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Author Topic: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004  (Read 14175 times)

Fletcher

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Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« on: April 22, 2004, 08:11:48 AM »

Someone over on the Tape Op message board jokingly posted that it would be cool if there were a contest to win a comp entry to TapeOpCon 2004 and we thought [opportunistic fucks that we are] that it would be a great way to kick stuff off here at R/E/P... so... here's the dealio...

Tell us in 50 words or fewer why you think you should get a comp entry to TapeOpCon 2004... best essay wins... decision of the judges is final... not open to Tape Op or Huge Universe employees... and whatever other legal bullshit surrounds these sort of contest things.

Deadline for entries is midnight 13 May, 2004...

You're going to still be responsible for your own transportation and hotel... so you might want to arrange them now as the deadline is like 2 weeks from the event.

Best of luck with it!!!
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CN Fletcher

mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33
We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid


"Recording engineers are an arrogant bunch.  
If you've spent most of your life with a few thousand dollars worth of musicians in the studio, making a decision every second and a half... and you and  they are going to have to live with it for the rest of your lives, you'll get pretty arrogant too.  It takes a certain amount of balls to do that... something around three"
Malcolm Chisholm

j.hall

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #1 on: April 22, 2004, 10:28:07 AM »

PM'ing me will not help your chances, FYI.
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Fletcher

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #2 on: April 22, 2004, 01:48:04 PM »

Yeah... PM'ing doesn't work... you have to post it here...
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CN Fletcher

mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33
We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid


"Recording engineers are an arrogant bunch.  
If you've spent most of your life with a few thousand dollars worth of musicians in the studio, making a decision every second and a half... and you and  they are going to have to live with it for the rest of your lives, you'll get pretty arrogant too.  It takes a certain amount of balls to do that... something around three"
Malcolm Chisholm

zimv20

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #3 on: April 22, 2004, 01:56:39 PM »

Why I should win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
by steve zimmers

'Cuz i'm funny and i'll buy a few rounds
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chrisrnps

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #4 on: April 22, 2004, 07:44:35 PM »



I had this heartbreakingly poetic, pathos-inducing monologue, dripping with maudlin tales of woe about how I'm a poor, starving musician on an art-fag indie label who has to work days at a Moist Pro ger
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jca83

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #5 on: April 22, 2004, 07:53:16 PM »

Well.

My name's Jon. I'm 20, and I'm a senior Recording Industry Major at MTSU.  I'm the chair of the Audio Engineering Society chapter of MTSU, etc.  That's the schmooze part.

The other part is, I LOVE music, and I LOVE recording, and I'm totally thrilled about all the guests and panels this year.  It really sounds great.

Thanks... see you in New Orleans! (i hope.)
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iluvatar

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #6 on: April 22, 2004, 09:32:00 PM »

My name is Dan, and I'm also a recording student. I'm a quick learner and a hard worker and I would get a lot out of going. Maybe I'll even be able to contribute a bit. Smile

-Dan.
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Dan Costello
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Rod Affleck

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #7 on: April 23, 2004, 12:25:53 PM »


Why I should win a pass to TapeOpCon 2004

By the time I reached the driveway the fumes from the tire fire were burning my eyes. "Gregor! This is not masking the smell of the pig farm at all!" Gregor shrugged and emptied the gas can onto the flames. "I gotta get outta here," I muttered. "But go where?"


r.a.
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Rod Affleck

Fibes

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #8 on: April 23, 2004, 02:28:13 PM »

I'm sure i can't win (legally) but i'd like to enter, it is an essay from the future.

What I did this summer at Tape OP Con:

It was a fun and informative conference for all in a city where the devil grabs your soul and your deity looks the other way. I spent most of my time banking on the fact that Mithra was not looking especially after outdrinking Fletcher for the second night in a row, convincing some coeds to pick up the tab and winding up locked in the pokey listening to Larry and John complaining about how rude it was of Albini to wear his hat at the dinner table. After several hours of bickering they finally agreed that my throwing a half chewed Baby Ruth bar onto the strip club stage during the "hag" act was not a good enough reason to get locked up (even though they learned how to rig a stainless steel toilet into a macrophone). After they beat me with a pillowcase full of soda cans I spent the remaining hours of Tape Op Con screaming "Geri Curl" at Larry while John tunneled his way to freedom using an MXL 2112.

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prairiedog

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Pass gas at Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #9 on: April 23, 2004, 02:48:21 PM »

From the Tape Op website..

