. If you want to make the yoga class at ten, go to bed before six.

Don't: stay in a circle that's making you miserable. That's why we have six of them going through most of the convention. Be afraid to start your own circle. If nothing makes you happy, grab five friends and an open room, and go to town! Be a filk-hog. As a rule of thumb, you want to wait until at least half the people in the room have had a chance to sing before you try to go again. Stay up too late -- you're likely to get carved into a jack-o-lantern if you turn into a pumpkin!

Big fun for everyone!

The Dead Dog.

Although the convention officially 'ends' on Sunday afternoon, we have one last big filk circle after the Sunday night dinner run: the Dead Dog, where we all cram into one little room and sing our happy hearts out. This circle starts huge and shrinks throughout the night, as people head home or off to bed. It's well-worth staying for.

Part V: Staying alive.

Wow. That's a lot of stuff, isn't it? Here are some tips for staying upright.

Pace yourself.

Look at the available events, and decide what you really want to do. Rank things, and come up with a basic game plan. You can do this daily, hourly, or just once, on Friday, but you really, really want to, because otherwise, you'll blink and realize that you haven't eaten or slept in three days. And that would be a bad thing. Very bad.

Sleep.

The human body needs more sleep than it gets on a regular basis. Note that a filk convention is anything but 'a regular basis'. Know your own needs. I can't function on less than six hours; if I need to be up and active by ten, I have to go to bed by four, period. If you can manage four hours, more power to you. Just be aware of what you, personally, require, and make sure that you get it.

Eat.

As a rule of thumb, the rule is 'six and two' -- you either need six hours of sleep, and two meals, or two hours of sleep, and six meals. Make sure you eat. Better yet, make sure you eat food. Candy corn is tasty, but not nutritious. You need to eat green things, things made with protein, and things that are not sugar. I'll try to help you out with that a little later on in this guide, but in the end, it's your responsibility.

Drink.

You need six glasses of water a day -- that's a liter and a half, minimum. You can get some of that from coffee and tea, but the fact of the matter is, you need water. The air in hotels is dehydrating, which means that it sucks the water out of you. Soda doesn't replace that. Try to drink some water every day, for the sake of your health. You'll feel substantially better if you do.

Bathe.

This is for you, and for everyone around you. Bathe. Go into your hotel room, turn on the hot water, and use it, combined with soap, to remove sweat and dead skin from your body. You'll feel better, and you'll smell better, and people will enjoy your company more. (A handy tip: I always pack a few extra outfits, and change my clothes if I start to feel overheated or grimy. It extends the wear of your clothing, and keeps you feeling better, longer.) You may find that you feel better when you shower three or four times a day, and hey! No one will stop you.

Monitor your mood.

Sometimes, the throng of people can be overwhelming, especially if you're naturally shy. It's okay to go off and be by yourself for a little while! No one will punish you. Take a nap, sit and read your book, or go for a cup of coffee, and let yourself relax. You don't have to be social all the time, and a few little breaks will help you feel like you've really lived the convention.

Part VI: Food.

Now, first off, I'd like to note that I am possibly the pickiest eater in the entire cosmos, and as such, this section will not help if what you want is, say, excellent Indian food. The convention provides a list of local restaurants that's going to be a lot more useful to you. No, this isn't about what to eat; it's about how to eat. There's a difference.

Meals.

Eat meals. Actual meals, not just snacks. This isn't just going to fuel your body; it's going to give your psyche a chance to snag a few vital minutes of downtime, and leave you feeling refreshed and ready for the rest of the convention.

TIP: Most people treat dinner as their largest meal of the day. Most people are also fairly sedentary in the evenings. The activity at a filk convention is likely to run long after midnight, and sometimes even all the way to dawn. Don't overeat at dinner, as 'I missed the concerts due to food coma' is a little mortifying to admit. If you cut your meal in half and bring part of it back to the hotel in a to-go box, you not only keep yourself from dozing off, you have a handy midnight snack for that late-night sugar crash!

Eating at the hotel.

You'll probably eat at least one meal at the hotel, if only because you get free breakfast with your room. Yum! The hotel restaurant is also open for lunch and dinner, and sells the usual assortment of Americana and hotel-food classics -- salads, burgers, steaks and such. If you need food now, the hotel is a good way to get it.

Please check the posted hours carefully, as the restaurant does close down for several hours before the dinner rush.

The breakfast buffet.

