FilkOntario 2013
Apr. 23rd, 2013 08:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
hms42I finally made it to a FKO after many years of hearing good things about it (and seeing a few videos online.)
The convention is a lot of fun and a friendly environment. I finally got to meet a few people in person that I have been talking to online and have only heard previously in recordings from various sources.
It was a needed break from all of the craziness of work lately. (Last week we moved an office from temporary space to perm space, 2 days in a new project in Rhode Island and 1 day in the office (short due to train to Albany to meet![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
jslove and T). The cross NY drive, was not bad, but I wish I was not that tired going into the convention.
As for the con, some of the highlights of the convention -
Seeing Urban Tapestry's 20th anniversary concert, Cat Faber's concert being interrupted (mid concert announcement) with the news they caught the 2nd Marathon bomber, right after she sang her song about the helpers (written in response to the Marathon bombing) http://www.hwaet.org/Songbook/LookForTheHelpers.html. Getting to see Tim and Annie Walker again. The Ropers (Bill and Gretchen) surprising Kathleen Sloan with a new song about her, at the beginning of the interfilk auction, which had its own entertainment. Getting to request a song that I have only ever heard on tape (and then to get the story behind why it was written, too!) from Cecilia was great. (I don't mind the flaws of when it was sung, but just getting it sung was great.) - "The Grandfather Clock", which was one of the first Dr. Who songs I ever came across in the filk community. The filk Hall of fame concert, where songs were performed by the newest members. (They took turns and it turns out they a little bit of theme organizing.) We got the stories on some songs, why they were important to the inductee and a little history on 1-2 of the songs.
2 other highlights -
The Future of Filk Concert - This was a mixture of 2 of the younger attendees (including Katie Roper) singing 2 songs with Dave Clement, followed by 2-3 others performing 2 songs each, Kari Maaren, Leslie Hudson, Devin Melanson. I think it was Kari (and I know someone will correct me on this.) having the audience really enjoying her songs (Vampire song). This was the first filk convention for all 3 of them and they are all new to filk. They have a brand new CD (limited edition), also available only as download from bandcamp - http://pirate-elves-in-space.bandcamp.com/ They are ones to definitely watch.
The other highlight of FKO, annually is seeing who is inducted into the Filk Hall of Fame at the banquet. I knew I was going to attend that, if I ever made it to the convention and I went. Seeing the 2013 inductions of - Cecilia Eng, Roberta Rogow, and Volker Tanger was great. Cecilia and Roberta both were at the convention and gave speeches. Volker unfortunately was not present and did send some words that were read, I believe by Ju. (Sorry, going from memory here and not checking the recording of the induction.) I did not know the method was to announce the name then read the entire citation, I figure they would read the citation and hold for a little more suspense. Its is amazing how much they have all done for the community and how much information people have submitted in about the inductees.
If you think someone should be inducted in 2014, please submit information via the Filk Hall of Fame form. Your nomination just might make the difference on getting someone inducted. Dave Hayman DOES keep the information on file and will save it for future years, so they may not get in in 2014, but that might be the difference for 2015 or beyond. http://www.filkontario.ca/hof/hofolform.html (That reminds me, I need to submit a nomination for someone who has not been inducted, yet.)
Ok. Time to post this before the train pulls into NYC and I have to change train systems. (Amtrak to LIRR.)
Update on 4/24 -
Kari is the one I was thinking of, above. It was her song "Kids These Days" that really showed her potential, imho. She is only going to get better.
The convention is a lot of fun and a friendly environment. I finally got to meet a few people in person that I have been talking to online and have only heard previously in recordings from various sources.
It was a needed break from all of the craziness of work lately. (Last week we moved an office from temporary space to perm space, 2 days in a new project in Rhode Island and 1 day in the office (short due to train to Albany to meet
jslove and T). The cross NY drive, was not bad, but I wish I was not that tired going into the convention.As for the con, some of the highlights of the convention -
Seeing Urban Tapestry's 20th anniversary concert, Cat Faber's concert being interrupted (mid concert announcement) with the news they caught the 2nd Marathon bomber, right after she sang her song about the helpers (written in response to the Marathon bombing) http://www.hwaet.org/Songbook/LookForTheHelpers.html. Getting to see Tim and Annie Walker again. The Ropers (Bill and Gretchen) surprising Kathleen Sloan with a new song about her, at the beginning of the interfilk auction, which had its own entertainment. Getting to request a song that I have only ever heard on tape (and then to get the story behind why it was written, too!) from Cecilia was great. (I don't mind the flaws of when it was sung, but just getting it sung was great.) - "The Grandfather Clock", which was one of the first Dr. Who songs I ever came across in the filk community. The filk Hall of fame concert, where songs were performed by the newest members. (They took turns and it turns out they a little bit of theme organizing.) We got the stories on some songs, why they were important to the inductee and a little history on 1-2 of the songs.
2 other highlights -
The Future of Filk Concert - This was a mixture of 2 of the younger attendees (including Katie Roper) singing 2 songs with Dave Clement, followed by 2-3 others performing 2 songs each, Kari Maaren, Leslie Hudson, Devin Melanson. I think it was Kari (and I know someone will correct me on this.) having the audience really enjoying her songs (Vampire song). This was the first filk convention for all 3 of them and they are all new to filk. They have a brand new CD (limited edition), also available only as download from bandcamp - http://pirate-elves-in-space.bandcamp.com/ They are ones to definitely watch.
The other highlight of FKO, annually is seeing who is inducted into the Filk Hall of Fame at the banquet. I knew I was going to attend that, if I ever made it to the convention and I went. Seeing the 2013 inductions of - Cecilia Eng, Roberta Rogow, and Volker Tanger was great. Cecilia and Roberta both were at the convention and gave speeches. Volker unfortunately was not present and did send some words that were read, I believe by Ju. (Sorry, going from memory here and not checking the recording of the induction.) I did not know the method was to announce the name then read the entire citation, I figure they would read the citation and hold for a little more suspense. Its is amazing how much they have all done for the community and how much information people have submitted in about the inductees.
If you think someone should be inducted in 2014, please submit information via the Filk Hall of Fame form. Your nomination just might make the difference on getting someone inducted. Dave Hayman DOES keep the information on file and will save it for future years, so they may not get in in 2014, but that might be the difference for 2015 or beyond. http://www.filkontario.ca/hof/hofolform.html (That reminds me, I need to submit a nomination for someone who has not been inducted, yet.)
Ok. Time to post this before the train pulls into NYC and I have to change train systems. (Amtrak to LIRR.)
Update on 4/24 -
Kari is the one I was thinking of, above. It was her song "Kids These Days" that really showed her potential, imho. She is only going to get better.
