Filk FAQ Survey: wanting to hear filk live, attending one's first filk convention
Question I was asked recently:

"I've been reading about filk on your blog, and I like the sound clips on the Pegasus Awards page. Thing is, I've never been to an sf or filk convention, have no experience with fandom. Do you think I would enjoy a filk convention?"

I answered this non-filk friend in person, but I figure there must be others out there who are curious about filk. I'm working on a mini-essay to put in the Dandelion Report Filk FAQ, but would appreciate input from the rest of you. Any advice or suggestions for a non-filker interested in hearing filk live?

Thanks so much for helping to make Filking.net (The Dandelion Report) a useful resource for new filkers!

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Dandelion Report FilkFAQ being updated
I had suspended open comments posting on the Dandelion Report Filk FAQ because of Movable Type spammers, but I'm going to try experimenting with using Livejournal for comments instead, as well as perhaps leaving comments open for a limited period of time for each topic.

Most recently updated in the Dandelion Report Filk FAQ:
Advice on choosing a new guitar

I'll also be updating links in the Dandelion Report (filking.net) soon. Thanks to Volker and Katy for corrections and update suggestions. If you have other suggestions, feel free to post them below.

Thanks so much, everyone, for helping to make the Dandelion Report a useful resource for filkers, especially those new to filk. If you know of anyone else willing to occasionally contribute to the Filk FAQ polls, please ask them to add dandelionreport to their Friends list! :-)

Thanks kindly,
Debbie

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FilkFAQ comments-posting temporarily closed
I've temporarily shut down comments posting in the Dandelion Report FilkFAQ in hopes of dissuading robot spammers for a bit. All comments were being moderated anyway, but I was getting FLOODED with spam comments every day, making it nearly impossible to pick out the real comments to approve. I'm trying to figure out what to do about this.

In any case, all previously posted (and approved) comments are still online, so please do continue to refer filkers to the Dandelion Report FilkFAQ, thanks! Also, I welcome suggestions for new poll questions. I may just post the questions in LJ and then manually cut/paste them into the FAQ. More time-consuming, but LJ doesn't seem to be spam-prone...yet.

Thanks, all!

Debbie

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I've found filk conventions have different personalities, usually based on the people running the convention as well as regional differences. GAfilk, for example, is more of a "relaxacon" than other conventions, where the emphasis tends to be more on hanging out and socializing rather than intensive programming, and only a few concerts. OVFF usually has several tracks of programming at once, including workshops and many concerts throughout the weekend. I enjoy both types of conventions. :-)

What do YOU like about different filk conventions? Please focus on positive rather than negative; this is NOT an invitation to list pet peeves and complaints. What appeals to one person about a particular convention may not appeal to someone else. I reserve the right to remove any post that I consider inflammatory or too negative. The purpose of this FAQ answer is to help promote the best aspects of each convention as well as explain some of the regional differences between conventions.

You can post your answer directly into the FilkFAQ page for this question, or post it below.

Thanks for your help in making the Dandelion Report FilkFAQ a useful resource for the filking community! You can find the full list of FilkFAQ questions here.

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Filk songs written for or about SPECIFIC FILKERS?
What filk songs do you know or have written that are about or were written for SPECIFIC FILKERS? I will be relying heavily on the filk community to contribute to this directory. Over time, I'm hoping to cover as many of the popular filk song topics as possible.

You can post your answer directly into the FilkFAQ page for this question (I've already posted some of my own here), or post it below.

Thanks for your help in making the Dandelion Report FilkFAQ a useful resource for the filking community! You can find the full list of FilkFAQ questions here.

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Filk songs about SPECIFIC CONVENTIONS?
What filk songs do you know or have written that are about SPECIFIC CONVENTIONS? I will be relying heavily on the filk community to contribute to this directory. Over time, I'm hoping to cover as many of the popular filk song topics as possible.

I'll start the list off with one of my own....

SONGS:
Home to FilKONtario by Debbie Ridpath Ohi

You can post your answer directly into the FilkFAQ page for this question, or post it below.

Thanks for your help in making the Dandelion Report FilkFAQ a useful resource for the filking community! You can find the full list of FilkFAQ questions here.