" You will definitely go home refreshed and reenergized."

Really? That's not how I would expect to feel after a weekend of sitting through exhaustive circular discussions, vomiting gumbo & tequila, and getting slashed in the French Quarter. What the hell, give me the pass and I'll bring the weed.

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picksail

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #10 on: April 24, 2004, 02:46:50 AM »

I should be the one to receive the 'Big Prize' because, I just recently, low balled a bid on a house in order to finance a rather large equipment purchase ($50,000) for our studio.

Plus, I live in New Orleans and am now too broke to pony up the money for the ticket.
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larrycrane

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #11 on: April 24, 2004, 12:06:52 PM »

These aren't essays. get off your asses and write something good! May the best one win...
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Larry Crane
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Fletcher

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #12 on: April 25, 2004, 04:32:48 AM »

Hey... we're talkin' $300+ worth of price of admission here... the least y'all could do would be to write a serious, or at least quasi-serious plea... or we could drop the whole thing if you'd prefer...
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CN Fletcher

mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33
We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid


"Recording engineers are an arrogant bunch.  
If you've spent most of your life with a few thousand dollars worth of musicians in the studio, making a decision every second and a half... and you and  they are going to have to live with it for the rest of your lives, you'll get pretty arrogant too.  It takes a certain amount of balls to do that... something around three"
Malcolm Chisholm

jca83

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #13 on: April 25, 2004, 01:43:53 PM »

Alright. I'll do it again then.

Why I Should Go to TapeOpCon 2004:

I'm a student in the largest recording program in the country, and I'm also the chair of the largest student chapter of the AES in the world.  If sent to TapeOpCon, I feel that I could be a representative of the school and the AES, and impart my experiences to the students upon returning from the convention.  I think it's imperative to learn from the pros in this environment, because our school, while having excellent facilities and faculty, doesn't really represent the "real" side of recording.  It doesn't represent the things I want to do, or the things that many of us in the program will be doing upon graduation.  TapeOp and the professionals attending the convention, however, fill in that gap and give a happy balance between the technical and the creative.  

And hey. I didn't get to go anywhere on spring break.  Engineers Gone Wild 2004!!!
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iluvatar

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #14 on: April 25, 2004, 09:33:00 PM »

Fletcher wrote on Sun, 25 April 2004 04:32

Hey... we're talkin' $300+ worth of price of admission here... the least y'all could do would be to write a serious, or at least quasi-serious plea... or we could drop the whole thing if you'd prefer...


It looks like Jon and I are the only ones so far who have given serious entrees. The instructions did say 50 words or less. Had that restriction been looser, I know I would have written a more thorough essay. Judging by Jon's intelligent, thoughtful and more lengthy second attempt, I think he would have done the same.

But anyways... Regardless of who ultimately wins, I would like to  thank Fletcher, J.Hall, PSW, TapeOp, and anybody else involved for the opportunity to attend for free. Somebody is going to be lucky.

My essay v2.0:

My name is Dan Costello; I'm a recording student at a small community college south of Rochester, NY. After being laid off last year from a large defense contractor, I chose not to return to the software industry, because that's not where my heart was. It's easy money and I was good at what I did, but it bored me, and I had no interest in what we were producing. What good is a big paycheck if 80% of your waking hours are spent doing something you either hate or see as pointless? I realized that my hobby of music was really where my passion lay, and that audio engineering would provide a good balance for both my technical and artistic interests.

So at age 22, I'm taking a chance on a second career. I want to become a good engineer. If this is going to be a viable career, I have to be a good engineer. I love what I'm doing, and I'm working harder on this than I have on anything ever before. (my GPA last semester was 3.96) I entered school with a fair amount of prior knowledge gleaned from reading and studying everything I could related to recording including books, magazines, internet message boards, instruction manuals, and online tutorials. After 1 year of school, I'm running sound at an area jazz club and am in the process of setting up my first studio internship.

My school's recording program is primarily set up to convey basic technical concepts and provide a vehicle for learning how to put them into practice. The program is good for what it is, and the faculty is great, but being able to set up a board will only take you so far. I want to learn the art of engineering. Why does this mix or this master sound the way it does and how do I recreate it or avoid recreating it as the case may be? According to the schedule, this year's panels are exactly what I'm looking for.

Why do I want to go to TapeOpCon? Probably the same reasons anyone else does - education, networking, and a bit of fun. There's so much to learn in this field and TapeOpCon affords a nearly endless supply of knowledge and experience that anyone, especially a rookie like me, can draw upon. Also, I'll need a job once I finish school. Where better to meet potential employers than at an industry conference?

