Re: M. Klobuchars' critique if the 30 minute loopfest performance format was: My piano looping video/ and some thoughts

["Krispen Hartung" <khartung@cableone.net>]

Well written Rick. Honestly, though (and all due respect to Michael for 
expressing his unique point of view), I don't think you, me, or anyone has 
to justify the 30 minute performance grid. I like to compare playing music 
to articulating one's point of view, argument, thesis, philosophy of life, 
world view, etc...in my opinion, if one can't get the story across in 30 
minutes, something's wrong. It's either too complex or not well 
articulated. 
If you were putting on the festival for MAJOR world-renowned headliners 
(popular), then we might promote longer sets, because these sort of acts 
tend to work out their shows in advance to maintain consistency in their 
professionalism, persona, marketing appeal, etc.  But, really, 30 minutes? 
That's an eternity for experimental music. :)  How much atonalism can a 
listener actually withstand from the same artist? :)

Also, you do offer longer sets for artists at you festival, during the 
featured and headliner artist slots. We both do this.

Plus, these are festivals adn one of the main points is to feature the 
breadth of diversity form artists. The idea is to showcase as much talent 
as 
we can, which lends well to the 30 minute set.

Kris

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "RICK WALKER" <looppool@cruzio.com>
To: "LOOPERS DELIGHT (posting)" <Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com>
Sent: Wednesday, April 18, 2007 8:46 PM
Subject: RE: M. Klobuchars' critique if the 30 minute loopfest performance 
format was: My piano looping video/ and some thoughts


>I read Michael Klobuchar's thoughtful critique of the
> 30 minute performance style of the loopfestivals that I've put on for 
>the 
> last six years.
>
> I think they are spot on and I agree with his frustrations,
> but I also wanted to point out  in their defence:
>
>
> that I have attempted, as much as is possible,  to create as many 
> opportunities
> for live loopers to play at the festivals as possible in a self concious 
> attempt
> to foster community;   to encourage young and newbie artists to 
> participate and
> get out in front of a crowd.
>
> The only way to be as egalitarian as I have been with the festivals has 
> been to
> squeeze as many performances in as possible.
>
> This is actually a fairly radical idea in performance, at least as it 
> manifests
> in the US.      It means that the overall performance aspect necessarily 
> suffers
> for all of the articulate reasons that Michael laid out that I agree 
>with.
>
> I also think that this egalitarian inclusion has really helped our 
> community have
> more of a sense of solidarity and I know at least a dozen artist in the 
> last
> several years who are now avid live loopers who had never even touched a 
> looping pedal
> before I lent them one to perform at the festival so I think the 
>strategy 
> has paid off.
>
> Also,  I have noticed that crowds at other looping events I have been to 
> have been
> oversaturated by longer set lengths.
>
> I've chosen the 30 minute format concious of it's drawbacks but I also 
>see 
> the whole
> festival as a Sampler of live looping............intended to spread the 
> word to the public
> and to provide many, many loopers with the ability to see dozens and 
> dozens of different
> approaches to be inspired by.
>
> It has also occasionally kept some performers from performing at the 
> festival.
> Andre LaFosse has repeatedly turned down my requests to play at the 
> festival
> because he feels like he just couldn't do what he does in under a 45 
> minute performance.
>
> I don't agree with him at all,  but I certainly respect his decision not 
> to perform.
>
> Noone,   with the exception of Kris Hartung and I ever sees the whole 
>two 
> day festival
> and it doesn't make sense to even attempt it.............it's just too 
> much. So my advise is
> to pick and choose the sets you want to see and then avail yourself of 
>the 
> unbelievably stimulating
> company of the other artists who aren't currently watching a performance 
> during the breaks.
>
> Another good thing about the festival being imperfect in different ways 
>is 
> that it actually
> is making Michael think about creating a festival that he'd rather 
>attend 
> which utilizes
> different criteria for performance.
>
> Honestly,  I have tried so hard in the past several years to encourage 
> people to do their own
> small or large festivals as a self concious attempt to grow our 
>community 
> and , quite honestly,
> to put the notion of a live looping artist in the public's mind so that 
>we 
> could start to actually
> make money out in the commercial world doing what we are doing.
>
> So,   I still recommend coming to Y2K7 and to performing at it.  I think 
> it's a wonderful and inspiring event.
>
> I also highly encourage you to book your own live looping festivals, 
>even 
> if they are modest and only have 3 or 4 performers
> in an evening..................
>
> ................ and hell,  because I"ve worked so hard
> for so many years with no compensation,  I'd love to be asked to perform 
> at one if you do!
> It would be wonderful do give a 45 minute looping performance in 
> Pittsburgh if I were to be invited
> to do so................<smile>
>
> sincerely and respectfully,
>
> Rick Walker
> organizer
> Y2K7 International Live Looping festival
>