#contata

This year, Contata continues its proud tradition (on the principle that anything you do three times in a row is a tradition) of non-vocal guests!

2005: Guest of Honor Carla Ulbrich came down with laryngitis, so the GoH concert featured “Carla-oke” -- audience members requested songs for Carla to play on her guitar while they sang.

2008: Toastmaster Tom Smith injured his leg only weeks before the convention, so the Toastmaster concert became a “sing Tom Smith covers” benefit concert to raise money for his medical bills and recovery.

2011: Guest of Honor Judi Miller, sign interpreter extraordinaire, performed with all her usual non-vocal brilliance during everybody else’s concerts -- and also sang during her own show.  (No accidents or illness interfered.  We thought we might be onto something.)

2014: Guest of Honor Amy McNally, phenomenal fiddler, also sang some during her concert -- but mostly played to beat the devil.  (We made notes.  Definitely a trend worth pursuing.)

Which brings us to ...

2017: Guest of Honor Bob Kanefsky, filk’s premiere parodist! … who very seldom sings in public.  So our GoH concert this year will be a Kanefsky Cabaret, or Kabarefsky, in which other filkers will sing Bob’s parodies on stage.

The topic for Contata 2017′s song contest will be: “Socially Transmitted Earworm (or, I Got It From …)”

Entries must be new songs written since the end of last year’s NEFilk convention (i.e., after July 3rd, 2016). Songs set to original tunes and parodies of existing tunes are both acceptable.

All entries must be performed at the convention. If you cannot attend (or prefer not to perform), someone else may present your entry.

The Contata Con Committee Needs YOU!

Any convention depends on a lot of hands to keep things running. This year at Contata, we’re calling for volunteers in advance so we can get a head start on scheduling, and so nobody has to spend too much time helping out before they get back to enjoying the con.

We need people to help out with:

Registration Desk -- putting together and handing out registration packets, tracking materials for pre-registered members and selling at-the-door memberships

Ops -- making and posting signage, going to places where people need help with things and helping them, hauling boxes and other items (but not at the cost of your back).

Security -- short shifts checking to make sure people are wearing badges, staying out of restricted or locked areas, and abiding by the convention’s Code of Conduct

Con Suite -- supervising the con suite so the staff can take much-needed down-time, preparing and arranging snacks, cleanup, assisting with a shopping run if needed.

Circles -- We need people to anchor circles. To be in the circle, moderating, and making sure people get a turn to perform. To draw out shy people, encourage people to take turns and be courteous, and to occasionally perform, or prompt others to do so.

Volunteers will get a shiny badge sticker and our undying gratitude. Volunteers who commit to assisting by June 14 will also receive an acknowledgment in the program book (unless you prefer otherwise) and a small care package.

Submissions for the Contata 8 songbook are officially open!  Got a song you want to contribute?  Click here to find out where/how to submit it.

Also: this year at Contata we plan to have at least one jam session. Want to suggest a song to play? Watch this space for updates.

February 1, 2017: Last chance to purchase a full-weekend con membership before the rate goes up from $70 to $75!  This rate will apply until June 7, after which it goes up to the at-the-door rate of $80. The rates for Premium ($125) and *Special Friend* ($225) Membership will remain unchanged.  See contata.org for details on membership benefits.