Rachel Taylor Geier

Greetings and welcome to a new Flute Friday!

The annual National Flute Association Convention is next week and many of us will be making our way to the scorching summer heat in Phoenix to perform, collaborate, and share our love of the flute with our fellow flutists. A conference can be a great time to make new flute friends and explore creative new ideas. With so many things to do, it can be a bit overwhelming when you are trying to balance rehearsals, performances, attending presentations and recitals, with scoping out new flue gear in the exhibit hall, and hanging out with your flute squad between events. In today’s blog, I offer a few do’s and don’ts to make the most out of your time at the convention. Bottom line – Be an informational sponge while supporting your fellow flutists as we all crush it doing what we love.

The Do’s and Don’t’s of Convention Attendance

DO keep it positive in rehearsals. We are all stressed and want to play our best. Avoid accusative/negative language (ex. “That sounds messy!”). Replace it with supportive, positive messages, “We can do this! Easy peasy.” 

DON’T overbook yourself. Yes, there are literally so many things to do and see but keep in mind that you will need travel time between events. There is also a very good chance you might run into folks you know on your way from point A to point B. Give yourself more than enough time for everything.

DO hang out with flute friends (new and old). The convention doesn’t have to be all business. Leave your flute in it’s case and grab a late night bite after the gala concert with your buddies. Connections are not just cultivated in rehearsals – Have some fun!

DON’T use the convention hall as a venue to outplay literally everyone around you. Yes – try out cool new flutes! But maybe not run through your entire recital at your favorite flute booth. Keep it classy.

DO attend late night cabarets. These are super fun and the audience is a bit more chill than the gala concert. Enjoy some great jazz music and fun times with cool people.

DON’T arrive late for presentations that you know will be packed. Whenever famous flutists host lecturers on interesting and/or super hot flute topics, finding a decent seat is difficult and arriving late while trying to maneuver around the audience with all of your gear is uncomfortable and distracting. If you have to leave another event early to make it there with plenty of time, do so gracefully, quietly, and preferably from the back of the room.

DO check out super cool new flute gear and shiny/fun flute swag at the various booths in the exhibit hall.Look out for great freebies from your favorite retailers. I scored a free USB phone charger last year!

DON’T try to one-up your fellow flutists. We are often pitted against each other for jobs, audience attention, and conductor/composer adoration. It is very easy at a flute convention to become jealous of old flute rivals who may be performing in super cool groups or strutting their stuff in a high-profile recital. Instead, celebrate their wins! Make supporting each other the new norm. Invite good karma into your life!

DO bring a small notebook to capture ideas while attending lecturers and recitals. I have had some of my best blog ideas while attending presentations and have picked up great ideas for new pieces to work on at various recitals. You may also need somewhere to write down email addresses, website URLs, and phone numbers.

DON’T forget to follow up ASAP on any new connections you make at the convention. Add new flute friends to your social media accounts. Send follow up emails and forward questions you may have had for presenters. This is your opportunity to use the convention as a catalyst for collaborations that last throughout the year.

Will you be attending the NFA convention this year in Phoenix? What are your convention do’s and don’ts? How do you make the most out of your time collaborating with other flutists? Please comment below!

Happy fluting!

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If you would like to hang out with me at the NFA convention, I will be doing a meet and greet at the Carolyn Nussbaum booth in the exhibit hall on Saturday, August 5th at 1:00 pm. I will also be hosting two Lightning Talks on Friday, August 4th at 2:30 pm and performing with the Camellia City Flute Choir in the Convention Hall Lobby on Thursday, August 3rd at 1:00 pm. 

If you are interested in booking a flute lesson or a tarot reading during the convention, please sign up here: https://calendly.com/racheltgeier

Hope you see you there!

-Dr. G.