Since Falcon Ridge is only a few days away, I figured I’d post a few updates to lead up to the big day then report back after the festival with some behind the scenes information (metaphorically speaking since, as far as I know, there are no “scenes” to be either in front of or behind).

Most recently, festival organizers have asked that I drop off four press kits at the Press Tent so they can get them in the hands of “the right people.”  I don’t know who the people are who will want to know about the guy playing two songs at four in the afternoon; then again that may be/probably is why I never get any press.  Accordingly, press kits are currently under construction to have ready for Friday.

I have also been informed that I cannot appear on any other festival stage during throughout the weekend.  While the Emerging Artist Showcase is not strictly a competition, participants are considered for inclusion in next year’s Preview Tour and Most Wanted Song Swap; an appearance on another stage by one of the participants would be considered, reasonably enough, an advantage over the others.  This does not apply to informal gatherings or the “Night Owl Song Swap,” so I’ll have to see if I get any other opportunities to perform this weekend.

Speaking of performing: since that is ostensibly the actual point of the weekend, song selection has been my main focus over the past few days.  My ‘set’ consists of two songs or ten minutes, and since I plan to take full advantage of the opportunity to perform two songs, the long ones are out.  That narrows it down a bit, but still makes it tough to choose just two songs.  As anyone who has performed at or attended an open mic night knows, it can be very difficult to connect with and win over an audience with only a couple of songs.  Further limiting my selection iis the venue.  Playing outdoors to a sprawling audience pretty much rules out softer material; not that I’ll be banging away, but I won’t be softly picking any tunes either.

For the record, I think I have narrowed my choices down to three or four songs.  I realized today that two of the songs mention national holidays in their titles or lyrics: I doubt anyone else would notice (especially if I hadn’t mentioned it here), and I certainly didn’t intend to include a possible theme set as one of my choices (unless “Songs People Hopefully Won’t Hate” is considered a theme), so I don’t plan to eliminate either of the two songs from consideration on that basis.  In short, we’ll all see what I decide Friday.  Suggestions welcome.