There are several ways to be heard at the FARM Conference. The Official Showcase, Performance Lane, Midwest Radio Presents and yes, even the late night Song Circles/Jams all have proven to provide artists with good exposure to the radio and presenters in attendance.
Two ways to submit this year. If you're already a Sonicbids member hold on to your CDs and postage by submitting online. If you are not yet a Sonicbids member and want to submit online, you can sign-up for the Sonicbids Combo Package (includes your submission AND a discounted Sonicbids membership).
You may also mail in your Showcase Submission
Print out the Showcase Submission Form (PDF), fill it in, and mail it with your check or money order to the address specified.
There will be TWELVE Official Showcase slots at the FARM Gathering October 7 - 10, 2010. The deadline for submission is July 15, 2010.
Showcases will take place on the evenings of Friday, October 8th and Saturday, October 9th.
If you were an official showcase artist at FARM in 2008 or 2009 you are not eligible to showcase this year. FARM Board Members are not eligible to showcase.
Selected artists pay a $20.00 showcase fee due upon notification.
Two to four alternate artists will be chosen in the event a selected showcase artist(s) is unable attend the conference.
Selected artists and all band members / backup musicians, MUST register for the full conference. NO EXCEPTIONS.
All official showcase artists must be an active member of Folk Alliance. If you are not already a member you can join at http://folk.org
Our showcase artists enjoy the undivided attention of attendees—no other activities are scheduled during any of the showcases.
We offer 48 pre-scheduled 10- minute time slots to be held simultaneously in 2 smaller conference rooms. These unplugged performances are a great opportunity to showcase and many non-official showcase artists have been booked based one song. Performance Lane takes place immediately following the official showcases on Friday and Saturday evening.
HOW TO SIGN UP FOR PERFORMANCE LANE:
It's easy. Just register for the conference and select the box on the form indicating you would like to a Performance Lane slot. Requests for these slots are filled in the order received up to the maximum number of participants we can accommodate, so REGISTER AS EARLY AS YOU CAN if you want a Performance Lane spot.
It is our goal each year to attract more and more presenters and DJs which in turn attracts more high quality talent to discover. Therefore, this year we are waiving the registration fee for all folk DJs – you pay only for food and lodging.
As an added incentive we’re hosting a special invitational showcase on Thursday night called “Midwest Folk Radio Presents”. Modeled after the NERFA Folk DJ showcase, each DJ will have the opportunity to choose one artist (maybe two depending on the number of DJs involved) to perform two songs on the main stage.
For DJs
DJs who plan to attend FARM and are interested in participating in the showcase should contact annie@maynardmusic.com. (NOTE: If you are unable to be there on Thursday evening but plan to attend Friday and Saturday, we will still welcome your participation in the artist selection.)
For Artists
Artists, this is a chance to perform for a group of peers, venues and DJs from the Midwest (and beyond). Our Thursday night showcase last year was very successful and several of the performers had at least one gig offer on the spot.
Artists who are planning to attend FARM this year and would like to be considered for this showcase should email Lilli Kuzma at lkupbeat@aol.com.
About the Selection Process
Lilli Kuzma will compile a list of artists who would like to be considered. However, DJs are not required to select from this list.
Because we’re trying to raise awareness of FARM, DJs are welcome to recruit an artist – preferably one who has never attended our regional conference – who they believe could benefit from the experience and exposure.
Likewise, artists are encouraged to recruit a new Midwest Folk DJ to FARM as well.
There are no restrictions except that the performer may not be an official showcase artist this year or from the previous 2 years. Artists who were selected for the concertsinyourhome.com showcase last year are also excluded.
Selected artists MUST register for the entire conference. The registration is ½ price for all first-timers.
Lilli Kuzma of WDCB and Sue Kessell of WNUR will be hosting the evening. Please contact Annie Capps at annie@maynardmusic.com for more information.
After the Formal Showcases and Performance Lane on both nights, jamming and song circles among the attendees are highly encouraged. We will provide multiple locations for a variety of opportunities including song swaps, traditional jams and sing-along song jams. Often smaller song circles will break out in other areas although we ask that you keep to the main floor of the hotel so as not to disturb the sleeping rooms.
There is no guerilla or private showcasing offered at this time.
