Info on South Florida event - and opinions sought on a dumb question (long)

One of the reasons I sometimes don't get onto here for weeks at a time is
that I am SO busy with so many other things. Work, my house concerts... and
everything related to the Broward Folk Club.

I ended up being this year's President (a position that I never sought, and
that I swear I will never do again, it's too much work), The Club was
founded by Steve and a few others around 20 years ago, and Steve held
multiple positions including past President. Bob Singer, a friend who
occasionally posts on here, was the President for the past two years. (One
can only hold that position for two terms in a row.) I get the honor this
year. (I think I am going to run and hide next year during elections.)

As President, that puts one in the position of also being the Director of
the South Florida Folk Festival. Except that there is not going to be a
South Florida Folk Festival this year. Last year's event was our normal
mid-January gala (traditionally Martin Luther King weekend), including
camping, multiple stages, and two full days of music in the park. Our
headliners (who cost a bundle) were Chad & Jeremy, and Mason Williams (of
Classical Gas fame). It was a great Festival, but it cost a fortune... and
we lost a lot of money, partly because it rained and attendance was very
low.

This year, with almost no money left, the masses were clamoring for a
Festival. And so I came up with the idea of finding a suitable venue, and
doing a one-day indoor event that would have minimal expenses involved (no
setting up of stages, no food vending, no big headliners). I found a great
venue, called the Round Up. It's a huge country western bar with a full
stage, huge dance floor, and great food. They are renting it to us from
noon until 9 (and for the first time in their history, closing it to their
regular clientele for a few evening hours... they normally open their doors
at 6 p.m.). The name of this year's event... the only name that made sense
given our venue... is the "South Florida Folk Round Up." All we have to do
is line up the music, arrange for sound, and show up.

Okay, well, it's a little more involved than that. Advertising. Trying to
get sponsorships. Negotiating with artists. Lining up volunteers to help.
Last year's performer budget was, I think, in the $20,000 range. This year,
I budgeted myself $1,500... and have managed to line up 23 performers while
sticking within the budget. I've done that by approaching local artists,
asking if they'd donate their time or play for minimal fee. Stroking,
telling them how much we appreciate what their music offers to our
community, lots of ongoing contact, emphasizing how much we are in need of
what THEY specifically have to offer. (They get in for free, get to spend
the day, get to sell CD's.) Trying to focus on the "community" aspect.

But... no headliners, minimal number of national touring artists (unless
they happened to be in Florida in January and I could nab them), and no
focus on any one artist. My goal instead has been to get away from the
"singer-songwriter" type slant we've always had, and to focus instead on
presenting a wide variety of music falling within the "folk" genre, that
might hopefully appeal to a broader audience base. (You've all heard all
the arguments about what truly defines "folk music.") In my book, that
meant including traditional music, old time music, bluegrass, Celtic...
things that have been left out of some of our previous Festivals. In fact,
when we just had our flyer/poster created, I chose NOT to list artists, but
instead to focus on the types of "genres" that we are presenting. Some of
the artists will have half hour slots, others will do 2 or 3 songs round
robin style with a few other performers (we are calling these "community
round up" slots).

I have never in my life done anything of this scope, and am pretty much
winging it. (Depending on instincts, common sense, and the input of good
friends like Bob and other Board members.) I am pretty proud of what we've
come up with so far. I am working my *** off... but feel like I'm actually
putting together an event that will be terrific (I hope). After January,
I'm crawling into a cave and sleeping for a while.

Here's what we've got going so far: www.myspace.com/browardfolkclub

Now that I got final confirmation from the last artist, and have the final
list, I've came up with a really stupid conundrum. How does one list
performers for an event like this (in literature, mailings, etc.)? First I
thought to break it up into two lists... those who had "regular" slots and
those who were performing for free in "round up" slots. Then I though,
no... treat everybody equally. There are no headliners. Everybody is
giving of themselves. We posted the list and then realized that there will
be hurt feelings. Some people feeling they should get "top billing" since
they are better known artists, etc. So in the end, I just want to
alphabetize the final list. Does this typically get done by first name or
by last name? Stupid question but... some people perform under their name,
some perform under stage names, some perform with a group. What is the
appropriate way of listing them?

Let's say there are two performers who use their own name:
Cheryl Gordon
Michael Haliday

And a performer who uses a stage name:
John T. Funnyguy (but his real name might be John T. Somber)

And one who is with a group:
Loveable Blues Guys

Do I list John under Funnyguy or Somber?

Do I list them by first name but alphabetically by last name? i.e.
John T. Funnyguy
Cheryl Gordon
Michael Haliday
Loveable Blues Guys

Alphabetically by first name? i.e.
Cheryl Gordon
John T. Funnyguy
Loveable Blues Guys
Michael Haliday

Or alphabetically last name first, except when it's a group or a stage name?
i.e.
Gordon, Cheryl
Haliday, Michael
John T. Funnyguy
Loveable Blues Guys

Dumb questions, but avoiding hurt feelings depends upon doing it the "right"
way. And besides, I have nothing else to obsess over at the moment.

Okay. Hope maybe a few of you will make it down to South Florida for our
Round Up. Thanks for listening.

--
Best,

Arlene
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"Kol_Isha" - A Woman's Voice


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