My <=50 word answer to the question of why I should get the free pass:

I'll make the most out of my time there.

-Dan.
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Dan Costello
Minister of Public Enlightenment
Mercenary Audio

"Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones.."

elcabron

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #15 on: April 27, 2004, 02:12:54 PM »

Hey Y'all,

El Cabron here.

I'm following this essay contest with some interest.

I think what Larry and Fletcher are doing is great, a real cool opportunity for some young and motivated person.

I'm thinking two things:

a.) I can't go to Tape Op Con because I'm very busy and my wife and I are trying to get a house pretty soon. Life is hectic.

b.) I've learned a bunch from both Tape Op and RecPit and made some slightly better recordings as a result. This place has had a real, tangible benefit to my musical life.

Sooo, I'd like to give a little something back.

Thus, I'll give the essay winner a small stipend to spend as they wish in the Big Easy. Let's say 75 bucks.

Spend it on food, lodging, beer, strippers or whatever.

I'll get the winner's info and send a check thereafter.

One caveat: when the winner returns, they must write a cogent essay on the event. Details about panels and performances would be most welcome, as well the best meal you had.

I'll be reading and awaiting the results of this contest as often as I can.

(edit: I forgot to give a shout-out to J. Hall. Love the forum, J.)

Best,
Eddie



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j.hall

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #16 on: April 27, 2004, 03:09:25 PM »

WHOA

a third party throwin down 75 bucks on this thing

right now, we only have a few entries.  i'm actually a bit surprised myself.
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moosapotamus

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #17 on: April 27, 2004, 06:00:44 PM »

OK, count me in. I went over the 50 word limit, too. Whoops... Rolling Eyes

May I please have a comp entry to TapeOpCon 2004?

As a jack-of-all-trades & master-of-none, I yearn for the opportunity to bow at the feet of the Masters of Audio Recording and Engineering at TapeOpCon 2004 because I'm not a complete moron. But, I will always have a desire to learn, improve and share.

I've been from art school to engineering and business school and back again. I've been a line-cook, a print shop clerk, a neon sign maker and a few other things, too. One of the only true constants in my life is music (the other has been change). I borrowed a friend's guitar over thirty years ago and yes, I returned it but I haven't looked back. I've been playing, writing, recording ever since.

The recording process is truly magical to me, capturing invisible vibrations created by moving pressure gradients as they pass through thin air, preserving and making palpable the power and emotions of something that is conceptually so incredibly nebulous and fleeting. The feeling is second to none. It's my drug of choice and I need some more!

I've never had any formal training in any area of music or the recording arts. But, music is in my head always, constantly, an inseparable part of me. Sometimes it temporarily escapes me, or I lose it because I'm in the wrong place at the right time. Sometimes I get it down and it sounds great. Sometimes it doesn't sound so great. That hasn't stopped me. Nothing will.

I learn and improve by doing. I'm not motivated by the record industry or the far away, faint, unrealistic promise of fame. I get immense satisfaction from the creative process itself, transforming ideas into reality, crafting something with spirit, animation and feeling from a bunch of inanimate objects (drums & wires), helping others and myself to express and communicate in ways that go beyond the abilities of words. That's my motivation, my desire. And, the only thing that could make that process more rewarding for me would be the chance to get together with a bunch of folks who share these same passions, to share what we know and, collectively, further develop our technical and creative understanding and capabilities together at TapeOpCon 2004!
Woooo hooooo!!!

Charlie Barth

elcabron

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #18 on: April 27, 2004, 07:22:11 PM »

not bad.
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iluvatar

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #19 on: April 28, 2004, 01:28:16 PM »

Quote:

Thus, I'll give the essay winner a small stipend to spend as they wish in the Big Easy. Let's say 75 bucks.


Hey, thanks for sweetening the pot. That's might kind of you. Smile

-Dan.

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Dan Costello
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"Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones.."

elcabron

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #20 on: April 28, 2004, 03:17:27 PM »

hey, my pleasure.
I really do enjoy this place.

Let's see some more essays...

Eddie
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Fletcher

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #21 on: April 30, 2004, 08:51:37 AM »

elcabron wrote on Tue, 27 April 2004 14:12



Sooo, I'd like to give a little something back.

Thus, I'll give the essay winner a small stipend to spend as they wish in the Big Easy. Let's say 75 bucks.


