Horses Sing None Of It - NERFA Report

NERFA 2015 Report - HSNOI

I use NERFA as my main source of finding new talent for HSNOI and for nurturing

relationships with performers far beyond our payscale. Sometimes it takes years for

dates to line up with an artists open schedule and studio availability. Visibility keeps

what we do relevant and in mind as an option to both international and domestic touring

performers to fill an open date in their schedule. It is an integral part of trust building and

cultivating bookings.

Keynote address

The underlying theme of the entire conference supported and encouraged the

continuation and growth of folk music in its many, many forms. Ellis Paul in his keynote

address spoke about how all music stems from the same place regardless of the genre

it chooses and it all has roots in folk music. He also expressed the need to work to pay it

forward in ensuring the growth and health of the “music of the people”.

Wisdom of the elders

From listening to the many stories shared at workshops and the David Amram 85th

Bday concert:

We are our history. Our elders are priceless treasures. They hold the stories and the

experience and the knowledge that made us what we are today. At 85 David is dynamic

and seamlessly professional and a wealth of history, lifetimes of experiences and ideas

and stories. The elders painted pictures of what they endured, most of which is not

widely available. We get the music but the story around it is as important if not more so.

More than ever we need to record and preserve this wealth of knowledge for the future

or it will be lost forever as each of them passes.

Kids help you Grow

We are our youth. We must embrace the children as well as the teens. Teach the

young to appreciate and to participate and give them ways and places to be a part of

the music and we will grow and prosper.

We are all in this together. We need to support and be supported by other venues and

complimentary organizations. NERFA is an unequalled source for cross pollination.

I have at least one new volunteer as a respected local promoter is very interested in

volunteering for our show.

Passed out cards to performers and venues reminding them that the show in their area

would do nothing but enhance the reach and longevity of all of us

Where is HSNOI headed?

We need to prepare to go forward. Where will technology take us? Our draw is limited

by those who can make it to our studio and is hampered by our being mercy to the rules

and regulations of the studio. Sometimes itʼs like passing a Camel through the eye of a

needle. With the availability and low cost of high quality recording equipment. Should

we be confined to someone else's whims? Rik Palieri. Has a show inspired by HSNOI.

His show is is 3 camera with a themed format and is entered in the Library of congress

for historical preservation and access to future researchers.

With nearly 700 shows, we are a huge historical account of music history. One of the

longest continuously running syndicated shows. Should we be there too?

And what it all means in Real time

Tuesday, Nov 18, three days after the conference the enormity of the situation was

underlined.

We had two tapings scheduled. My first guest called at 11:30 pm frantic that she might

have to cancel due to conflict of schedule with her band. 10am she cancelled. I

scrambled and contacted 6 performers I knew were in the area based on our talks at

NERFA. I booked the first available artist. He agreed to tape on short notice to drive

two hours to be on the show. When I got to the studio at 6pm, the doors were locked

and Ralph a couple of my crew and the scheduled guests from Oregon were standing in

the lobby to get out of the rain. Attempts to contact any studio personnel failed. I was

faced with losing the opportunity of taping musicians from across the country on their

reunion tour and the embarrassment and degradation of the reputation of our show. Not

to mention the embarrassment of wasting more than four hours and a tank of gas for the

guy from upstate.

Not wanting to loose the opportunity or frustrate the performers I made a couple quick

decisions and emergency calls. Ralph and his wife Stephanie offered their home and

Bill Henderson graciously agreed to tape a real house concert version of our show. It

was beautiful, sounded great and had great ambience. Bill saved the day and

performers and volunteers alike went home knowing they were a part of something very

special.

Going forward

HSNOI is a treasure that must continue. We are making miraculously good shows on

shamefully outdated equipment in an unreliable and arguably reluctant space when

inexpensive consumer grade recording equipment surpasses the quality of what is

literally taped together in the studio and supplemented by my own equipment. I feel we

need to consider going consumer grade and opening our show to flexibility and the

ability to travel. The implications and benefits for the future of the entire organization

could be greatly affected by simple mobility. Please consider the possibilities.

More to come in the months ahead.

Sandie Reilly