The WorlDream FAQ

What was the WorlDream?
Where did the idea come from?
Are you nuts?
So, what's with the song?
So exactly what happened?
Did the conventions help?
Why were there contracts?
So who benefits from this?
I'm seeing these T-shirts about. What were they for?
And just where is this site?
I've heard something about a quilt?

What was the WorlDream?
The WorlDream was an attempt to get as many filkers on the planet as possible singing on the same song at the same time to celebrate the beginning of the new Millennium. And hey, even if it wasn't your Millennium-that's ok, too! It was a kewl idea anyway!
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Where did the idea come from?
I attended both Consonance and FilKONtario in 2000 (these filk cons are only a month apart). Several of my German friends attended Consonance. Several of my British friends attended FKO. The end of each convention was particularly poignant and difficult- knowing that it was going to be more than a year before I saw these friends again. Filk is my community. My neighbors, my friends, my family. I've been introduced to new family all over the world because of filk, the music it creates, and the fellowship it brings.

So- I decided that since we're starting a new Millennium; I wanted to see all my friends and family. And there's only one way I know of doing that- by going to every filk convention- in order. Yep. Crazy.

So, at every filk Con in 2001, we recorded. The WorlDream is still going, in a way, because the last Convention is in Boston in 2003. (The East Coast of the US floats on a three year cycle...)
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Are you nuts?
Well, yes.:)
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So, what's with the song?
Well, I figured that as long as I'm going to every convention, I might as well do something useful... :)

But actually, it's much more than that.

Everyone who considers themselves a filker contributes in some way to the community. It doesn't matter if you sing and perform, or sit and just listen- you belong. It doesn't matter whether or not you can carry a tune in a leaky swimming pool- or if you struggle to find that next note on the harp, or play the bagpipes. This is a thing for all of us. Something that we can hold in our hands when it's all done and look at it and just feel a small "wow" in our hearts...

And it doesn't hurt at all that I also want a CD that even the folks who will never produce a recording can say "Hey- I'm on that!" I get kinda geeked just thinking about it... :)
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So exactly what happened?
There was an unrequired rehearsal session at each convention for those who wanted the practice and an opportunity to learn the song. Later, we have the recording session at each convention. After OVFF in October 2001, we'll take the master recordings from all the filk cons and cut and paste them together so that filkers from all over the world are contributing on the same song at the same time.
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Did the conventions help?
You bet they did! You know, the CD would be pretty darned short with only the one song. So, I asked the 9 filk conventions (yes, we recorded at Worldcon; but it's not a filk convention...) to decide what songs they would like to see on the CD. I asked them to focus on local composers and performers, and focus on music that either exemplefies their convention or universal community songs that were written locally.
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Why were there contracts?
This was a real recording, for a real album. Your voices and instrumental talents have value, and deserve acknowledgement. This also allows you to have a record of your participation, and the knowledge that you've actively helped to contribute to the various worldwide fan funds.
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What? There's money involved?
Yes, there is. Any profits from the WorlDream CD will go back into the community- InterFilk will receive the US profits, and the British and German Fan Funds will recieve the profits in their respective countries.
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I'm seeing these T-shirts about. What were they for?
Well, the simple answer is that I was planning on funding the travel and recording of this little 10 con jaunt from my own pocket. When I committed to this course of action, my pockets (in the form of the US tech stock market) were much, much deeper than they are now (thank you, Worldcom). Yes, yes, I know. Silly of me. Just refer back to item #3.

The t-shirt design is the WorlDream logo designed by Beckett Gladney, the silk screening and reproduction were done by Offworld Designs.

So, the t-shirt sales were to support travel and convention costs through the year. They were only on sale during the rehearsal and recording sessions. If you're interested, yes, I do have a few shirts left...
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And just where is this site?
We are now mirrored on both sides of the Atlantic!! You are reading this either at my home site in the US, or at filk.org.uk in Great Britain hosted by Mike Whitaker.