JPF Home Page Forums Northeast US Chapter Message Boards Albany Chapter Message Board Albany, NY Roadtrip Date: Tuesday, June 7th, 2005

Hi Folks,

Here's an update for Tuesday's show in Albany at the Borders Bookstore.

Borders Books
59 Wolf Road
Albany, NY

Networking and Set Up 6-7PM

For the first time ever, our friend Valerie DeLaCruz won't be at the show (she'll be out of town) to help out with sound and getting folks plugged in etc. If some folks can volunteer to help out with that, I would appreciate it. Borders has an Acoustic Upright Piano which they tell me was recently tuned. And a small PA suitable for acoustic guitar/bass/keyboard and vocals. No drum kits at this show, but small percussion/hand percussion is fine if you use that. I will likely be at the venue around 5PM to get the camera and T-Shirts set up so come out and say hi before the show if you'd like.

If you need to cancel, please let me know ASAP. It's very important we don't have any unannounced no shows! If you're name is on the list, we plan to have you perform Tuesday night. Let us know now if that is an error.

The order below is approximate. We often have to move someone up or down the list due to a last minute schedule problem, car trouble etc. This is a relatively short event, so hopefully most of you will be there for the entire show so performance order shouldn't be a big issue for most folks. If you have a need for an early or late slot and we missed it, don't worry, we'll adjust. Just let us know.

Set 1: 7-8PM

01. Lisa Martin
02. Dana LaCroix
03. Robin O'Herin
04. Jeb Barry
05. Panache
06. Athena Burke
07. Marie Taziki & Carl Todora
08. Steve Robinson
09. Cavanaugh & Kavanaugh
10. Roger Allen

Set 2: 8-9PM

11. Gary Moon
12. Dave Rhodes
13. Paul Zarvis
14. JellyRoll
15. Frank Esposito
16. Abby Lappen
17. Paul Strausman
18. Barking Gorillas
19. Mike Germano
20. Steven Bacon

Set 3: 9-10PM

21. Kevin Wayne
22. Charlie Smith, Rob Aronstein
23. Victoria Bouffard
24. Tom Neilson

Group Photo after Tim finishes!

Member also attending:

Jeff Lustick (not performing)

Brian's 10 Simple Rules to make the Show go smoothly:

After hundreds of these showcases over the last 7 years all over North America, I've learned a few good rules to make them work the best. So here's 10 rules to make it easier and more fun for everyone:

1. NO onstage tuning! That means NONE! We will give you ample notice when your slot is coming up. Be completely tuned and ready to plug in (whatever instrument you are playing) and play when your time comes. Also, if you are playing guitar, make sure you make eye contact and get the "OK" from the sound person BEFORE you plug in or unplug so we can be sure the channel is muted first. Also, make sure before the show your guitar battery works!

2. Please perform your very best song that lasts under 5 minutes. Please no 12 minute ode's to your cat or 18 minute Prog Rock/experimental Jams. This is your chance to blow the room away with your talent and writing skill (and let us get your very best effort on camera). Don't waste it on a new song you wrote on the way to the show. This is the time for your biggest crowd pleaser.

3. Please no political/religious/rants/speeches/diatribes. This is a music event, not a political/religious event. You are 100% welcome to do political or religious SONGS, but remember, any political SPEECH you make will likely offend 50% of the rest of the audience and religion can be a touchy subject to someone who believes differently. Let your MUSIC tell your story if that is the type of music you do and don't make speeches from the stage. Long boring song explanations aren't productive either. Do, however, tell folks who you are, make a few comments if you'd like (humor is always good) and say your name again after you peform (so we get it on film).

4. CD's. You are welcome to sell them, but remember almost everyone else has a CD to sell as well. Trading or giving out CD's is a great networking tool if you can afford it, but some artists can't, so don't expect everyone to trade unless they offer.

5. JPF T-Shirts and Hats. We have BRAND NEW T-SHIRTS! This will be the first show we'll have our new shirts for sale. It's a color variation of our original shirts from 1999 which people have been requesting the last few years. We have them in Black, Purple and a Light Khaki Green/Brown type color called Prarie Dust. We have Black and Prarie Dust in Long Sleeves too! We also have our trademark JPF Red Hats. Remember, we fund the entire organization from T-Shirt/Hat sales, member donations and some community partner sponsorships. But the Roadtrips are generally funded entirely with money collected at shows. Help us out so we can help you!

JPF Signature Hat: 20.00
JPF T-Shirt: Short Sleeve: 15.00 (17.00 for XXL and XXXL)
JPF T-Shirt: Long Sleeve: 20.00 (22.00 for XXL and XXXL)
JPF Hat and Shirt: $5 dollar discount off combined price depending on size/type.

