Re: [Callers] Festival Applications - Contra Callers

19 Oct 2006

Yes I have seen those boards, which at the moment are sitting in the bed of my pickup
truck. As I wrote, I was thinking about computer checking of the draft schedule so that,
for example, you could look at the fifty-four individual members of the Animaterra
Womens' Chorus, see which members have other NEFFA commitments besides Animaterra, and
thus do everything possible to avoid scheduling conflicts and ensure a happy, creative
festival experience for each performer. Didn't mean to imply that software does the
scheduling, only that it is a necessary tool. And even computerization is the work of
skilled human volunteers; in this case Dan Pearl, I believe. For any applicant to any
festival, "talk to the people making the decisions" is surely good advice.  ...
Bob
--
Robert Jon Golder
164 Maxfield St
New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 999-2486

 -------------- Original message ----------------------
From: "Beth Parkes" &lt;ebay(a)hands4.com&gt;
...
  ----- Original Message ----- 
 From: &lt;robertgolder(a)comcast.net&gt;
 To: "Caller's discussion list" &lt;callers(a)sharedweight.net&gt;
 Sent: Wednesday, October 18, 2006 4:47 PM
 Subject: Re: [Callers] Festival Applications

  If you're wondering why performer
applications are required so far in 
 advance of a festival, note that NEFFA may have 1700 performers, many of 
 whom perform in multiple sessions (perhaps performing alone, and with a 
 participatory dance group, and also with a concert performance group!). 
 You can't doublebook a performer (or larger groups to which she may 
 belong), you have to give her time to move from one venue to another, plus 
 a bunch of other scheduling etceteras that would drive me loony to 
 contemplate further. How scheduling was done in the days before computers 
 is beyond me.  
 You've seen the boards, Robert. You know how the scheduling for NEFFA is 
 done: the same as before computers, cards thumbtacked in a time slot for 
 each event. (Just like the schedule board in the TV show Studio 60, if any 
 of you watch it.) It is a very manual process. The computers have helped 
 with printing the cards, gathering the information and preparing the program 
 book and schedule but the process of actual scheduling is manual.

 To respond to the original post: each festival is different and the 
 absolutely best thing you can do talk to the people making the decisions. 
 Just ask! "What are their criteria?" "Do they prefer bands and callers to

 apply together or separately." "What is the date?" "If I missed the 
 deadline, should I submit an application anyway?" (no, for NEFFA, btw.) "Do 
 you want catchy names?" "Do you accept people from outside the area?" 
Etc., 
 Etc., Etc. Festivals are run by real people who care about their events. 
 They will answer your questions! And you can't have someone say "yes" if
you 
 don't ask.

 HTH,
 Beth 

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