An Alliance of Folks…
During the weekend of November 8-11, I attended NERFA, an acronym for Northeast Regional Folk Alliance. It’s basically a big music conference in the Catskills at an old resort up there where mold is as rampant as the music! it’s a place where us performers get to strut our stuff for venue operators from around the country who are looking for new acts. I was lucky to be nominated by DJ Wanda Fisher to be in the Folk DJ showcase, where I performed Summer’s Voice and Be the Change from the new CD. It was really a thrill to be part of it - especially with many of the DJ’s there having played my songs. I finally understand the radio world a lot better than before, now that I have met and talked with so many of the DJ’s. Also, much of my success was due to my promoter, Erik Balkey. He got me out there, and then the songs did the rest.
I also performed in several guerilla showcases (showcases in hotel rooms where we perform acoustically) and did a Tri-centric showcase which was pretty well attended. Tri-centric showcases are the ‘bigger’ juried showcases that feature each performer with a sound system in one of the major rooms. The Marquis room was beautiful and packed with folks. I could have done a better peformance. You know how it is.. you second guess everything when you only have time to do 3 songs! All in all, I was happy with the way I held it together. Afterall, that’s what you have to do when you’re out in a ‘real’ venue. It was really a fun weekend where listening is as much the goal as performing. I’m not sure I’ll attend next year after several years in a row now, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.
Tags: Arlon Bennett, Folk Alliance, NERFA
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