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Filk songs about SPACE TRAVEL?
What filk songs or filk CDs do you know or have written that are about SPACE TRAVEL? Here are a few resources and songs to help get the list started, but will be relying heavily on the filk community to contribute to this directory.Over time, I'm hoping to cover as many of the popular filk song topics as possible.

You can post your answer directly into the FilkFAQ page for this question, or post it below.

Thanks for your help in making the Dandelion Report FilkFAQ a useful resource for the filking community! You can find the full list of FilkFAQ questions here.

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NEW POLL: How can I get the most out of a filk convention?
Let me say straight off that my answer to the question will not satisfy everyone. Everyone is unique, with their own expectations and likes/dislikes. I'm hoping, though, that at least some of this might be useful to at least some of you. :-) Please PLEASE do share your own advice and experience in the comments section!

You can post your answer directly into the FilkFAQ page for this question, or post it below.

( My own answer here, lj-cut for your convenience.Collapse )

Thanks for your help in making the Dandelion Report FilkFAQ a useful resource for the filking community! You can find the full list of FilkFAQ questions here.

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What filk songs do you know or have written that are appropriate for children?
What filk songs do you know or have written that are appropriate for children? Here are a few that Urban Tapestry performs in our children's concerts:

Banana Slug Song - by Jan Marra
I'm A Believer - by Neil Diamond
The Lollipop Tree
Hockey Monkey Song - by James Kochalka/Zambonis
The Never Song - by Edward Lipton
The Rattlin' Bog
I'm Gonna Make A Rocket Ship - by Debbie Ridpath Ohi
Sandwiches - by Bob King
We Are The Dinosaurs - by McGoo
Wild, Wild Party in the Loquat Tree - Indigo Girls
Wind In The Pipes - by Meg Davis

If you have any other suggestions, please post them below or at the bottom of the actual FAQ page for this entry.

Thanks for your help in making the Dandelion Report FilkFAQ a useful resource for the filking community! You can find the full list of FilkFAQ questions here.

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Looking for old filk guest bios! (updated entry)
Most filk guest bios written for convention programs are often a great source of information about filkers in the community, but they are usually forgotten after the convention. I'd like to start a permanent archive of bios about anyone in the filking community (performer or listener) in The Dandelion Report. Or if the bio is already online, please do send me the URL! I'd still like to archive on The Dandelion Report if at all possible, just in case the source disappears.

I welcome any submissions that fit the following criteria:

- The bio actually has useful info about the subject. :-) Some bios are completely made-up or might be misleading out of context...for these archives, I'd prefer bios that have at least some factual info.

- You have permission of the author, subject and the convention for which it was written.

Photos also welcome (again, with permission). All copyright remains with the author, of course.

Bios and links to bios will be posted at:

http://www.filking.net/articles/filkbios.html

Please send bios to me at inkygirl@gmail.com.
Thanks for helping to make The Dandelion Report a useful resource for the filking community.

Debbie

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POLL: Can you recommend some useful songwriting tools and resources?
The first place you should go, of course, is Jodi Krangle's Muse's Muse, one of the most respecting songwriting resources online.

Some other useful tools and resources:

rhymezone.com/
Songwriting FAQ (from rec.music.makers)
Diction Domain: about language diction for singing
Royalties explained: UK focus
Songwriter's Tip Jar: message boards, e-zine, tips
Lyrical Line: songwriting community and resource.

Please reply below or directly in the FilkFAQ.

Thanks for your help in making the Dandelion Report FilkFAQ a useful resource for the filking community! You can find the full list of FilkFAQ questions here.

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Help! Need info on Listener Guests!
If you have ANY knowledge about the role and duties of a Listener Guest at a filk convention, I would very much like to hear from you. How is a Listener Guest chosen? What are their duties at the convention?

ANY feedback encouraged! Thanks to Paul Bristow for pointing out that the UK cons don't usually have this role. :-)

Please reply below or directly in the FilkFAQ.

Thanks for your help in making the Dandelion Report FilkFAQ a useful resource for the filking community! You can find the full list of FilkFAQ questions here.