That's a great idea... I'll sweeten it... we're taking a few friends out to dinner one night, probably Saturday... the lucky winner gets to come to dinner with us... in the past, that "dinner" has been one of the highlights of TapeOpCon for me... somehow I think the lucky winner will come away from it with an evening to remember...

Quote:

One caveat: when the winner returns, they must write a cogent essay on the event.


Absolutely!!!  From my perspective, not about going to dinner or anything like that... but what they picked up at the conference... what workshops they attended and why it was cool [or not cool], what panels they thought were interesting, etc...
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CN Fletcher

mwagener wrote on Sat, 11 September 2004 14:33
We are selling emotions, there are no emotions in a grid


"Recording engineers are an arrogant bunch.  
If you've spent most of your life with a few thousand dollars worth of musicians in the studio, making a decision every second and a half... and you and  they are going to have to live with it for the rest of your lives, you'll get pretty arrogant too.  It takes a certain amount of balls to do that... something around three"
Malcolm Chisholm

j.hall

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #22 on: April 30, 2004, 10:20:41 AM »

i'd fly down to Nawlins for that dinner alone.

and i'm not kidding......this whole thing is worth A LOT more then face value at this point.
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moosapotamus

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #23 on: April 30, 2004, 09:39:53 PM »

Wow! And dinner, too (yum). :drool:
This is getting pretty tasty!

I'll bet I could write that follow-up report without even going to dinner, um... wait, uh... I mean, TapeOpCon. Yeah, TapeOpCon! Well, maybe... that is, er... you want it to not suck?

Hey! Is this contest going to be like a damn eBay auction where everybody waits until the last minute to throw in what they got (you lousy bunch of chickens)? [/brash taunting]

~ Charlie

whatever

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #24 on: May 01, 2004, 04:56:31 AM »

begin "essay"

have dilemma.. want go conference. guy i work with (he=producer me=engineer) get go for free...we think split cost so both can go...but record we make mixing happen that weekend...we no mix but need be there. i want go conference anyway but cant afford. please help.

end "essay"

me=english major in college.  read much hemingway.  since then talk like this.

really.


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iluvatar

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #25 on: May 10, 2004, 11:13:52 PM »

Is anybody else checking this thing as frequently as I am?

Man, I'd about wet myself if I won the free pass; I expected more people to be at least mildly interested in entering. No posts in almost a week and a half?

-Dan.

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Dan Costello
Minister of Public Enlightenment
Mercenary Audio

"Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones.."

satisfactory

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #26 on: May 11, 2004, 02:30:18 PM »

Hi, and thanks to Larry and Fletcher and J (& elcabron!)for the opportunity....  


so okay what the hell..
I'm Justin Collins, a 25 yr old freelance engineer in Denton, TX with a small multitrack project studio and a great community that keeps me busy.  Currently I'm staying fed by doing studio recordings, live 2-track recordings, and live sound mixing at a local music venue. I've been making 1/2" 8-track recordings of bands in this area since 1998.  
 
In Jan 03, after taking my own group to record with an experienced engineer at a world-class studio in Chi-town, I came back with the renewed inspiration to help document the independent underground music coming from Denton.  You guys may or may not know about Denton's one of a kind music scene, but you should!  There was not a place here that could provide a quality recording on the cheap, (much less a quality analog recording on the cheap.. it was either protools in yr bedroom or 300/day room, no in between!), so i set a day rate i thought my friends could afford and started making records from my house.  I specialize in working fast and capturing moments.  I work mostly with rock, folk and jazz artists.  Over the last year in my house I have finished 9 full lengths and about 17 EPs (plus another full length at a TDM room in ATL). Now some of these guys are selling their records at shows, turning heads at local press, and one group now has a deal with a local label for the next LP.  I get to work with new bands starting up, and often times it’s their first positive and laid back recording experience.  Its not big budget stuff, but I feel lucky to be able to help them get the word out and proud that I'm not ripping them off.  
 
Occasionally I assist engineer friends of mine who have been working in the area for years and have professional facilities, which brings me to why I'd like to go to TapeOpCon 04.  I think there are two good ways to learn about record making: Doing It Every Day and Talking With People Who Do It Every Day.  TapeOpCon brings so many independent recordmaking heavyweights to the panels and workshops (plus those just milling around!), I'm sure to bring back some fresh insight that will benefit me and the music makers in my town.  

