Encouraging acoustic music and diversity in BRC

theshaman · Post by **theshaman** » Wed Jun 23, 2004 4:08 pm

I am not going to read the whole thread here, so this is in response to Action Girl's original post.

I was one of the organizers of the Nuclear family Theme camp the last 2 years. One thing that we did last year was Porch Camp! and it will be back this year. Two covered carports dressed up like a redneck porch.

We had a lot of Nucfam people bring guitars and such. Of course tons of them also have drums (hence the Drum Enforcement Agency) but I tell you with a shady spot to sit and a couple of thow away guitars that we often just left out, acoustic just happened.

I applaud your efforts in this AG cause the vibe on the porch was always cool. We had wandering banjo players show up, totally spastic sing alongs of competely trite music that everybody knew the words too, and even Spaz from showed up from Gigsville with his keyboard. Now that was amplified but not like "boot-in-the-dryer" techno camp loud.

As far as encouraging more of it....how about a black rock arts purchase of a bunch of thrift store guitars? Elect some Acoustic Czar to wander around with a cart and find some cool shady spots in the suburbs of BRC with people hanging....then give them a guitar - if they can play you something nice and promise to play it more or pass it on.

theshaman · Post by **theshaman** » Fri Jun 25, 2004 1:41 pm

Looks like the Guitar give away idea went over like a turd in a punchbowl, everybody got all quiet.

I still like it, so there

Fix · Post by **Fix** » Thu Aug 05, 2004 11:19 am

I guess ear plugs do not work, huh?

THE ORIGINAL DIGIMAN · Post by **THE ORIGINAL DIGIMAN** » Wed Aug 11, 2004 2:48 am

I like theshaman's idea.

Neo @Woo · Post by **Neo @Woo** » Sun Sep 19, 2004 9:13 am

I believe thoughtful zoning is the way to go. Center Camp has lots of great acoustic music. I have seen great music out among the art installations in past years.

One full city block on the esplanade would be great.

A dedicated acoustic stage at the 3:00 Plaza?

waltsnipe · Post by **waltsnipe** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 9:28 am

LOVE the idea of a dedicated acoustic stage! Maybe it ought to be nearer to Hushville, though, than large sound art.......Would the keyhole be quiet enough for it to work (even with a modest PA)? Seems like you'd have to have a PA for vocal amplification, which means power....

kikidelosfeliz · Post by **kikidelosfeliz** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 10:49 am

Hey, I LOVE the guitar give-away idea. Don't equate silence with lack of agreement, maybe we're still sleeping.

One of my favorite moments this year was at G-Spot, lying on their lovely water bed next to the bar with my boi, listening to my new friends seranade us with guitar, mandolin, and banjo...with the sun shining down on my face, and some nearby amplified whump-whump-whump in the background.

I guess I'm one of those rare birds who love both tribal/dance/electronica AND acoustic/trad/old tyme/celtic. I dance to the former, and stumblingly attempt to play the latter.

Dream scenario - playing banjo to beats! The banjo came from Africa after all...

P.S. Loved the Front Porch camp...(kinda Greendale?).

regynalonglank · Post by **regynalonglank** » Mon Sep 20, 2004 4:54 pm

well I don't play any instruments well enough so you would hang around and listen to me, but I can sing...and if you got the porch, I will come sit on it, and sing until you kick me off! I know lots of fun songs, and I can even make some up for you if you want.

Now if you want to be able to hear me you might have to mike me, unless it is pretty quiet around your porch...don't get me wrong, I can sing pretty dang loud, but amplification trumps even my loud ass.

lover of all things acoustic...so say i!

QuasiPseudo · Post by **QuasiPseudo** » Tue Sep 21, 2004 11:54 am

Really great question Actiongirl, I particularly like the way it was worded.

Ive been thinking of a way to answer that doesnt involve a rule that prohibits one thing in order to make another thing happen.

The one thing that keeps popping in my head in regard to acoustic at BMan is BurningBand. They epitomize playa acoustic for me. Now they all have snappy outfits and are pretty durned rehearsed for a ragtag team; these aspects may keep the self-defined 'less gifted' musicians out of their fold - but can I imagine a similar scenario for the mass of acoustic players...

Perhaps something of an acoustic parade could be in order - one scheduled event during the week where all acoustics march off from center camp down the esplenade, or better yet the back streets. Have 'conductors' call the tunes and switch control of the lead after a few songs..

I also liked the idea of an acoustic only stage somewhere; I think the primo spot for that could be near the Temple. Seems a lot of spontaneous music happens out there already, and that could be heavily encouraged with the presence of an open stage. Ive heard that David Best wont be returning next year, but I expect that burners will erect another kind of temple in his absence - it's become such an important aspect of the festival that I doubt we'll ever be without some kind of temple from now on.

fungirl · Post by **fungirl** » Sun Oct 17, 2004 9:02 pm

Oh Action Girl! I can only hope you are still watching this topic, as it is one close to my heart. Sadly, the music this year was less diverse that ever. Try as we might, we could NEVER escape the rave music unless we glombed onto an art car. Please tell me that you guys are still working on solving this problem.
Less diverse music will draw a less diverse crowd. It is our diversity that keeps Burning Man afloat. Hate to sound like I'm complaining, but you did ask, and I DO believe that this is a fixable problem. [color=violet][/color]

dr.placebo · Post by **dr.placebo** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 6:58 pm

One of the things that I admire in the BMorg is that they try to get maximum positive effects with a minimum of rules. Anyone who disputes that is invited to sit in on a county government meeting (just about anywhere). So kudos to ActionGrl for encouraging diversity rather than trashing some kind of music.

I truly don't know what will work, but having "magnets" for various kinds of music seems to be a useful approach. Also, improving the ability of people to find these magnets might help. Seeding the magnets with folks who like a particular genre would probably help draw more people of a like mind.

Now, I'm not in favor of music ghettos. I plan to dance to the thumpers and the funkers and the drummers. And I'm happy to sit and listen to just about anything where people are having fun making the sound.

rodent · Post by **rodent** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 12:29 am

(like many, I didn't read the whole thread...buuuuut)...

Invite acoustic music. You've got a camp... what can YOU do to encourage acoustic music in YOUR camp? Last I heard, this is a "Do-ocracy" (or as I like to term, a "kine-ocracy") What you DO affects what Burningman IS.

---
rodent (putting the eek in geek)

Jordan 10-E · Post by **Jordan 10-E** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 7:33 am

[quote="rodentInvite acoustic music. You've got a camp... what can YOU do to encourage acoustic music in YOUR camp? Last I heard, this is a "Do-ocracy" (or as I like to term, a "kine-ocracy") What you DO affects what Burningman IS.
quote]

Amen

Encouraging acoustic music and diversity in BRC

Porch Camp!

guess not