We also accept donations of any size if you don't want a hat or shirt. But you should plan on getting a shirt or hat. People will stop you on the street when you wear it and tell you they're JPF members too! (It's happened to members literally around the world!). The shirt theme is "We're All In This Together."

6. Cancellations: We understand things come up. But please try and email us to justplainfolks@aol.com the day before a show with any cancellations. If you have a problem on the day of the show, please call the venue to let us know so we can make adjustments to the lineup. Unannounced no shows at events may result in you being placed last in future events or eliminated altogether.

7. Come early, stay late! I am usually at the venue at least an hour before the show getting ready. Feel free to come and say hi during that hour. If a show ends at a reasonable time, I may be available to grab some coffee or a snack nearby to unwind with a group of members. In general, please try to come for the entire event or as much as possible. Someone has to go first and someone has to go last and we want them to get to perform for as many peers as possible. We take our traditional group photo at the end of the show as well, so if you stay, you'll end up on our home page for a few months in the Roadtrip photos.

8. These shows are not filtered in any way. You may see some folks who will blow you away with their talent, and you might find some that belong in a blooper reel from bad American Idol auditions. Either way, please treat everyone with respect and support. Even the best performers among us had to start somewhere, and if our own community of peers don't give a chance for entry level folks to get their feet wet, who will? Lets celebrate the diversity and if someone is really not doing well in their performance, be glad it isn't you and offer some friendly support! That's the best way for them to learn, get better and grow.

9. Network, Network, Network! Bring business cards and a friendly demeanor and meet as many people as you can. You'll never know what good can come out of a new contact, and often doors open that you hadn't even thought of. There's a lot of folks to meet at these events, so don't waste the opportunity!

10. If there is a problem, relax, it will get fixed. We're here to have fun. Stuff will happen and things will go wrong, they always do. We'll get past it, so don't stress. Be flexible and we'll be flexible and that should allow us to have fun and get past anything that comes up.
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See you all in Albany!

Brian

Brian Austin Whitney
Founder
Just Plain Folks
www.jpfolks.com

[This message has been edited by Brian Austin Whitney (edited 06-07-2005).]

I am interested in performing.

Hi Brian,
I"m in! E-mails are sent and I have also enclosed other pertinent details for your use and perusal.
-Frank Esposito

I am interested in performing at the June 7th roadshow?

City(s): Lenas, Saratoga NY
Artist/Band Name: Roger Allen
Contact Name: (If different from above)
Full Address: 151 New Road, Nassau, NY. 12123
Phone Number: (518-461-4524
Email Address: MillenJournal@cs.com
Music Genre: singer/songwriter traditional/political motivated music
Band Size and Instrumentation: Acoustic guitar and mandolin - with a friend playing rhythym guitar.

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Hi RD,
A couple of things, MOST IMPORTANTLY:
(1) You must send the info in the manner you listed above to the e-mail address that Brian has setup solely for that purpose.
(2) The Roadshow location is ALBANY. Make sure you put that in the subject line of your submittal to Brian's aforementioned e-mail site. (Read the FAQ section he posted)
(3) With any luck, the show might actually be closer to homebase when all is said and done. While the final decision will be in the hands of Brian and Co., I responded to his request for local help by securing Pinhead Susan's In Schenectady for the show as it is a larger, more populated venue than the Cafe up in Saratoga that was suggested by one other member. Aside from the fact that its about 40+ miles closer to Albany, which is the Chapter home, Pinhead's is just a nicer venue across the board. As there is at least one FULL band intersted in performing, I have also arranged to have a PA and backline for the event. In addition, the suggested Northern venue would be ill equipped to house a full band. However, time will tell. Good luck and make sure you send your details as Brian requested. Hope to see you at our upcoming May meeting.
-Frank

Hello again RD,
I hope you see this. I just received an e-mail (hopefully you have it too!) listing the performers and I did not see your name. If you have not already done so, read the FAQ and send your entry as directed.
Also, in the event you did not get an e-mail, the venue for the 7th will be Borders Bookstore. Apparently this spot has been used before. As I am new, I have no idea which Borders this might be, but I'm sure the details will be available shortly.

Once again, GOOD LUCK,
Frank

Thanks Frank,

I did now also send the e-mail, and with your suggestions - thanks for steering me in the right direction for this.

OUTSTANDING!!! Hope to see you there!!! Also, plan to make our upcoming meeting of the 19th if at all possible!!!
See ya,
Frank

The most up to date info for Albany is posted above! See all of you out there!

Brian

I just updated it again and removed some cancellations.

Brian