I'm esp. interested in the basic studio construction and lo budget tech wrkshops!  ooh and mic design too!  
and the "serving yr community affordably" hits close to home...


Thanks for holding a contest, where are all the replys?  A trip to nawlins is usually a GOOD time!

--
jc
satisfactory recording co.
denton, TX
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elcabron

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #27 on: May 11, 2004, 04:19:33 PM »

very cool, Satisfactory.

El Cabron
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Jeff Roberts

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #28 on: May 12, 2004, 02:06:04 PM »

I need to win a pass or I can't go.

Some crooks in New York ripped us off for $25,000 with two forged checks. God bless digital printing technology.

I need to go so I can be reminded why I try to be in this industry. I didn't enter recording to learn operating systems.

I started recording because I love music, musicians, and the people that design, fix, and install the gear.

Sign me up for total immersion recording therapy. I need a fix.
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Jeff Roberts
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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #29 on: May 12, 2004, 11:54:29 PM »

24 hours...

-Dan.
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Dan Costello
Minister of Public Enlightenment
Mercenary Audio

"Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones.."

iluvatar

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #30 on: May 13, 2004, 11:59:14 PM »

so that's it...

*crosses fingers*  Cool

-Dan.
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Dan Costello
Minister of Public Enlightenment
Mercenary Audio

"Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones.."

wing

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #31 on: May 14, 2004, 02:21:33 AM »

Well, am I too late? Was it midnight beginning of May 13th? The ending of May 13th? Eastern or Pacific?

Well let's just hope and pretend I'm just on time. And even if I'm not, at least hear me out. I'll probably go over the 50 word limit too, in fact I know I will. I can't help it. I write 10 page essays in english class when the assignment calls for 2 pages. It's just the way I write, I suppose. I'm a straightforward and genuine person, so when I write, I kind of write every thought from my mind and heart coming at me 1000 miles per second.

Well then! My name is Jonathan Wing, I'm a 19 year old college student from Houston, Texas. Let me start by saying that I'm not a competitive person, so it's hard for me to do this kind of contest. I'd probably be the first to say that I don't deserve to win. But the fact I'm trying shows at least I won't give up. There is never a harm in trying anything in life, right? Well anyway, I've been recording music with my brother since I was about 10 years old. The moment I heard two tracks I had recorded come together on top, that was it for me-- I knew my path. Nowadays I try to run my own personal studio basically for myself and friends. I still have so much yet to learn. I recently acquired a 3M 1" tape machine and need to learn so much about how to use it-- alignment, maintenance, everything! If you go on the tapeop messageboards, you'll see that I'm the #1 poster over there. I'm not bragging with that. In fact that sounds shamefully nerdy. But the reason I post so much is my desire to learn everything as well as teach (or at least try to) everything I can to those who are also eager to acquire knowledge. I've been told many times that I'm an inspiring person who energizes people and makes them want to just create. People have said that I have an infectious enthusiasm about me. I didn't really know I did this until recently, but it's good to know... I'd hate to be the opposite! I'm always trying to come up with creative ideas to keep the world on its toes. I invented something called "The Beat Union" which is a project where I would record a beat every week and post it online. The idea was to see how many different songs by different people could be created out of that one same beat. It has been a hit, and people are always asking for Wing beats by name. More than anything it makes me feel useful, like I'm giving something back to music that it deserves. In my quest for knowledge, I have personally interviewed and have become friends with a few great and inspiring names in the music industry (hopefully to be printed in TapeOp, that is, if Larry likes them!) such as Sufjan Stevens, John Vanderslice, The Walkmen, Broken Social Scene, and others. And I even had the moxie to start a "Send Wing to the TapeOpCon 2004 fund" on TapeOp. My idea was that with how many people post there, if each one of them just sent me $1, I could totally be set and go! The idea seemed flawless on paper. If I could convince enough people (in the same way I feel I'm doing right now with this essay) to send just $1, I wouldn't have to worry. If I actually HAD the money, I would never do such a thing. But as it is, I can hardly afford gas. No way I could afford to go to the conference on my own. And to each individual person, what is the loss in losing $1 (well I guess $1.37 after postage)? No loss, really. Nothing significant. Many people thought it was so daring that they were even suggesting they just might help me out.

