Where can I network with other filkers online?

Livejournal: Many members of the filk community have their own Livejournals now. To see a partial list, check out the "Friends" list I've compiled in the Dandelion Report LJ. To get added to this list, simply add "dandelionreport" to your own LJ Friends list. I check my User Info periodically for LJs to add.

rec.music.filk: Usenet newsgroup. Lots of traffic. Please do read the posting rules of the newsgroup first (from Kay Shapero's Filk FAQ).

MSN Filking group: Nice interface, relatively new list so not as busy as rec.music.filk yet.

Filk.com message boards: "The World Of Filk Music".

FilkNet: UK-based filk community service provider. Check out the IRC chat for filkers, #filkhaven on irc.filknet.org.

German Filk Mailinglist (minimalist@filk.info, subject: subscribe filk-de) and a German Filk Forum.

Filk-related mailing lists from Kay Shapero's Filk FAQ.

FKOfilk list: "For those who recall the fun of the old GEnie Filk Round Table, a place to discuss filk music. An ongoing focus will be the posting of news, information and announcement related to FilKONtario."

Comments? Suggestions? Please post below.

What is the filk community?

I recently posted a question to rec.music.filk, asking what the filk community meant to them. Here are just a few answers; if you'd like to add yours, please scroll to the bottom of this page and post a comment.

Dave Alway:

"(A Talkin' Blues to TTTO "Alice's Restaurant")

I was going to write – I was going to write a lengthy thesis (with footnotes and detailed quotations, and 8x10 colored glossy photos with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one telling what each one was) on why I like filking. But then I realized that Debbie – Debbie Ohi – was right: it all boils down to the camaraderie. So I didn't.

Instead – well, instead we was having a chat on filkhaven, and during that chat I heard Rob Wynne define “filk” as “the folk music of Science Fiction fandom.” I thought about that and the more I thought about that I realized it was fine. I mean, it was a very fine definition. That definition is a functional one, and – as I am an old coot – I mean I am old for my age, and that is old – it reminded me of another. Another definition I mean. I remember the folk-revival of the 1960’s and its songs. And how those songs were associated with the activism of the 1960’s. And before that the songs of the 1930’s. And how those old old songs that were associated with the antifascist movements of the late 1920’s and 1930’s. And how the anti-fascist movement folks said that the fascists had all those armies and modern weapons of war, but the movement folks had the good songs.

It got me to think. It really did get me to think. I mean – here are all these songs. All these songs people have thought up over the years. I mean not just years! But decades! Centuries! Years of decades! Centuries of years! Years of centuries! And new ones all the time. And one weekend, on a park bench, I tried to see if some songs were filk songs and some were not. And I can’t sort them out. No way! I tried to say – well, this one’s a filk song, but that one isn’t. And maybe yes, and maybe no. I was going crazy on the park bench in the park trying to see if some song – say a song like Alice’s Restaurant – was a filk song or not.

So I gave up. And then I came to the realization, that maybe – just maybe – Rob might be right. So now I don’t worry – too much about whether a song is a filk song or not. But then if filk isn’t about songs, what is it about? And then I thought about all the other songs and what they were about. And then, then, I came to the realization that since the other songs were all about camaraderie and people – the dreamers and the rebels and all the people who nobody can really classify or even should ought to classify. Well, then, just maybe, so was filk about people and friends and why, why it was all about – camaraderie! And then I had an idea – an inspiration. So, someday, when you are at a science fiction convention, or maybe, if you are really daring … maybe just about anyplace with a park bench or a couch or a bed and you are sitting on it – well …

Wouldn't be great – I mean – wouldn't it be just fine – if one person – just ONE PERSON – stood up and said "Camaraderie!" and sat down. They would think she was nuts. But if two people. Yes, TWO PEOPLE, stood up and said, together, duet-wise, with glissandoes, "Camaraderie!" they might think that something was going on. And if three -- yes, THREE PEOPLE – all at once – sang, sang in three part harmony "CAMARADERIE!" -- well, they just might think it was a ... a Movement!

And yes ma'am, I think that's what it just might be. The Science Fiction and Fantasy Filking Movement. Just think about that.

So we’ll wait a bit – until after 10pm on this Saturday night – and set set a spell until it comes around again on this fine chronometer –10pm on this night – and then we’ll sing, in complete and full camaraderie – until the morning dawn breaks.

