[FA Worldmusic] WOMEX - 2007 in Sevilla

Sun Feb 25 18:17:27 EST 2007

Hi all,

I am very pleased to have been selected by the WOMEX Conference
(Worldwide Music Expo) www.womex.com as one of the 7 Samurai, the jury
who selects the showcasing artists and panels for each year's
conference.

I am sending this to you because you are somewhow connected to world
music - you are either are an artist yourself, or work with or are
connected to artists who should be submitting to showcase at Womex.
World Music for this event is very broadly defined, from traditional
styles (including US regional/roots music) to new hybrids, to
dj-collectives, and everything in-between.

I started attending WOMEX about 10 years ago in Marseilles, and my mind
was completely blown by all the incredible music I discovered, and the
annual conference has become one of my yearly highlights to discover new
music, connect with friends from all over the globe and come back with
new inspiration from my programming and new Cd's for my dj kit.  It's
also been the inspiration for the creation of globalFEST, as a way to
create some of the same sort of revelatory experiences here for the
North American music community.

One of my responsibilities as one of the Samurai is to encourage people
to submit proposals for both showcases and panels.  As on of the few
North American jury-members in it's history, I would really love to see
a strong representation of North American based world music artists and
speakers in the mix at this years conference, which returns to Sevilla,
Spain at the end of October.  Those of you getting this who may not be
based in North America, or work with artists who aren't based here: this
email is also intended for you, too. I encourage you all to follow the
link below to learn how to submit a proposal.  The deadline is in two
months - April 27.

Please feel free to forward this around. And apologies if you get this
more than once - I am cobbling together names from a few different
places and cross-posting to a few listserves, so there are likely to be
dupes.

Hope to see some of you in Sevilla.

All the best
Bill Bragin

www.womex.com/realwomex/main.php?id_headings=49&id_realwomex=9&subheadin
g=51
<http://www.womex.com/realwomex/main.php?id_headings=49&id_realwomex=9&s
ubheading=51>
How to propose
Showcase, conference, film

Play an active role at WOMEX - propose an Artist Showcase, Conference
Session or Film Screening!

________________________________

To suggest an offWOMEX meeting or presentation, send an email to
conference at womex.com
To suggest an offWOMEX showcase, send an email to showcase at womex.com
Read more about offWOMEX
<http://www.womex.com/realwomex/main.php?id_headings=48&id_realwomex=9&s
ubheading=43>

________________________________

On this page you find detailed information about how to propose a ...

WOMEX Artist Showcase
<http://www.womex.com/realwomex/main.php?id_headings=49&id_realwomex=9&s
ubheading=51#Artist%20Showcase%20proposals>
WOMEX Conference session
<http://www.womex.com/realwomex/main.php?id_headings=49&id_realwomex=9&s
ubheading=51#Conference%20Session%20proposals>
WOMEX Film Screening
<http://www.womex.com/realwomex/main.php?id_headings=49&id_realwomex=9&s
ubheading=51#Film%20Screening%20proposals>

Proposal must be at WOMEX by Friday 27 April 2007

The Jury process

Each year WOMEX selects a new group of seven Jury members
<http://www.womex.com/realwomex/main.php?id_headings=47&id_realwomex=9&s
ubheading=38>  - the famed 7 Samurai - to choose the Showcase artists
and Conference sessions. To keep the selections fresh and the process
democratic, the Jury is entirely independent. In recent years there have
been over 600 Showcase proposals each time around, along with dozens of
Conference proposals, so the task is hard and the competition, spirited.

Here are some tips on how to maximise your chance of success...

Artist Showcase proposals

Find the Showcase proposal form here
<http://www.womex.com/realwomex/main.php?id_headings=49&id_realwomex=9&s
ubheading=49>
Proposal must be at WOMEX by Friday 27 April 2007

The 7 Samurai have wielded their swords through 600-plus Showcase
proposals during each three-day marathon.With only about three-dozen
slots to fill, worthy artists inevitably are passed over, but there are
ways to increase your chances. The proposal forms indicate everything
that's needed, so be sure to fill them out completely.

First, the whole objective is to convey to the Jury that you are
professional and have a solid support network, the means to meet any
reasonable tour schedule that might develop from a Showcase and, of
course, that your music is good. Think about how you might best
demonstrate this and put it all in your package.

