PMN Summer Round Robin (Online Swap)

The PMN "Round Robin" is an evening of sharing by PMN members where we especially encourage first time members to participate.  All members are invited to sign up for one song, spoken word, storytelling, or dance piece.  We have a strict 5 minute limit.  There is no set topic.  We simply ask that participating artists relate their performance to PMN's mission of using music, poetry, and other forms of cultural work as catalysts for a just and peaceful world.  The program will be livestreamed on Facebook, but you can choose to not have your performance included during the livestream.  If you opt out, your performance will be put either at the very start OR at the very end of the program.

Introductions are short to keep the focus on your performance.  Feel free to set up at the dinner table, light a candle or two, eat, and enjoy 4 hours of wonderful music!

For PMN members new to PMN: The Round Robin is the quintessential activity that takes place at People's Music Network Gatherings.  You can read a brief history of the People's Music Network written by Charlie King and Luci Murphy, which describes the first Round Robin in 1977.   This will be our very first time bringing the PMN Round Robin onto Zoom.  For those who have participated in online song swaps between March and May 2020, the format of the Round Robin will be similar, but there will be more hosts, and more performers, and a bit more fanfare.  

Performances through Zoom

PMN Members wishing to perform in the Online Round Robin must use this registration form to sign up to share a song or a poem during the event.  All PMN members who register to perform will receive an e-mail message with a link to PMN's Zoom video conference account.  Everyone performs through their own computer connection. 

Registration Deadline

The deadline to register is Thursday, June 11, 2020 at 10:00 PM.  The order of performance will be released the following morning.  You may still register for the event after this time, but you will be added to the wait list.

Eligibility to Perform

Performers in this online Round Robin must:

1)   be PMN members in good standing* 

2)   register using this form

3)   have a computer with functioning video camera and microphone.

* If you are not a PMN member, you may join here: https://www.peoplesmusic.org/join-PMN

How we Select the Performers

Every PMN member wishing to perform at this event is invited to register and to do so sooner than later.  Selection for the final performer list, however, is not first-come first-served.  Instead, we will give priority to new PMN members as well as PMN members who have not yet performed in one of our previous online swap events. We hold these song swap events regularly.  If you miss one, anticipate more opportunities soon!

Tech Run Through

If you are selected to perform in this swap, you will receive an invitation to a tech run through taking place on Friday June 12, from 7:00-9:00 PM.   We will discuss how to get the best sound when sharing music on Zoom (more about this in next section).  Each person will have a chance to sing a verse of their song and receive feedback from the group on audio quality.  Artists who are new to zoom are strongly encouraged to attend this, because it can be a big confidence builder to learn how to use these tools. 

Improving the Audio Quality of your Performance

• Learn the Basics of Music on Zoom.  Watch a 10 minute webinar on "Improving Audio Quality for Live Musical Performances on Zoom".  This video distills the basic tips and tricks that first timers need to know.  The key elements are microphone quality, internet connectivity, Zoom advanced audio settings, and microphone placement. 
  
• Explore more about improving the audio quality for your performance.  Using your computer's built in mic with Zoom's default audio settings is sufficient to participate and be heard, especially if your performance involves just the human voice.  The sound of a person singing or talking normally comes across on Zoom somewhat better than a telephone.  Zoom applies audio compression filters to the sound of meetings by default.  These filters are effective at reducing background noise, but they also recognize the frequencies that most instruments use as being background noise, causing musical instruments to sound distorted.  It is possible to significantly improve the audio quality of both voice and instruments by using an external USB mic or a USB audio interface device.  (See PMN member discussion forum on, "What kind of External USB mic are you using to play music live online?").   Once you have the hardware in place, there is a setting in Zoom called "enable original sound", which removes Zoom's default audio compression.  Learning these tools helps improve the sound of your performance.  Please see here for a useful and simple tutorial about how to enable original sound in Zoom.       
• Compare your sound with other set ups.  You can create a free account on Zoom that allows you to record videos and hear how your sound comes across to others when using different settings and equipment.  I recorded a video that shows how audio quality improves by enabling "original sound" and using an external USB microphone, starting with the worst set up and moving steadily to the best set up. (Enter this password to unlock it: P9.0v1!B).
• 
  

Broadcast through Facebook Live

Anyone may tune in to the live swap at no cost, via PMN's Facebook Page, which is https://www.facebook.com/Peoples.Music.Network/

Accessing the livestream: Go to PMN's Facebook page (link above). Scroll down until you see the video post with the word “Live” in the upper right corner. (Note: The livestream post won't pop up on the PMN page until a few minutes before 7:30pm (EST) on the night of the event.)

After the event, click on the “Videos” tab on the left side of the page to access a recording of the event.

Help Publicize!

Tell your friends how they can tune into this online musical event for progressive culture.  Share this event on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1093475984383040/

This same link is where you can find the performer list, which becomes available by the morning of Friday, June 12, 2020.