FREELANCE FOLK.

If you look to the right, you'll see I wear many hats. In those hats is music. Within music are gigs, festivals, radio, songwriting, and the annual INTERNATIONAL FOLK ALLIANCE CONFERENCE, a conference about the business of music, as well as musicians seeking to be heard by the people that do the booking. In it's 21st year, and with 1700 attendees, the conference was held last week in Memphis, Tennessee.

Freelance comes in all forms, and that goes for music too. From performing songwriters to agents to entrepreneurs with innovative marketing ideas, the folk alliance was jam-packed in more ways than one. There is an exhibit hall where the business of music is alive and well, with individual musicians, publications, managers, record companies, marketing support organizations, instrument makers, and more. There are seminars and panels during the day, and music in meeting rooms and hotel rooms as far as the eye can see. Late into the night, musicians perform in hotel rooms overtaking 3 solid floors of a 4 star hotel in Memphis, hoping to be heard by festival presenters, and the like.

Because it would take up far too much blog real estate to mention everyone who brings their efforts to the Folk Alliance, here are just a small handful of participants, what they do, and how to reach them. You can help support music, artists, and the broad spectrum of freelancers it takes to get the job done by visiting these resources online. To see ALL about the Folk Alliance conference and organization, please visit www.folk.org

MUZLINK - DISCOVERING NEW MUSIC: www.muzlink.com
THE GRANATA AGENCY: www.granataagency.com
THE ROOTS AGENCY: www.therootsagency.com
KARI ESTRIN MANAGEMENT & CONSULTING: www.kariestrin.com
OASIS CD MANUFACTURING: www.oasiscd.com
CDBABY: www.cdbaby.com
BILL WENCE RADIO PROMOTION: www.billwencepromotions.com
CF MARTIN: www.martinguitar.com
DIRTY LINEN MAGAZINE: www.dirtylinen.com
DIXIE BEELINERS BLUEGRASS BAND: www.dixiebeeliners.com
GRASSY HILL ENTERTAINMENT: www.grassyhillentertainment.com
CASH EDWARDS MUSIC SERVICES: www.cashedwards.com
MEMPHIS MUSIC FOUNDATION: www.memphismeansmusic.com