[mplpost] Ontario Contact?
Amber Cunningham
one_act@yahoo.com
Mon Nov 4 16:06:51 2002
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Thanks for a great overview of an exciting Ontario Contact weekend Jory. It was great to see you, and many others there.
I agree, that the Showcase/exhibit hall overlap seemed not to work so well, but in talking to the organizers they said it was something they were trying for the first time this year. If say the showcases were divided and clearly labled into focus groups, for example an evening each of Folk/Roots, classical, and dance, it would allow presenters to attended the showcase night that applies to their venue, and the other presenters to walk the exhibit hall when there is less traffic. In theory it sounds so nice...but alas, me thinks I dream in colour.
On the flip side of the above idea, one big advantage to Ontario Contact is the vast array of presenters that attend. If you are a showcasing artist, it is the opportunity to strutt you stuff for presenters who may not typically consider booking a Folk/Roots artist at their venue, and there is nothing like a live performance to change their mind.
All in all, it was a great weekend of seeing what Ontario has to offer.
Cheers,
Amber of Sirens
Jory Nash <nash@globalserve.net> wrote:Hi Folks:
I attended Ontario Contact this past weekend, as both a showcasing artist and
and exhibit hall booth operator. In fact, if you are selected to showcase you
MUST purchase a booth at Ontario Contact. I'm not sure if this is how things are
done at other Contacts, but I find it to be an extremely smart policy.
This was my first Ontario Contact, excepting a one day appearance 3 years ago to
see what it was all about. Ontario Contact was held in at the Toronto Performing
Arts Centre (located in downtown North York, once but no longer an oxymoron),
and consisted of over 30 showcases (of about 20 minutes each), plus the exhibit
hall (or Contact Room as it is called) and a small number of workshops.
Workshops are few in number but long on detail and time. Each workshop is about
2 and a half hours and the one that I attended ("Tips on Touring") was
informative and very useful indeed.
Delegates numbered about 400, with artists making up a small minority.
Presenters and presenter's aides make up the majority of Contact delegates.
Presenters of Classical, Children's and Variety (Roots included) music dominate.
Pure Folk/Roots presenters are few, many doubling as Agents of Artists
themselves.
Ontario Contact has a decidedly more business-like feel than say OCFF. There is
little late night jamming, no business may be conducted outside the Contact
Room, and there is no formal all-delegates' dinner. I found that without a table
in the exhibit hall I would have had tremendous difficulty making contact with
presenters. There is a decided advantage for showcasing artists (as there is at
most conferences) because very few presenters would even begin to consider
taking a promo package, let alone consider a booking without seeing me play
first. Presenters from smaller communities dominate. Northern Ontario is
particularly well-represented.
My showcase went well, with a good response from the crowd and a good number of
potential booking interests afterwards. The general performance level of
showcase artistry was very high, and the Folk/Roots community was well
represented. I didn't get to see all the artists showcase (my only complaint,
and it was a common one) was that the Exhibit Hall was often open at the same
time as showcases, so that while it was necessary to man the booths there were
few presenters to shmooze with because they were mostly watching showcases.
However, organizers were very interested in feedback and I feel that they were
aware of this particular problem and will address it next year. In general,
organizers of the event were approachable, friendly and very helpful.
I did get to see some fine showcases from members of the Roots community. These
included showcases by Tamarack, Danny Bakan, April Verch, Sirens, Anne Lindsay,
Galitcha, Rodney Brown & Wendell Ferguson. Other Roots artists showcasing
included Tiller's Folly, Hot Toddy, Georgette Fry, Celtic Rathskallions (in the
Children's Showcase), John Millard, The Laws and Susie Arioli. Two Jazz
Showcases stuck out for me: Peters Drury Trio and Melissa Stylianou. I
personally would love to see more Jazz artists showcasing at OCFF.
Another thing I really liked about Ontario Contact was the fact that there was a
"First Timer's Breakfast" on the first day. I found this a good way to orient
myself and to set realistic expectations for the conference. I spoke with Erin
Benjamin about having such a workshop at OCFF next year and she was very
receptive to the idea. I hereby offer my services to help organize/host such an
event. I will even try to get my grandmother to bake an appropriate number of
cupcakes.
Ontario Contact, like OCFF is also not ridiculously expensive to attend,
although hotel rates at OCFF are generally cheaper. It, like OCFF is a useful,
fun, and potentially lucrative business exercise. OCFF, however, has a decided
edge in the departments of fun and general positive community feel.
If anyone has any questions that they'd like to ask privately please feel free
to send them my way.
Jory Nash
http://www.jorynash
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<P> Thanks for a great overview of an exciting Ontario Contact weekend Jory. It was great to see you, and many others there.
<P> I agree, that the Showcase/exhibit hall overlap seemed not to work so well, but in talking to the organizers they said it was something they were trying for the first time this year. If say the showcases were divided and clearly labled into focus groups, for example an evening each of Folk/Roots, classical, and dance, it would allow presenters to attended the showcase night that applies to their venue, and the other presenters to walk the exhibit hall when there is less traffic. In theory it sounds so nice...but alas, me thinks I dream in colour.
