Thanks to the Memphis Chapter, Producers & Engineers Wing and MusiCares, guests of the 19th Annual International Folk Alliance Conference in Memphis were offered free health screenings as part of the health fair; a healthy dose of information about producing and engineering acoustic music; as well as information regarding traveling abroad as an artist. The Recording Academy's booth in the exhibition hall attracted prospective members from the international attendees of the conference.
The conference kicked off with an opening reception, sponsored by The Recording Academy and the Memphis & Shelby County Music Commission featuring live music by Memphis artists William Lee Ellis, Amy LeVere and others.
The MusiCares health fair provided free hearing and eye tests, high blood pressure and cholesterol screenings, as well as spinal and foot exams. These tests address problems that musicians are particularly susceptible to, such as damaged hearing due to loud music and bad posture on stage or with an instrument. Guests also received advice on resolving conflicts and managing stress and anxiety.
The Recording Academy's advocacy panel provided a wealth of advice for young artists traveling abroad. "The panel helped educate internationally touring musicians and music professionals about the Visa process for coming into the U.S.," said Daryl Friedman, Vice President of Advocacy & Government Relations.
A panel titled "Keepin' It Real: Acoustic High Fidelity" was presented by The Recording Academy's Producers & Engineers Wing. Four of Tennessee's GRAMMY-wining recording greats — Memphis' own Paul Ebersold, Jim Gaines and John Hampton and Nashvillean Gary Paczosa — spoke to the audience at the conference. Moderated by Mix magazine editor Rick Clark, a critically acclaimed music producer in his own right, the panel touched on such subjects as how to use modern technology but still retain the "human" feel, what keeps them inspired on a daily basis, and the pros and cons of analog vs. digital recording. They also related stories about mistakes they made that turned out great (such as Jim Gaines accidentally creating the sonar-like bleep on Steve Miller's "Fly Like An Eagle"). Paczosa summed up the overall attitude of the group when he concluded "You go and you go and you don't give up until you hit greatness!"