"Songs of Freedom and Struggle" (Online Swap)

Performances through Zoom

PMN Members wishing to perform in this Online Song and Poetry Swap 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 Tuesday, June 30 at 8:00 PM.  The order of performance will be released the following morning.  You may still register for this event after this time, but you will be added to the wait list.

The Topic

In this video conference event, PMN members are invited to share songs of Freedom and Struggle.  At the heart of PMN traditions is a desire to be relevant to the times we're living in.  We welcome songs about the pressing current issues of today: the pandemic, the climate crisis, racist violence, and economic crisis.  We also welcome songs that life our spirits whether they come from this age or not. 

Eligibility to Perform

Performers in this swap 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 give priority to new PMN members as well as PMN members who have not yet performed in one of our previous online swap events.  In cases where the topic is specific, the relevance of a submission to the topic at hand may also be considered.  We hold these song swap events regularly.  If we can't fit you in this time, 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 Wednesday June 17, from 7:00-8:00 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

There is a learning curve with performing online that many of us have been climbing since the pandemic started.  Here is my best tips on making your audio quality good.  Using your computer's built-in mic is sufficient to participate and be heard, especially if your performance involves just the human voice.  With good internet connectivity, the sound of a person singing or talking normally comes across on Zoom somewhat better than a telephone. 

By default, Zoom applies audio compression filters to video Conference Rooms. These filters are effective at reducing background noise, but they also recognize the frequencies of instruments and electronic backing tracks as background noise.  The filters try to quiet down so-called "background noise", which causes distortion.  To avoid this, in Zoom you can "enable original sound", which removes the default audio compression.   Please see here for a simple tutorial about how to enable original sound in Zoom.  Keep in mind, however, that if you are performing in a space with background noise from a fan or air conditioner, enabling original sound will make that noise more audible.  Turning off the fan and turning on original sound will give you the best sound when you perform.  

Another limiting factor on audio quality is your microphone.  It is possible to significantly improve the audio quality of both voice and backing tracks 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?"). 

Before the tech run-through, I invite you to watch a 10 minute webinar I produced on "Improving Audio Quality for Live Musical Performances on Zoom".  It distills my best tips and tricks.   In the video, I cover microphone quality, internet connectivity, Zoom advanced audio settings, and microphone placement.

Broadcast through Facebook Live

TUNE INTO THE LIVE BROADCAST via PMN's FACEBOOK PAGE
https://www.facebook.com/Peoples.Music.Network/
Thursday, July 2, 7:30 - 9:30 PM (ET)
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TO WATCH: 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/3359102317453681/

The link above is also where you can find the performer list, which becomes available by the morning of Wednesday, July 1.