19th Annual Music Conference

Folk Alliance Region West's annual conference connects our vast region of listening rooms, festivals, folk societies, organizations, radio DJs, agents, managers, promoters, publications, and fans with the touring artists and troubadours that cross our region.

Schedule:

8:00 AM - 4:00 PM: Registration/EARLY BIRD 2025
Location: Grand Foyer

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM: FIRST-TIMERS SONG CIRCLE
Location: Grand Foyer
Speaker: Tom Hubbard

8:30 AM - 9:30 AM: Make the Most of Your Conference
Location: Salon D

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM: DIY Booking: What gigs are out there & how do I get them?
Location: Ventura (upstairs)
Speaker: Jackson Emmer
Join Jackson Emmer and his panel guests in a discussion about gigs. What kind of gigs are out there? How do I present myself and what do I need to secure them? Connect with seasoned artists, promoters and event producers to understand both side...

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM: The Feminine Collective
Location: Salon I
Speakers: Ynana Rose, Leo Williams, Azere Wilson
Presenters:  Ynana Rose, Azere Wilson & Miss Leo
The Feminine Collective is an empowerment group for feminine identifying people in music on the Central Coast & in the Bay Area of California. We are trans/non-binary inclusive.

9:30 AM - 10:30 AM: Tie Your Shoestrings & Get Running!
Location: Salon A
Speaker: Gaby Castro

9:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Millsaps Coffee House
Location: Hidden Hills
Coordinator/Emcee: Debora Ewing
The Susanne Millsaps Memorial Coffeehouse is a staple at every FAR-West conference. It’s an in-the-round madhouse, where everyone gets one song in order to allow as many people to perform as possible.

9:30 AM - 6:00 PM: DIY Showcase - Busking Space
Location: Grand Foyer
Coordinator: Mike Berman
Sign up on site for a 15 minute slot

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Developing Educational Revenue: Teaching Tools & Curriculum
Location: Salon D
Speakers: Jackson Emmer, Martin Gilmore
Connect with your community and keep music alive! Most communities have a demand for music teachers, and there is often a shortage of talented instructors with real-world experience, and therefore a lot of business opportunities for willing musicians. If you are looking for ways to build and expa...

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: How to Grow Your Email List
Location: Salon D
Speaker: Tanya Brody
Your email list is the life-blood of your business.
This is just as true for musicians and venue hosts as it is for every other business. Perhaps even more so.
Come discover how you can grow, maintain, and use your email list to get fans to come to shows, sell merch, fund recording ...

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Inclusive Jamming
Location: Ventura (upstairs)
Speaker: Ynana Rose
Presenter: Ynana Rose
Let’s make some music! All genders & levels of proficiency welcome.  I’ll be reviewing jamming etiquette & moderating the circle.  Jam circles are often...

10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Song Interrogation - Learning What Makes a Song Tick
Location: Salon H
Speaker: Mike Berman

11:30 AM - 1:00 PM: Lunch Break -- meal available for purchase
Location: Community Hall

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Musicians Leading Change
Location: Salon D
Speakers: John Carroll, Ben Caron, Eric H. F. Law
Braver Angels Music bridges political divides through music. We train songwriters to give songwriting workshops in their own communities to find common ground on polarizing topics. We specifically work with people across the entire political spectrum, Republicans, Democrats, Independent...

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Growing Your Music Career in 6 Months
Location: Salon A
Speaker: Chris Fletcher
Chris Fletcher leads this workshop to discuss items you can conquer in the next 6 months to help you feel like your music career is growing. We begin with evaluating what level you are at today and then Ms. Fletcher gives attainable suggestions for beginners, intermediate DIYers...

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Song Salon
Location: Salon I
Speaker: Gail Dreifus
Song Salon is an opportunity for you to present your works-in-progress to the group and get feedback, ideas and encouragement. Bring us your tired, your weak, your half-written, yearning to be finished. Come ready to share, give feedback, and be supportive and respectful. Gail Dreifus, Board Memb...

1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Millsaps Coffee House
Location: Hidden Hills
Coordinator/Emcee: Debora Ewing
The Susanne Millsaps Memorial Coffeehouse is a staple at every FAR-West conference. It’s an in-the-round madhouse, where everyone gets one song in order to allow as many people to perform as possible.

2:00 PM - 3:30 PM: Songwriting: Intro to Co-Writing
Location: Ventura (upstairs)
Speaker: Jackson Emmer
Join Jackson Emmer, an award-winning songwriter, folk singer and genre-bending artist in a 60 minute workshop on Co-Writing. Does co-writing sound scary? Or perhaps mysterious? It doesn't have to be. In this quick workshop, you will write new songs and surprise yo...

2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: DADGAD Guitar Workshop
Location: Salon I
Speaker: David Denz
DADGAD tuning is widely used for guitar accompaniment of Irish songs and tunes, but it can also work very well for a wide variety of folk styles. This workshop will include examples of DADGAD in accompaniments and solo instrumentals. Depending on the interests of attendees, the workshop will incl...

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Happy Hour/Cocktail Reception
Location: Urban Oasis
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM: Dinner Break
6:30 PM - 9:30 PM: Official Showcases: Night One
Location: Showcase Hall
Co-Host: Mike Berman, Tina Ross
Mike Berman and Tina Ross are your hosts for the evening!
6 Subsessions

10:15 PM - 11:55 PM: Private Showcases Until 2AM
Location: Salons A-J
8 Subsessions

Register here