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Looper's Delight
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I read Michael Klobuchar's thoughtful critique of the 30 minute performance style of the loopfestivals that I've put on for the last six years. I think they are spot on and I agree with his frustrations, but I also wanted to point out in their defence: that I have attempted, as much as is possible, to create as many opportunities for live loopers to play at the festivals as possible in a self concious attempt to foster community; to encourage young and newbie artists to participate and get out in front of a crowd. The only way to be as egalitarian as I have been with the festivals has been to squeeze as many performances in as possible. This is actually a fairly radical idea in performance, at least as it manifests in the US. It means that the overall performance aspect necessarily suffers for all of the articulate reasons that Michael laid out that I agree with. I also think that this egalitarian inclusion has really helped our community have more of a sense of solidarity and I know at least a dozen artist in the last several years who are now avid live loopers who had never even touched a looping pedal before I lent them one to perform at the festival so I think the strategy has paid off. Also, I have noticed that crowds at other looping events I have been to have been oversaturated by longer set lengths. I've chosen the 30 minute format concious of it's drawbacks but I also see the whole festival as a Sampler of live looping............intended to spread the word to the public and to provide many, many loopers with the ability to see dozens and dozens of different approaches to be inspired by. It has also occasionally kept some performers from performing at the festival. Andre LaFosse has repeatedly turned down my requests to play at the festival because he feels like he just couldn't do what he does in under a 45 minute performance. I don't agree with him at all, but I certainly respect his decision not to perform. Noone, with the exception of Kris Hartung and I ever sees the whole two day festival and it doesn't make sense to even attempt it.............it's just too much. So my advise is to pick and choose the sets you want to see and then avail yourself of the unbelievably stimulating company of the other artists who aren't currently watching a performance during the breaks. Another good thing about the festival being imperfect in different ways is that it actually is making Michael think about creating a festival that he'd rather attend which utilizes different criteria for performance. Honestly, I have tried so hard in the past several years to encourage people to do their own small or large festivals as a self concious attempt to grow our community and , quite honestly, to put the notion of a live looping artist in the public's mind so that we could start to actually make money out in the commercial world doing what we are doing. So, I still recommend coming to Y2K7 and to performing at it. I think it's a wonderful and inspiring event. I also highly encourage you to book your own live looping festivals, even if they are modest and only have 3 or 4 performers in an evening.................. ................ and hell, because I"ve worked so hard for so many years with no compensation, I'd love to be asked to perform at one if you do! It would be wonderful do give a 45 minute looping performance in Pittsburgh if I were to be invited to do so................<smile> sincerely and respectfully, Rick Walker organizer Y2K7 International Live Looping festival