The hotel's breakfast buffet is pretty comprehensive, and includes fruit, yogurt, small boxes of cereal, scrambled eggs, breakfast meats, milk, coffee, orange juice, fresh-made waffles, and omelets on demand. It isn't kosher, obviously, but it's filling, friendly, and a great way to socialize with other convention-goers in the early morning, since tables tend to fill and deflate in a great, slow pulse as people enter and exit.

TIP: Please, please, tip your waitress. Just because the breakfast is free, that doesn't mean that the staff isn't working hard to help you, and they do remember people who don't acknowledge their efforts. If you enjoy having your cup refilled every time it empties, reward the people who take care of you!

Organizing a food run.

There comes a time in every life where you just need to get out of the hotel. You can go by yourself if you have a car, or -- assuming that it's a normal mealtime -- you can try to put together a food run. Usually, just saying 'I'm going to _____' in a public place is enough to create a food run. You can also try arranging things ahead of time.

When making a food run, remember to take into account driving time, distance, number of people, and time of day. Hitting Max and Irma's on Saturday night with a group of fifteen is a good way to guarantee yourself a long wait, so don't do it if you need to be back at the hotel in time for something specific. Make sure to have a destination in mind before you go, as the convention is usually more interesting than driving randomly through downtown Columbus. Seriously. Native guides are useful things to have; anyone who's been to a few OVFFs in the past will count as a native guide.

Bringing things back to the hotel.

The hotel prefers that outside food be kept in private sleeping rooms or in the con suite. If you make a food run -- say, to Tim Horton's for timbits -- you should be sure to keep your food in one of these two areas whenever possible. It's just polite.

And no, that doesn't mean you'll get in trouble if someone sees you eating a granola bar in the hallway. Just that we're trying to be civil and adhere to the hotel's demands.

Groceries.

Sometimes you just want a damn apple already. There are a variety of grocery stores in and around the Dublin/Columbus area. There's a Kroeger's in easy (long) walking distance, for your basic supplies, and a Whole Foods on Sawmill, if what you really want is a bottle of pomegranate juice and some rye bread. Be sure to check around if you're heading for the store, as folks may want to come with you. Mmmmm, pomegranate juice.

Snacks.

Snacks rock, especially in a convention setting. Snacks keep your blood sugar up, and mean that you don't go psycho and kill us all with a capo. Please, snack.

Nuts, lunch meat, cheese, soy-based granola bars, and peanut butter are all good sources of protein. Protein provides your body with long-burning energy that can last substantially longer than simple sugars. Luna Bars are a good source of tasty soy protein, and are available in a lot of flavours.

Sliced fruit, chocolate, baked goods, candy corn, jelly beans, and jelly are all good sources of sugar and carbohydrates. Sugar and carbohydrates will provide your body with a quick burst of energy that can equalize you faster than protein, and -- when eaten in tandem with protein -- may allow you to keep going long enough for your body to break down that pesky turkey sandwich.

Yes, I am aware that by this formula, I have just claimed that peanut M&Ms are the perfect food.

If you have specific taste in snacks, bring them with you. I'll be bringing Luna Bars and an assortment of single-serving cakes, because I know I'll eat them, and they'll get me through the space between meals. I'll also be hitting Whole Foods for a bag of Gala apples, because I've actually met me. Know what you're likely to want, and make sure you can get it. By the time you're hungry enough to eat the concom, you've gone too long between meals.

TIP: If you're allergic to peanuts, there are other kinds of nut butter in the world! Most are available at Whole Foods, and may satisfy a childhood craving you'd forgotten that you had.

Drinks.

I've said it before, I'll say it again: water. Man does not survive by caffeine alone, and neither does woman, child, or cat. As a rule of thumb, drink a glass of water for every can of soda or two cups of coffee that you consume. This will help keep you balanced and prevent you from dehydrating.

TIP: The con suite will have drinks, but it may not have your drink. I only drink Diet Dr Pepper. I will thus be buying a supply from Kroeger's, because warm soda is better than no soda at all. If you have specific drink needs, take responsibility for fulfilling them.

Conclusion.

I hope this is helpful; I know I've skipped a lot of things, but, well, I was sort of starting to daunt myself. I can't wait to see you at the convention.

We're all going to have a wonderful time!


Posted by Debbie at 02:07 PM | Comments (0)

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What are 'two-fers'?

Two-fers are sort of like one-shots, except you perform two songs in a row rather than just one.

Posted by Debbie at 09:07 AM | Comments (0)