Q: Why is there a TapeOpCon in the first place?
A: TapeOpCon was started first conceived in a bit of slightly drunken
anger in a hotel room at SXSW in 2001 by Larry Crane and Craig
Schumacher after a recording
panel they both were on. It seems Craig was annoyed at the lack of any real
forum that addressed
what engineers have to go through. Sure SXSW and CMJ have some panels but it
is really for bands. The audio community has AES but the AES show has evolved
to being a behemoth that focuses more on gear. NAMM is all gear as well. Since
Tape Op was already the alternative recording magazine, why not sponsor a conference.
Q: Who
comes to the conference?
A: TapeOpCon is open to all recording enthusiasts. It is everyone
from well-respected producers and engineers to people who are just
starting out. It is also a chance
to meet with the writers and staff of the magazine. Keep an eye on this website
for whose going to be this years panelists.
Q. Why
is it at the end of May?
A. We picked the last weekend in May because it is between all
the above-mentioned audio related conferences. This year, it falls
on Memorial Day weekend.
Q. Why
New Orleans?
A. Of all the cities in this country, few offer the hospitality
of the Big Easy. It’s the birthplace of jazz and has always
been a very important part of the American musical melting pot.
New Orleans has a vibe like nowhere
else in
the world. It also has the historic theatre we like to hold our panels
in.
Q. Why
should I spend all that money in the registration, travel, food,
and lodging when I could put that very same money towards improving
my
studio?
A. There is no correct answer for this one. Ultimately, it comes down
to realizing that not all the improvements one can make to their recording
studio is physical.
Recording is about people first and is a career of service. No gear
manual is going to teach how to work with people. You won’t meet
any of your peers sitting at home either. You will never be able to
solicit so many opinions
about
gear and recording from home as you will with this conference. There
must be something worth getting together over when you look at the
list of names of
panelists who have agreed in principle to participate. And finally,
unlike gear purchases,
the entire expense of the conference is tax deductible in 2004.
Q. Are
there discounts available?
A. We offer a 15% discount to students and qualifying groups. Go
to the registrations page for more
details.
Q. Can
I volunteer to help and get in that way?
A. While we do use volunteers as staff, we need to draw from the
local community. If you are traveling to the conference, it makes
little
sense to spend the
money on everything else to get there and then miss the conference
because you are
to busy volunteer as staff.
Q.
I’ve heard you have bands that play in evening. Can I submit
my band for consideration?
A. The TapeOpCon does not need unsolicited bands for the conference.
We cannot help you get noticed. We are not CMJ or SXSW.
Q.
I’m not sure what workshops will be right for me. What should
I do?
A. We ask that you pick something now so we can have an idea
of how many people selected what workshop. You can change your
mind
at anytime.
We
will be audio
recording all the workshops and panels and video taping
as well. We hope to be able to release copies of the panels
pending permission
from the
participating
panelists.
Q. Can I record the conference myself?
A. It would be pretty ironic to not allow recording at a recording
convention! People have brought their mini disc and walkmans
to the past conferences
and we do not ban them.
We cannot provide power or audio feeds to anyone person so
don't chum up
to us when we are working FOH at the Orpheum. We ask that
you be discreet and mindful of the people around you if you choose
to bring your recorder. Please
do not distribute copies of the panels to anyone, as we need
to control the "official" content
of the conference in order to insure its continued success.
Q. Will
I be able to ask questions?
A. Both the workshops and panels will feature Q and A time.
The workshops, being smaller and more intimate will offer
the best
opportunity for
you to interact.
The main panel sessions will also have Q and A at the end
but we may solicit the questions in advance this year as
the Orpheum
Theatre
is
spread out.
We will come up with the best system we can by conference
time.
Q. Will there be beer there?
A. Are you kidding? We are in New Orleans! We will have beer for sale
at both the sponsor exhibit area in the Fairmont and in the lobby of the
Orpheum.
Q:
Where can I eat while I'm there?
A: Download our list of "Where To Eat??" (PDF).
Finally,
if there is question we did not cover here, please contact our conference
director,
Craig Schumacher, at craig@tapeop.com |
