NEEMFest 2020!

[OmbientMike]

Friends:

We’ve decided to make this year’s NEEMFest fully virtual. I doubt that surprises anyone -- the main factor in making the decision was simply that a large majority of the community is (rightly) worried about the dangers (and expense) of an in-person conference during the pandemic. Too, all performances in New York State are now capped at a maximum of 50 attendees.

There are opportunities in this. A virtual conference is a natural environment for workshops. We think that’s an opportunity, and look forward to sessions on sound design using iOS apps, “how I do it” presentations on performance, and anything and everything that this remarkable community has to show and tell. We are working on invitations to some special guests whose travel we wouldn’t be able to afford, but who may be willing to present virtually. We have the potential to attract an online audience that could, in time, become an in-person audience. And since all of us are facing a world in which live performance will not be possible for a while, we believe a virtual NEEMFest will provide great opportunities for people to learn and demonstrate new techniques in an inclusive and friendly community.

At this point, we’re working on a detailed schedule, which for complex reasons also involves thinking through a lot of technical infrastructure issues. We’ll have more to say about that soon. I hope you’ll be able to join us in this new, exciting, and daunting adventure.

All the best,
Tom (on behalf of Mike, Rebekkah, Chris, Jim, Steve, Ken, and Rob S.)
(Posted here by Mike Hunter)