So will you wait? And we’ll sing it – sing filk – with feelin’!"

Jeff Bohnhoff:

"I see the filk community as a safe place for anyone to express themselves musically. Although as with any social group there are some lapses of manners and attempts to use the community for egotistical ends - for the most part people really are there to listen to each other, and embrace the diversity of styles, viewpoints and skill levels that all the different participants bring to a given circle. This is pretty uncommon in the general music making community where musicians tend to be very competitive and even cut-throat in their relationships with one another. In the filk community, most of the well known "big names" are very nurturing of new faces. When Maya and I were first getting started, we invariably found the well known filkers, whether it be Kathy Mar, or Dr Jane and Cindy McQuillen, or Leslie Fish to be open and supportive, rather than defensive of their "status", as we would have expected in many other musical situations. For me, the welcoming atmosphere was a breath of fresh air after having played for years in musical communities where there was a lot of back-stabbing and unhealthy competitiveness. After over 8 years, that feeling hasn't changed for me. I still see new people being welcomed and nurtured by the community, and that warms my heart."

Lynn Gold:

"I liken it to the black American gospel music tradition.

If you ever go to a gospel service with choir, etc., you'll always see some folks doing solos. Some of them are better than others, but the room reacts with massive enthusiasm no matter how good or bad the soloist is.

Years ago I sang with a gospel choir because I wanted to know what that experience was all about. We were performing at a church when a little girl got up and did an awkward, mediocre quality solo. As she was performing, the "star" performer in our choir was remarking to one of the other gals in the group that this little girl's performance reminded her of her OWN first solo performance. I noticed that after the girl got done the room applauded wildly.

This is the same music tradition from which many black pop stars have come. Instead of being told to not sing if they're less than perfect, they're encouraged and nurtured.

When I first experience the filk community I saw the same thing. No matter how awful your one-shot was (and my first one was truly frightening), people applauded. In a filk circle folks always applaud no matter how many keys your song (unintentionally) winds up being in. This kind of nurturing and encouragement has helped folks like me develop self-confidence I never would have had otherwise."

Perry:

"To me, it means a chance to push my creative skills to their logical, but absurd extent in front of (both virtually and physically) people who will understand (most of) where I'm coming from, and generally get the messages or emotions that I'm trying to express.

Musically, I still agree with Myra Stewart's assessment that filk is music performed by a filker in a filk circle...ANY music (as Sherman and the other Central Florida filkers will confirm, I do push the envelope on that)."

Tim Ryan:

"I feel that filk is as much being heard by the community as it is performing in it and the listen-only audience.

I feel there is a real loss to the community, when after a performer is rewarded with their own concert at a con, that they seem to ignore those not as fortunate, by not being around listen in the circle the night before or afterward.

When I first seen filk as all-circle / only circle, it was the only venue to be heard. A concert is a reward, not a replacement for the interactive experience. This interaction in our community is so much higher that what I seen when I would go attend the folk club open mike performances. There, a bunch of performers would be there, but not interacting as much with others as much as I see in filking. Their loss."

Alex Wittenberg:

"The filk community is a family to me. (I'd call if my fourth, after my birth family, my marriage family, and my family of local friends). OK, sometimes it's a dysfunctional family, but when I go to cons, the filk room is home. The cons I look forward to the most are the filk cons, which feel more and more like reunions. We sing, we laugh, we vent, we cry, we rage, we sing again.

My first con was a filk con (Contata '98, where UT was among the guests and sang about Marc Osier). The flock of strangers made me feel at home. They kept making me feel at home in Atlanta and Virginia and Ohio. They reached out on 9/11 to make sure we in NYC were okay, and they embraced up close and from a distance last weekend at the news of an engagement and of an unlikely pregnancy.

In short, the filk community is family, to those who need a break from their real families, to those who love lots of zany cousins, and to those who don't have family of the genetic sort.

Hope that wasn't too sappy."

Comments? Please post below.

What is Interfilk?

From the Interfilk Web site:

"Interfilk is a fan fund. Most fan funds raise money to transport a fan to a convention that they would not normally be likely to attend. In our case we raise money from filk fans to transport members of the filk community who have something special to share."

