The topic for Contata 2017′s song contest will be: “Socially Transmitted Earworm (or, I Got It From …)”
Entries must be new songs written since the end of last year’s NEFilk convention (i.e., after July 3rd, 2016). Songs set to original tunes and parodies of existing tunes are both acceptable.
All entries must be performed at the convention. If you cannot attend (or prefer not to perform), someone else may present your entry.
A copy of the lyrics should be provided at the time of performance for the use of our judges. Songs are judged on the quality of the lyrics and appropriateness to the topic, not on the quality of the performance.
announcements
Call for Volunteers
The Contata Con Committee Needs YOU!
Any convention depends on a lot of hands to keep things running. This year at Contata, we’re calling for volunteers in advance so we can get a head start on scheduling, and so nobody has to spend too much time helping out before they get back to enjoying the con.
We need people to help out with:
- Registration Desk – putting together and handing out registration packets, tracking materials for pre-registered members and selling at-the-door memberships
- Ops – making and posting signage, going to places where people need help with things and helping them, hauling boxes and other items (but not at the cost of your back).
- Security – short shifts checking to make sure people are wearing badges, staying out of restricted or locked areas, and abiding by the convention’s Code of Conduct
- Con Suite – supervising the con suite so the staff can take much-needed down-time, preparing and arranging snacks, cleanup, assisting with a shopping run if needed.
- Circles – We need people to anchor circles. To be in the circle, moderating, and making sure people get a turn to perform. To draw out shy people, encourage people to take turns and be courteous, and to occasionally perform, or prompt others to do so.
Volunteers will get a shiny badge sticker and our undying gratitude. Volunteers who commit to assisting by June 14 will also receive an acknowledgment in the program book (unless you prefer otherwise) and a small care package.
If you’d like to help out, head over to our signup questionnaire form over here! If the form gives you any trouble or if you have any questions, please reply to this post or drop by our ask box.
The Midnight Contingent kickstarter
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1547201902/the-midnight-contingent/widget/video.html
drmaryccrowell:
The Midnight Contingent – The deliciously sinister third album of Cheshire Moon! – http://kck.st/2kZ4OVS
Virtual Folksing tomorrow!
2/18. I’m thinking maybe 2pm so those across the pond can join in if they want
Soon!
that’s 2pm Central time, for people who haven’t tuned in before!
Contata 2017 songbook: call for songs
Submissions for the Contata 8 songbook are officially open! Got a song you want to contribute? Click here to find out where/how to submit it.
Also: this year at Contata we plan to have at least one jam session. Want to suggest a song to play? Watch this space for updates.
Please signal-boost this in your other fannish communities, or wherever else you think appropriate.
Virtual Folksing
Tomorrow January 22nd–time tba but probably mid-to-late afternoon Central? My voice is a little scratchy so I need to give it time to warm up.
Tell your friends!
If you haven’t been involved in this in the past, what’ll happen is that @scribefindegil will post a link to a livestream when it goes online, and you can tune in a listen, sing along, and request songs. She knows a ton of filk and folk and has an amazing voice, so I highly recommend it!
Hey people! Last week, you may have been aware, @scribefindegil did a sort of virtual singalong, livestreaming herself singing folksongs with the idea that people could either listen or look up the lyrics and sing along wherever they were. Because it’s really hard to get a bunch of people in one room together to sing anything, and it’s much easier to get people to be on the internet.
Well now it’s MY TURN. Tomorrow starting at 4 PM Pacific Standard Time (an hour later than Araxie did it, because I’ve got things to do) and going as long as people are interested, I will have my guitar and be there for you to request songs from, hopefully with a half-decent microphone, but I make no promises.
Why? Because I like singing, and it’s better with people, and the world is pretty fucked up right now, and singing is good and pure. I’ll post a link to the stream when it’s ready, so stay tuned.VIRTUAL FOLKSING FOR TODAY (NOVEMBER 18TH) IS ONLINE NOW (4:30 PM UNTIL WHENEVER) AT THIS LINK
I’m going to try a virtual folksing tomorrow (Friday the 11th) at 5pm Central. Hope that’s early enough that the UK people can catch some of it. We’ll go until either my voice or my fingers give out.
If you want to request things that aren’t in Rise Up Singing or Rise Again (or filk standards) you can let me know in advance and I’ll see if I can find chords.
I will be there! You should be there.
Okay, I have an idea. How many people (looking at you Carleton friends and filk friends) would be interested in a virtual folk/filksing?
We can set up a regular time, have someone with a guitar host (maybe alternate between me and @dog-of-ulthar), and then that person leads while other people can make requests and sing along wherever they are. We wouldn’t all be able to hear each other but we’d know the other people are there.
Call for Performers
@dalisrhinoceros is looking for people to record song parodies he’s written
talk to him or check out his song parody tag if you’re interested, there’s some good stuff there that needs to be sung!