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"What is a "filkhog?" and how can I avoid being one?"
"What is a "filkhog?" and how can I avoid being one?"

Please do post your suggestions by using the form at the bottom of:
http://www.electricpenguin.com/filking/columns/filkfaq/archives/002484.html
or post below.

Thanks for your help in making the Dandelion Report FilkFAQ a useful resource for the filking community! You can find the full list of FilkFAQ questions here.

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What is a 'Toastmaster?'
What is a 'Toastmaster?' What responsibilities does a Toastmaster have at a convention?

I'm especially interested in replies from concom members and those who have been a Toastmaster in the past.

Please do post your suggestions by using the form at the bottom of:
http://www.electricpenguin.com/filking/columns/filkfaq/archives/002471.html
or post below.

Thanks for your help in making the Dandelion Report FilkFAQ a useful resource for the filking community! You can find the full list of FilkFAQ questions here.

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What is a 'Listener Guest of Honor?'
What is a 'Listener Guest of Honor?' What responsibilities does a Listener GoH have at a convention?

I'm especially interested in replies from concom members and those who have been a Listener GoH in the past.

Please do post your suggestions by using the form at the bottom of:
http://www.electricpenguin.com/filking/columns/filkfaq/archives/002470.html
or post below.

Thanks for your help in making the Dandelion Report FilkFAQ a useful resource for the filking community! You can find the full list of FilkFAQ questions here.

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How does a good concom work with a guest?
Related to the previous poll question about what makes a good Filk Guest:

How does a good concom work with a guest?

I'm especially interested in replies from concom members and those who have been Filk Guests in the past.

Please do post your suggestions by using the form at the bottom of:
http://www.filking.net/columns/filkfaq/archives/002381.html
or post below.

Thanks for your help in making the Dandelion Report FilkFAQ a useful resource for the filking community! You can find the full list of FilkFAQ questions here.

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What makes a good Filk Guest of Honor? (*** CURRENT POLL ***)
If you've been invited to be a Filk Guest of Honor, be sure to ask the convention committee about their expectations, read the contract (if there is one). But the truth is that what makes a good Filk Guest of Honor isn't always always spelled out in the contract.

POLL: In your opinion, what makes a good Filk Guest of Honor? I'm interested in perspectives from both a convention attendee and someone on a convention committee (and heck, from past Filk Guests as well :-)).

Please do post your suggestions by using the form at the bottom of:
http://www.filking.net/columns/filkfaq/archives/002377.html
or post below.

Thanks for your help in making the Dandelion Report FilkFAQ a useful resource for the filking community!

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Any advice on how I should/shouldn't be marketing my CD?
Grizelda has a new CD to sell, a compilation of filk songs she's written over the years. She's pretty darned proud of it.

Gomer already has several commercial CDs for sale, and is new to the filk community.

Both Grizelda and Gomer are wondering how they should or shouldn't be marketing their products.

On the one hand, it's cool that Grizelda's hard work has paid off and she'd like everyone to know (and buy!) her new CD. On the other hand, the majority of the filk community is there to share and enjoy their music with each other, and heavy-handed sales pitches may turn them off Grizelda and her music.

Gomer is especially worried that people might think he only joined the filk community so he could sell more CDs.

Any advice for Grizelda and/or Gomer?

Please do post your suggestions by using the form at the bottom of:
http://www.electricpenguin.com/filking/columns/filkfaq/archives/002356.html
or post below.

Thanks for your help in making the Dandelion Report FilkFAQ a useful resource for the filking community!

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"Any advice on how to make friends at filk conventions?"
"I've been to a a number of filk conventions, but seem to be having trouble making friends and usually end up feeling like I'm on the outside, looking in. Everyone already seems to know every one else. Any advice?"

Please do post your suggestions by using the form at the bottom of:
http://www.electricpenguin.com/filking/columns/filkfaq/archives/002355.html
or post below.

Thanks for your help in making the Dandelion Report FilkFAQ a useful resource for the filking community!

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MovableType glitch
I'm upgrading to a new version of MovableType and have encountered a glitch, so commenting won't work over in the FilkFAQ right now. You can still post answers in LJ, of course.

Thanks for your patience!

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