Chicago Sandy
05-23-2009, 12:52 AM
Found out that due to circumstances beyond our control (some invoke gremlins, others bad karma, still others astronomy---I prefer Murphy's Law), our chosen date for FARM 2009 of Oct. 8-11 was no longer available at our usual north suburban Chicago conference site of choice.
So after consulting with suburban convention and visitors' bureaus, I'm happy to report that FARM 2009 will take place Oct. 8-11 at the brand-new Holiday Inn of Bolingbrook, IL (sorry, no Drew Peterson side trip tours). We will be the ONLY event at the hotel, something none of our previous venues could guarantee us. As in the past two years, attendees are free to stay on-site (rooms, especially if shared, are quite reasonable). We will not be offering a meal plan, however, as there is an on-site restaurant, fridges in the rooms, and abundant and inexpensive restaurants within walking (or a free courtesy van ride) distance. Transportation can be arranged from Midway Airport and its CTA station, as well as from the nearest METRA commuter rail. There is plenty of free parking.
There will be simultaneous Performing Lanes (unplugged open mic, first come/first served, sign up when you register) in two or three rooms; for the first time, participants will get a 10-minute slot to use as they wish and will be given an assigned time and room location far enough in advance to publicize and promote to potential concert/festival presenters. As always, the juried showcases will be amplified, with nothing else occurring at the same time so that showcasers will have conference attendees' full attention. Showcase applications are no longer being accepted but are currently being evaluated; those chosen will be notified in the next few weeks. But Performance Lane slot requests will be accepted as soon as online or mail-in registration begins--non-juried, when they're gone, they're gone. No more four-hour marathon open mic like we had last year---instead, night-owl pickers (and those venue and event presenters and media people who'd like to hear a bit more from them) can start jamming earlier and end as late as they have the stamina.
The extra day will consist of more "hands-on" seminars (instrumental, vocal, performance and arranging technique clinics), as requested by previous attendees; there will be a media/venue welcome reception Thurs. night possibly followed by an amplified open mic (or a chance for showcase alternates to strut their stuff). Recordings of each performance will again be available for purchase by the performer. Exhibit space will once again be free of charge. This time, attendees can book their own rooms directly through the hotel (or if they wish, one of several adjacent "overflow" hotels) or via a link on our site to the hotel itself; those wishing a full hot breakfast (as opposed to coffee, juice and pastry, for which we're soliciting sponsors to provide to attendees free of charge) will be able to dine as early as 6:30 a.m. (earlier than at Techny).
And there is a full-size heated pool, whirlpool, sauna, coin laundry, and an outdoor patio for relaxing and jamming (weather permitting). As at Techny, sleeping and function rooms will be under one roof (but the restaurant and bar are open all day through dinner, with the bar open later), and jamming will take place in the meeting rooms as late as people feel able. Also as at Techny, we will be offering the $10 evening "Taste of FARM" for those who are not attending the conference but wish to come in the evening to watch the performances and then stay and jam.
Look for an imminent announcement on the www.farmfolk.org
website; the downloadable registration form should be up by next week and mailed out to those on the Folk Alliance mailing list. For the first time, attendees will be able to book their sleeping rooms with the hotel using credit cards (we never had that capability when attendees had to book through us).
Oh, and though FARM (Folk Alliance Region Midwest) covers the Great Lakes and Great Plains states, anyone from anywhere is eligible (and welcome) to attend--we've had guests from the West Coast, Southeast, and several Canadian provinces. (We'd also welcome anyone from "across the pond"). Folk Alliance members in good standing for 2009 will receive a discount on the conference fee.
So after consulting with suburban convention and visitors' bureaus, I'm happy to report that FARM 2009 will take place Oct. 8-11 at the brand-new Holiday Inn of Bolingbrook, IL (sorry, no Drew Peterson side trip tours). We will be the ONLY event at the hotel, something none of our previous venues could guarantee us. As in the past two years, attendees are free to stay on-site (rooms, especially if shared, are quite reasonable). We will not be offering a meal plan, however, as there is an on-site restaurant, fridges in the rooms, and abundant and inexpensive restaurants within walking (or a free courtesy van ride) distance. Transportation can be arranged from Midway Airport and its CTA station, as well as from the nearest METRA commuter rail. There is plenty of free parking.
There will be simultaneous Performing Lanes (unplugged open mic, first come/first served, sign up when you register) in two or three rooms; for the first time, participants will get a 10-minute slot to use as they wish and will be given an assigned time and room location far enough in advance to publicize and promote to potential concert/festival presenters. As always, the juried showcases will be amplified, with nothing else occurring at the same time so that showcasers will have conference attendees' full attention. Showcase applications are no longer being accepted but are currently being evaluated; those chosen will be notified in the next few weeks. But Performance Lane slot requests will be accepted as soon as online or mail-in registration begins--non-juried, when they're gone, they're gone. No more four-hour marathon open mic like we had last year---instead, night-owl pickers (and those venue and event presenters and media people who'd like to hear a bit more from them) can start jamming earlier and end as late as they have the stamina.
The extra day will consist of more "hands-on" seminars (instrumental, vocal, performance and arranging technique clinics), as requested by previous attendees; there will be a media/venue welcome reception Thurs. night possibly followed by an amplified open mic (or a chance for showcase alternates to strut their stuff). Recordings of each performance will again be available for purchase by the performer. Exhibit space will once again be free of charge. This time, attendees can book their own rooms directly through the hotel (or if they wish, one of several adjacent "overflow" hotels) or via a link on our site to the hotel itself; those wishing a full hot breakfast (as opposed to coffee, juice and pastry, for which we're soliciting sponsors to provide to attendees free of charge) will be able to dine as early as 6:30 a.m. (earlier than at Techny).
And there is a full-size heated pool, whirlpool, sauna, coin laundry, and an outdoor patio for relaxing and jamming (weather permitting). As at Techny, sleeping and function rooms will be under one roof (but the restaurant and bar are open all day through dinner, with the bar open later), and jamming will take place in the meeting rooms as late as people feel able. Also as at Techny, we will be offering the $10 evening "Taste of FARM" for those who are not attending the conference but wish to come in the evening to watch the performances and then stay and jam.
Look for an imminent announcement on the www.farmfolk.org
website; the downloadable registration form should be up by next week and mailed out to those on the Folk Alliance mailing list. For the first time, attendees will be able to book their sleeping rooms with the hotel using credit cards (we never had that capability when attendees had to book through us).
Oh, and though FARM (Folk Alliance Region Midwest) covers the Great Lakes and Great Plains states, anyone from anywhere is eligible (and welcome) to attend--we've had guests from the West Coast, Southeast, and several Canadian provinces. (We'd also welcome anyone from "across the pond"). Folk Alliance members in good standing for 2009 will receive a discount on the conference fee.