Next, given budget constraints, WOMEX is simply unable to fund artist
Showcases. We wish it were different. That means that an artist must
make it clear on the form that all the funding to appear is in hand:
flights and accommodations. Sometimes, it is true, an invitation to
showcase means an artist can then get subsidies for flights, but try to
provide something that makes it clear that this isn't just wishful
thinking.
The better the support materials, the better the presentation. CDs, full
biographies, photos, tour schedules, press clippings, video, performance
footage - select carefully and well.. But remember, select the best
materials, don't send everything. If track 3 on your CD is the best,
tell us. And if you've got a DVD or video of your encore, use that. This
is useful, because it gives an idea of what the music will be like on
stage. They don't have to be broadcast quality. And if you've got a
remix CD, don't send it unless you 're doing a remix show. Send the
music that most resembles what you would present.

Finally, make sure everything is in house at WOMEX at the time of the
deadline: 27 April 2007. Not just the form, but all materials.

Oh, yes, one more thing... If you don't get your Showcase accepted, try
again next year. Jury decisions reflect personal tastes. A different
Jury means different selections.

Conference Session proposals

Find the Conference proposal form here
<http://www.womex.com/realwomex/main.php?id_headings=49&id_realwomex=9&s
ubheading=49>
Proposal must be at WOMEX by Friday 27 April 2007

The proposal form has places for all necessary details, so be sure to
fill it out completely. Use marketing techniques. Come up with a snappy,
lively, provocative title, and then use the subtitle for a clear,
concise description of the content. And no matter how well known you may
be in your field, be sure to include a good, brief bio that will help
show why you are the ideal person to deliver your Conference topic. As
for what the topics tend to get selected by the Juries, look over the
WOMEX Guides from recent years or check our website archive
<http://www.womex.com/realwomex/archive.php>  and you'll see just how
varied they are. However, there are some trends. They've increasingly
shied away from panels with multiple speakers in favor of those that
highlight more individual contributions.

The Jury tends to like the following: sessions with good, solid
information of use to the world music network; talks on new trends and
technologies for music; talks on culture and the politics of culture;
introductions to traditions or artists; interviews with noteworthy
artists; master classes in the music industry; how-to sessions... You
get the idea. And remember that the Jury likes to be surprised. Suggest
something radically different. But whatever you suggest, be sure to
convince the Jury that your proposal simply must be picked.

Film Screening proposals

For more information on how to propose a film and the Film proposal form
go to www.imz.at <http://www.imz.at/> .
Proposal must be at IMZ by Friday 27 April 2007

Film proposals are independently juried by the IMZ International Music +
Media Centre, Vienna. Full details are available each year on the WOMEX
and IMZ websites. Here's what they advise for anyone wanting to get
their music-related film into the showcase.

Obviously enough, they are looking for sheer, undeniable cinematic
quality - a film that grabs the viewer, who should be moved by the way
the story is told and how the message is conveyed. This means an
intriguing storyline, dramatic composition, fascinating visuals and
overall first-rate camera work. They welcome new/unheard/unseen subjects
and niches but are open to established artists as well. Then, of course,
comes the quality of the music itself.

As with all jury processes, there is always a subjective quality to the
decision, but they do emphasise that connection with the viewer.
As for the technical considerations, the IMZ needs:

Two viewing copies of good quality on an easily accessible format.
If the film is not finished by the WOMEX submission deadline, at the
very least enough rough cuts or previous works for the Jury to get a
clear, confident idea of how the finished work will turn out. Then the
commitment to send the final version as quickly as possible and an
indication of the expected date of delivery.
Full, precise information filled out on the online IMZ entry form (film
and music credits, synopsis, etc.).
A picture for illustrating the aesthetic of the film.
That is the sum of our advice. Be complete, but convincing and be on
time.

All the best,

Bill Bragin
Director of Joe's Pub
The Public Theater
425 Lafayette Street
New York, NY  10003

t/ 212.539.8512
f/ 212.539.8505
e/ bbragin at publictheater.org
www.joespub.com
Wanna be our Friend?  www.myspace.com/joespubatthepublic

"This will be our reply to violence:
to make music more intensely,
more beautifully,
more devotedly than ever before."

Leonard Bernstein