Jed -

Winfield is a fairly small town, with all that goes with it in "small town Kansas."

The WVA organization is a "small subculture of a small town" (with "delusions(?) of really big stuff" piled on).

Gossip and "community inside info" is essential in the whole festival setup. Having friends, and using them without mercy is one of the traditions of the festival. [And you're not even asking friends to lie, cheat, and steal, like some of the locals do for each other.]

You've got friends. We'll try to pester the festival for you.

And others may note: an email from Australia (or UK, or ...) asking them "who's this Jed Marum guy I heard you might book" is entirely within appropriate context. I gave a set of tent poles (a bit of a make-shift set) to a gang of Aussies who arrived with tent-but-no-poles down there about 16 years ago. They do know that the whole world is watching them.

John