Well for some reason, it fell through, and no one sent a dime. I don't know why. I wish they had. I even offered to write and record complete songs in honor of those who donated more than $30. Pretty good deal, I gotta say! I'm not one to mooch of others though-- I promised everyone that I would be the official conference whipping boy, after all. I love helping people. And if by some stroke of magical insanity, you, dear reader, felt inspired enough to pay my way, I would of course be yours. After all, I can't drink. So might as well take advantage of the things I COULD do for you! Imagine having your own slave for the weekend. Yes, I am THAT crazy. But I'd probably do it anyway, even if I could have paid my way entirely. It's just my nature to help others and be sure their needs are met.

What was my point with this? I don't think I much had one, really. I'm not daring enough to say "I'm the obvious choice" or "I deserve it more than these other guys"... I've read the other essays here, and they all deserve it. Fine gentlemen (and women?) I must say. I mean, look at me, the rebellious delinquent that I am. Such audacity I must have to write this essay right as it is due, AND to go over the 50 word limit. I've probably gone over 500 words, haven't I?

So why should you pick me? If I were to sum it up: I'm much too poor to afford a ticket. New Orleans is about as close as I can imagine TapeOpCon being to Houston. I soak up knowledge like a sponge and I'm really open minded to hearing every bit of advice and every idea that every person has to share. I LOVE helping and serving others and would love to be the conference's whipping boy. And if I don't win, I won't be upset. In the end, what is most important is not going to the conference but rather just making music and capturing it the best way I know how. I really want to go to the conference in order to learn how to improve this, to learn to capture sound better and to grow in my understanding of audio and grow in my friendships with other musicians and recording artists. But nothing that can be done or said--if you laugh me off the planet for this essay and give the tapeop ticket to someone else--would ever stop me and my drive to be the best that I can ever be, and then some. My goal here is not to go to the conference in order to hang out or get food, but rather to learn EVERYTHING I can! I guess my entire point with this is just that I see the importance in not basing and relying my learning adventure on whether or not I go to the conference. That would be silly. Don't get me wrong though, I think it would be wonderfully beneficial and hugely important in my life of recording. I know it would be. But again, the important thing here is to have the focus on what is to be learned, not where and how it will be learned.

I broke all the rules, and I'm probably "just a kid" to a lot of people. I've heard that a lot of times. I almost hate doing this, because I hate the idea of "beating out" all these other fine people. I wish for all of them to be able to go. I guess that's the uncompetitive part of me. So I apologize if this whole essay thing sounds terribly disorganized and nervous. Perhaps I'm not making any sense by this point, and for that I'm sorry.

You could also always pick me because I'm fun. I always go above and beyond people's expectations to give them a good time and make them happy. And like I said, how can you beat having a personal whipping boy the whole weekend?

In any event, I'm inspired. I was inspired to write this essay even though my thoughts were ones such as "Well, it's probably too late", or "I can't write what I want to say in less than 50 words", or "how could I ever win over all those other awesome guys?!"... but something inside me inspired and forced me to try. Though the doubt sometimes seems to run rampant through my head, I decided I would overcome it and at least give it my best and give it my all. TapeOp inspires me. Music and creating it inspires me. The tapeop messageboard inspires me. Through all of this, I can only hope to inspire others through music the way TapeOp and recording has inspired me. Thank you.

ps: sorry again for this being late... I was going to try and do it earlier, but finals at school and working two jobs really got in the way. It kind of slipped my mind until now... and to be fair, it is still May 13th in America as I'm writing this.  Very Happy
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iluvatar

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #32 on: May 15, 2004, 01:11:43 AM »

Anybody know how the winner will be notified? A post on here?

-Dan.
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Dan Costello
Minister of Public Enlightenment
Mercenary Audio

"Well, I've been to one world fair, a picnic, and a rodeo, and that's the stupidest thing I ever heard come over a set of earphones.."

j.hall

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #33 on: May 15, 2004, 05:26:06 PM »

i'm reviewing all the entries, as fletcher is too.

i'll post the winner here

i'm also locking the thread

we'll get a winner picked by sunday evening....
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j.hall

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Re: Win a pass to Tape Op Con 2004
« Reply #34 on: May 16, 2004, 11:53:36 PM »

iluvatar wrote on Thu, 13 May 2004 22:59

so that's it...

*crosses fingers*  Cool

-Dan.


uncross em....and pack those bags, you're heading to TapeOpCon '04

i will drop a few emails and make some phone calls to see how we finish this off officially

if you can't by a plane ticket and spring for the hotel, then let me know ASAP, we've got a runner up all picked out.  (hey, not bringing you down, some times reality strikes in a financial way)

all right, Dan, PM now!!!


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