Rustycon Filk Programming

Below is my submission for the Rustycon Program Book and Pocket Program related to Folk Music Events. (Disclaimer = This was sent in 6 weeks ago, anything is subject to change.) I had hoped to have gotten this out to all of you long before now, in time even for you to have provided me with some feedback on my plans. However, life occured in the meanwhile, and so I'm sending it now. It will still give some of you at least a brief head-start in considering what you might like to ask / comment on in the Filk panels we are doing at Rustycon. (It may also serve as brain-storming replylaunch point for future conventions.) If you want to talk to me about matters prior to the panels, I'll be on site starting around 6pm (yuck) Fri night, and you can catch me at the Circle. I hope to see at least some of you there!

Quarong
email: quarong at eskimo.com

Program Book:

"Whether you're a newcomer who just wants to listen, or an experienced performer, come and join us for a night of creative music! We'll be in the North Conference Room on both Friday and Saturday nights from 7pm until we drop. (One minor detail: We'll have to set up the Circle each night ourselves, and restore it to a "theater format" before we leave for bed; but that's nothing we haven't done before.) The exact format the Circle will take will depend on the size and composition of the attendees, but knoweveryone's contribution is welcome.

On a more formal level, Steve Dixon, Cecilia Eng, and Jeff Hitchin, among others, will be giving concerts early in the evening. There will also be a concert slot for "open-mike"performances on Friday night; so if you have a song, poem, or story you'd like to share with an audience, please sign up on the list in the Convention Office. Watch for signs around the convention for additional details. Finally, there are three Folk Music related panels scheduled: "Introduction to Filk", "Folk Music and Our Lives", and "Whose Filk is it?". Look for them in the Program Schedule, and come join us with your questions and your experience. We look forward to seeing you!"

Pocket Program:

        Friday and Saturday 7pm until we drop. North Conference Room. "Filk Concerts & Song Circle: Whether you're a newcomer who just wants to listen, or an experienced performer, come and join us for a night of creative music!"

Panel Programming: Panel 3 needs to be placed sometime between 11am and 5pm on Saturday. Panels 1 and 2 can be during that same period, or between 11am and 3pm on Sunday.

Panel 1:
-- Steve Dixon, Cecilia Eng, Jeff Hitchin, and Karen Rall (moderator).

• "Introduction to Filk: Are you a newcomer to this activity, or an oldtimer who wishes to share your experiences? Either way, come to this discussion of a wonderful hobby. We'll explain the different types of filk circles, useful etiquette tips, and how you can participate. We'll also talk about how to find tapes and song lyrics for enjoyment between conventions. Questions and comments welcome."

Panel 2:
-- Steve Dixon, Cecilia Eng, Jeff Hitchin, and Karen Rall (moderator).

• "Folk Music and Our Lives: When we could be at the dance moving to the latest techno-industrial tunes, or listening at home to the current pop favorites, why do we spend our time immersed in songs of mythology and of the future? What is it about filk/folk music that speaks to us; and how does it compare with mainstream genres? What role does music in general play in our lives?

Panel 3:
-- Cecilia Eng and Jeff Hitchin (moderator).

• "Whose Filk is it?: Have you ever wondered how a song comes into being? Where do you get ideas for lyrics? How do you come up with a tune? What about rhyme, meter, scansion, and all those other technical details? Come join us for an hour and let's see if we can write a song!"

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(c) Karen Rall (aka Quarong) -- November 18, 1995 Received on 01/11/96