"The main goal of Interfilk is the promotion of cultural exchange through filk music.  We provide the means and opportunity for talented members of the filk community to attend filk conventions they otherwise not be able to attend. This provides the opportunity to share performances, songwriting, organizing, publishing and other talents with a wider community than might otherwise be possible.

A secondary goal is promoting filk conventions by adding talented (though often not widely known) persons to their program. Interfilk tries to select guests who would draw people to see them again at another convention."

For info about how guests are chosen, Interfilk auctions, etc., please see What is Interfilk on the Interfilk Web site.

Are there any filk-related publications?

Let's Filk About
German filk fanzine. Editor: Kirstin Tanger.

Xenofilkia
Xenofilkia is a bimonthly filk fanzine run by Lee Gold.

Other suggestions? Please post below.

German filk: Where can I find out more?

Filk.de:
Resources and information related to filk in Germany.

Other suggestions? Please post below.

British filk: Where can I find out more?

See the home page of the "WiGGLe" newsletter, which is run by Rafe Culpin, intended as a general resource for information on filk in the UK.

Other suggestions? Please post below, thanks.

Where can I find general filk-related resources?

Interfilk page:
The Interfilk Web site is an excellent source of filk-related
information.


Joe Kesselman's Filk Resources On The Internet:
Lots of great link resources.

Open Directory: Arts: Music: Styles: Folk: Filk

Filk.com is the home of DAG Productions, also has a Filk Q&A, discussion boards, an excellent page of links, other resources.

Other suggestions? Please post below.

What are the Pegasus awards?

From the OVFF Pegasus Awards page: "The Pegasus Awards were founded to recognize and honor excellence in filking. The nomination and ballot procedure is similar to that of the Hugo--except you do not need to be a paid member of the convention to vote. The results are tabulated, and then presented at the Awards Banquet Saturday evening. Let me tell you: the Banquet is the place to be! Don't miss out on a fine meal, fine conversation, & all of the drama of the awards."

For more information, please see the Pegasus Awards page.

What is the Filk Hall of Fame?

From the Filk Hall of Fame Web site: "Created in 1994, the Filk Hall of Fame inducted its first members at FilKONtario 5. Each year three to five more members of the filk community will be recognized and added to the roster of the Hall of Fame. The Filk Hall of Fame was created to honour the people whose contributions have made a difference to what the filk community means to all of us. Members are chosen based on the nominations made by the filk community in general. At FilKONtario, they are presented with a plaque and a citation that summarises the reasons for the nominations."

Also see Kay Shapero's rec.music.filk FAQ definition.

More info:
Filk Hall of Fame

Any advice on making friends at filk conventions?

"I've been to a a number of filk conventions, but seem to be having trouble making friends and usually end up feeling like I'm on the outside, looking in. Everyone already seems to know everyone else. Any advice?"

From posts and e-mails I've seen in the past, be assured that you are not the only one who feels this way. Next time you're in a crowded room or hallway at a filk convention, remember that chances are VERY GOOD that at least a few other people in the same room or hallway are wishing they could talk with you (or anyone!) but are too shy or insecure to approach you.

Timing is important, if you choose to approach someone during a convention. If they're already distracted by other people or events, they're probably less likely to want to chat.

Many filk conventions have a con suite (at least in North America), a room whose sole purpose is for casual hanging out and chatting. It usually has nice things to eat and drink as well! People in the con suite are usually there to meet others and chat. Some are probably too shy to start up conversations themselves, so DO be brave and start one up.

Some suggested "icebreaker" topics of conversation with people you don't know that well: their concerts or performances in open filk (only if you heard them and genuinely enjoyed them, of course), what they're wearing (interesting t-shirt slogans, homemade items, funny/beautiful), the food in the con suite, or just ask, "So how are you enjoying the convention?"

Be proactive and establish some connections before the convention. Livejournal is a great way to do this since a sizeable portion of the filk community seems to be on LJ. You don't have to post in your own LJ if you don't feel like it, but having an LJ id is handy for posting comments in other people's journals. However, be sure to include your real name or a photograph if you want people to recognize you at conventions! Alternatively, include your LJ nickname on your badge at conventions.

Set up get-togethers (e.g. meals or coffee) or activities ("let's perform this song together! we'll have to get together for a rehearsal...") before the convention. Some are more open to this than others; I generally don't like booking too many commitments before a convention, for example, because it leaves less room for me to just wander and meet people.

