My FAI Experience
I completed a long weekend at the Folk Alliance International Conference in Kansas City, MO. You can catch an overabundance of great acts, clinics, industry panels and inspiring performances that run from 9am – 4am everyday. It’s overwhelming, exhausting and inspiring. I made the most I could out of my time there, basically orphaning my family and spending the additional 2 hours of road time each day (and early morning) to and fro’ our home in St. Joe. I saw acts from all over the world and some great ones from the US. I got to hang, play and learn from some real stars in different styles and spend some time with the more influential home town players.
The FAI is a highly organized conference. Just one that is happening annually but that includes many other regional affiliates. It’s a pretty open society too. I did not see anything really avant guard this year but know that it’s potentially welcome. I didn’t see too much World or other ethnic music either, but a little for sure. As a guitarist, I tended to gravitate that way and almost all the clinics and concerts I saw were guitar-centric or at the very least had a great player there. I wouldn’t say the festival was at all about the guitar, though for sure, the guitar is a popular instrument in almost any style. I carried mine proudly through the halls and got it out when appropriate.
I had played at the 2015 conference for several showcases as part of Maria the Mexican. This year, I went the route of playing under my own name, that’s me, Jason Riley, for one private showcase in the “First-timer’s Room” at 12 am on Friday morning. Then a few minutes later as guest with my friends, Under The Big Oak Tree at 1am. That’s a pretty low number of performances with most acts doing an official showcase with anywhere from 5-10 or more private showcases deep, deep into the night.
The Hilton Crown Center in KC is a wash with music in every ballroom, the rooftop restaurant, Benton’s and the 5-7 floors of late night private showcases. The restaurants, hallways, bars, every nook and cranny is filled with musicians sharing, talking, jamming and whatever. I don’t have the numbers but it’s got to be in the 1000’s of players milling about with cases, plain and funky clothes, positive and negative attitudes. Most everyone I met was overly friendly, happy to talk, share and make a connection. Besides hearing the music, the camaraderie is the best part. I suppose that’s what a real conference is about.
While there are industry types around… dj’s, bookers, record labels, stewards of the music, etc., I haven’t really been able to grasp how much actual work or gigs comes out of it for someone participating. There are a lot of top acts with some buzz that tend to get the official showcases. And, they do a good job of shuffling that around and making sure everyone gets a chance who deserves one. But I’m curious about what those translate too on a level of activity, attention, work and income for those artists.
For me, it was all about the experience. To see old friends, make a deeper connection and make new friends. To see new acts, to garner some energy and inspiration from people creating music and art. To learn. Sure it would be nice to be offered tons of work from our showcases and fill that calendar with paying gigs.
Personally, my private showcase made me so nervous about what could potentially happen. I really worked for a couple of weeks (or 30 years depending on how you look at it) to prep for that little performance. I showed up to an empty room to hear another fine act. They left me all alone in the hotel room (the beds were still in it, a lot of the time they move the beds out to accommodate maybe 20 persons to sit, stand and listen). Two of my favorite players, artists and friends did come by to support me which meant a lot. I’d like to say that we burned that room down with unheard-of musicality and technique. I can’t really say that. I can say that I played a couple of songs for a couple of friends while I sat on the edge of the bed in a hotel room. Why be nervous about that? I’ve done a ton of practicing over the years from the edge of a hotel bed. Even motel. I should be able to hang with that. I’m awaiting the critique from my friends that were there. You know who you are.
And now for the chronological FAI JPR experience.
Hold on.
We are going to pulling some late nights here.
Fight that lack of sleep and over indulgence on all things artistic, musical, friendly and otherwise.
Wednesday, February 17 –
Made it into the city and got checked in for the conference, picked up my bag of swag, booklet, wristbands and lanyards. I’m in. It’s officially go time.
Only stayed a couple of hours but managed to catch a handful of great acts including blues clinician, Corey Harris, British transplant to Nashville and phonetic twin, James Riley and legend, David Amram.
I would take part in a couple of Corey’s classes. I saw James in the hallway later that weekend and we had a brief chat about his excellence and he knew me too, in name only.
I would get in on one of David’s masterclasses and eventually chase him down the hall to help him carry his bags. He’s 85 but was really having no trouble with them I just wanted do anything I could for him. The guy knew everyone from Woody Guthrie to Charlie Parker, he was Jack Kerouac’s accompanist and he was in Cuba with Dizzy and Paquito Rivera! And on and on!
Thursday, February 18 –
Redd Volkaert’s Country Rhythm and fills.
Kansas City Music Scene Panel – Quick hang with Lance Canales.
Fingerstyle blues with Corey Harris.
