Private Showcase - Deadline August 15, 2010
Private Showcases at the OCFF Conference
Some of the most exciting and unpredictable musical adventures happen in the Private Showcases held during the annual OCFF Conference. It is truly amazing to hear such a diverse range of music presented – we know that discoveries happen every year for presenters and musical peers alike!
The OCFF’s Private Showcases are being offered again in 2010 by special arrangement with the management of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, who were pleased with the various changes that were put in place in 2009. Following last year’s conference, there was much discussion about the Private Showcases in various forums and we received a good helping of constructive criticism. All of the input has helped us to rework the program in the following ways that should help to make the experience an excellent one for all concerned:
The Music Floors will be on the Fourth and Fifth floors of the hotel, i.e., the two floors directly above the Convention Level, which will bring the action down closer to the lobby bar and other jamming spaces.
The Fifth floor will be entirely acoustic.
The Fourth floor will be acoustic with exceptions for non-acoustic instruments to be amplified in order to be HEARD over the ambience of the room. No PA systems will be allowed.
The Private Showcase nightly room fee has been reduced from $76.20 + GST to $70.80 + HST, which means that the total including tax remains at $80.00/night despite the increased tax portion.
The written rules have been changed to incorporate the various changes where necessary.
Forms for Private Showcasing are available at www.ocff.ca/services/conference/index.html.
**Please note that the two Music Floors DO NOT have suites as in previous years. Three showcase rooms on the Convention Level of the hotel will be available on a limited basis to those Private Showcase presenters who want to run a showcase on Friday or Saturday night, and who want to be able to use a PA system, backline gear, etc. If you are interested in one of these rooms, please contact Peter MacDonald at pmacdonald@ocff.ca to discuss the options and pricing. The Private Showcase application will still need to be submitted, along with the nightly showcase fee.
In addition, we are implementing a new "Side Player" conference rate. It will enable the side players in showcasing acts to register as limited delegates of the conference for $125.00 plus HST each, for a total of $141.25 each. We have been told that in any group, there are some people who simply come to the conference to play at the showcase, and they have no other reason to be there. This new rate will get those players a wristband and access to the showcases only, whether daytime or night-time. Each "band" can become an OCFF Organizational Member, entitling them to up to 3 full conference registrations at member rates. Side players at the reduced rate will not be entitled to Gala Dinner or daytime panel sessions, mentoring, etc. Each participant will still need to be a registered delegate, whether at the full conference rate, a daily conference rate or the new Side Player rate.
The deadline for submitting a Private Showcase application is August 15, 2010, but if last year is any indication, we expect the rooms to be snapped up much more quickly than that!
Here’s to a fine year of Private Showcasing!
Volunteer Applications Being Accepted Now!
The OCFF is now accepting online volunteer applications for the 2010 Conference. Volunteers are needed in several areas (e.g. registration table, exhibit hall, instrument lock-up, room monitors, etc.). All volunteers must commit to a minimum of twelve hours’ work, for which they will receive complimentary conference registration (not including the Gala Dinner) and a volunteer T-shirt.
There are a limited number of volunteers required for the conference, and not all applicants will necessarily be selected as volunteers. Anyone who applies to be a volunteer before the June 30, 2010 Early Bird conference registration deadline, and is not selected as a volunteer, will still be entitled to the Early Bird rate for one week after notification.
For more information about volunteering at the conference, and to complete a volunteer application, please visit www.ocff.ca/volunteer.html.
Posted by Jen Winsor