<P>On the flip side of the above idea, one big advantage to Ontario Contact is the vast array of presenters that attend. If you are a showcasing artist, it is the opportunity to strutt you stuff for presenters who may not typically consider booking a Folk/Roots artist at their venue, and there is nothing like a live performance to change their mind.
<P>All in all, it was a great weekend of seeing what Ontario has to offer.
<P>Cheers,
<P>Amber of Sirens
<P> <B><I>Jory Nash <nash@globalserve.net></I></B> wrote:
<BLOCKQUOTE style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">Hi Folks:<BR>I attended Ontario Contact this past weekend, as both a showcasing artist and<BR>and exhibit hall booth operator. In fact, if you are selected to showcase you<BR>MUST purchase a booth at Ontario Contact. I'm not sure if this is how things are<BR>done at other Contacts, but I find it to be an extremely smart policy.<BR><BR>This was my first Ontario Contact, excepting a one day appearance 3 years ago to<BR>see what it was all about. Ontario Contact was held in at the Toronto Performing<BR>Arts Centre (located in downtown North York, once but no longer an oxymoron),<BR>and consisted of over 30 showcases (of about 20 minutes each), plus the exhibit<BR>hall (or Contact Room as it is called) and a small number of workshops.<BR>Workshops are few in number but long on detail and time. Each workshop is about<BR>2 and a half hours and the one that I attended ("Tips on Touring") was<BR>!
informative and very useful indeed.<BR><BR>Delegates numbered about 400, with artists making up a small minority.<BR>Presenters and presenter's aides make up the majority of Contact delegates.<BR>Presenters of Classical, Children's and Variety (Roots included) music dominate.<BR>Pure Folk/Roots presenters are few, many doubling as Agents of Artists<BR>themselves.<BR><BR>Ontario Contact has a decidedly more business-like feel than say OCFF. There is<BR>little late night jamming, no business may be conducted outside the Contact<BR>Room, and there is no formal all-delegates' dinner. I found that without a table<BR>in the exhibit hall I would have had tremendous difficulty making contact with<BR>presenters. There is a decided advantage for showcasing artists (as there is at<BR>most conferences) because very few presenters would even begin to consider<BR>taking a promo package, let alone consider a booking without seeing me play<BR>first. Presenters from smaller communities domin!
ate. Northern Ontario is<BR>particularly well-represented.<BR!
><BR>My showcase went well, with a good response from the crowd and a good number of<BR>potential booking interests afterwards. The general performance level of<BR>showcase artistry was very high, and the Folk/Roots community was well<BR>represented. I didn't get to see all the artists showcase (my only complaint,<BR>and it was a common one) was that the Exhibit Hall was often open at the same<BR>time as showcases, so that while it was necessary to man the booths there were<BR>few presenters to shmooze with because they were mostly watching showcases.<BR>However, organizers were very interested in feedback and I feel that they were<BR>aware of this particular problem and will address it next year. In general,<BR>organizers of the event were approachable, friendly and very helpful.<BR><BR>I did get to see some fine showcases from members of the Roots community. These<BR>included showcases by Tamarack, Danny Bakan, April Verch, Sirens, Anne Lindsay,<BR>Galitcha, Rodney Brown &!
amp; Wendell Ferguson. Other Roots artists showcasing<BR>included Tiller's Folly, Hot Toddy, Georgette Fry, Celtic Rathskallions (in the<BR>Children's Showcase), John Millard, The Laws and Susie Arioli. Two Jazz<BR>Showcases stuck out for me: Peters Drury Trio and Melissa Stylianou. I<BR>personally would love to see more Jazz artists showcasing at OCFF.<BR><BR>Another thing I really liked about Ontario Contact was the fact that there was a<BR>"First Timer's Breakfast" on the first day. I found this a good way to orient<BR>myself and to set realistic expectations for the conference. I spoke with Erin<BR>Benjamin about having such a workshop at OCFF next year and she was very<BR>receptive to the idea. I hereby offer my services to help organize/host such an<BR>event. I will even try to get my grandmother to bake an appropriate number of<BR>cupcakes.<BR><BR>Ontario Contact, like OCFF is also not ridiculously expensive to attend,<BR>although hotel rates at OCFF are generally che!
aper. It, like OCFF is a useful,<BR>fun, and potentially lucr!
ative business exercise. OCFF, however, has a decided<BR>edge in the departments of fun and general positive community feel.<BR><BR>If anyone has any questions that they'd like to ask privately please feel free<BR>to send them my way.<BR>Jory Nash<BR>http://www.jorynash<BR><BR>-<BR>To unsubscribe: mail majordomo@icomm.ca with<BR>"unsubscribe maplepost" in the body (not the subject line)<BR>Need help? mail owner-maplepost@icomm.ca</BLOCKQUOTE><p><br><hr size=1>Do you Yahoo!?<br>
<a href="http://rd.yahoo.com/careers/mailsig/*http://www.hotjobs.com ">HotJobs</a> - Search new jobs daily now
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