David Amram’s World Music as a Reality, not a category.
Showcases with Lance Canales, Jessica Paige, Happy Traum, Steve Poltz and Hot Buttered Rum
Later I had my own private showcase and sat in with Under the Big Oak Tree at 1 am!
Met a nice couple singing with the baby in a papoose ahead of that.
Friday, February 19 –
Swing guitar chords and rhythm with Whit Smith of Hot Club of Cowtown.
Touring Australia and New Zealand panel.
Chicken Pickin’ with Redd.
Trance blues with Corey.
Key note with Judy Collins.
Dinner with Ty and Sylvia at Grinders – Thanks to my friends for some much needed relief at this point. They even paid for my pizza!
Showcases with the Fortunate Ones and Leyla McCalla!
Off to a show with Maria the Mexican in Lawrence at Fatso’s with Patrice Pike!
Guys from the CD baby booth were our rhythm section. Tim plays bass with MtM a lot but great to have Chris Robley as a special guest there. Thanks Chris for the friendly hang.
Saturday, February 20th – Feeling the burn…
Blues guitar with Mary Flower – Tardy and showing wear and tear.
Master Class with Albert Lee.
Ragtime guitar with Mary Flower.
“Mastering a music city” presentation.
Later, I caught the official showcases with Tim and Myles, The Blackbird Review, Lluewen Steffan, (somehow I missed the Hot Club of Cowtown), Los Texmaniacs, The Sojourners, Making Movies, Bill Kirchen, Redd and Albert Lee.
The real highlights included running with Dan Bliss, catching and trailing Rod Fleeman, Patrice Pike, Freebo, Kc music collective, got a lesson in the hallway from Rod and “escorting” David Amram to the OK room.
Some of the favorites were…
Patrice Pike, Leyla McCalla and co., The Sojourners (cool guitarist), David Amram, Los Texmaniacs, Making Movies, Steve Poltz and the events of The Ok Room.
Special thanks to everyone that I was able to make a personal connection with this year…
Mike at Freight Train Productions, Dan Bliss, Havila and Chris Bruder, Rod Fleeman, Garrett Nordstrom and Maria the Mexican, Adam Goldblaum, Tim Huggins, Mike Patrum, Chris Robley and CD Baby, Patrice Pike, Blackbird Review, Tim and Myles, Fran w/ House concerts, Jason Buice, John Bunch, Lance Canales, Lluewen Steffan, Martha, Mary Flower, Simon, Kristen and Doug from Under the Big Oak Tree, Mud Stomp Records, Shawn and Deagan Poores, Rick and Jeff from Victor and Penny, Kyle Dalquist, Cody Wyoming, Freebo and even FAI president, Angus Finnigan.
Some really big plusses +++ (Yay!)
Hang with Ty
Networking conference
I’m in!
Being around people doing it
Inspiring and fun
Close to home in KC
Respectful and encouraging folks
Constructive slow demonstrations
Feeling and attitude vs. technique
Great examples of simple and perfect
Visit to hip city/hip places
Getting to be a somebody
Potential possibility
Lots of walking
Seeing great teachers
Hearing great performers, improvisors
Sing alongs!
funny songs, smart, some fun people
Ethnic, language culture
Drinking and drugs are out of order at FAI (as far as I saw)
Slide, alt tunings techniques
History and players
Standards and originals
Creative people with A games
Turns out, I’m a fun and positive influence
Education, performance and inspiration
Connection w/ hometown heroes and peers.
Minuses – – – (Boo.)
Cost – food, fees, parking, gas, time
Driving back and forth (100 round trip to St. Joe)
Lack of sleep (maybe I’ll get a room this year)
Outsider peeking in – to what end, what do they do?
Time away from family
It’s hard to get parking at Manny’s mexican and the salsa is kind of low quality
Gruff, disorganized teaching
Solo – man without island
Folk store is now closed
Lack of performance times
Personal lack of purpose, direction of value
Just look it up on google attitude by some clinicians, presenters
Ways to improve for next year…
I’m going to volunteer and participate in a more supportive fashion
Goals for 2018!
5-10 showcases that generate
Focus on entertaining/presenting
Connect with agent, bookers, dj’s
Get a Room to sleep in!
Contact private rooms showcases early
Connect with ponsors
Develop incredible show/art
Commit early, definitively, yes or what else.
http://www.FAI.org
Jason Riley
I’m a hustling musician and family man. I love to learn, play, share and encourage others in music. We’ve got some cool bands (including Soca Jukebox) and I am the director of the St. Joseph Arts Academy. This is my Blog!
www.stjosephartsacademy.com
