IBMA NEEDS NEW DIRECTION -WORLD OF BLUEGRASS ATTENDANCE DOWN.

Guest Blogger Terri Holloway is attending the International Bluegrass Associations World of Bluegrass business convention in Nashville and writes this report of the first two days.

The International Bluegrass Music Association's annual “World of Bluegrass” conference opened on Monday, September 26, 2011 to what appeared to be a smaller than usual crowd. This writer's arrival was later in the day, and when asked about it, I could only reply that it seemed as though nothing was happening. Perhaps because nothing was.

The schedule this year shows a daily keynote address. I've got to admit that this is something I don't think I've seen done at a business conference before. Usually there is one keynote speech, usually on the first day. This is followed by break-out sessions and something called “general assemblies” on successive days.

New this year is a “Happy Hour” membership mixer. Attendance seemed so-so, but, since it was held during the time when many conference participants would normally be grabbing a bite to eat in anticipation of spending the night with the music, expected.

More people drifted in to experience the evenings' Showcase. However, even for this “main event” there were plenty of chairs to be seated in.

Did Nashville Convention Center employees set the room up for too many? Hard to tell.

On Tuesday, Infamous Stringduster Chris Pandolfi delivered the keynote speech of the day asking and attempting to answer three questions: What is Bluegrass music? What should IBMA's goal be? And, does “traditional” Bluegrass music need to be preserved? He tied these together with his “Bluegrass Manifesto”, published in multiple sources earlier this year to much acclaim.

IBMA seems this year to be an organization in search of direction. People like Chris are asking questions and helping to guide the (new) way; but, there seems to be a schism between the old folks and the new, which could more probably be called Tradition vs. Progressive. Prescription Bluegrass and Front Page Bluegrass host Brian McNeal is most fond of quoting Louis Armstrong about all music being folk music since he ain't never heard no horse sing. It is all music. But, what is the direction our music should take? Do the elected officers and directors of the IBMA know? Has the appropriate strategic plan and the logic model exercise been formally adopted and is it ready to be shared with the general membership?

Lengthy surveys were sent to the membership. 15% of us chose to complete and return them. In the survey world that's an admirable return rate. But, it brings about another question: Do we really want 15% of the membership to dictate the course we should take? Of course there will be some grumping(sic). In my experience it'll come loudest from the 85% who did not return their survey. Next will be those who will claim that it's not the way they wanted it to go, and so therefore no one was listening to them and why should they have taken the time to answer a silly survey anyway?

In the end, the course charted will take the organization on to the next level – whatever that level will be. Change is inevitable. Just hard to take. With a bit of luck, it'll the the right way and the organization won't founder.

From this we segued into the Evening Showcases. First up was the former Alaska band Bearfoot, a lively string quintet now calling Nashville home. Immediately following was Farewell Drifters, decked out in their Members Only jackets – they're coming back, one band member declared. Both bands were banjo-less – something not uncommon in traditional bands, but noteworthy by the selection of music for their showcases. Both bands played what would, after today, be termed Progressive Bluegrass. I wonder who they would claim to have influenced their style? I heard a bit of Brian Wilson, some Chuck Berry, and a little Ron Woods from both bands. Another spectator sitting with me stated that she wouldn't hire either band for any of her festivals. But, then again, her festivals are billed as “traditional” and tend to be marketed to an “older” crowd.

After listening to these two bands I began to wonder about whether or not the “International Bluegrass Music Association” shouldn't be renamed the “International Stringband Music Association”. It very definitely was not “traditional”. It wasn't “bad” music. It just seemed out of place on a Showcase stage. Redemption came from Nu-blu who brought back the “traditional” influence, along with a sneak peak at their new music video, “Other Woman Blues”, the answer to the popular country hit, “Jolene”, from Dolly Parton more years ago than these musicians have been alive.

It's been said that music is art, and that art is always evolving. Evolution is a good thing. It helps to weed out the weak and unsure. But, as in history, we have to know where we've come from in order to know where we're going. Keep the music alive – with homage to tradition.