Attend the workshops and other group activities at conventions.

Remember that some people have established close friendships over the years, but because of geography and/or limited finances, only tend to see these friends once or twice a year (or less!) at conventions. They aren't excluding you; they're focusing on each other.

Start your own group. There was a time in my own filk history experience where I was too shy to approach the filkers whose company/music I admired, who seemed to have their own already established groups of friends. So instead, I started hanging out with some other people who were around the same level of experience, whose company I found I enjoyed. Some of us drifted apart over the years, but some of our friendships deepened; I now look forward to hanging out with these friends at each convention.

Be aware that if you seem to be excluded from a group, it may not have anything to do with you personally. Some people love gigantic dinner groups, for example, but I don't...if I make dinner plans with certain people, it's usually because I actually want to have a CONVERSATION with them, not just be part of a giant group going to the same restaurant, so I tend to stick to smaller meal outings. This means having to say no sometimes if other people want to come along. I always try to be sensitive to this when I ask if I can join a group as well, asking first if they already have enough people.

Focus on the positive rather than the negative, especially when making public posts between conventions, or con reports. So a convention didn't go exactly the way you had hoped. What did you ENJOY about the convention? Who was responsible for the parts you enjoyed, no matter how small? Acknowledge them publicly, naming names. Or better yet, do this AT the convention. So often the performers get the most positive feedback; purposely approach those who may be more behind-the-scenes (e.g. con suite people, sound tech support, organizers of various fan projects, someone you met in the con suite whose conversation you enjoyed, advice about cat-feeding you appreciated, etc.) and thank them..

I think it's human nature to be drawn to positive rather than negative people. When posting in your LJ, remember that some people may only know you from your LJ, and be wary of establishing a pattern of mainly whinging/whining. Think about it from a reader's point of view: Suppose you're at a convention and you come across two people whose badges have LJ names you recognize (something else to do, if you're on LJ: write your LJ nickname on the badge along with your real name so people can make the connection!). One of these LJ authors, you remember, is (with rare exception) always whining or bitching about how unhappy he is, how horrible the world is, or how angry he is at other people. The other writes about interesting activities or hobbies or things she's read or done, what makes her happy. Which one appeals to YOU more as a potential friend?

If you're rebuffed or fail at making the connection you want, TRY NOT TO TAKE IT PERSONALLY. Conventions are often very intense and hectic, and people's emotions tend to run on the sensitive side because of lack of sleep, particularly near the end of the convention, and over-hyped expectations. Lick your wounds but then move on. Life's too short to dwell on regret and anger. So what if Person X rejected you? It's their loss. They'll realize their mistake later but by then it'll be too late! Or will it? Forgiveness is also a valuable tool in making and keeping friends, I've found, as important as the willingness to apologize when you know you were in the wrong. Be wary about taking personal slights and making them public, even in so-called "locked entries" in LJ. Work things out with the person in private instead, if you consider them a friend.

Overall, don't try to over-think people's reactions or potential reactions. Try to focus on the fact that you ARE an interesting and likable person. Give yourself time, and don't be afraid of approaching people.

I've included other people's suggestions below, but also see:

Where can I network with other filkers online?

Why doesn't the filk community notice/appreciate me?

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From "beige_alert":

I find I've met a lot of people through LJ. I discovered something at this FKO that I hadn't really expected, which is how easy it is to make indirect connections by LJ. I met people I previously knew only as commenters in other people's livejournals, and people who knew me primarily as a commenter in other livejournals. There were many occasions to say "Oh! You're [ljname]!" It's certainly worth introducing yourself to anyone you recognize this way even if you don't know the person at all well.

If it's possible to arrive early on Friday and stay until Monday the extra time is wonderful, too. OVFF I always do by driving all day Friday and arriving as the concerts start, then leaving Sunday by noon. I end up with very little time to talk to anybody. FKO is farther away for me, so that's just not possible. Friday early afternoon it was almost inevitable I'd be hanging out with most of nMC---not many other people there yet---and then there was dinner with new friends on Sunday night, more filk, and more time for goodbyes Monday morning. It's not always possible, of course, but it's so much easier to be sociable when there are no concerts in progress, just everyone chatting and maybe looking for food. Even at OVFF, some of my best social experiences have been not going to the banquet and just hanging out in the con suite during one of the very few times on Saturday when nothing else is going on.

