hi,

Folk Alliance is this big Folk Conference held annually at the U.S./Canada national and regoinal levels . . . presumably for networking. I was at NE regional, where the Philly Folk Society people were hosting (I get the impression that people wanting to play the Philly Folk Fest basically get an "in" there). As you can glean from my previous post, my impressions were very negative (aside from finally getting to meet Deb!). I really didn't know what to expect -- I had a applied for showcases but not gotten any. I realize now I really shouldn't have bothered applying for them, because only the well-known acts got them. The acts were so well-known, in fact, I wonder why they weren't just booked by a booking committee . . . but then again, I did have to send in a check with my showcase application . . . and then more checks to register, try for a less formal showcase (which I still didn't get), and join the Society . . . ach, my head hurts.

All would have been redeemed if there had been any FUN to be had. i finally ended up showcasing with another org I'm kinda affiliated with -- hmmmm -- our hosts closed the door in my friend's face when we stopped by their room to check in, didn't allow another of my friends to bring her amp ino the room (she plays an instrument requiring one) and then withdrew her own, smaller keyboard amp which she had said my friend could borrow instead . . . another walked out of her own "in-the-round" showcase before her co-showcasers were done. Ewwwwwwww.

There were booths for record labels and producers, and a few artists hoping to promote themselves. For the most part, if i wanted to give a demo to anyone, they were like "throw it on the stack over there" . . .

not a huge amount of jamming going on . . . at one point roy book binder was jamming in the lobby with a few kids, quite lovely, and small clusters of others were playing together too -- until this woman decided she was going to TAKE OVER the whole lobby with a LOUD and BAD impromptu performance . . .

at that point my friends and i went for a drive around the Scenic Moonlit Poconos and listened to Nick Drake, humbly asking his ghost for advice. Then we came back and smoked pot in the hotel parking lot, went back inside & jammed a little more, & started openly making fun of everybody we didn't like.

any positive experiences out there?

E

ps. larry, the guy's name is Lach ("Latch").