It gets easier to meet people as you meet more people, too. A group with one good friend in it is a group you can introduce yourself to easily.

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From Heather, OVFF Volunteer Coordinator:

Volunteer - The best way to make new friends at any con, including filk, is to volunteer your time at the registration desk or in the consuite. Even if you meet no one else (very unlikely), you will have the gratitude of the staff memeber you help, and you will have met at least them. You will talk to them because they need to know who you are and you need to know what they need you to do. Since you already have that dialogue open, mention that you'd like to make some new friends, and as they work with you and get to know your personality, they may be able to point you towards people they think you might enjoy getting to know. Generally speaking, con staff are often very socially connected and many are extroverted and happy to introduce you to new people.

Now, let me remove my vampire teeth, hooking claws, concom badge, and "Volunteer - Ask Me How" T-shirt, and offer some additional ideas:

Be Brave - these are fellow congoers we are talking about here, and most of them have been at least as shy as you in the past. We know what it's like to be new and on the outside. So, talk to us; we don't bite. If that's still too hard, wear a T-Shirt or a pin that says "I'm new and shy; come tell me about filk."

Take Advantage of Social IceBreakers - many filk cons have traditions in place for meeting each other at the beginning of the con. For example, OVFF has The Mad Hatters Tea Party, lately with a game of Encore. Attending the tea and joining the game are great places to meet other people who are also new to the con, especially as more seasoned congoers are too busy saying hi to all the friends they haven't seen all year. Look for the other Looking Lost people, and ask if they are new here too. See your local filk con schedule for each con's opening event, and attend accordingly. Remember to say "Hi, my name is...; what's yours?" to at least one other person.

Games and Fun - It has been my experience that games often happen at filk cons, either scheduled or spontaneous. I've seen everything from poker, bridge, Settler of Catan, Apples to Apples, various PDA-to-PDA games all played at various filk cons in the consuite, the hallways, the back of the main room. If you see a game happening, ask to join in. Games are a great space for meeting new people and making new friends. Another fun social type thing that often happens at filk cons are the Pool Parties and Hot Tub parties. So, come join us in the water, even if that means your fully dressed and only dipping in your toes - we'll chat with you anyway.

Add Value - most things you do that Add Value to the over-all con experience will get you recognition and often make you friends. Some of the Add Values I've seen include: bring copious amounts of truffles and share them with everyone; offer to braid everyone's hair; draw furry versions of various people in the room; take photographs of everything and offer to email them to the subjects involved; entertain the children; pass out kazoos to everyone; etc. If you are a musician, especially if you are a musician who can follow along perfectly or add ornamentation or harmony, and extra-especially if you play something other than guitar (or bagpipes), Do Please play along with those who announce that they like to be played along with. Adding Value to another's music will often win you friends, especially if they adore what you just added to their song. And they will introduce you to other cool musicians; count on it.

On Line - new and interesting ways to make friends in the filk community come up online all the time. First, there's here at the Dandelion Report; we all have email addresses, you can contact many of us via email (yes, it is always ok to email me, especially if you are looking to volunteer at OVFF2004 *grin*) As well, you can chat with many filkers at the excellent www.filknet.org chat room; see that site for more details. See also rec.music.filk, and Google or ask around for your community's local filk mailing list. These are all excellent ways to make online friends in the filk community, who you can then later meet in person for the first time at a filk convention. And then you can ask them to introduce you to *their* friends; and so on and so on.

As always, Be Brave. Take chances. Say Hi. Sing Along. Look welcoming. Smile. Have a good time :)

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From Phil Parker:

It's taken me decades to get to the point where I feel like I'm really surrounded by friends at a con, rather than a sea of strangers with a few people I sort of know. The best advice I can offer, being the sort of person who's really bad at connecting with new people, is twofold:

(1) when you're genuinely interested in something someone else is doing, they'll usually respond positively. Like, they sang a song in circle that really moved you, so you ask them about the song -- did you write it? what inspired it? could you should me how to play it? Or they happen to be carrying a book you don't recognize by an author you love. Or their T-shirt is advertising something that interests you. Don't just try to fake this; if you're a worse-than-average people person, the person you approach will realize something's wrong (even if they're not exactly clear what).

(2) Find something you can show off that people will think is cool. Writing a really good song or performing a really kick-ass version of a familiar song is a good way, but it's not the only thing. If you have a hobby or craft, bring some of your work and show it to people you sort of know, or work on it or display it in a public place. An outstanding costume or a really nifty gadget can attract attention even if you didn't make it. Other people will be interested in coming up and asking you about your cool thing, and since it's something important to you, you'll probably be comfortable talking about it. F'rinstance, I started getting a lot more attention at cons when I started bringing pictures of the big cats I work with.

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From Juliana:

Suggestions - find someone that looks approachable... (I for instance do not bite) and ask some questions. I spent the entire con (it seems) asking people who other people were as I've not been getting out much and didn't know many people by face.

Make eye contact with a friendly looking filker and chances are they'll motion you over and point to a seat.

I'm actually quite shy (hard to believe) but put on my "ok lets get going" face and try to connect with people.

It is true that a longstanding convention with many cool kids sometimes feels like it is a group of closed clubs but I know from experience that these are just friends you haven't met yet. It's like performing -- instead of thinking of the circle members as critics -- I try to think of them as people that want me to do my best and who will enjoy the fact that I am doing what I can to share my music and/or performance with them.

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From Sherman:

Ask people what new music they've heard recently. After Friday night, ask if anyone's played new pieces at the con.
Tell people if you admire their music, panache, button, craft piece, instrument, earring, or other things that aren't body parts. ("Your knees are like limpid pools" is not really a good opening gambit for conversation at a con—or elsewhere.)
Smile, say hello.

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From Margaret Middleton:

Making friends at filk conventions:
Find somebody who seems to be in charge of some activity that looks interesting, (even, or maybe especially, if you don't quite know what's going on) and ask "What can I do to help?"
Speaking as a concom person, I can practically guarantee that this will result in you meeting AT MINIMUM everybody participating in that activity.

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From JohnO:

Some DOs and DON'Ts

Don't just sit in the back of the concert hall or the outer ring of the circles and read, compute or otherwise do something percieved as "doing something else."

Do go to the Consuite/Lounge. Even if you are too shy to start a conversation, someone else will probably start one with you.

Don't have conversations/ask questions in the concert hall/circle rooms. See the above DO for the proper place to have conversations & ask questions.

Do participate. May performers will declare a song to a be a sing along, so sing along. Attend workshops or performance jams. Drum circles are great place to start if you don't have instrument training. Basic rythm is easy to find and you can quickly learn more complicated ones.

Don't overwhelm others when you do particpate. We don't mind if you can't carry a tune (this writer needs a large bucket), just don't be the loudest voice. When the Drum Thing is doing middle eastern style, don't try to fit in the "Wipeout" solo.

Do keep coming back. Filkers are a very friendly accepting bunch. On your 2nd visit, you'll probably be welcomed as a old friend

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From Phil Mills:

I have a mixture of feelings about fitting in within the con setting. I'll just use myself as an example rather than giving any specific advice.

At Torcon 3, I definitely felt like an outsider and the same at my first FKO in 2004. The reason was that I was very conscious of having nothing to contribute except a pair of ears. Combine in the fact that I was working with the inaccurate belief that those cons would be mostly about music (or other program content) for everyone there. Lucky for me, I'm very good at being alone in a crowd. It seldom bothers me and, where there's music, I can flip quickly into listen-only mode if that seems the most appropriate role. I guess the lesson in that is to see what good the situation offers and enjoy it rather than going for "all or nothing" -- however an individual may define that.

The other thing is that the way I relate to people in filk is no different from the way I relate to people generally. Which would be, wait until they no longer notice me and then when they're at a water hole, distracted, I...oh, wait. I get to know people slowly, and over time explore whether we enjoy each other's company. But that's a different thing from picking an open room and singing a few songs. A couple of years practice and many listenings to Take It Back has convinced that that's close to being a right. So my second point has something to do with getting in touch with one's own expectations and social style...I guess...maybe....

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From Joshua Kronengold:

Hate to say it, but...

"How do I know if I'm filkhoging? How do I avoid doing so unintentionally?"

Why doesn't the filking community notice/appreciate me?

Erica gave me permission to include a link to her excellent LJ entry (and accompanying comments.